Horror Review
An older horror novel from a quieter author who has the talent and the imagination to rival the masters. With particular scenes that pack a punch in the gut and familiar references that should delight the literary creature in any bookworm, Spirit is a unique retelling of a classic story that evolves and becomes more sinister as it travels through decades.
Three sisters live with their former actress mother and their writer father in an affluent manner in a small town in the 50’s. During a cold snap, the youngest sister wanders out to the pool in the middle of a snow storm and drowns. The mother starts losing her mind over the loss of her precious youngest baby, the father becomes withdrawn from the drama and emotions of the women in his life. For the two remaining older girls, a loss of innocence and their maturity begins. As do a series of seemingly random and suspicious incidences. Ones that seem particularly well timed.
Whenever the sisters are hurt or distressed in any way, a mysterious entity seems to take vengeance. Who it is or what it is isn’t questioned until much later on in the novel, when the young girls have grown up and are living their adult lives. Laura is young and beautiful and shallow. She wants to be an actress, and is living in Los Angeles being groomed by her Aunt, a dubious, shady Hollywood inside woman. Elizabeth, the elder sister, is now living in the city and has followed her love of writing to work in the publishing industry.
Elizabeth realizes that something sinister is out their protecting her and her sister, and it will never satisfy it’s need to kill. There the plot becomes heavily influenced by The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, and this is explicit. The characters realize that they are living in a weird adaptation of the Andersen story, and fight a similar fight in order to defeat the final villain, the Snow Queen, at the end of the novel.
It is a book that sounds surreal but it one that takes itself very seriously. Masterton’s literary prowess is on top form as he effortlessly and graciously glides us through the pages of his books. We are in no rush. Every single detail is important. It does become very academic and very stuffy in places, which might be boring for some readers who wanted a bit more of a cheaper thrill. Some of the better scenes he has written are ones where he is truly having fun experimenting with his writing, and it finally allows his characters to come to life. You can picture their lives vividly due to his descriptions of the people in the pages. His illusions to other literary works are there in plain sight (the main character Lizzie appears to be heavily based on Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice) and make the book fun to read if you like that sort of thing.
It’s good to read if you want to read something that’s a little bit different. Is it compelling as a horror or a thriller? No. It reads more like an adventure story and it doesn’t really give you anything to be afraid of. Coming of age, loss of innocence are the most prominent themes in the book, but there doesn’t seem to be anything specifically striking that makes your skin shiver. (Unless you are a little bit sensitive to disgusting and graphic rape scenes.)
It can be hard work, but it’s rewarding. Masterton knows how to tell a good story. He keeps it readable and engaging without it being mindless. With Spirit, he’s managed to find the balance between controversial muck, salacious filth and good old fashioned, well read storytelling. Masterton knows how to shock you and make you keep turning the page, even though it isn’t always what you want to expect and the book isn’t as good as it thinks it is.
