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The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle

The Devil in Silver

A Novel

by Victor LaValle

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Published:
  • Aug 2012, 432 pages
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There are currently 26 member reviews
for The Devil in Silver
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  • Judy G. (Carmel, IN)
    Almost Devilish
    At the beginning of this book I had settled in for an enjoyable reading experience; however, I began to get bogged down mid-way through the book. While the concept was great with many life parallels the action dragged on too long to the point of becoming uneventful for me once it occurred. I did appreciate the character development and was impacted by Dorry's message: "our trials don't change, only the court." Thanks Dorry.
  • Beverly D. (Palm Harbor, FL)
    less than expectced
    I wanted to like this book. It is not REALLY a horror story other than the horror of the conditions at the mental hospital and how the patients are treated. The four main characters are well drawn but it took too long to engage me. Simply written with direct comments made to the reader, which I found to be finally annoying, I found this novel to be a story whose idea is much more engaging than the reading experience itself.
  • Ilene R. (Northfield, IL)
    Adventure in a mental hospital...
    I wanted to love this book. The genre, horror/suspense really appeals to me. I found it to be too slow with too many stories going on at the same time. It's the story of Pepper who ends up at a New York psych ward because the policemen are too tired to book him. He encounters quirky characters while there. One of them, "the Devil". The writing is good but I had a hard time connecting with the story.
  • Kelly H. (Martinsville, IN)
    The Devil In Silver
    Hmmm...I think this book could have been called The Daily Lives of Patients at New Hyde. I kept turning the pages excited for the big takedown of the Devil, and nothing happened. And then, I kept turning the pages excited for the next big thing to happen, and...nothing much did. It was entertaining at times, and more kooky than creepy and yucky. I was happy for that, not being a fan of mental hospital imagery. Who is, right? I don't think I'll pass this one on to my friends.
  • Christie K. (Hobbs, New Mexico)
    The Devil in Silver
    I must admit I didn't care for this book. The storyline seemed compelling at first, but over time, I got lost in the stereotypical behaviors of some of the characters, and in the way the book was written. I haven't read anything else Lavalle has done, but it seems, being a writer myself, he submitted an unfinished draft and had it published. Too many cheeky lines, exclamation points, and cliches that got in the way of the story. And, while it reminded me of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I think it was modeled TOO much after it to be really interesting. I kept thinking of the movie instead of focusing on the plot. This book was disappointing to me. On a good note, I think the idea of the story was awesome.

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