Was off to a great start- I love a thoroughly detestable unreliable narrator- but once the plot reached the big turning point, it began to lose my attention. While the plot was hurtling towards it's certain, spooky doom, I felt a need to read as fast as possible- not out of a sense of rabid anticipation for the climax, but because I wanted to get through it as soon as possible.

The ending wasn't even bad!! It was reminiscent of Lake Mungo- one of my all time favorite movies- and wraps everything up in a delightfully dreadful bow. Unfortunately, it does not fit with the first half of the book whatsoever. The set up of having a posthumous release of Jack's novel littered with comments and additions from everyone else is a FANTASTIC premise. Jack is such a despicable dirtbag that having the footnotes or addendums helps break up the monotony of his bitching and self-aggrandizing while adding a sense of flavor to keep you interested in unravelling the human trashfire that is "Jack Sparks". But it feels like the author kind of forgot to stick with this format, and it seriously dampens any sense of curiosity (or microscopic level of sympathy) in that seeing that reveal. The first half was so, so strong. The second half failed to keep me emotionally or intellectually invested, so the ending (which by all rights should have had me hella excited) left me saying "huh. okay, that's neat.. I guess."

I'll still consider it a strong recommendation, but without any personal sense of investment. ( )

THE LAST DAYS OF JACK SPARKS defies categorization. It is a comedy in the sense that Jack is an interminable wise-ass. The witty banter between he and the rest of the cast speeds the pace of what is, at its core, a horror novel about a self-absorbed author who, while working on his latest book—JACK SPARKS ON THE SUPERNATURAL—makes the fatal mistake of laughing during an exorcism.

I have a feeling this story is going to be with me a while (in a good way). On the one hand there’s Jack, a man who doesn’t at all believe in the thing on which he’s reporting, chasing a video that inexplicably ends up posted to the Internet via his YouTube account. On the other, there’s something going on (I won’t reveal) that you won’t know about until the end that ties together the video, the events following the exorcism, and finally that red bottle. I’m not sure how I feel about that connection other than to say, if Jack Sparks can suspend disbelief so can I.

Kudos to Jason Arnopp for some first class writing. Brilliant dialogue and descriptions, and a new twist on the exorcism trope that often becomes quickly tired (and overly-religious because yeah, it’s a rite). The atheist tact taken throughout makes this a stand-out in the genre. I’m being intentionally vague during this review because I went into this book knowing only this: Jack Sparks laughed during an exorcism and now he’s dead. It would ruin quite a bit to tell you more than that. Don’t look for spoilers. Enjoy the ride.
( )

Contemporary horror - yes! This book had a great premise, but it just tried to do too much in my opinion and much of it was distracting. There were some really great parts to be fair - the way the end and the beginning were tied together - I loved that. The relationship between the brothers and what you DIDN'T know - great! Sly humor - wonderful! But a lot of it was just distracting and unneeded in my nonexpert opinion.

I was scared only for one moment, which did make the book worth it for me, the moment he locked eyes with girl in the exorcism.

Another reason, and maybe the main reason, this book just didn't do it for me, was that I listened to the audio book. Don't do that. Read it instead, I'm betting you'll enjoy it more. ( )

The Last Days of Jack Spark is definitely a very odd book. However, it's not a bit scary. At least I do not think that. I actually found it to be more tragic, a black comedy kind of book, well without much comedy. A book about guilt, life after death and possessions. And, there were moments when I found the book a bit dreary.

However, it also had some really great moments, or rather it ended with a bang. I love that ending, if the rest of the book had felt as good as the ending, then I would have loved the whole book. But, alas, I found the story, especially when Jack was in L.A to be the part that I least enjoyed. But, then came the ending, then everything started to make sense and that's when I started to enjoy the story. And, that's when I started to feel sorry for Jack (let's face it, he's a jerk for 95% of the book).

I liked the style of the book; The Last Days of Jack Spark being the manuscript that Jack left, and interviews with people that met Jack and recorded conversations, etc. I liked how Jack's memories of events contradicted everyone else. If it just had been scary, then it would have been a marvelous book. Sure, it's gory and all, but not scary. But, I guess for people not that used to horror is this book scary to read.

So, not a personal hit for me, but not a bad book. I basically like the style of the book, and the unusual story and the ending were terrific!

I want to thank Orbit for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

The Last Days of Jack Spark is definitely a very odd book. However, it's not a bit scary. At least I do not think that. I actually found it to be more tragic, a black comedy kind of book, well without much comedy. A book about guilt, life after death and possessions. And, there were moments when I found the book a bit dreary.

However, it also had some really great moments, or rather it ended with a bang. I love that ending, if the rest of the book had felt as good as the ending, then I would have loved the whole book. But, alas, I found the story, especially when Jack was in L.A to be the part that I least enjoyed. But, then came the ending, then everything started to make sense and that's when I started to enjoy the story. And, that's when I started to feel sorry for Jack (let's face it, he's a jerk for 95% of the book).

I liked the style of the book; The Last Days of Jack Spark being the manuscript that Jack left, and interviews with people that met Jack and recorded conversations, etc. I liked how Jack's memories of events contradicted everyone else. If it just had been scary, then it would have been a marvelous book. Sure, it's gory and all, but not scary. But, I guess for people not that used to horror is this book scary to read.

So, not a personal hit for me, but not a bad book. I basically like the style of the book, and the unusual story and the ending were terrific!

I want to thank Orbit for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )