Meet the Radleys - Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in a typical suburban English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But, as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain - and lose - when we deny our appetites.
The Radleys
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A sharp, bloody tale of abstinence and indulgence (and trying not to eat the neighbours).
--Steven Hall, author of The Raw Shark Texts
--Steven Hall, author of The Raw Shark Texts
Book Description
A sharp-toothed page-turner for all fans of urban gothic and vampire-lit.
--This text refers to an alternate
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. J W
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Most families have the odd skeleton in the closet; closets in the Radleys household seem to be more likely to be filled with pale corpses.
I will confess, I have not read any of the vampire chronicles that currently fill the nation's bookshops, nor have I been drawn to the profusion of vampiric sagas shown around the clock on satellite and cable channels. In part this is due to the fact I am no longer an angst ridden teenager and I am not, indeed am unlikely ever to be, a middle aged woman who fills her house with cats, incense and ethnic art. Any book including one or more of the following words: Dark, Moon, Red, Blood, Twilight in its title is unlikely to find its way onto my bookshelf (I am more likely to break my knees with a claw hammer). The Radleys however promised a different perspective and to a larger part it delivers.
The Radleys: the parents are abstaining from their proclivities through choice, the children abstaining because they don't know they're vampires, merely that they have some odd allergies and need to wear sunblock at all times of the year. Inevitably it all goes a bit pear shaped, the daughter is a bit low on haemoglobin having recently turned vegan, she has a confrontation and erm...'sees red' literally and figuratively. As you would expect, having a confrontation with a vampire is typically short lived and terminal, as it proves in this case. Cue some angst, self discovery, rejection and acceptance. Unable to cope with this episode in his otherwise all too dull suburban life, the father calls on his brother for assistance - his brother has something of a reputation and a lot of `history' - cue some more twists. Now, none of these twists are truly revelatory, they are all reasonably signposted; however, this doesn't really matter to the reader. The joy of this story is seeing where it is all going and tagging along for the ride. There are a few areas of the book that could have been explored further, as well as a couple of relationships and areas of the book that didn't seem to add all that much except to paint an image of middle class suburb (for me, the book club in particular didn't really add anything to the narrative). However, the Radleys is an intelligently written book that would bear a second reading. It maintains a good pace throughout, and I will read another of Haig's books on the strength of this outing. So, all in all a fun read and no claw hammers required.
I will confess, I have not read any of the vampire chronicles that currently fill the nation's bookshops, nor have I been drawn to the profusion of vampiric sagas shown around the clock on satellite and cable channels. In part this is due to the fact I am no longer an angst ridden teenager and I am not, indeed am unlikely ever to be, a middle aged woman who fills her house with cats, incense and ethnic art. Any book including one or more of the following words: Dark, Moon, Red, Blood, Twilight in its title is unlikely to find its way onto my bookshelf (I am more likely to break my knees with a claw hammer). The Radleys however promised a different perspective and to a larger part it delivers.
The Radleys: the parents are abstaining from their proclivities through choice, the children abstaining because they don't know they're vampires, merely that they have some odd allergies and need to wear sunblock at all times of the year. Inevitably it all goes a bit pear shaped, the daughter is a bit low on haemoglobin having recently turned vegan, she has a confrontation and erm...'sees red' literally and figuratively. As you would expect, having a confrontation with a vampire is typically short lived and terminal, as it proves in this case. Cue some angst, self discovery, rejection and acceptance. Unable to cope with this episode in his otherwise all too dull suburban life, the father calls on his brother for assistance - his brother has something of a reputation and a lot of `history' - cue some more twists. Now, none of these twists are truly revelatory, they are all reasonably signposted; however, this doesn't really matter to the reader. The joy of this story is seeing where it is all going and tagging along for the ride. There are a few areas of the book that could have been explored further, as well as a couple of relationships and areas of the book that didn't seem to add all that much except to paint an image of middle class suburb (for me, the book club in particular didn't really add anything to the narrative). However, the Radleys is an intelligently written book that would bear a second reading. It maintains a good pace throughout, and I will read another of Haig's books on the strength of this outing. So, all in all a fun read and no claw hammers required.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Jackie
Format:Kindle Edition
On deciding to have a look at the books being reviewed on the TV Book Club, I saw this book and on reading the description, found I was intrigued.
This is a vampire story, but for a change not all about the angst of teenagers. The family, the Radleys, mum and dad with teenage son & daughter, are just living normal if somewhat boring lives in their small village. The kids having a hard time at school, the father a local GP and mum a housewife. However, the parents are actually vampires who have made the decision not to be practising vampires, and the teens don't yet know.
All this is, of course, about to change, as in one moment in time the daughter discovers what she really is capable of. We then go on the journey of how they tell their children what they are and what it means. A long missing relative visits and all sorts of memories and feeling are stirred up for the couple, and as will happen in a book, matters come to a head and decisions have to made.
I don't want to spoil any more of the story, but I will say that I really enjoyed the book, it was all about vampires, which I love, but with a difference. There were teen vamps but the book was not all about them, there was plenty of more adult themes and concerns. Because of this I would recommend this book, in particular, to any one who enjoys vampire books, but who is getting a bit tired of the young age of all the main characters.
I will watch the episode when this book is discussed with interest, and investigate other books by Matt Haig
This is a vampire story, but for a change not all about the angst of teenagers. The family, the Radleys, mum and dad with teenage son & daughter, are just living normal if somewhat boring lives in their small village. The kids having a hard time at school, the father a local GP and mum a housewife. However, the parents are actually vampires who have made the decision not to be practising vampires, and the teens don't yet know.
All this is, of course, about to change, as in one moment in time the daughter discovers what she really is capable of. We then go on the journey of how they tell their children what they are and what it means. A long missing relative visits and all sorts of memories and feeling are stirred up for the couple, and as will happen in a book, matters come to a head and decisions have to made.
I don't want to spoil any more of the story, but I will say that I really enjoyed the book, it was all about vampires, which I love, but with a difference. There were teen vamps but the book was not all about them, there was plenty of more adult themes and concerns. Because of this I would recommend this book, in particular, to any one who enjoys vampire books, but who is getting a bit tired of the young age of all the main characters.
I will watch the episode when this book is discussed with interest, and investigate other books by Matt Haig
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Steve Jansen
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Witty, clever and inventive, Matt Haig's The Radleys shines a light on contemporary mores by superimposing our everyday foibles onto a surreal situation. In this case, The Radleys of the title are vampires. Vampires attempting to live a normal suburban life. However, there is a twist. The parents of the family have chosen this way of life - they are abstainers, dosed up on supermarket painkillers attempting to keep their sickness at bay - whereas the children are - despite the factor 30 sunblock and controlled diets - unaware of their true natures. That is until something happens causing the proverbial curtain to be pulled back, and the truth to be revealed.
I enjoyed Haig's tale, holding at bay the obvious relationship to so many other vampire stories of the moment. The author doesn't necessarily add anything to the bloodsuckers legend, but then I'm not sure that was ever the case. My only criticism is Haig's rather affected prose style, which I found too often stood between me and a suitable pace; it's as if the author is holding the story at arm's length. That said, style is obviously a matter of taste, and there's still much to enjoy in The Radleys.
I enjoyed Haig's tale, holding at bay the obvious relationship to so many other vampire stories of the moment. The author doesn't necessarily add anything to the bloodsuckers legend, but then I'm not sure that was ever the case. My only criticism is Haig's rather affected prose style, which I found too often stood between me and a suitable pace; it's as if the author is holding the story at arm's length. That said, style is obviously a matter of taste, and there's still much to enjoy in The Radleys.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thought enducing read
I felt the 'vampire' element was a great metaphor. I like how Haig looks at the parasitic nature of tedium and suburban life. And likewise the power of desire and temptation. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Steven Edwards
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. After reading the blurb I wasn't really sure what to expect.
Genre defying and great short sharp perspectives from varying characters. Read more
Genre defying and great short sharp perspectives from varying characters. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Heather K. B.
4.0 out of 5 stars
good
this book is good but it took me awhile to get into it once a did i found it a good read you just need to give it a chance
Published 24 days ago by chels
2.0 out of 5 stars
Font size ridiculous
I am unsure that i will be able to read this book due to the size of font. I wish that I had bought it for Kindle, it arrived whilst I was away on holiday so I cannot return... Read more
Published 24 days ago by E. Coates
3.0 out of 5 stars
A rather different vampire tale
That's not a spoiler, I hope. I think it is obvious to most people who read the blurb what this is about. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Paul Lynch
3.0 out of 5 stars
Blood lust
The Radleys are a typical middle class English family. Peter and wife Helen live with two teenage children (a boy, Rowan, and a girl, Clara) and enjoy the niceties of village... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Smallvillenews
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Radleys - great fun
I found this was an enjoyable story and well told. The author handled the vampire theme pretty well and introduced enough of his own mythology to ensure it never felt old or stale. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Wilkie Martin
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very entertaining
An easy read with a busy pace, very enjoyable and a new take on the vampire genre, looking forward to reading more by the author
Published 1 month ago by Katie
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Radleys
Wonderfully weird! Thu novel was so much better than I expected. Haunting and moving and strangely believable. Truly original. Read more
Published 1 month ago by wendy doyle
4.0 out of 5 stars
different
I am not a fan of vampire stories or drama tv. but this vampire story had me turning the pages i just simply could not put this book down. Read more
Published 1 month ago by bookmoviefanatic
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