From the Bookshelf of Horror Reading Challenge…

Burnt Offerings

Robert Marasco

Start date: July 1, 2016

Finish date: July 31, 2016

Discussion: Group Reads

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September 2016 Group Read: Through the Woods
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last updated Oct 27, 2016 06:24PM

October 2016 Group Read: HP Lovecraft
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Jul 06, 2016 Tiffany rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I read Burnt Offerings as part of the 2016 Horror Reading Challenge July Read-a-long. It took me a while to get into it, because I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Once the story got underway, though, I found it an easier read. Just not a satisfactory one. Maybe that's why I have no memory of seeing the film adaptation as a kid. Nothing about this book is memorable.

Burnt Offerings tells the story of Ben and Marian Rolfe. They long to get away from the bustling summer in New Yor I read Burnt Offerings as part of the 2016 Horror Reading Challenge July Read-a-long. It took me a while to get into it, because I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Once the story got underway, though, I found it an easier read. Just not a satisfactory one. Maybe that's why I have no memory of seeing the film adaptation as a kid. Nothing about this book is memorable.

Burnt Offerings tells the story of Ben and Marian Rolfe. They long to get away from the bustling summer in New York City, and look for a place to spend their summer. When they stumble upon an ad in the paper advertising a rental for a steal, they decide they can't pass it up. Instead of their dream summer, they discover they've entered a nightmare. Written in a classic horror style, Burnt Offerings, should have been a wonderful horror story. Sadly, it didn't. The characters, various plot holes, lack of real horror, and a confusing ending plagued this story.

The characters were very one-dimensional. Ben was a haggard school teacher, Marian an immature housewife, their son (thrown in for good measure), and an elderly aunt make up the main cast. Throw in the eccentric homeowners, and the plot became very predictable. As the weird things began to happen, I never cared if anyone got hurt, because Murasco never got me to care about them to begin with. All Ben did was ridicule his wife, while she became obsessed with the home. The son was basically nonexistent. He just came around to break or create tension it seemed. As for the aunt, she seemed like an interesting character, but never did anything of real importance.

At the heart of the story is the house. There was obviously something wrong with the house, but the elderly matron who lived in the west wing seemed to be the biggest mystery. The Rolfes were given the house for only $900 the entire summer as long as they provided three meals a day for the matriarch of the crazy brother and sister who let the place. However, instead of poltergeist, rooms of blood, or other creepy things this house just repaired itself. Scary indeed!

What irked me the most were the plot holes. The son sees the vision of a bloody tricycle that never makes another appearance. The Rolfes see a creepy, old shack they mistakenly assume is the rental, and never think of it again. There's a pair of eyeglasses found in the pool that look as if the wearer met some awful fate while wearing them, yet... you guessed it, this line is dropped as well. Then there's the limousine driver Ben is frightened of. Why? I don't know. Black cars with drivers are scary I guess. Not important. Murasco just kept bringing it up. Maybe because I've ridden in black cars and limos before, but the idea of them don't scare me. Then there's the ending. I think I've figured it out, but who knows? I could be wrong. After reading this "chilling" horror yarn, Murasco leaves readers with an extremely bizarre ending that does nothing to really wrap the story up. In fact, I kept checking my kindle to see if I missed a page. If you're looking for a good horror story, this isn't it. Pass! Hard pass!This review was originally posted on I Was Angelized_1st ...more

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Oct 01, 2018 Barb (Boxermommyreads) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

So as I've mentioned, I've been curious about this book for quite some time and when I saw my library had the newest re-release, I had to grab it. I mean, how could I possibly resist that cover anyway? So "Burnt Offerings" is pretty much your classic haunted house book - or is it. Is the house really haunted or is there something more sinister at work?

Ben and Marian have had it with Brooklyn city life so when Marian finds a country home, which is more like a mansion, for rent at an extremely rea ...more

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Nov 10, 2017 Darlene rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, books-i-own, bought, audio-1000, horror, read-in-2017

I love haunted house stories! When I saw this creepy Daily Deal on Audible, I couldn’t resist and had to have it.

The story is about the Rolfe family. Ben, a teacher, has summers off and the family wants to escape the confines of their small, stuffy apartment during the summer's oppressive heat. His wife, Marian, scours the classifieds looking for a summer home to rent. The ad says that the price is reasonable, and the couple drives out with their son, David, to meet with the homeowners. It is l I love haunted house stories! When I saw this creepy Daily Deal on Audible, I couldn’t resist and had to have it.

The story is about the Rolfe family. Ben, a teacher, has summers off and the family wants to escape the confines of their small, stuffy apartment during the summer's oppressive heat. His wife, Marian, scours the classifieds looking for a summer home to rent. The ad says that the price is reasonable, and the couple drives out with their son, David, to meet with the homeowners. It is located about 2.5 hours away from New York City, and they are taken aback by the size of the estate with pool, private beach, and dock. The home is owned by the Allardyces, a brother and sister with their elderly mother. The Allardyces are very selective about their tenants, and they only agree to rent their home to the right people. Since they are wealthy, they can afford to charge a very modest rate. Initially, Miss Alardyce quotes a fee of $700 but her brother who is in charge of the family's financial matters makes her increase the rent to $900. The Rolfes realize that it is still a bargain and take them up on the offer. They invite Ben’s aunt to spend the summer with them so that they don’t have to worry about her being left on her own in the city.

Miss Allardyce explains that their mother will be remaining at the home during the summer, but not to worry because she isn’t a bother. Marian need only fix the elderly matron’s meals three times each day and bring them up to her sitting room and leave the tray for her there.

Marian is instantly taken by the heirlooms that fill the home. She takes it upon herself to polish the silver and restore lustre to the home’s many treasures. The family is each affected by the home in different ways, and it is changing them.

I love the atmospheric setting of the story, with a remote and isolated palatial estate. This was a quick read for me, and it gave me the chills that I was hoping for. There is also a 1976 film adaptation by the same name, starring Oliver Reed and Karen Black. I’ll be looking for that one!

R.C. Bray delivers a great narration, and he is well suited for this type of story. I have listened to him narrate other haunted house stories, and I like him. His voice adds to the air of mystery in the story.

This review was posted on my book blog:
https://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.ca/... ...more

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