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rory_john14's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Racism, Ableism, Child death, Misogyny, Murder, Grief, and Sexism
Minor: Body horror
budge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This novel is wildly imaginative and deliciously spooky in parts. The story seemed to be about both coming of age and coming to terms with our own mortality. <<Spoilers>> I also liked the final reveal of the metaphor for life and simple message of how to cope with the nightmare of existence and resist the temptation to be manipulated by people who like to prey on human weaknesses. I'm glad I didn't read the introduction in this 2015 edition because it reveals that message before you've even started the story, so you wouldn't get that satisfying feeling when everything falls into place. The message is slightly disappointing though in the same way as the resolution of most of Dr Who's cliffhangers are, ie it's a bit too easy and doesn't quite ring true. I also found the style so richly bejewelled with hyphenated meta-adjectives that it was a bit difficult at times to follow the thread of what was going on, although I did enjoy them individually and often went back to savour them a bit, which is meant it took me an awfully long time to read the book.
The other problem I had with it was that I felt a bit excluded as a woman. I had no problem identifying with the two boys who were the main characters in the book and to a lesser extent their Dad, but then they start saying that women don't have trouble sleeping because they can have children and are therefore immortal in a way, so don't have to worry about dying, and they cry a lot. The female characters in the book are a sad spinster who wants to be young again, a crying girly, a terribly sensible mother who doesn't understand things like wanting to escape into the moonlight by climbing down from the bedroom window at night, and a wicked ugly witch who tries to control the main characters and and gets shot by the hero man. At least there isn't a beautiful sexy mysteriously knowing fantasy woman to complete the set.
The sideshow "freak" characters seem to be either possessed or evil as in so many books/ films etc and, as with the women, they are not given any sort of personality that you can relate to. It also has the main characters combatting that evil by singing part of an extremely racist song. Oh dear. <<Spoilers>>
Having read the whole Ray Bradbury section of my local library (they didn't have this one) when I was quite young I fell in love with him and don't remember them being at all problematic in that way, but I have a strong suspicion that it's because it was the seventies and we were so steeped in discriminatory attitudes then that I just didn't notice, so I'm thinking maybe best not to re-read the others now.
The other problem I had with it was that I felt a bit excluded as a woman. I had no problem identifying with the two boys who were the main characters in the book and to a lesser extent their Dad, but then they start saying that women don't have trouble sleeping because they can have children and are therefore immortal in a way, so don't have to worry about dying, and they cry a lot. The female characters in the book are a sad spinster who wants to be young again, a crying girly, a terribly sensible mother who doesn't understand things like wanting to escape into the moonlight by climbing down from the bedroom window at night, and a wicked ugly witch who tries to control the main characters and and gets shot by the hero man. At least there isn't a beautiful sexy mysteriously knowing fantasy woman to complete the set.
The sideshow "freak" characters seem to be either possessed or evil as in so many books/ films etc and, as with the women, they are not given any sort of personality that you can relate to. It also has the main characters combatting that evil by singing part of an extremely racist song. Oh dear. <<Spoilers>>
Having read the whole Ray Bradbury section of my local library (they didn't have this one) when I was quite young I fell in love with him and don't remember them being at all problematic in that way, but I have a strong suspicion that it's because it was the seventies and we were so steeped in discriminatory attitudes then that I just didn't notice, so I'm thinking maybe best not to re-read the others now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism
Minor: Death and Violence
louisegraveyard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism
youngserfs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The constant use of poetic metaphor against a backdrop draped heavily with deliberately woven thematic tapestry make what seems on the surface to be a child’s horror story read within its depths almost allegorically.
Something Wicked This Way Comes is equal parts a story about nostalgia, growing up, fathers and sons, childhood fears and childhood friendships.
I recommend any fan of the Goosebumps series to read this book, which inspired R.L. Stine to write his series.
Something Wicked This Way Comes is equal parts a story about nostalgia, growing up, fathers and sons, childhood fears and childhood friendships.
I recommend any fan of the Goosebumps series to read this book, which inspired R.L. Stine to write his series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism
amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
2022: This is such an odd book. This is some of Bradbury’s most beautiful writing, but it slows down the scenes to a snail’s pace. The book is an uncomfortable read, flip flopping between two boys hiding from relentless horrors to a 52-year-old man’s midlife crisis. Is this book for children or adults? It felt like it went on too long for me to enjoy it very much, though I understand why it is so beloved. (Also was uncomfortable with how the dwarf character was described as well as the overall exoticism that pervades the book.)
2017: This was creepier than I expected. Turns out I'm not a super fan of Bradbury's novels. I prefer his short stories. I found my attention scattered while reading this and so switched to the audiobook, which was better. I didn't love any of the main protagonists, so only 3 stars for this first read.
2017: This was creepier than I expected. Turns out I'm not a super fan of Bradbury's novels. I prefer his short stories. I found my attention scattered while reading this and so switched to the audiobook, which was better. I didn't love any of the main protagonists, so only 3 stars for this first read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming and Ableism
brynn_books's review against another edition
3.0
This is not something I would normally pick up. I had to read it for school. This book was pretty creepy. I don’t know. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great. Maybe it just wasn’t my kind of book?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Ableism, and Body horror
Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol, Racial slurs, and Body shaming
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