Book Review: "The Book of Accidents" by Chuck Wendig

When it comes to gothic or horror or even thriller novels, the one thing I enjoy is atmosphere. If the author sets me the scene, carries the atmosphere as if it were on their back and then jolts across the story with it like they were riding down the alps atop Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”, I will be more than happy to take a chance on it. My favourite books that go above and beyond with atmosphere have been “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson, “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte, “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson, “Salem’s Lot” by Stephen King and “The Corn Maiden and Other Stories” by Joyce Carol Oates to name a few. The Victorian Era had some of my favourite atmospheric novels and when it turned to the 1940s and 50s, it felt like a resurgence. Unfortunately, when it came to the 80s and 90s, I felt like it was really Stephen King that was definitely giving it a go and many of them haunted my own childhood for a long time afterwards. But Chuck Wendig has now come along with his book “The Book of Accidents” and basically created a second resurgence of dark and atmospheric novels. I will not complain at all. And neither will you if you read this book.

Nate had an abusive father. Now, his father is dying of cancer and offers Nate a deal. The deal is that Nate can have the house his father owned in the rural land for only one dollar. Nate initially declines but after a while begins to see the other side. He moves his family in. His family? Him, his wife Maddie and their awkward son, Oliver/ ‘Ollie’. Ollie starts a new school, Maddie gets on with her artistic stuff and Nate takes a new job. Life is definitely looking like it is finally going their way. And then Ollie screams from the attic. This book is one of the most incredible things I have ever read in terms of atmospheric modern fiction. It incorporates almost a H.P Lovecraft cosmic horror whilst retaining the realism of the whole situation. The stories within stories shows that this book was really thought about when Chuck Wendig actually came to write it and that he knew and understood what his audience were looking for in a truly great fantastical horror/thriller novel. It is a lot different to what is on the market at the moment in similar genres and I would definitely recommend that you give it a go.

There is an image in this book of a dead mouse that I thought was really clever. The mouse is dead and has probably been dead for a few days. Around the dead mouse march ants in continuous circles. According to the novel’s information, ants marching in continuous circles without stopping leads to them basically committing suicide. It is a highly thought-provoking image and really gets you thinking about the events that follow in the book. I just thought it was interesting to include as a part of the themes and symbolism.

In conclusion, I thought this book was incredible. There are definitely more things going on than I have mentioned and yet, I don’t want to reveal spoilers to you as I think that there are things you are probably best finding out on your own. One thing is definitely for sure though. If you think that this book is simply about Nate and his family, then you are very, very wrong indeed. This book is about almost everyone in that town.