The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson

Synopsis:

Growing up in 1980s Niagara Falls–a seedy but magical, slightly haunted place–Jake Baker spends most of his time with his uncle Calvin, a kind but eccentric enthusiast of occult artifacts and conspiracy theories. The summer Jake turns twelve, he befriends a pair of siblings new to town, and so Calvin decides to initiate them all into the “Saturday Night Ghost Club.” But as the summer goes on, what begins as a seemingly lighthearted project may ultimately uncover more than any of its members had imagined.

About the Author

Craig Davidson is a Canadian author of short stories and novels, who has published work under both his own name and the pen names Patrick Lestewka and Nick Cutter

Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was raised in Calgary and St. Catharines.

His first short story collection, Rust and Bone, was published in September 2005 by Penguin Books Canada.

Davidson also released a novel in 2007 named The Fighter. During the course of his research of the novel, Davidson went on a 16-week steroid cycle. To promote the release of the novel, Davidson participated in a fully sanctioned boxing match against Toronto poet Michael Knox at Florida Jack’s Boxing Gym; for the novel’s subsequent release in the United States, he organized a similar promotional boxing match against Jonathan Ames. Davidson lost both matches.

His 2013 novel Cataract City was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2013 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

For more information, visit his Website.

My Review

This shorty stoy wastes no time in setting the tone with the discussion of a human brain; a theme you will see repeated at the beginning of each chapter; and in truth plays a very big narrative in this story. Elements of horror sprinkled throughout and very thought provoking in this mature and scenic stylized tone of writing that this story has. It’s a coming og age story, partly told in the way of “remeber back when” it helped give you the needed story of the relationships the various characters had with one another.

The stories are sad, but in such a beautiful way. This story tugs lightly at the hearstrings with the relationship of Jake and his Uncle Calvin. This story is a memorable one with plenty of unanticiapted horror.

A slight sidenote to anyone that has already read this: I would absolutely visit Calvin’s shop in a heartbeat. Totally the type of store I visit now and could spend hours in!

If you’ve read this book, what are YOUR thoughts on it?

My Rating:

🔪🔪🔪🔪/5 Stabs