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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
I consumed this story as part of a collection of American short stories on Audible, the preceding tale of which was 'From Beyond' by H.P. Lovecraft. While listening to that story I had some conversations with myself about Lovecraftian style and concepts. Some people, including friends of mine, consider his work cheap, because he leaves so much up to the reader's imagination that it can seem as if he is not putting forth a satisfactory amount of effort in his narration. Where some prefer details and description, Lovecraft's trademark challenge to the reader to defy their own imagination can border on hack. I think I like it for what it is, particularly in the context of the time in which it was written. That is more than I can say about the story which followed it, 'The Mysterious Card' by Cleveland Moffett.
I understand this is an apples-to-oranges comparison, only begged by the juxtaposition of these two pieces as arranged by whomever was in charge of editing this collection. But I can't help but make it because 'The Mysterious Card' was so much longer and felt so much less interesting. Perhaps it would have helped if I had understood the time in which it was written, around forty years prior to 'From Beyond'. I understand this story deserves all the same conceptual handicaps as Lovecraft or anyone else writing before the modern deluge of popular media made everything seem to be a recognizable trope.
And yet, I can't get away from the fact that to a certain extent I predicted the ending to this story, and that in a way it was less compelling than I imagined, and that it took so long, and with so much repetition to get me there.
*SPOILERS FOLLOW*
Of course the card would reveal that indeed the protagonist was suffering for his own crimes. Of course something written near the end of the 19th century would revel in exotic Eastern mysticism to explain its twist. But even providing for both these likelihoods, it still managed to feel too contrived to really enjoy. If the same story were written today, the same result, being seen a mile away by viewers of equal perceptiveness, would amount to nothing more than "he had a split personality, or something." As the story is written, the demon possession angle only seems to serve to drag out a story which had already been going on a little too long.
It's not terrible. I'm sure in its day it was quite alluring to the imaginations of the folks who read it. But in the modern era, it is entirely skippable.
I understand this is an apples-to-oranges comparison, only begged by the juxtaposition of these two pieces as arranged by whomever was in charge of editing this collection. But I can't help but make it because 'The Mysterious Card' was so much longer and felt so much less interesting. Perhaps it would have helped if I had understood the time in which it was written, around forty years prior to 'From Beyond'. I understand this story deserves all the same conceptual handicaps as Lovecraft or anyone else writing before the modern deluge of popular media made everything seem to be a recognizable trope.
And yet, I can't get away from the fact that to a certain extent I predicted the ending to this story, and that in a way it was less compelling than I imagined, and that it took so long, and with so much repetition to get me there.
*SPOILERS FOLLOW*
Of course the card would reveal that indeed the protagonist was suffering for his own crimes. Of course something written near the end of the 19th century would revel in exotic Eastern mysticism to explain its twist. But even providing for both these likelihoods, it still managed to feel too contrived to really enjoy. If the same story were written today, the same result, being seen a mile away by viewers of equal perceptiveness, would amount to nothing more than "he had a split personality, or something." As the story is written, the demon possession angle only seems to serve to drag out a story which had already been going on a little too long.
It's not terrible. I'm sure in its day it was quite alluring to the imaginations of the folks who read it. But in the modern era, it is entirely skippable.
Interesting story, Mr. Richard Burwell, a New York wealthy man, arrives in Paris for buisiness, waiting for his wife and daughter to join him later four a tour.
One evening, he meets a young lady in the Folies Bergère, a concert garden, she gives him a white card baring some French words written in purple ink, nothing strange so far, when Mr. Burwell returns to his hotel, and being completely ignorant of the language, he asks the manager to translate, the latter asks him to leave immediatly the hotel, and so he did, the same thing happened again with the second hotel manager, Mrs. Burwell and Mr. Jack Evelyth, Burwell's best friend..
What's on that card that is causing so much trouble? and what's really going on in here? Will find out in this story's sequel..
One evening, he meets a young lady in the Folies Bergère, a concert garden, she gives him a white card baring some French words written in purple ink, nothing strange so far, when Mr. Burwell returns to his hotel, and being completely ignorant of the language, he asks the manager to translate, the latter asks him to leave immediatly the hotel, and so he did, the same thing happened again with the second hotel manager, Mrs. Burwell and Mr. Jack Evelyth, Burwell's best friend..
What's on that card that is causing so much trouble? and what's really going on in here? Will find out in this story's sequel..
Mystery, that's it...
I've seen some films on this subject, but the book was great..
I've seen some films on this subject, but the book was great..