When an earthquake reveals a secret cave hidden inside Mount Ararat in Turkey, a daring newly engaged couple are determined to be the first ones inside…and what they discover will change everything.
The cave is actually a buried ancient ship that many quickly come to believe is Noah’s Ark. When a team of scholars, archaeologists, and filmmakers make it inside the ark, they discover an elaborate coffin in its recesses. Inside the coffin, they find something hideous. Shock and fear turn to horror when a massive blizzard blows in, trapping them thousands of meters up the side of a remote mountain. All they can do is pray for safety. But something wicked is listening to their prayers…and it wants to answer.
BOOK REVIEW BLOG: ARARAT
Having a Catholic upbringing for a good portion of my life, it was no wonder why I was drawn into Ararat when I read the book’s description. The book’s description notes the possible discovery of Noah’s Ark, the ship built by a man named Noah, where he and his family, along with an animal of each species, are spared by God from a massive, and global flood. Of course, this discovery brings a culmination of feelings from the myriad of characters whose team on this unprecedented expedition comes from all walks of life, cultures, and religions. What’s more, when an ancient coffin discovered in this ancient ship is opened, much to the demise of all, the withered skeletal, and horned, remains of something, reminiscent of a demon, brings an air of discomfort and terror.
An earthquake, and avalanche, kick-start the expedition that defaces the mountain and reveals a cave where the colossal boat and coffin are discovered. Adam and Meryam, a soon-to-be-married adventurous couple, get wind of the discovery and race to the mountain to document the finding and lay claim to the finding. The couple put their wedding on hold with aspirations of fame and notoriety. Of course, such a discovery brings along with it nay-sayers and others who want in on the find.
Ararat takes what I would consider an appropriate amount of time to develop the atmosphere and ample time to explore the characters and the setting. Because of this significant discovery, beliefs are questioned and disputed the question of which religion got it right comes into play. Of course, if the book were solely based on this question, it still would have made for a fascinating read that most likely would have resulted in more questions. But, let’s face it, I’m in this for the fiction and entertainment, not for a dissertation.
The build-up was fantastic because, like any well-made thriller or horror movie, when the third act comes into the foreground, there is no stopping the story from moving forward. While there are certainly a few scary and creepy moments strewn throughout, I can’t say that Ararat was a particularly scary read. I had a hard time visualizing much of the scenery as it felt nearly expanse save for when Golden was specific. It felt too grandiose for the most part. Still, that did little to detract me.
Ararat is the first Christopher Golden novel that I read, and I have to say that I was very impressed and prompted me to order another book or two in his arsenal of fiction. Ararat was a pleasant blend of horror, thriller, and adventure. If I had to compare the book to a movie, it would be a blend of The Keep, John Carpenter’s The Thing, Fallen starring Denzel Washington, and a dash of Everest because of the high-altitude setting. The Keep in that an object is disturbed, and an evil unleashed; The Thing in that we are kept guessing who is “infected” and Fallen, again, because it is a guessing game as to who is possessed. While this may make it seem like the novel is all over the place, it is not. There were a few minor nuisances that I could have done without; namely, the comparison to the aforementioned film, Fallen. Nonetheless, Ararat was a fun, thrilling, suspenseful read-through to the end, which was, in and of itself, a great conclusion.