When you pick up a book and begin to read, there is an unspoken understanding between you and the author - you will agree to surrender yourself to the improbable, perhaps the silly, the distasteful, the romance, the excitement. You agree to let your imagination run wild. This is no more true than in the case of a horror novel.
When I was a tween, I LOVED horror stories. In fact, I think I read every John Saul book he had written up until that point. I especially remember Comes the Blind Fury and When the Wind Blows - being absolutely "creeped out," but unable to look away. Begging my Mom to buy me the next book. That is what an avid reader does - finishes one book while already looking ahead to the next.
At the same time in the history of me, I watched all of those scary movies - Jason and Friday the 13th, Halloween, Freddy Kreuger in Nightmare on Elm Street (this was a particular favourite because it married my love for horrors (at the time) with my curiosity about dreams and sleep). All of my friends did ... and we would watch them together and scream at all the right parts. Just like tween girls do.
I do NOT like these movies now. I am too old, I think. I find it stressful - the anticipation, the suspense. I just ... I can't take it. I feel like I need a tranquilizer (or four) after I have finished watching a horror film. Maybe it is because I am highly suggestable. For instance, repeatedly, while I read And the Band Plays On I felt my neck, checking for enlarged lymph nodes; and every scratch/blemish/mark on my skin seemed like it could be evidence of Kaposi's Sarcoma. I began to wonder if Addison's psoriasis could be an indication of the virus. But, the thing is ... the members of my family are not at high risk for contracting HIV - we are not gay men, we are not intravenous drug users, we have not had blood transfusions. But still ... I continued to wonder. On a completely different note, if you mention the great pasta salad you recently had at friend's house, it will sit in the back of my mind, festering, until I must have pasta salad, too. Yes, I am very suggestable.
However, after all this talk about disliking horror stories because I am old and suggestable, I do not mean to insinuate that I did not enjoy The Ruins, by Scott Smith. I did. But I will not be visiting the Mayan jungle any time soon. The beach would be fine, but not the jungle. Sometimes a good scary story can make you feel alive and full of excitement. In my opinion, it is easier to read a horror, than to watch one, because when reading there is no suspenseful music playing. At my house, a scary novel is accompanied only by the chatter and arguing and occasional crying of children in the background - which, of course, can be scary in its own way.
The story centres around six friends who set off in search for Heinrich, who is the brother of one of the friends - does that make sense? I'm sure you get the idea ... there is a group of friends on a search to find a person. They are led into the Mayan jungle, where they are held captive on a small hill by some Mayan locals. Strange things begin to happen. Very strange things. And, the vine ... do not go near the vine.
This book is written without chapters, which I actually liked for this story. It reads like a true account ... there are no pauses for the reader because there are no pauses for the characters. Although written in the third person, the story shifts perspective so the reader benefits from understanding each person's mindset and attitude at different times during the story.
There is some symbolism in this book that is sure to attract a Psychology Major/English Minor girl, like me. As the group travels on its way to the jungle (in a truck), a dog barks at them the entire trip. As if it is trying to warn them ... it is loud and a little viscious and annoying and persistent. They couldn't ignore him. Now I wonder if the dog sensed that the group were spiritually doomed and was afraid of them. The barking was intense and loud and definitely instilled some fear in the group of adventurers. At the very least, it seems that the barking dog was intended as a warning.
And, I think the travellers knew their fate ... they sensed their own spiritual destiny. Each of the four main characters felt some apprehension about the hike, but each of them chose to keep their fears to him/herself. They did not have the courage to speak up. And, if just one of them could have found their voice, it would have changed everything.
Once trapped on the hill, things become similar to The Lord of the Flies - the dynamic of "a group" becomes evident. A leader steps forward, others question every decision, some follow along, even when they do not want to. Jeff takes command and the others follow because he seems the most knowledgable. He has the most confidence in his decisions and ideas. He reminds me of Matthew Fox, on Lost - but younger. Jeff is a winner ... he probably got straight A's, he probably played on that one baseball team to win a State Championship in the last twenty-five years - he gets what he wants. Jeff deals in the here-and-now; he figures out what needs to be done and he does it. He doesn't see the benefit in discussing things over and over before making a decision, he cannot worry about what is going to happen tomorrow. He doesn't want to leave things up to fate ... he'll decide his own. And, he dies trying to take back control of the situation, but Jeff is not a loser.
During a part of the story, the novel, The Son Also Rises 
by Ernest Hemingway is mentioned in a very casual context. I have never read it, but I felt very strongly that it must have been mentioned for a reason, or gave some clue into the theme of the book. Perhaps the story parallelled The Ruins, in some meaningful way. So, I did a little research. The Son Also Rises is based on a line from the Bible ...
"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth forever"
Source: Wikipedia
This could also be an underlying theme for The Ruins ... one group gets caught on the hill, and they will surely be followed by another. The hill will never change. And, we see evidence of this at the end of the story.
In both The Ruins and The Sun Also Rises, values and morality are tested; the characters must decide what they think is "right." When one friend is injured and surely dying, would it be more humane to kill him (quickly) or let him die a long painful death?
If you enjoy a good thriller, pick up this one ... if not, try one of the books I have suggested. Just be sure to keep your end of that unwritten agreement between you and the author ... surrender yourself and believe. Just for awhile.
Vine images found at http://www.tavolo.com.sg/
