I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson Published by Penguin Books on July 9 2019
Pages: 240
Format: Finished paperback
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Thought provoking, emotionally satisfying and unforgettable, Craig Davidson has written a coming-of-age story that delivers on multiple levels.
How can that comet burn as it does, pursue the trajectory it does? It confuses you, because the comet disguises itself as a human girl. But make no mistake, the girl contains fire to evaporate oceans, light to blind minor gods. If I could freeze her in the heartbeat where she skipped across the footbridge, carve her out of time and fix her in the firmament…in the deepest chambers of my heart, I know that nobody, not another soul on earth, will ever be as purely astonishing as Dove Yellowbird was in that moment.
There aren’t any real ghosts in The Saturday Night Ghost Club, let’s get that straight right away. But the metaphorical ghosts that populate Craig Davidson’s wonderful new book are just as eerie and heartbreaking as any fictional ghost out there. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. Full of wonderful nostalgic moments and humorous and sometimes terrifying childhood experiences, this is an excellent coming-of-age story about friendship, first love and the secrets we keep for those we love.
The story is told by neurosurgeon Jake Baker as he remembers the unforgettable summer he was twelve, living in Cataract City (as the locals refer to Niagara Falls). Jake has an overactive imagination and believes in ghosts and other supernatural creatures, spurred on by his eccentric uncle Calvin, who encourages his beliefs by spinning wild tales about the ghostly legends of the his beloved town. Jake is also terribly bullied at school, especially by his nemesis Percy, a scrawny but mean boy who used to be Jake’s friend until he dumped him. During one particularly bad bullying session, Jake is rescued by a girl named Dove Yellowbird, who stops Percy in his tracks by throwing a rock at his head. From that moment on, Jake becomes fast friends with Dove and her brother Billy, who are new in town.
When Calvin meets Dove and Billy and realizes they are also fascinated by his ghost stories, he decides to form the Saturday Night Ghost Club, a chance to show the kids firsthand what he believes are haunted places around town. Over the course of the summer, Calvin leads Jake, Billy and Dove on a wild adventure through the town’s history, stepping back in time as he weaves his tales about the local urban legends, replete with dead children, burned buildings and knife-wielding killers. But the truth about Calvin’s connection to these legends is buried deep in his memories, and Jake will learn some startling things about his uncle before the summer is over.
The Saturday Night Ghost Club is a love letter to childhood and growing up, that moment when you realize the world is changing for good. Craig Davidson (who is also author Nick Cutter!) has written a story in the tradition of books like Stephen King’s The Body, where the innocence of childhood suddenly veers into the dangerous and mysterious world of adulthood. Davidson’s lyrical writing perfectly evokes the feeling of growing up in a small town, with all its quirky characters and many secrets. Jake is telling the story, gazing back on his twelfth year through the lens of adulthood, and I loved the way the author contrasts adult Jake’s knowledge with pre-teen Jake’s innocence and wonder. The author intersperses his story with tales of Jake’s life as a neurosurgeon, throwing in snippets of memories, both good and bad, of operating on his patients. The brain and its mysteries play an important part in the story, as you’ll see when you read it, and I loved the way the author used memory as a theme to tie everything together.
But the real star of the show is uncle Calvin, who Jake describes as: “He was an expert in lore of unspecified worth, a believer in things that went bump in the night, a self-professed seer between the worlds of the living and the dead. He was a conspiracy theorist of the highest order, and as a result, just about the best uncle a boy like me could ask for.” (Davidson says it much better than I ever could!) I wouldn’t dare reveal Calvin’s secrets, but the story, which starts on a lighthearted, adventurous note, slowly turns darker and darker as it progresses.
And as much as this tale is about Jake’s relationship with his uncle, it’s also a wonderful story of friendship and first love. It was heartbreaking to read about Jake being bullied and the way his friends tend to drop him once they meet more interesting kids at school. But I loved how Billy becomes a life-long friend of Jake’s and continues to stand by him no matter what. Jake also experiences the pangs of puppy love when he lays eyes on Dove, a tough fourteen-year-old with a restless spirit and a chewing tobacco habit, and I loved the way the author evokes the sharp and sometimes bitter feelings of first love.
It did take some time for the meandering plot to coalesce, so don’t let the slow beginning turn you off this book. Once Davidson’s magic took hold, it was impossible for me to put this down. Craig Davidson has written a very special book about families and the secrets they keep for each other, and a poignant reminder of the intense and sometimes unbearable emotions of childhood. I’m so glad I had the chance to read this!
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
“What is your favorite coming of age story?” Hmm–well, it’s about an adolescent, but I always loved “Penrod” by Booth Tarkington!
Oooh, i love the sound of this one!
Kids friend group, Stephen King vibes… the cover also reminds me a bit of Stranger Things! <3
It definitely has a Stranger Things vibe, but it’s not as supernatural focused.
Wonderful review! Sounds like it’s a little different from my usual fare but that’s not a bad thing.
It was very different, but in a good way. I love stepping away from speculative fiction now and then:-)
Haha- no judgement here. Even I Step away from SFF from time to time. I think. I haven’t been as good about that this year.
I have a copy of this and after reading your review, I think it’s kind of what I expected. Glad to see it’s reminiscent of The Body and other coming of age tales because it’s what I was hoping for. It sounds like quite a departure from Cutter’s works huh? I still really like the author even though….well, you know, Little Heaven 🙂
I’ve actually never read any Cutter books, but I know how much you LOVED Little Heaven, lol! This is completely different, I think.
anything John green!
I like the Body by Stephen King. I think of The Hobbit as a coming of age story. I also love Stranger Things because it takes me back in time.
Probably, Huckleberry Finn is my favorite. Thanks.
The contrast of adult and child perspectives sounds interesting, and the brain/memory stuff seems like it’d be thought-provoking. I hadn’t heard of this, glad to hear you enjoyed it!
It was actually a nice change of pace from what I normally read:-)
That sounds like a great read!
http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com
Yes, it’s so good!
Beautiful review, Tammy! You are right about it taking time to come together. I got so many warm fuzzies from this book, and I loved the time period.
Yes, lots of warm fuzzies, such an emotionally satisfying story!
I’m so glad I read your review for this book. The cover made me think it was probably a cozy mystery but it definitely has a lot more substance to it. It sounds wonderful!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Book Review & Giveaway – THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL by Abbi Waxman
I think the Canadian cover is much better, it gives a better feel for the story.
I like different and this sounds fun. Thanks for the heads up about the slow beginning. I’ll keep that in mind when I read this.
Laura Thomas recently posted…Cozy Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Left Fur Dead by J.M. Griffin
It wasn’t terribly slow, but it takes some time to build, which worked fine.
I loved this one! Uncle C really made the book. I had tears in my eyes by the end of it!
He did make the book, he reminded me of the grandpa on Lost Boys, if you ever saw that movie, for some reason:-)
Lovely review, Tammy! I haven’t heard of this but love the ideas present in this story. The whole coming of age theme with a touch of adult7horror sounds so good. Will definitely keep an eye out for a copy of this one!
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…Polar: Came from the Cold by Víctor Santos
Thanks Lashaan, it’s really worth reading:-)
This sounds like a great summer read. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!`
Good luck, Laurie!
I love the sound of this and a step out of the norm is just the ticket some times. Will note this one down.
Lynn 😀
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I’ve been eager to get my hands on this one forever. So glad it finally got published in the US! Great review, I can’t wait to read it.
This sounds like a good coming-of-age story. I like how the Penguin Books penguin at the lower left on the cover looks like a character in the story!
Coming of Age stories are my absolute favorite! And I really enjoyed the authors other book The Troop.
It’s very nice to read and one of my most favorite tale. To consult about brain related problems contact Dr Raja S Vignesh