Title: Running
Scared
“Sketches of the Wigwam” by Mack Moyer
Reviewed by Shelby
Jo
10/24/2016
7:00 a.m.
“Sketches of the
Wigwam” is a horror novel by Mack Moyer that forces its protagonist, Billy, to
return to the Pennsylvania backwoods of his childhood, where he must face a
monster he once thought was imaginary. Thoughts of the gruesome creature, the
Wigwam, have haunted Billy throughout his life, but they can hardly compare to
the torment that will forever follow him after this new encounter.
To the reader,
Billy feels unmistakably like a Billy Pilgrim-esque everyman, ripped from his
mediocre American life and thrown into absolute terror. However, unlike Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy must battle
his horrors alone. Billy tells his story in a voice that sounds similar to Moyer’s
own, creating narration that is simultaneously distinct and familiar. A
sarcastic thirty-something who loves his simple life as a dish room manager,
his girlfriend, and a constant stream of beer, Billy seems to have little place
in the supernatural adventure in which he finds himself.
Billy’s crass
lifestyle, and even crasser tongue, do nothing to prevent his terrible future
from unfolding, which makes the reader wonder why Moyer chooses to define his
protagonist with these traits. Beginning and ending with the same tone and
characterization does little to highlight the events—the meat of the horror
novel—that occur in between. Additionally, the scenes are intense and grisly in
the moment, but the overall plot seems out of place because of this lack of
character development.
Moyer’s voice is
certainly ideal for the horror genre; his vivid descriptions and tight pacing
make “Sketches of the Wigwam” a rapid page-turner. Unfortunately, his generic
characterization and consequently lackluster plot leave the book to be lost in
the masses of the genre.
I
give “Sketches of the Wigwam” 3 out of 5 stars.
Read
Away!
Shelby
Jo
No comments:
Post a Comment
Have a book suggestion? Let me know.