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The Next
A growing boy!
That's what Kate's ten-year-old nephew was. Yet during the weeks he was left in her care -- while his mother recovered from a car accident -- Charles was growing at an astonishing rate.
Kate found her love for him deepening as his voice grew huskier, his body long and lean, his embrace hard and demanding. And she clung to him with passion, bewilderment and terror.
Afraid. Of what was happening to him and happening to her…and why.
That's what Kate's ten-year-old nephew was. Yet during the weeks he was left in her care -- while his mother recovered from a car accident -- Charles was growing at an astonishing rate.
Kate found her love for him deepening as his voice grew huskier, his body long and lean, his embrace hard and demanding. And she clung to him with passion, bewilderment and terror.
Afraid. Of what was happening to him and happening to her…and why.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 22, 2020
it's funny to consider the different things we can and cannot tolerate as a reader. take this book for example. the premise: a 10-year-old boy begins displaying the mannerisms of his dead uncle, starts romancing his widowed and delusional aunt, and soon enough, inexplicably ages into an adult (at least physically)... that's super creepy! but I can definitely tolerate "super creepy". the writing: Bob Randall had some success back in the day with his thriller The Fan, but I wonder how, since the characterization here is a glib joke, the internal monologues of the two sisters (in alternating chapters) sound exactly the same except one curses more, and the lack of writing chops overall is... well let's be generous and say that the surprising amateurishness made me smile. I can definitely tolerate "so bad it's good". but the straw that broke this reader's back: the offhand cruelty of the characters towards the black housekeeper who raised the sisters and, much worse (because I can deal with racist characters), the feeling that Randall wrote this laughable Mammy caricature without a second thought about how completely awful he was being. it's embarrassing when an author shows ignorance like that. I just couldn't tolerate it, so I gave up. good riddance, ya dumbass book!
May 7, 2017
Is that a small child you're dating, or is it actually an adult who shaves his pubic hair to appear underage?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2024
Out of print for a reason. This vintage horror thriller was all over the place. A ten-year-old boy left with his aunt inexplicably grows 30 years older in a matter of months. There’s incest, there’s a very short mystery detective sequence, there’s completely nonsensical reactions and behaviors by everyone in the story, there’s overt dated racist terms, and completely false dialogue. All tied up with a hilariously stupid ending. Nearly one-star but for the pulpy goodness and the creepy tropes that are outlawed in today’s market. Entertaining despite the problems.
June 25, 2019
This novel had a interesting idea, what happens when a 10 year old boy skips puberty and becomes a man within weeks rather then years. The story is told through the eyes of two sisters Molly (the mum) and Kate (the aunt). Great set up and nice way to tell the story.
The book though never lived up to its expectation, maybe I am slow, i never saw the ending but I was not impressed. Also it I did not like the answer to why the events happened.
The incest side to the story was so weird, as it was not handled realistically, seemed more like the authors fantasy. How everyone reacted with so little shock or horror, annoyed me. When Molly found out she let her sister continue to sleep in same bed, like it was normal !! Laymon books were crazy but they at least were done in a crazy comic book way, to suit his weird universe. But Randall wrote in a much more serious tone. He added dark humour, and had a lovely way with words, things just never melded together.
That's why I cannot recommend this book. Two stars, because I did not hate the book, did not struggle to continue, apart from the last part. Got bored near the end but for the majority I was interested enough to want to read, to find out what was happening.
The book though never lived up to its expectation, maybe I am slow, i never saw the ending but I was not impressed. Also it I did not like the answer to why the events happened.
The incest side to the story was so weird, as it was not handled realistically, seemed more like the authors fantasy. How everyone reacted with so little shock or horror, annoyed me. When Molly found out she let her sister continue to sleep in same bed, like it was normal !! Laymon books were crazy but they at least were done in a crazy comic book way, to suit his weird universe. But Randall wrote in a much more serious tone. He added dark humour, and had a lovely way with words, things just never melded together.
That's why I cannot recommend this book. Two stars, because I did not hate the book, did not struggle to continue, apart from the last part. Got bored near the end but for the majority I was interested enough to want to read, to find out what was happening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2022
1.5 stars
I’ll admit that I didn’t hate this one as much as others seem to, but oh boy is this a weirdly written and all together bad novel.
Nothing here really makes sense or even comes across as “scary”. Instead it’s more like pedophila and incest as a middle age woman falls in love with a 10 year old boy in a 40 year old man’s body.
Yes, there’s some supernatural/paranormal elements to try and explain it, although it’s ridiculously thin and downright stupid.
Doesn’t help that the story is supposed to be told by 2 sisters who’s way of talking is almost identical and leaves absolutely no distinguishing characteristics.
I’ll admit that I didn’t hate this one as much as others seem to, but oh boy is this a weirdly written and all together bad novel.
Nothing here really makes sense or even comes across as “scary”. Instead it’s more like pedophila and incest as a middle age woman falls in love with a 10 year old boy in a 40 year old man’s body.
Yes, there’s some supernatural/paranormal elements to try and explain it, although it’s ridiculously thin and downright stupid.
Doesn’t help that the story is supposed to be told by 2 sisters who’s way of talking is almost identical and leaves absolutely no distinguishing characteristics.
July 9, 2020
At the end of the day, no matter how well it is or is not written, (and it is very readable) it's still about a ten year old boy who ages very rapidly and sleeps with his Aunt. Who shares my name. So, ew.
Also, I feel the themes of the book were introduced too rapidly and never really developed properly. All in the first few pages we learn the sister's father bought an expensive house he probably loved more than his own family and then died and that their mother, already probably very distant, drew further away until she was out of their lives entirely. You'll notice the two 'probablys'. You have to assume these things because it's never really drawn in the narrative. Which is very unfortunate because the "horror" of the book revolves around the idea of the "curse" of the house and the guilt of the mother.
None of the characters are particularly likable and at times are absolutely grating, things kind of happen until it's like the author was backed into a corner, there's the intimation that the horror might finally fully rear it's head and then, instead, it ends.
Also, there's an absolutely atrocious caricature of a black 'mammy' for some inexplicable reason.
Read Thomas Tryon's The Other instead.
Also, I feel the themes of the book were introduced too rapidly and never really developed properly. All in the first few pages we learn the sister's father bought an expensive house he probably loved more than his own family and then died and that their mother, already probably very distant, drew further away until she was out of their lives entirely. You'll notice the two 'probablys'. You have to assume these things because it's never really drawn in the narrative. Which is very unfortunate because the "horror" of the book revolves around the idea of the "curse" of the house and the guilt of the mother.
None of the characters are particularly likable and at times are absolutely grating, things kind of happen until it's like the author was backed into a corner, there's the intimation that the horror might finally fully rear it's head and then, instead, it ends.
Also, there's an absolutely atrocious caricature of a black 'mammy' for some inexplicable reason.
Read Thomas Tryon's The Other instead.
July 31, 2023
Insane premise. Engaging writing style. Disappointing second half.
November 11, 2022
I was into this on pretty hard and then the ending fell flat. It was a story written in a different time so I let the language go. I got emotional invested. I feel bad for Molly though. I just wish it had ended better.
May 8, 2018
3.6 stars
May 27, 2023
I love the covers for this book. But that's about it. Creepy pedo/incest story line was off putting to say the least.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews