Cold Skin: A Novel (edit title)

Members with This Book

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It Rated 4 stars “В русском переводе - "В пьянящей тишине". И, надо сказать, это название лучше передает дух книги: когда не можешь оторваться от листа бумаги, задерживаешь дыхание и пытаешься понять, ну что же ТАМ, в этой пьянящей тишине? Отличный мистический триллер-роман. Иногда, правда, вызывающий отвращение -...” see full review » see other reviews »

Didn’t Like It Rated 2 stars “From several reviews, I got the idea this book is considered some kind of literary masterpiece. It was categorized with the writings of H. P. Lovecraft and E. A. Poe. I found it difficult to work up any empathy for, or interest in, the two male characters, and by the time the plot had progressed...” see full review » see other reviews »

Newest Reviews

• 
  • Rated 4 stars

  “В русском переводе - "В пьянящей тишине". И, надо сказать, это название лучше передает дух книги: когда не можешь оторваться от листа бумаги, задерживаешь дыхание и пытаешься понять, ну что же ТАМ, в этой пьянящей тишине? Отличный мистический триллер-роман. Иногда, правда, вызывающий отвращение - до того натуралистично написан.”

  kasulia wrote this review Friday, January 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 2 stars

  “From several reviews, I got the idea this book is considered some kind of literary masterpiece. It was categorized with the writings of H. P. Lovecraft and E. A. Poe. I found it difficult to work up any empathy for, or interest in, the two male characters, and by the time the plot had progressed far enough to inspire any feeling for the female character, it was too late! If a review had warned "This is merely a creepy horror story" I would've expected less, and perhaps enjoyed it more.”

  Sharron A wrote this review Saturday, January 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 3 stars

  “A Catalan book with raves in my language school. Sánchez Piñol is an antropologist and he is a follower of Lévi-Strauss works and Henry Miller books. This novel comes to me a bit overrated by my catalan friends or I have expected too much of it. Although I am a great admirer of Lovecraft, this story for me is no frightening let alone creeping. As the title the read is immensely cold, the author tells the story with unbelievable detachment. A lot of imagery about weather and landscaps that 'froze' my mind. I think that I did not understand all in all the allegory of these two men isolated in a tiny island and their nightmares, fears, paranoids and perversions. The odd sexual element within the plot was revolting, gruesome, almost macabre in my opinion. There are a great deal of philosophical topics about humanity, colonialism, alien nations, the enemy, man's propensity for violence and the relativity of human ethic. There are, nevertheless, a bunc of paragraphs worth finishing this short novel. At the beginning, Piñol wrote: "We are never very far from those we hate. For this very reason, we shall never be truly close to those we love". After the first two chapters I was somewhat weary of the story. I needed to put it down several times ... and start over and over again with this desolate, gothic novel. Therefore, I was not hooked by this dark novel. Perhaps it was not the moment for this kind of reading. It is certainly not for everyone, particularly not for softies. ”

  Elisabeth B wrote this review Monday, April 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 3 stars

  “It starts off intriguingly as half horror story, half parable, and keeps you turning pages to see how it will be resolved. Unfortunately (as often happens with plot-led books) it is wrapped up rather sloppily. The journey is quite entertaining though, and at least it is quite short!”

  David Brake wrote this review Sunday, February 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 4 stars

  “Perhaps the weirdest book I've ever read - and I've read some weird ones. That being said, the writing is superb and the tale is amazing. It reminds me of the Woman in the Dunes crossed with The Creature from the Black Lagoon.”

  slatrat wrote this review Tuesday, September 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 1 stars

  “One of the most evocative and engaging imageries in any first chapter I will likely ever read; Cold Skin defeats its own mystery with poor pacing and weak execution”

  Quick Cash wrote this review Saturday, August 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 2 stars

  “Starts off with a bang and with a style reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft, but graphically diverges into sexual areas. The main theme seems to be that humans are the real monsters and they will devolve into such given certain circumstances. Given the content, I can't recommend the book.”

  Etales wrote this review Tuesday, July 3 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No