The Last Days of Jack Sparks

Whatever you do, DO NOT LAUGH AT AN EXORCISM. It really pisses off the demon.

Jack Sparks, author of Jack Sparks on a Pogo Stick (in which he hopped from Land's End to John O'Groats), Jack Sparks on Gangs, Jack Sparks on Drugs (which landed him in rehab), and this posthumously published book (originally titled Jack Sparks on the Supernatural) was (in no particular order) an atheist, a narcissist, and a complete douche canoe. May he rest in peace.

Jack's older brother, Alistair (equally douchey, as it turns out), has taken it upon himself to publish Jack's final manuscript, complete with notes to his editor (Eleanor) and additional transcipts of interviews with witnesses of Jack's final days.

Intent on disproving the existence of the show more supernatural, Jack begins his research for his last book by witnessing an exorcism in a rural Italian church. A teenage girl, Maria Corvi, is brought by her farm labourer mother to have a possible demon cast out by famous exorcist (and published author) Father Primo di Stefano. Convinced that Maria is an actress and this is all a performance for his benefit, Jack laughs. On his return trip to England, a creepy video appears on Jack's YouTube channel, then disappears. As Jack's research for the book and investigation into the mysterious video lead him to Hong Kong and then to Hollywood, it becomes clear that Jack has attracted someone's attention. But is it, as he convinces himself, all a conspiracy to deceive him, or is it something more malicious and dangerous?

As I was finishing this book late last night in my comfy reading chair (because no way in hell was I going to finish this thing in bed in the dark), my ten-year-old projectile vomited all over the bathroom. Luckily his head did not spin (nor did his eyes turn yellow or he suddenly start speaking Latin), so we're good there, but I was a little worried for a minute. That's how creepy this book is...and also damn gory, but funny as hell. (See what I did there? I can't help it.)

Jack is the ultimate self-obsessed writer/media persona, always checking his social media accounts, counting his followers, building his brand. He sees himself as a major player, comparing himself to some of my favorite non-fiction writers.

In an email to his agent (Murray), Jack writes, "Does Bill Bryson have to write 30,000 words before he can sell his latest books that he's written all about himself? Of course he doesn't, and neither should I. Sort it out." His agent replies, "Bryson's books aren't strictly speaking all about himself. Yours pretty much are. (Not a criticism, just FYI.)"

Within the text of JSotS, Jack writes about laughing at the exorcism, "At this point, if I was a Louis Theroux or a Jon Ronson, I would nervously prop my spectacles back up onto the bridge of my nose and utter something evasive, most likely in the form of another question. (Eleanor: I know you and Murray don't like me mentioning these guys in print, but I heard Ronson slagged me off on the radio last week. He didn't mention me by name, but blatantly cast apersions in my direction. And in the Fitzroy Tavern, one of Theroux's flunkies couldn't resist telling me all about Louis' book sales and viewing figures and asking whether I'd landed myself a TV series yet. So as far as I'm concerned it's open fucking season.) Instead I tell Di Stefano I laughed because his exorcism struck me as pantomime."

But who Jack is in his books and online isn't really who he is in real life, as revealed when we get to see him through others' eyes...and as he eventually begins to reveal to his readers as the world unravels around him.

Somehow Arnopp managed to write a book that is creepy, funny, and thought-provoking all at once. He lays out clues through the book that all play into the big reveal at the end.

Maybe The Last Days of Jack Sparks isn't a perfect book, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. show less

Holy shit. This audiobook was very entertaining, and maybe a little too scary in places for me, since I’m a giant weenie. But honestly: well-written, funny, gross, super twisty, and did I mention creepy?? The narrator does a fantastic job as well.

Much like Jack’s experience in the story, there were a few times when listening to this book that my gooseflesh had gooseflesh. 😱

I’ve probably mentioned it before, but I don’t find stories about demonic possession particularly scary. I think that there are certainly elements to them that can be creepy, but movies like “The Exorcist” and “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”, while well done, don’t get my fear levels on the rise. The book “A Head Full of Ghosts” is probably my favorite exorcism related book, but even that one is filled with ambiguities instead of solid fact and over the top devilry. And then there is, of course, “My Best Friend’s Exorcism”, but that one is in it’s own little category since it’s so 80s candy coated and about the power of female friendship. So when I picked up “The Last Days of Jack Sparks”, I figured that it show more would at the very least be entertaining. Little did I know that I was going to be basically freaking out on an airplane while reading this book. And then once again while walking down a dark hallway at two in the morning days after the fact. Yep. “The Last Days of Jack Sparks” has sufficiently messed me up, y’all.

This story is built on the premise that notorious journalist Jack Sparks died while working on a new book, and that we are reading his writings around the time of his strange death. So right out the gate, we’re pretty certain that we are dealing with an unreliable narrator. Sparks is an established addict, narcissist, and sanctimonious prick, so having him as a narrator is maddening but also absolutely perfect. It’s made even better because throughout the book we are also given other perspectives from those that he interacts with, in footnotes from Sparks’ brother Alistair, transcripts of conversations, and personal diary entries. The moment that I realized that I really couldn’t trust anything that ANYONE was saying, it blew my mind. This set up made it all the more paranoia inducing, as I really didn’t know what to believe from anyone involved. It also made it so that clues that were given throughout the story could harken back in multiple formats and through multiple lenses, and seeing the puzzle pieces come together in different layers was mind boggling for me.

Sparks himself is a fabulous component to the story. Yes, he’s absolutely terrible for much of the narrative, as an egomaniacal, pretentious and abusive liar, but as he slowly starts to fall apart you see the other parts of him bit by bit, which makes him feel all the more human and relatable. I went in thinking that I was going to be just fine with him getting his comeuppance, but as he becomes more desperate and as his identities fall away I ended up being really attached him him, as rotten as he can be at times. I also liked other characters in this book, specifically Sherilyn Chastain, a combat magician who Sparks sort of teams up with on one of her cases involving a houseboat haunting in Hong Kong. She not only provided a centered and badass female voice in all of this, she was also a way for Arnopp to really delve into some deep philosophy about faith, belief, and the supernatural. While some of the other characters felt a little trope-y, such as Sparks’ love interest/flatmate Bex with her cool girl persona, I did feel that Arnopp had a place for each and every one of them.

And finally, this book is pretty darn scary. This is coming from a self professed snob when it comes to demon possession stories. I think that this one had a lot of other factors within it that made it feel unique from the others in the genre, and given that it also bent genres a bit into some science fiction principles it felt all the more creative. The imagery of a dark apartment with a silhouette in the corner is always going to set me on edge, and Arnopp really knows how to make this scenario complete and total nightmare fuel. His use of social media like youtube and twitter and things like that really gave it a modern horror flair as well, as while I was skeptical at him just describing a video would be scary, I was totally wrong. It was terrifying, especially since it totally sounded like one of those weird unexplained viral horror videos that pop up occasionally. I also really liked, and perhaps this is a bit spoilery so tread carefully, that the entire premise of this book is that the Devil (or whatever demon Sparks is dealing with) really hates having the spotlight taken off of him/it when on a serious dramatic tear.

“The Last Days of Jack Sparks” was a freaky and fun read that I cannot recommend enough. If it can make this skeptic towards the genre cheer, think of what it can do for those of you who always love your possession stories. show less

I adore this novel. It’s seriously brilliant in every way, especially the writing and set up. This novel also seriously pushed all my buttons, and after the scene in the Japanese hotel room, I had to take an anxiety pill lol. (Idk why possession by the devil or a demon scares me so badly. Maybe it was all the wrong tv when I was young, or maybe it was the Catholic upbringing from the age of 14. Maybe it was those two combined - who knows.). I enjoyed every single second of this novel. I found nothing wrong with it at all, anywhere.
Joe Jameson was the narrator of this audiobook, and he was splendid at his narration. His pronunciation of French, his accents, and his characterizations of the characters voices were all on point.
If you show more haven’t read or listened to this novel yet, please do. I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
Here is a much better review of this novel:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1553692133?book_show_action=true&from_...

5 stars, and recommended to all. show less

A really fun, tightly plotted horror novel tracking the last days of a brash Internet personality who is trying to debunk the supernatural. Narrator Jack makes it laugh out loud funny at times, but it's also superbly creepy, gripping, inventive and even moving at times. The numerous cultural and tech references make it feel incredibly current and help suck you in to Jack's world. It's maybe not quite as scary as Arnopp's accomplished short story 'A Sincere Warning About the Entity in your Home' but it shares a lot of the same DNA and is just as readable.

What I learned from this book: Never laugh during an exorcism.

This book is funny, chilling, well-written, intense madness. I was immediately sucked into the whirlwind of Jack's life, held there throughout, and I loved every minute of the experience.

The author presents this story as if it's a true account of Jack Sparks' last days. The format is managed so well that I sometimes found myself wrapped up in believing it all. At the end of the book a website is mentioned that is a kind of tribute for Jack. That site is real, and is also maintained as if Jack is real. It's a fun site, so do check it out after you've read the book.

Character development is exceptional, which greatly adds to the realism. Jack is not a particularly likable show more character. He's self-centered, opinionated, stubborn, and crass. In fairness, he's also witty and adventurous. I don't normally like books in which I don't like the main character, but something about Jack makes it all work perfectly. In fact, he's a tad addictive.

The story starts out comical, with Jack setting out to debunk supernatural claims. We laugh along with him at the absurdities of things such as exorcisms and mediums. Gradually, a layer of tension settles over us, as certain events can't be explained away so easily. And suddenly we find ourselves wide-eyed and freaked out by the predicament in which Jack finds himself.

This is supernatural fiction at its best, initially lulling us, while gradually sucking us into a world of possibilities that we can't turn away from and can't help but believe.

*I was provided with a review copy via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.* show less

A well-done exploration of the horrors of the social media construction of today's self-narrative. What sins consume the "Me Generation" as they carefully edit their lives to be consumed by others? And how much of their story is reconstructed in the process?

Jason Arnopp explores these ideas in accounts assembled after Jack's death. The writing is tense but often humorous, and boasts a well-constructed twist ending providing a creative take on a horror trope.

Though the book can feel oppressive (you know Jack is doomed and only making it worse for himself) there is an undeniable pull to deconstruct the aspects of his downfall as he tries everything he can to prevent you from doing so. This is where The Last Days of Jack Sparks really show more shines.

The best horror writing has the ability to gradually reveal to readers the terror inherent in the everyday. Jack Sparks won't make you sleep with the lights on. The scares are instead much more existential. Once you finish the novel you'll find yourself questioning your motives the next time you go to post something on a site like Facebook, Twitter, or -ahem- Goodreads. show less