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heidi_may91's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
acejolras's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This happened to be my first Lovecraft, and it was a trip knowing he ghostwrote this for Houdini. Not that I expected any different, but people are certainly right that a lot of his idea of horror is…brown people existing. I kept rolling my eyes that “Houdini” thought Anglicized Egypt was too much like home but then hated the Bedouins when they had a more authentic experience.
For being a short story, I found it quite a slog and very wordy, and the payoff wasn’t worth it. I’m much more interested in considering the unreliable narrator aspect.
For being a short story, I found it quite a slog and very wordy, and the payoff wasn’t worth it. I’m much more interested in considering the unreliable narrator aspect.
almondraids's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
qalminator's review
4.0
I realize this was not intended to be funny, but I found large chunks of it hilarious. It seems to me that Houdini's influence over the story was to make it over-the-top in noticeably ridiculous ways. Good, fun read.
asimilarkite's review against another edition
3.0
Somehow this is the first H.P. Lovecraft story I have ever read. Kind of a strange one to read first, considering that it's the only thing he ever ghost-wrote, and it's ghost-written for Harry Houdini, which is just incredibly random.
I think there's something about Lovecraft's writing style that just inherently bugs me. It's overly descriptive, which sometimes I like, but in this situation it just annoyed me. I really liked the dark tone and the descriptions of the setting, but it's just....to many words or something.
Besides all that, I did kinda like this story. It's been a month or so since I read it, and it did actually stay with me a little. It's creepy and dark and grotesque, and made me want to learn more about Harry Houdini, actually :)
I think there's something about Lovecraft's writing style that just inherently bugs me. It's overly descriptive, which sometimes I like, but in this situation it just annoyed me. I really liked the dark tone and the descriptions of the setting, but it's just....to many words or something.
Besides all that, I did kinda like this story. It's been a month or so since I read it, and it did actually stay with me a little. It's creepy and dark and grotesque, and made me want to learn more about Harry Houdini, actually :)
fachrinaa's review
5.0
Read as part of [b:The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft|28259982|The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft|H.P. Lovecraft|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456092177l/28259982._SX50_.jpg|12926020]
hendejos's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dorothy_gale's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars... This audiobook had such potential! It had a horrible female narrator with a heavy accent who mispronounced such simple terms as Gaza and dynasty. Since it was Harry Houdini's story they should've used a male narrator. Then if you can get past all that, you're left wondering if you should really trust the story because it is Houdini after all. Would be a good thriller to be made into a movie if it hasn't already been done. Not good for claustrophobic peeps... Good thing it's short!