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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
reflective
slow-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
These are great little horror stories but by far my favorite thing about them is that at some point in every story, the narrating character grabs a book at random, like, when they're headed to bed, and the first person narration goes "and gosh darn it, the book I picked up was THE KING IN YELLOW" and from that point forward they're just kind of in the thrall of this eldritch book and it's definitely scary but that particular element is also just hilariously goofy.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the narrator. He's got a lovely, deep voice, perfect for the horror stories. He also did decent character voices.
Originally I just wanted to re-read the horror stories, but since the audiobook had the whole kitten caboodle, I figured hey, why not just listen to all of them. I now understand why no one remembers Chambers for his romance. His horror has such a lovely sense of unreality and slow, creeping terror, while his romance is excrutiatingly boring, only made palatable if the protagonist is likable.
THE REPAIRER OF REPUTATIONS (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): My fav of the collection, though it's hard to choose. A masterclass in having an unreliable narrator.
THE MASK (⭐⭐⭐⭐): A good tragedy but not the best of the collection regarding the horror of it.
IN THE COURT OF THE DRAGON (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): So creepy. Love a church setpiece, especially a French church with a big organ.
THE YELLOW SIGN (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): My second fav! The weird guy is so creepy, and the hearse dream is so bizarre.
THE DEMOISELLE D'YS (⭐⭐⭐): Wasn't expecting the twist at the end; pretty decent romance story.
THE PROPHETS' PARADISE (N/A): I have a hard time listening to poetry for the first time out loud so honestly most of this went in one ear and out the other. I need to go back and read it in print.
THE STREET OF THE FOUR WINDS (⭐⭐): Plus half a star for the very sweet protag who, relateably, has the "custom to converse with animals, probably because he lived so much alone."
THE STREET OF THE FIRST SHELL (⭐): I hope the protagonist chokes and dies on that stupid roast chicken. Fuck that guy.
THE STREET OF OUR LADY OF THE FIELDS (⭐⭐⭐): Reaches three stars because of the sweet darling himbo protagonist, as well as due to this line that made me laugh out loud: "'There is a nouveau here who is so tender and green and appetizing that Heaven help him if he should fall into a salad bowl.'"
RUE BARRÉE (⭐⭐): Honestly thought it was part of the last story and was very confused but I get it now. Anyway, it was boring but at least I didn't despise the protagonist.
Originally I just wanted to re-read the horror stories, but since the audiobook had the whole kitten caboodle, I figured hey, why not just listen to all of them. I now understand why no one remembers Chambers for his romance. His horror has such a lovely sense of unreality and slow, creeping terror, while his romance is excrutiatingly boring, only made palatable if the protagonist is likable.
THE REPAIRER OF REPUTATIONS (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): My fav of the collection, though it's hard to choose. A masterclass in having an unreliable narrator.
THE MASK (⭐⭐⭐⭐): A good tragedy but not the best of the collection regarding the horror of it.
IN THE COURT OF THE DRAGON (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): So creepy. Love a church setpiece, especially a French church with a big organ.
THE YELLOW SIGN (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): My second fav! The weird guy is so creepy, and the hearse dream is so bizarre.
THE DEMOISELLE D'YS (⭐⭐⭐): Wasn't expecting the twist at the end; pretty decent romance story.
THE PROPHETS' PARADISE (N/A): I have a hard time listening to poetry for the first time out loud so honestly most of this went in one ear and out the other. I need to go back and read it in print.
THE STREET OF THE FOUR WINDS (⭐⭐): Plus half a star for the very sweet protag who, relateably, has the "custom to converse with animals, probably because he lived so much alone."
THE STREET OF THE FIRST SHELL (⭐): I hope the protagonist chokes and dies on that stupid roast chicken. Fuck that guy.
THE STREET OF OUR LADY OF THE FIELDS (⭐⭐⭐): Reaches three stars because of the sweet darling himbo protagonist, as well as due to this line that made me laugh out loud: "'There is a nouveau here who is so tender and green and appetizing that Heaven help him if he should fall into a salad bowl.'"
RUE BARRÉE (⭐⭐): Honestly thought it was part of the last story and was very confused but I get it now. Anyway, it was boring but at least I didn't despise the protagonist.
dark
mysterious
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
dark
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read the first 3 stories, but all a bit mid. The whole going mad thing gets old and always makes me think I'm missing something important because of unreliable narrators, but the fact is it's probably just not for me. "The Mask", the second story had me fairly hooked but kinda petered out at the end.
The first story was literally described on Wikipedia as an "anti-story". Don't think I'm a fan of those. The second two were more palatable. The writing does remind me of Lovecraft a lot and his "weird fiction".
Anyway, I'm happy I read something and I'm excited to move on to the next thing. Also happy this was on Google Books and I didn't have to waste any time or money getting it.
The first story was literally described on Wikipedia as an "anti-story". Don't think I'm a fan of those. The second two were more palatable. The writing does remind me of Lovecraft a lot and his "weird fiction".
Anyway, I'm happy I read something and I'm excited to move on to the next thing. Also happy this was on Google Books and I didn't have to waste any time or money getting it.