BOOK REVIEW: THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

BOOK REVIEW: THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT BY DALE ROBERTSON

27/8/2018

BY MATT BRANDENBURG

BOOK REVIEW: THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT BY DALE ROBERTSON Picture

If you’re like me, then you are a Nineties kid raised on TV and Nintendo. And if you’re really like me, then you probably stayed home on Saturday nights and watched shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark? Remember that show? Where a group of kids sat around a campfire and told scary stories. Some of the stories were great(I’m looking at you clown with no nose) and some of the stories weren’t(basement that granted wishes). Well, Dale Robertson’s The House That Jack Built is sorta like that show, except instead of campfire the characters are sitting in a pentagram trying to summon Old Man Jack. It’s a great concept for a book, but unfortunately there is something lacking in its execution.

We are introduced to Sebastian(Seb), Tommy, and Regan, three school kids that have made plans to check out the urban legend of Old Man Jack. Apparently, if you go into the creepy house in the middle of the woods, light some candles and tell scary stories you’ll entice Old Man Jack out of his hiding place. It’s a rite of passage for the kids in town, usually bringing back some junk from the place to prove you actually did it. All of the rumors about the house and Old Man Jack stemmed from Tommy and Seb, yet the two have never been there. So when their friend Regan points out this fact and guilts them into going, they have no excuses. This is a perfect setup for a wraparound story to showcase some short stories.

Tommy and Seb are decent characters to follow into the house. They are both all talk when it comes to sneaking in, doing their best to hide their fear from the others, especially a girl. Which leads us to shady Regan. She could be an awesome character, but instead she comes off like a child doing a terrible job hiding a secret. I’m all for having a character with ulterior motives, but either have the other characters notice this or give us something unexpected. It takes away a bit of the suspense when you know that Regan is not going to be a good person.

I think each of the three stories has their moments. Out of the three, Regan’s is probably the best. Seb’s story is about an old man that discovers he can gain his youth back by drinking the blood of children. Tommy’s story is about an app that not only allows you to order delivery, it also has a function that allows you to order prostitutes. I like the twist on vampirism involving old people, and the app story is cool concept. It’s definitely the most gory of the three, which can be fun, but stays away from the more interesting aspect of story: the company that is behind the app. I’d like to see a longer version exploring how the company started, kidnapped people, and is able to get away with it. Regan’s story is about a mother and son that move to a town where the children are being brainwashed and controlled by a demon running a Sunday school. It feels like Regan’s story is Robertson’s favorite, the detail and pace of the story is well thought out and executed.

The thing that I should point out is that these stories are not tied to the central plot of the book. There are no clues or messages that’ll lead you to a deeper understanding of Regan, Seb, or Tommy. I don’t know if tying the stories to the town or the characters would have improved the book, but I’m sure it would have connected us to them more. And it’s always fun looking at the story within the story for any hints at what might be happening in the real world(of the book).

After they tell their stories we get a somewhat hurried explanation of the truth behind Old Man Jack. It’s nothing you haven’t really heard before, and since we already know Regan has a secret, the reveal isn’t that shocking. I’m sure the ending would have had more of an impact if I was invested in the characters, but since I felt like I barely knew them, I wasn’t upset when the inevitable happens.

Overall, I didn’t exactly hate this book. The concept is strong, it’d be a fun book to read around Halloween. But, it’s a mixed bag of what to focus on, the wrap-around and the stories compete with each other leaving you indifferent. It’s a quick read, which might be part of the reason why I feel the way I do. There isn’t a lot to distract you from the sections that didn’t work. I know some books feel like they have too much filler, but this is one that might have improved with more to flesh out the characters and the legend.

Old Man Jack is a myth, a legend that school kids use to scare one another. He was once a man who kept his life private, until events unfolded that didn't go in his favour.

His house is seen as a challenge by the kids; a place of eeriness, menace and excitement, a chance to prove their courage to their peers - "Mess about in there and Old Man Jack will get you," they say. Some children have explored the building and come back with elaborate stories of the supernatural to spread around the playground. Some haven't come back at all, or so the tales go. No story is the same, so which one do you believe?

Sebastian, Tommy and Regan have heard all the talk, but are still eager to earn themselves legendary status.
They are about to find out exactly what happens in the house that Jack built.