This book has received a lot of flack over the years because of its basis in being "A True Story." But when you put aside the hoax aspect, you got yourself a pretty decent haunted house story in and of itself.

Written by Jay Anson, a columnist I believe before the book was published, and collaborated on with George and Kathleen Lutz, "The Amityville Horror" tells the tale of the Lutz family who move into a house in Long Island which was the scene of a grisly mass murder a year earlier. They flee in horror 28 days after moving in due to inexplicable goings-on...I believe the story is well known enough where I don't have to continue describing the tale. We all know it, thanks to the 1979 feature film starring James Brolin, but also because "The Amityville Horror" was a best selling sensation!

My point is this - the book was written fairly quickly, as the "supposed" events took place in December 1975-January 1976, and the book was on the shelves by 1977. The book is very descriptive in its narrative, and it goes beyond what is happening to the family inside of the house. It goes into the priest's life, his feelings, his experiences and fears; most importantly, it goes into personal matters such as George Lutz's business troubles, et al. It's NOT just about the house, and its NOT just about the devil, although the point is driven home in that regard. It even gives insight to Ronald DeFeo and his family, although the book is not an essay on the how's and/or why's of DeFeo's motives in killing his family.

For a book that was written as fast as it was in order to become the very first edition on the Amityville mystique, Anson managed to write like he had all the time in the world, and he avoided what could have easily become a run-on narrative without any depth.

Read "The Amityville Horror" as you would any ghost story without the pretense of it being a true story - I find it ranks right up there with the best of them.

It's a great book.

I didn't really care for it too much. A friend of mine kept building it up before I read it though so I guess it just couldn't live up to my expectations.

It's a good book.

Enhanced by the idea that it "might" be true.

Never read it, but would like to. I'll have to pick this one up.

Isn't this book out of print? I read it back when I was a kid (around 12 or so), and I gave it away because it scared me so much. But I looked for a copy a few years ago, and couldn't find it listed anywhere.

Also, wasn't there some kind of "curse" associated with this book? I remember reading somewhere that many of the people who were involved with it (including Jay Anson himself) all died "mysteriously". I'm not sure how much of that is exaggeration (it was written quite a few years ago, so obviously they would've died from natural causes), but it adds an even more freaky touch to the whole Amityville mystique.

For people interested in the book and have a) never read it but wanted to know about the story; or b) read the book and wanted to know more about the story, there will be a documentary on A & E tonight at 6 p.m. e.s.t.

"City Confidential: Horror in Amityville"

More true than you think....

I read this book when it came out. I was 13. It scared the bejesus out of me. I was up for nights not being able to sleep.

Read it in High School in the 80s. Scared the hell out of me.
Movie suffered in comparison.

I also read it when first released. I was 9 or 10 and it affected me the same way. Every time I looked out the window, I was convinced I saw red eyes peeking in.

I may read it again, to see if it has the same punch. Of course, I won't worry about being scared this time. I'm a grown man and *GET OUT* See ya!

Hoofs it out of thread and hides in closet

Honk!

You know, I hadn't made an effort to find a copy of this book after seeing the movie and not being all that impressed. But after this thread, maybe I'll have to make another trip to the used book store.

Quote:

Originally posted by Buttmunker
For people interested in the book and have a) never read it but wanted to know about the story; or b) read the book and wanted to know more about the story, there will be a documentary on A & E tonight at 6 p.m. e.s.t.

"City Confidential: Horror in Amityville"

Damn.

::kicking himself for not reading this thread earlier::

It was always surprising to me that the book has been OOP for years now, considering it was a huge best seller. But now that there is going to be a remake on the 1979 movie next year, I suppose the book will make it back to the mainstream shelves of Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks, et al.

Wow, no movie tie-in. I guess there is so much legal wrangling over copyright that they're gonna miss the boat on selling multiple copies of The Amityville Horror. The new movie is doing well, and if the book was available, that would sell very well.