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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
This novella is required reading for anyone looking to understand Lovecraft as an author. Not only does it showcase his talent and attention to detail in world building and elements of horror, but also distills his two greatest and most despicable prejudices and fears into one narrative:
1. xenophobia and racism
2. fear of non-WASP ancestry.
Our narrator, an amateur historian and genealogist, decides to take a bus to a shunned and dilapidated fishing village on a whim, only to find through long drawn out (it’s Lovecraft what did you expect) conversations with npcs like that weird bus ticket seller or the local hobo who knows way to much about Lovecraftian mythology, that he is getting way more than he bargained for. Hijinks ensue, with a twist or two.
Aside from the horror, which is certainly an entertaining element of this story, Lovecraft’s ability to spin alternative futures of the early 20th century and pseudohistory is also prominently showcased in this little fishing village.
1. xenophobia and racism
2. fear of non-WASP ancestry.
Our narrator, an amateur historian and genealogist, decides to take a bus to a shunned and dilapidated fishing village on a whim, only to find through long drawn out (it’s Lovecraft what did you expect) conversations with npcs like that weird bus ticket seller or the local hobo who knows way to much about Lovecraftian mythology, that he is getting way more than he bargained for. Hijinks ensue, with a twist or two.
Aside from the horror, which is certainly an entertaining element of this story, Lovecraft’s ability to spin alternative futures of the early 20th century and pseudohistory is also prominently showcased in this little fishing village.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tightly written, but missing in plot. Clear problems with pacing, where unnecessary details and racial slurs hamper the story’s movement forward.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
*Contiene spoilers*
Es que no le movería ni una coma. Fascinante, increíble, enloquecedor... diga lo que diga se va a quedar corto.
No esperaba en absoluto ese final ni tampoco que ese hombre continuara con vida (¿se puede llamar vida a lo que tiene ahora?), porque simplemente di por hecho que sería atacado por los monstruos y nunca más volvería a casa.
Los elementos de la historia también me han resultado una mezcla de dos de los libros del club de lectura del año anterior (La piel fría y El misterio de Salem's Lot), pero desde una perspectiva totalmente diferente, jugando más con mis imágenes mentales de la Antártida, las serpientes y todos los monstruos infantiles que se ocultan detrás de las puertas de los armarios.
Siento una conexión con Lovecraft desde que recuerdo. Es como si, hasta cierto punto, eligiera exactamente el vocabulario y las expresiones con las que yo continuara cada historia suya, aunque la trama me pueda o no sorprender en sus obras. A veces siento que ambos amamos el mismo tipo de terror, solo que él lo creó mucho antes y, no sé cómo, yo comencé a fraguar el mismo incluso antes de leerle.
A veces creo que simplemente me vuelve tan loca como sus personajes, a veces siento que simplemente me hubiera gustado ser más como él.
Es que no le movería ni una coma. Fascinante, increíble, enloquecedor... diga lo que diga se va a quedar corto.
No esperaba en absoluto ese final ni tampoco que ese hombre continuara con vida (¿se puede llamar vida a lo que tiene ahora?), porque simplemente di por hecho que sería atacado por los monstruos y nunca más volvería a casa.
Los elementos de la historia también me han resultado una mezcla de dos de los libros del club de lectura del año anterior (La piel fría y El misterio de Salem's Lot), pero desde una perspectiva totalmente diferente, jugando más con mis imágenes mentales de la Antártida, las serpientes y todos los monstruos infantiles que se ocultan detrás de las puertas de los armarios.
Siento una conexión con Lovecraft desde que recuerdo. Es como si, hasta cierto punto, eligiera exactamente el vocabulario y las expresiones con las que yo continuara cada historia suya, aunque la trama me pueda o no sorprender en sus obras. A veces siento que ambos amamos el mismo tipo de terror, solo que él lo creó mucho antes y, no sé cómo, yo comencé a fraguar el mismo incluso antes de leerle.
A veces creo que simplemente me vuelve tan loca como sus personajes, a veces siento que simplemente me hubiera gustado ser más como él.
Rereading classics. I especially enjoyed the ending of "The Shadow over Innsmouth", but I can't give it five stars because the blatant racism / ableism / exoticism in the story is just disgusting. Nice twist in the end though, give me more Cthulu!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Before diving into a review, it's important to address the racist undertones of the story. Lovecraft was a known racist and xenophobe, and Shadow over Innsmouth's inspiration leans heavily on his fear of miscegenation. For the purpose of this review I'll be looking at the elements in the story on their own, and rating it accordingly.
An unnamed narrator dictates his narrow escape from the decrepit Innsmouth, Mass and how the US government raided the town and detained most of its population. The narrator was a college student touring New England, and becomes intrigued with the fishing town of Innsmouth. All the surrounding towns deplore the town and its citizens, and the town is surrounded with ghoulish rumors. Paganism, human sacrifice, and mutated populous. Despite being a derelict town devoid of industry, Innsmouth suspiciously as a successful gold mine despite no ores, always bountiful fishing, and strange alien jewelry. The townspeople of Innsmouth are well known for their hostility of outsiders.
Despite the warnings to stay away, the narrator finds his way to Innsmouth to investigate. His game plan was to only stay for the day then leave on the first bus out. But when the bus breaks down, the narrator is forced to stay for the night. The narrator then learns that not only are the rumors about Innsmouth true, they are far worse than anyway can fathom...
What I love about The Shadow over Innsmouth is that the story starts off innocent enough, and then progressively becomes more dreadful and terrifying. And it never stops. With the passing of each page the narrator finds himself deeper and deeper into eldritch horror. Even the slight moments of reprieve the narrator has swings back with a rebound effect and the situation becomes more dire. And of course a classic Lovecraft ending. For the story elements and plot, The Shadow Over Innsmouth gets a 4/5 and must read for Lovecraft fans. But as Lovecraft fans, we have to acknowledge the racial connotations in the story. Adding back the racist tones that were intended by the author, the review obviously tanks. One cannot earnestly give a review of a story that maps out the author's racist ideology.
But as fans of Lovecraft works/mythology we can claim back the genre from what people call "The Shadow over Lovecraft." There are numerous new media/stories that re-tell and evolve the story away from the racism to help separate the mythos from H.P Lovecraft himself. That way we can still enjoy The Shadow over Innsmouth, Dagon and the Deep ones without having to excuse Lovecraft's views/ideologies.
An unnamed narrator dictates his narrow escape from the decrepit Innsmouth, Mass and how the US government raided the town and detained most of its population. The narrator was a college student touring New England, and becomes intrigued with the fishing town of Innsmouth. All the surrounding towns deplore the town and its citizens, and the town is surrounded with ghoulish rumors. Paganism, human sacrifice, and mutated populous. Despite being a derelict town devoid of industry, Innsmouth suspiciously as a successful gold mine despite no ores, always bountiful fishing, and strange alien jewelry. The townspeople of Innsmouth are well known for their hostility of outsiders.
Despite the warnings to stay away, the narrator finds his way to Innsmouth to investigate. His game plan was to only stay for the day then leave on the first bus out. But when the bus breaks down, the narrator is forced to stay for the night. The narrator then learns that not only are the rumors about Innsmouth true, they are far worse than anyway can fathom...
What I love about The Shadow over Innsmouth is that the story starts off innocent enough, and then progressively becomes more dreadful and terrifying. And it never stops. With the passing of each page the narrator finds himself deeper and deeper into eldritch horror. Even the slight moments of reprieve the narrator has swings back with a rebound effect and the situation becomes more dire. And of course a classic Lovecraft ending. For the story elements and plot, The Shadow Over Innsmouth gets a 4/5 and must read for Lovecraft fans. But as Lovecraft fans, we have to acknowledge the racial connotations in the story. Adding back the racist tones that were intended by the author, the review obviously tanks. One cannot earnestly give a review of a story that maps out the author's racist ideology.
But as fans of Lovecraft works/mythology we can claim back the genre from what people call "The Shadow over Lovecraft." There are numerous new media/stories that re-tell and evolve the story away from the racism to help separate the mythos from H.P Lovecraft himself. That way we can still enjoy The Shadow over Innsmouth, Dagon and the Deep ones without having to excuse Lovecraft's views/ideologies.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An interesting premise that was unfortunately a slog to get through. Readers should save themselves the time and just read a summary.