The Bog

I really like the writing style. It's super atmospheric.POSSIBLE SLIGHT SPOILER AHEADHowever............Much as I enjoyed the style of writing, the plotline itself suddenly changed the sort of story I thought it was.Which was troubling.I thought it was a spooky, delicious, mysterious horror thing, but suddenly, around the middle of the book, the whole thing went Harry Potter and became a story about magic and an old wizard.I really, really hadn't seen it coming, and while I still enjoyed the writing, the plotline seemed to be dissolving - from my point of view.Anyhow, if you're good with leaving the land of mist-shrouded bogs, mysterious ancient corpses and an unseen presence lurking horrendously for in-your-face-"magical-realism"-harry-potter-magic-and-wizards-all-over-the-place, then this is the awesome story!It was still really proficient storytelling, so I'm not complaining per se... Just... really weirded out at the author's choice of plot-direction.

I'm enjoying this book a great deal but i find the lead character extremely off putting. He is intelligent and diligent but came from an abusive background because of it he has very controlling and unrealistic expectations of perfection from his children not allowing (or not showing) any realistic childhood normality. I'm big about education and raising polite, strong and intelligent children but he really crosses a line. He also is disrespectful and childish towards his spouse. He shows great love and concern for his children, caring for and comforting the fears and any sadness they show but he is the opposite towards his wife's fears and sadness along with a "this is my way and no other way" kind of feel to it. While he does good things for all of them his attitude towards her is just... Off somehow. Don't get me wrong... I'm Not the "feminist short" but this aspect of the book bothers me enough to keep me from giving 5 stars. I do like the assistant a lot though. The plot and ideas are very good though and engrossing. I like the great bits of (accurate) Historical pieces to it.

What a great fun read! I absolutely loved all the twists and turns, the suspense, the battle between good and evil. The story's premise was different, the protagonist likeable, and the evil truly malicious.This is not a horror story that will fill you with lingering fear and dread. To me, it is somewhat akin more to an adult Harry Potter. You are engaged and hope there is more in the future. Sadly, that can't happen since the author tragically died at a young age.I can see this easily made into a movie with Sam Neill as Grenville, Scarlett Johansson as Julia, Josh Hartnett as David, and Kate Beckinsale as Melanie. So read if you want to enjoy a great fantasy story that has its foundation planted in reality, with just enough sex and violence to be written for adults.

The author clearly took "inspiration" from Dorothy Sayers' book, "The Nine Tailors". Her book is set in Fenchurch St. Paul and includes characters Mary Thoday, Venables (the rector), and Blundell - all names of characters also in Talbot's "Fenchurch St. Jude". (In The Bog, Venables is a vicar rather than a rector.) The closest town to Fenchurch St. Paul is Leamholt; the closest town to Fenchurch St. Jude is Leeming. Finally, inbreeding plays a minor role in The Nine Tailors as well as in The Bog.As far as The Bog goes, it is well written. Talbot had an expansive vocabulary and a developed imagination. But for some reason it didn't give me the chills I was hoping for.

I absolutely love this book! I have purchased several copies because people seem to always borrow it and never return it. Really glad to have found it on Kindle this time, so no more missing copies. The description of the bog bodies and the processes involved in preservation, as well as the approach to sacrifices in the past are absolutely spot on (given the time the book was published, since preservation techniques always improve). As an anthropologist with training in archaeology (they are connected in the US), this is one of my favorite books period.

A classic horror novel with a pretty new cover (thanks Valancourt Books!)This is a horror story that starts off strong, with mysterious bogs and slavering monsters, buts loses focus towards the end.

I was truly impressed with this colorful and twisted horror novel by one of my favorite authors. The imagery paints a very clear picture of a bizarre and Lovecraftian story. The non-fiction aspects which describe the phenomenon of bog bodies were fascinating and led me to do more research on real bog bodies. Characters were really well drawn out and their relationships to one another red as if they were real ones.

A good, scary book. It just keeps coming and coming attack after attack. Sad towards the end, but persevere.I will normally read a book once. Rarely more than once in my lifetime. This one I've read twice in the past year.it has the elements within to entertain to the heights.