Have you ever had a houseguest that overstayed their welcome? It happens from time to time and often grows awkward; especially if you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to seem mean yet also really wants the person to go. In Crawlspace by Herbert Lieberman a situation like this occurs, though in a way that one wouldn’t expect. The ‘houseguest’ in question is a young man whom originally showed up to deliver oil to Graves’ house, one who Albert and Alice invited to stay for dinner. They also loaned him a book to read given his interest in the one selected from their library. Not long after that, the young man returns to bring more oil, only this time it seems as if he is doing more in the cellar than simply restocking things. An investigation by Albert after he leaves that day shows evidence of this, evidence that seems to suggest that the young man has prepared the crawlspace in their house as a sort of living quarters. Time passes and eventually the young man does move into the crawlspace, at which point Albert and Alice have the locks changed so he can’t come back. However, the reaction to this from the young man one night overwhelms them with pity, and soon they leave a key so that he can have unrestricted access to the crawlspace. After this an odd relationship between the Graves and the young man named Richard develops, one that fills a need for the two adults who have failed to have children on their own. In time Richard even moves out of the crawlspace and takes one of the bedrooms, his closeness and trust toward the Graves developed in much the same way one would lure a stray animal in. Eventually Richard begins to accompany the Graves to church, which is when the rest of the community begins to wonder about the new houseguest. Richard also provides services to the Graves in the form of choirs and cooking. At first, these services are welcomed, but then eventually start to weigh heavy on Alice who feels as if he has made her useless. Equally unwelcomed is the reaction from the townspeople who do not want Richard to be a part of the community. In time, their scorn of him is also leveled upon Albert and Alice, which is when things take a horrible turn. Even worse, Richard won’t leave when asked and will do whatever it takes to stay in the house he has come to see as his own.Crawlspace by Herbert Lieberman was an interesting read. I really enjoyed the writing and continued question of what would happen next in the bizarre situation that was unfolding, yet at the same time could never apply a full reality to the situation. Who in the world would actually allow someone to live with them like this? Reasons for the decision were given, but never really convinced me, which dampened things a bit. This isn’t to say I didn’t like it. It was good and kept me entertained, I just couldn’t get the unrealistic aspect from my mind. I will read more from Herbert Lieberman, however, and would love it if people could give me suggestions on what I should pick out next from his body of work.
The funniest thing about this book is not the actual contents. I received this one through bookcrossing and was excessively surprised to see that it's an old English textbook. How I would have loved to have read thrillers/horror books in my High School English course! I wouldn't have cared that it as written in 1971. That wouldn't have mattered to me! Anyway, a great thriller from the early 70's. I liked the style it was written in and was even surprised to read about a bit of blood and gore at one point. Richard Atlee, the man/boy who lives in the crawlspace is creepy yet somewhat endearing in his morales. His character made me flip back and forth between feeling sympathy for him and often a dark loathing.
Do You like book Crawlspace (1977)?
I'm giving this two and a half stars. I almost want to give it three. I just might. I don't know how I feel about this book really. I didn't enjoy it, yet I read it in one day. It was boring for almost the entire length of the book, yet I couldn't put it down. I felt the characters were flat, yet I loved Richard Atlee. I just don't know. I'm very upset with the fact this was said to be a horror novel and was in fact nothing of sorts. I feel like this would be better as a movie, but there was more to this story than your typical blockbuster thriller could do justice. See, I don't understand how I feel about this book. I'm clearly in love and bored with it at the same time.
—Kaitlyn Henderson
This is a strange little book more interesting in concept than execution. An strange young man with no past moves into the crawlspace of an elderly couple's rural home uninvited and refuses to leave. They are too nice to make him leave, and the story unfolds as a series of awkward encounters between the couple, who are too polite to say much of anything, and the man in the crawlspace, who rarely says more than one or two words. The story ends with astral projection in a bizarre non-sequitur. In many ways the story is a modern retelling of The Lodger, widely accepted as one of the first serial killer novels, and its greatest moments of horror are in the believable moments of empathy that come to exist when lonely people meet each other.
—Spencer
