October 2003

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Title:	Once...
Author:	James Herbert
Copyright Date:	2002
Publisher:	Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC

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Review

I don't know why I care so much about details. Either I was an editor in a past life or my German ancestry is rearing it's obsessive head.

Several things bothered me about this book and many can be explained by remembering the author is British. Not everything that comes from Britain is CRAP. Jaguars, Thesbians, AMERICA! But little differences between each side of the pond can really put off a reader like myself.

Following examples are in no particular order:

Gripe #1: Thom What kind of SADIST is this James Herbert? I was mispronoucing this damned name every time it appeared. It did not help that he was the MAIN CHARACTER!
Gripe #2: Thom's Stupidity What kind of IDIOT is Thom Kindred? The book is mostly from Thom's viewpoint (see Gripe #4), but how many times does he see strange things before even thinking of "Faeries"
Gripe #3: Bethan The book refers to the main character's mother by her first name more often than not. As a mostly Thom viewpoint (see Gripe #4), it felt very disconnected. Thom would be remembering all the joy and love but call her Bethan. I could not form an emotional bond between them.
Gripe #4: Viewpoint My KINGDOM for a consistent viewpoint. This book's viewpoint switched around so often I felt my head spinning. If it was in the scene, the author usually offered something from its viewpoint. Don't get me wrong! There are established and acceptable methods for changing viewpoint. They are just seldom used. Especially by established Authors.
Gripe #5: Characterization Or should I say the lack there of?
Gripe #6: Sentence Structure The key to sucking a reader into the story is making the words flow unobstructed from the page and into the reader. No thought should be necessary on the part of the reader. One thing most writers forget is that people read like they speak. One sentence = One breath. Huge, paragraph long sentences destroy that flow. This book took it a step father. He started a thought at the beginning, went into a lengthy tangent, and then quickly finished the original thought. All in one LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG sentence.
Gripe #7: Sex I'm sure most people don't have gripes with sex but they might in this book. I can safely say that this book is a new level for depravity on my bookshelf. NONE of it was believable. I am aghast to think of the several terrible ideas put forth in this book. It is NOT OK to have lesbian sex with a female stranger in a male stranger's bed if he is not present to watch! It is NOT OK to get a blowjob in front of your dying father while the skeletal butler listens from the door! It is NOT OK to have sex with a prepubescent next to your father's grave! Most of all, encouraging the idea that simaltaneous orgasm in the NORM! THE HORROR!
Gripe #8: Succubus I have to agree that this was the scariest part of the book, but that's just because I'm a man. I did not understand why the creature needed to regurgitate the sperm into a jar. I understand that Thom could not have had his "sink" epiphany otherwise but it seemed needless.
Gripe #9: Hugo What a worthless character! The Wizard should have included him as USELESS CHARACTER #3. He is there simply to further the plot. We may have been better off with simple references to his presence.
Gripe #10: Last minute Addins I hate scenes that feel like they were added after the book was finished. It gives me the impression that the author wanted to make a character react in a specific way but doesn't have anything prior to base it on. Then they flip back through the pages and go "I'll just add a reference here!" I got two of those in this story. First, Thom's battle with the tub spider. It was overly dramatic and felt out of place. Second, Hugo's fear of snakes. It's only mentioned a couple of pages before the final battle!

Gripe #1: Thom	What kind of SADIST is this James Herbert? I was mispronoucing this damned name every time it appeared. It did not help that he was the MAIN CHARACTER!
Gripe #2: Thom's Stupidity	What kind of IDIOT is Thom Kindred? The book is mostly from Thom's viewpoint (see Gripe #4), but how many times does he see strange things before even thinking of "Faeries"
Gripe #3: Bethan	The book refers to the main character's mother by her first name more often than not. As a mostly Thom viewpoint (see Gripe #4), it felt very disconnected. Thom would be remembering all the joy and love but call her Bethan. I could not form an emotional bond between them.
Gripe #4: Viewpoint	My KINGDOM for a consistent viewpoint. This book's viewpoint switched around so often I felt my head spinning. If it was in the scene, the author usually offered something from its viewpoint. Don't get me wrong! There are established and acceptable methods for changing viewpoint. They are just seldom used. Especially by established Authors.
Gripe #5: Characterization	Or should I say the lack there of?
Gripe #6: Sentence Structure	The key to sucking a reader into the story is making the words flow unobstructed from the page and into the reader. No thought should be necessary on the part of the reader. One thing most writers forget is that people read like they speak. One sentence = One breath. Huge, paragraph long sentences destroy that flow. This book took it a step father. He started a thought at the beginning, went into a lengthy tangent, and then quickly finished the original thought. All in one LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG sentence.
Gripe #7: Sex	I'm sure most people don't have gripes with sex but they might in this book. I can safely say that this book is a new level for depravity on my bookshelf. NONE of it was believable. I am aghast to think of the several terrible ideas put forth in this book. It is NOT OK to have lesbian sex with a female stranger in a male stranger's bed if he is not present to watch! It is NOT OK to get a blowjob in front of your dying father while the skeletal butler listens from the door! It is NOT OK to have sex with a prepubescent next to your father's grave! Most of all, encouraging the idea that simaltaneous orgasm in the NORM! THE HORROR!
Gripe #8: Succubus	I have to agree that this was the scariest part of the book, but that's just because I'm a man. I did not understand why the creature needed to regurgitate the sperm into a jar. I understand that Thom could not have had his "sink" epiphany otherwise but it seemed needless.
Gripe #9: Hugo	What a worthless character! The Wizard should have included him as USELESS CHARACTER #3. He is there simply to further the plot. We may have been better off with simple references to his presence.
Gripe #10: Last minute Addins	I hate scenes that feel like they were added after the book was finished. It gives me the impression that the author wanted to make a character react in a specific way but doesn't have anything prior to base it on. Then they flip back through the pages and go "I'll just add a reference here!" I got two of those in this story. First, Thom's battle with the tub spider. It was overly dramatic and felt out of place. Second, Hugo's fear of snakes. It's only mentioned a couple of pages before the final battle!

October 2003

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