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lsmith36's review against another edition
3.0
It was awkward in the way that most books with female protagonists written by men are. Decently interesting, but generally not good in the way of horror.
thetruthatallhazards's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, and Blood
jyan's review against another edition
3.0
Though it started with plenty of wit, that seemed to fall off as the story progressed, leaving something less substantial or funny than Hell Hound. Still, a pleasant, quick, and easy rainy day read.
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not one to worry about subtitles, but in the case of this book, it's important. It's not "strange" or "weird" or "occult"; it's "unnatural". It's a specific word, used to evoke a specific feeling, enough so that it feels like it's part of the proper title, and not an attempt to classify the book.
That "unnatural" is such a specific, evocative word isn't a surprise; Greenhall was apparently the kind of writer who took his time to find the perfect word for every sentence. Elizabeth reflects this, as he tells his story with an economy of words. A lot happens in this brief (152 pages) novel, but it never feels like it moves quickly, or that the author is skimping on the details. Instead, he creates mood and atmosphere in as little as one sentence:
Greenhall's imagery is unsettling, as is the story. It's not a graphic, in-your-face kind of horror, nor is it the quiet horror of Bernard Taylor or Charles Grant; it's the kind of story that creeps under the skin and stays with you long after it's finished.
The story won't be easy for everyone. Its main character, Elizabeth, is fourteen, and involved in a sexual relationship with her uncle that she initiated. This isn't a spoiler, though; aside from being made clear in the early part of the novel, it's a central part of the story. The story is sensual, sex being an important part of it, but it's never explicit. Greenhall suggests the activity, and by doing so shows off his talent for showing, not telling. That a fourteen-year-old woman and a late-thirties man maintain the relationship suggests that the "unnatural" in the title is about more than just the supernatural.
The point of the story, though, isn't the sex. It's important to the plot, but what Elizabeth is about is power. Elizabeth recognizes that she has power through sex, and isn't afraid to use it. For her, sex isn't about love or intimacy, it's about strength.
Elizabeth is our narrator as well as our main character, and it presents an interesting dilemma: Is she reliable? Near the beginning, it's easy to think that what she's telling us is only in her head. Later in the story, it's harder to tell. Knowing is important, though, since it determines if Elizabeth is the antagonist or the protagonist.
Greenhall isn't as well known in the canon as other authors from his time, which is a shame. Elizabeth proves that his writing is precise, his horror suggestive, and he understands how to unsettle instead of scare. Valancourt has done a great job republishing these lost classics, and I look forward to more by him, as well as other authors in their catalog I have yet to discover.
That "unnatural" is such a specific, evocative word isn't a surprise; Greenhall was apparently the kind of writer who took his time to find the perfect word for every sentence. Elizabeth reflects this, as he tells his story with an economy of words. A lot happens in this brief (152 pages) novel, but it never feels like it moves quickly, or that the author is skimping on the details. Instead, he creates mood and atmosphere in as little as one sentence:
In the night I would hear the slopping of the lake against rocks, and half-awake, I sometimes mistook it for the sound of someone choking.
Greenhall's imagery is unsettling, as is the story. It's not a graphic, in-your-face kind of horror, nor is it the quiet horror of Bernard Taylor or Charles Grant; it's the kind of story that creeps under the skin and stays with you long after it's finished.
The story won't be easy for everyone. Its main character, Elizabeth, is fourteen, and involved in a sexual relationship with her uncle that she initiated. This isn't a spoiler, though; aside from being made clear in the early part of the novel, it's a central part of the story. The story is sensual, sex being an important part of it, but it's never explicit. Greenhall suggests the activity, and by doing so shows off his talent for showing, not telling. That a fourteen-year-old woman and a late-thirties man maintain the relationship suggests that the "unnatural" in the title is about more than just the supernatural.
The point of the story, though, isn't the sex. It's important to the plot, but what Elizabeth is about is power. Elizabeth recognizes that she has power through sex, and isn't afraid to use it. For her, sex isn't about love or intimacy, it's about strength.
Elizabeth is our narrator as well as our main character, and it presents an interesting dilemma: Is she reliable? Near the beginning, it's easy to think that what she's telling us is only in her head. Later in the story, it's harder to tell. Knowing is important, though, since it determines if Elizabeth is the antagonist or the protagonist.
Greenhall isn't as well known in the canon as other authors from his time, which is a shame. Elizabeth proves that his writing is precise, his horror suggestive, and he understands how to unsettle instead of scare. Valancourt has done a great job republishing these lost classics, and I look forward to more by him, as well as other authors in their catalog I have yet to discover.
book_bound_weirdo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow, Elizabeth is so deranged as a character. But I wouldn't expect er to be any less deranged given her life circumstances (?). I loved the narration style and the different directions the story took. Sometimes I try to figure out what is going to happen, and I did towards the beginning of this book, but about 1/3 of the way in, I stopped trying and just let myself be guided through and it was great.
benmsmith's review against another edition
2.0
Maybe this worked in 1976, but it really doesn't in 2020. There's a core part of the premise here that was IMMEDIATELY offputting for me, and while the supernatural/eerie feeling throughout is good, I never got past that, plus the narrator is obviously a 14-year-old girl being written by someone who is obviously an older man.
ecebozturk's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
notallbooks_mp's review against another edition
3.0
Probably a 2.5 but rounding up. A witchy little book that showed up on a couple of lists of not-to-be-missed but obscure horror, and also featured in Grady Hendrix’s Paperbacks From Hell. It clocks in at exactly 150 pages so it’s not much of a commitment, and it has been compared to both Shirley Jackson and Daphne DuMaurier. I disagree on both counts, but I understand why other people are so taken with it. I feel like the writing is fairly clunky at times and the character motivations are practically nonexistent, but Elizabeth’s first person narration is compelling in a way it shouldn’t be, and the witchiness isn’t something I’m used to so that was fun? My brain can’t stop thinking about the tale this tells if the witching is actually delusion, though—far more bleak and less agency for Elizabeth.
soyedmilk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Death, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racism, and Sexual content