The Girl Next Door

The Girl Next Door, written by Jack Ketchum, does not just evoke weirdness. It is genuinely terrifying. I recently learned that the book was written on true events, which is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of his novel. One would believe that such events could never happen in today’s world. But Ketchum’s novel is a bitter reminder that the weird and the crazies are still out there, looming over and threatening the pace humanity has managed to achieve, if ever so slightly. Ketchum’s novel is loosely based off the murder of Sylvia Likens in 1965 - while the book is disturbing, it is not nearly as shocking as the true events that claimed Likens life.

I found myself questioning whether or not it was morally right to be writing a novel based off such a horrendous atrocity. However, I came to realize that events of a horrible nature are quite often the basis of many novels – Jack the Ripper, for example, was adapted into the musical, Jekyll and Hyde. Perhaps I do not feel any moral affliction with the musical in the same way I felt for the novel because the events were from long ago. I cannot criticize someone else for wanting to base off creative work from true events, even if it verges on tasteless. It also brings recognition to the case, which I think is important.

There were many examples throughout the book that were weird… the torturing of Meg, the hapless and uncaring nature of Ruth and her appalling actions. Although it was a difficult book to read, I am grateful for the awareness it has brought into my life, and I certainly think it is important for others to read as well.