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nfleow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
600matt's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
teresavh's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. If I ever need to write about feminism, I'll use this. Wanted to be Asenath too.
fachrinaa's review against another edition
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]
kelialql's review against another edition
4.0
Yet again I find myself wishing for the option of giving half-stars, for this book truly deserves 4.5 stars instead of 4. Okay, 4.25. Despite the fact that the author, himself, expressed displeasure at many of the tales included in this collection, it still demonstrates quite distinctly Lovecraft's affinity for the grotesque and uncanny. He clearly reveled in prickling our primal fears with loathsome, sinister, and (dare I say) “Cyclopean” fiends and freaks which roam everywhere from the backwoods and cityscapes of New England to the uncharted heights of the Antarctic. And he obviously understood the breathtaking terror that grips even the stoutest of hearts when the lights go out and one finds oneself crawling on hands and knees to escape the unspeakable horrors just around the corner... It's rare that the written word manages to truly frighten me, yet I gleefully admit that I found myself tense and jumpy more than once. (Granted, I am among the more easily frightened – but then, that's where the fun is.)
So why not a full five stars? Sadly, Lovecraft's regrettable and distasteful ethnocentricity (if not outright bigotry) rears its ugly head numerous times throughout the collection. In some cases, it's little more than a mention of a seedy character's ethnic background – irritating (especially for those of us who happen share that particular ethnic background) but fleeting. At other times, though, Lovecraft's heavy-handed defamations actually distract from the story itself, breaking the delicately woven spell – and reminding the reader that the worst evils lurk not in ocean depths or frozen wastelands but in petty human hearts everywhere.
So why not a full five stars? Sadly, Lovecraft's regrettable and distasteful ethnocentricity (if not outright bigotry) rears its ugly head numerous times throughout the collection. In some cases, it's little more than a mention of a seedy character's ethnic background – irritating (especially for those of us who happen share that particular ethnic background) but fleeting. At other times, though, Lovecraft's heavy-handed defamations actually distract from the story itself, breaking the delicately woven spell – and reminding the reader that the worst evils lurk not in ocean depths or frozen wastelands but in petty human hearts everywhere.
mabersold's review against another edition
4.0
I mostly checked this out because I wanted to read "At the Mountains of Madness" but found there were other titles as well that I hadn't read yet. Many were Lovecraft's earlier works before he had created his horrific pantheon of outer gods, but the spirit and tone that I've come to expect of him are still there. I skipped the stories I had already read. "At the Mountains of Madness" was definitely my favorite, and "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" was interesting but rather tedious. Neither of them supplanted "The Whisperer in Darkness" as my favorite Lovecraft story, however. Overall, a solid collection.
nicolaspratt's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy, dark, and horrific in all the best Lovecraftian ways. Each story is easy to read and gives a good overview of Lovecraft's many horrific stories. Nothing too gruesome or gory, but the creeping feeling that his stories bring about is well worth the read.
octavia_cade's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.0
I found myself really enjoying this, which is always a surprise with Lovecraft. Consistently, the stories of his that I most admire are the ones that are most stripped back, with a strong central focus that isn't muddled by too many horrific elements piled on top of each other to the detriment of all. Here, the possession of a young man by his wife (or by his wife's father) is a slow, seeping threat that's all the more credible for the everyday trappings of the characters.
It's a really effective body-swapping piece, and I seriously considered giving it four stars. There's one aspect of it, though, that lets the story down somewhat, and that's the treatment of gender. I think it's fair to say that Lovecraft doesn't have a great deal of interest in writing women, but when a mind goes back and forth between a male and a female body... there should be some exploration of how this affects identity, surely? Lovecraft also seems to have very little interest in depicting sexuality in any meaningful way, and that particular choice necessarily, and somewhat frustratingly, limits the narrative here. I can't help but wonder what a more modern writer might have done with a man who takes over his daughter's body, and then uses that body to marry another man in order to possess that body as well. It does seem like an opportunity wasted...
It's a really effective body-swapping piece, and I seriously considered giving it four stars. There's one aspect of it, though, that lets the story down somewhat, and that's the treatment of gender. I think it's fair to say that Lovecraft doesn't have a great deal of interest in writing women, but when a mind goes back and forth between a male and a female body... there should be some exploration of how this affects identity, surely? Lovecraft also seems to have very little interest in depicting sexuality in any meaningful way, and that particular choice necessarily, and somewhat frustratingly, limits the narrative here. I can't help but wonder what a more modern writer might have done with a man who takes over his daughter's body, and then uses that body to marry another man in order to possess that body as well. It does seem like an opportunity wasted...
hendejos's review against another edition
dark
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