The Fisherman book review - almost great

Review of The Fisherman by John Langan

[chrisnorcross]

Just finished The Fisherman, a book I've had on my list for a while, and I enjoyed it immensely. I certainly understand how it's at least reminiscent of both King and Lovecraft, but I don't know that Langan was trying to exactly emulate either author. It felt to me more like Langan was trying to do something that King does well, which is write the way regular people, like the guy down at the corner hardware store, say things, particularly folks of a certain generation in the US, which Abe the narrator certainly belongs to. And given how much of our cosmic horror themes come to us from Lovecraft's writing, I think it would be hard to write about the kinds of things that happen in The Fisherman in an authentic sounding way without having at least some thematic resonance with Lovecraft. I found the beginning just a bit slow (not excessively or painfully) where Langan is building up characters and relationships, the same reasons that King often feels a little slow in the beginning. As I read on, I certainly felt myself being increasingly drawn along with the current, so to speak, as curiosities, and then horrors are revealed. All in all, I think Langan has written an excellent story in which we readers are led on an exploration of the very real human struggles of grief, trauma, and coping, as well as the possibility that anyone may run into other things that are, usually, beyond our notice.

[louiscrombie]

I read a lot of King and Lovecraft, and I didn't think it felt like trying to be King. The memoir format of writing for sure felt like trying to be Lovecraft, but it is supposed to follow that trope so I expected that fully. Great review though!

[spaghettifanno]

Just finished reading this in a few days, and I gotta say, I reaallly enjoyed it until they travelled through Cornelius' house. I also found it hard to understand Dan when he'd almost start monologuing. I know there was more than likely a reason his character did this often, but some of the things he said felt too disconnected...
Really good, as you said, almost great! Helen was a stand out, though! 🐠

[BookBlather]

Great review. I’ve been looking forward to reading this one for a while now. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[svenk]

I love King and Lovecraft (at least his writing) You just sold a book 😂