A Stir of Echoes

Surprisingly frank tale from the 50s. As good as the movie, with a different twist.

I saw Kevin Bacon in Stir of Echoes years ago and really enjoyed the movie as a slow boil horror/mystery. I’d known Richard Matheson, a renowned writer who produced tales of horror, science fiction, fantasy, and penned more than a few Twilight Zone episodes, had written the book the movie was based on, but I’d never read it.I wanted something different to read in the middle of all the Dray Prescot books I’m reading over the Christmas break, happened across this one on Amazon, and downloaded it on a whim. Then I sat down to read.Richard Matheson was an excellent storyteller. It doesn’t matter what medium he worked in: novel, short story, television. He just introduced you to a character and a situation, and then he got on with it. A Stir of Echoes (notice that the book is titled differently than the movie) starts out calmly, just a dinner date that includes a brother-in-law who gets along well with his sister and Tom Wallace, the narrator of this tale.After getting hypnotized, Tom starts seeing a mysterious woman in his house and becomes convinced she is a ghost. This book was written back in 1958 (I was actually surprised by the copyright date) and talk of medium and séances had kind of faded, although SF had picked up the “wild talents” theory (basically psi powers like telepathy, precognition, and psychometry, etc.).Matheson’s story is a quick, gripping read. Although I had seen the movie, I was delighted to learn that the book was not the same story. Most of it is there, but the tension ratchets up in different ways and the ending is much different.The thing I liked the most is the fact that Tom Wallace just seems like an everyday guy, a buddy you could hang with at work, a friend who has a family life and problems similar to yours. It’s that everyman feel that really sets off this book. I was swept away by the story, by Tom’s problems and his efforts to handle them for himself and his family. I was so caught up in them that I forgot that I wasn’t reading about the 21st century. The absence of computers and cell phones never really touched me because I was so firmly entrenched in Tom’s world.The book does take a weird twist at the end, and that bothered me somewhat. Although Tom is on hand for the finale, he’s not really cognizant of the action. I didn’t much care for that, but the whole confrontation that takes place proceeds at a blistering pace and turns so unexpectedly I was caught flatfooted.This is a good book for a weekend read. Dedicated readers can probably knock it out in a night or two. Rest assured, if you’ve seen the Kevin Bacon movie (also good!), you haven’t seen everything Matheson has to offer. Pick up a copy for a slow, dark weekend and enjoy being captivated

Easy to read no frills yarn, upon which the supernatural thriller movie of the same name is loosely based. I love love love the movie, staring Kevin Bacon, Katherine Erbe, Illeana Douglas! Alas,one can only watch the same movie so many times in a year,...then it just starts getting weird... So I decided to check out the book. I have noticed that most of the time if a screenplay adaptation is good, I will like the original work from whence it sprang... ( H-E-L-L-O? Can you say The Walking Dead???!) There are ALWAYS differences between the original and the adaptation, so that keeps my interest up. Since, IMO, the movie is totally awesome in every way, then I find it fascinating to see how, or in what ways, the book was, and wasn't, changed up! Matheson was ahead of his time: this book came out in the 50's, and I believe the book shows that he had a more of a 21rst century understanding of "the other side." So it still will hold your interest and definitely worth a read if you like the supernatural.

I'm disappointed. This is the first Matheson story I've read. I had heard how fabulous he was.Like I said, I was disappointed. I gave it three stars for a good twist at the end. Otherwise, I thought his writing was grade-school level and the dialogue really just embarrassingly bad. Maybe it's me. I'm sure I will check out more of his writing in hopes this story was simply an aberration, but definitely low-priority.

I recently watched the movie on Prime so I thought I'd read the book. What a good idea. From the opening lines through the final page this is a riveting read.Matheson has struck a tone of suspense few can muster. He moves us through this slice of Tom's life in a steady, thoughtful way that leaves no doubt in our minds who Tom is, what he's thinking and why he's acting as he is.After Tom's brother in law hypnotizes Tom at a party, Tom starts to notice changes in himself. He seems to be able to tap into people's minds and, somewhat, predict the future. He seems particularly sensitive to evil and death in general. This starts to affect his moods along with his family. There's a strange presence in the house and Tom, reluctant at first, decides to face it.Wonderful premise along with thoughtful and engaging writing.Summary: Doesn't follow the movie too much but the premise is the same. Great writing and very engaging. Four solid stars.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good Kevin Bacon flick, but the book that lead to the movie is by far superior in all aspects.

A Stir of Echoes the novel is a far stranger story than the Kevin Bacon movie that was made from the book (both are good in different ways). The theme of the bizarre acceptance (and perpetration) of abuse of women by their husbands as part of the social mores of the times lends a darkness to the tale and the surprise ending dares to upend that acceptance. Additionally, the way that couples hang out together in the novel, not because there is friendship or caring there, but because everyone's marriage is a prison and it's like they all get together as though they were talking through the bars of their adjacent jail cells.

I found all the characters in this book to be thoroughly disagreeable if not dreary That being said, I found it an interesting story not to be confused with the excellent movie. For me the story had a surprising twist at the very end. I enjoyed the short read even though some of the dialog was a bit Young Adult. But then, I'm old.