Scan barcode
maddietherobot's review against another edition
4.0
I was genuinely worried there for a while that I just don't really like horror (or at least—horror writing; horror movies of course take the cake). But worry not! It's just bad horror (writing) that I dislike.
These stories are fun, though probably not particularly scary, and well paced; though I think some points where (I think?) I was supposed to realize the subtle horror that had been there the whole time...um..where is this sentence going? What I mean is sometimes I think the "subtlety" of it didnt work, maybe because it was just too subtle or maybe because I'm just dumb. But there were several points where the main character apparently is stricken with growing realization about, um, something.
Speaking of: the main character, the subtitular Kyle Murchison Booth, is compelling, too, a fun twist on the smarmy academics of Lovecraft and co., and the stories do good work at developing his humanity without it being the main focus of most of them. In fact I think that background work, developing Booth as well as the world at large, is the high point of Monette's writing, and justifies the packaging of these as a collection, a pseudo novel, rather than real stand-alones. That being said, I think they could be read as stand-alones, or anyway could be read in basically any order, though I wouldn't recommend it.
These stories are fun, though probably not particularly scary, and well paced; though I think some points where (I think?) I was supposed to realize the subtle horror that had been there the whole time...um..where is this sentence going? What I mean is sometimes I think the "subtlety" of it didnt work, maybe because it was just too subtle or maybe because I'm just dumb. But there were several points where the main character apparently is stricken with growing realization about, um, something.
Speaking of: the main character, the subtitular Kyle Murchison Booth, is compelling, too, a fun twist on the smarmy academics of Lovecraft and co., and the stories do good work at developing his humanity without it being the main focus of most of them. In fact I think that background work, developing Booth as well as the world at large, is the high point of Monette's writing, and justifies the packaging of these as a collection, a pseudo novel, rather than real stand-alones. That being said, I think they could be read as stand-alones, or anyway could be read in basically any order, though I wouldn't recommend it.
misssusan's review against another edition
4.0
So these stories follow Kyle Murchison Booth, a highly introverted archivist who's been haunted by spirits, wraiths, and all a manner of otherworldly horrors ever since he helped his friend raise his wife from the dead. Basically it's Lovecraft if he cared about crafting actual characters! :D So you know, some great stuff there. I'm starting to think I vastly prefer Monette's short stories to her novels, like no offence to the Labyrinth quartet or those wolf bonding books but Kyle Murchison is a step up in quality. There are a couple more stories about him outside of this book, I read one in Somewhere Beneath Those Waves and apparently it's collected with three others in Unnatural Creatures. If anyone could tell me where I can pick up a copy, I'd be grateful, limited edition releases are the bane of my existence. T_T 4 stars
natalka's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kratie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
molly_patricia's review
5.0
Sarah Monette is a fantastic writer because of her well realized characters, and Kyle Murchison Booth, the protagonist of the stories in -The Bone Key- is another shining example. At first I was skeptical because this is a book of short stories, but they are all excellently written, and tie well together. A fictional book complete with fictional footnotes. Fantastic.
kwugirl's review
3.0
I thought maybe I could be more casual about going through a book of short stories, but apparently not when they're horror stories. That genre isn't really my thing, so I'm not sure just how creepy they are, but I did not sleep well afterwards.
acoustic_insect's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, lovecraftian horror without all the sexism and racism. Hooray!
(and a touch of gay, nice)
(and a touch of gay, nice)
jeregenest's review
3.0
Good bunch of short stories. Some were excellent, most just good. They read better individually then as a collection unfortunately.
nobodyatall's review
5.0
The intro blurb makes much of this book taking inspiration from Lovecraft and M R James. I felt that it surpassed the writing of either because at its core there is a very well developed character who I could empathise with and care about, which meant that all the odd goings on actually mattered.
Very enjoyable, hopefully there'll be more.
Very enjoyable, hopefully there'll be more.