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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t get invested in the plot or characters
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“To them all, Beldame represented the fair and possible reward for distress, misfortune, and labor in this world—it was to them a heaven on earth, and resembled the other, preached-of heaven in that it was bright, remote, timeless, and empty.”
After the death of the matriarch of the Savage family and a very odd funeral, the McCray's accompany the Savage family to Beldame, along the Gulf Coast of Alabama, to enjoy a peaceful summer. There, three Victorian homes are deposited, surrounded by a never-ending sea of sand. One house belongs to the Savage family, the second to the McCray's, and the third has been abandoned and is uninhabitable as it's being eaten by a massive sand dune. Dauphin Savage and Luther McCray have been terrified of the third house ever since childhood, and it seems they will quickly have to come to terms with what's skulking amongst the sand and decay at Beldame.
It is only April of 2022, and I already know that The Elementals will be one of the best books I will read all year. I am completely stunned by the beauty, claustrophobia, and grotesqueness of Michael McDowell’s writing. Horror tends to lie exclusively in dark and dreary places, but The Elementals, in stark contrast, reveals terror out in the open, in broad daylight, in excruciating Alabama heat. I have never and will never read a story like this again. The family dynamics were both extremely bizarre and oddly charming, the haunts seemed to come from a writer crafting from an entirely other dimension, and the sense of place was immaculately concepted. I felt a deep yearning to spend the rest of my years at Beldame despite the fact that it absolutely maddened me. By the end of The Elementals, I had grown very attached to the Victorian houses as well as the Savage and McCray families.
I cannot recommend this enough. Michael McDowell was a bloody genius.
5 out of 5 stars.
My favorite quote would have to be, "“Daylight had not brought a solution, but it had accorded indifference."
After the death of the matriarch of the Savage family and a very odd funeral, the McCray's accompany the Savage family to Beldame, along the Gulf Coast of Alabama, to enjoy a peaceful summer. There, three Victorian homes are deposited, surrounded by a never-ending sea of sand. One house belongs to the Savage family, the second to the McCray's, and the third has been abandoned and is uninhabitable as it's being eaten by a massive sand dune. Dauphin Savage and Luther McCray have been terrified of the third house ever since childhood, and it seems they will quickly have to come to terms with what's skulking amongst the sand and decay at Beldame.
It is only April of 2022, and I already know that The Elementals will be one of the best books I will read all year. I am completely stunned by the beauty, claustrophobia, and grotesqueness of Michael McDowell’s writing. Horror tends to lie exclusively in dark and dreary places, but The Elementals, in stark contrast, reveals terror out in the open, in broad daylight, in excruciating Alabama heat. I have never and will never read a story like this again. The family dynamics were both extremely bizarre and oddly charming, the haunts seemed to come from a writer crafting from an entirely other dimension, and the sense of place was immaculately concepted. I felt a deep yearning to spend the rest of my years at Beldame despite the fact that it absolutely maddened me. By the end of The Elementals, I had grown very attached to the Victorian houses as well as the Savage and McCray families.
I cannot recommend this enough. Michael McDowell was a bloody genius.
5 out of 5 stars.
My favorite quote would have to be, "“Daylight had not brought a solution, but it had accorded indifference."
It was fun reading a classic horror novel again. There were lots of familiar elements, e.g. old house with mysterious happenings, but I liked the summertime/beach setting. Some memorable spooky visuals as well. And I never knew you could make sand scary.
A very nearly perfect haunted house book.
I can't really say anything other than that I loved this book. The undercurrents are weird, very weird, but I think they come to a justified end, something like, "You're in charge of your own bad history now." But, then again, because meaning is never clear or obvious in this book, maybe not.
Anyhow, I loved this book. Recommend for gothic fans (Southern or otherwise), haunted house fans, and horror fans in general.
I can't really say anything other than that I loved this book. The undercurrents are weird, very weird, but I think they come to a justified end, something like, "You're in charge of your own bad history now." But, then again, because meaning is never clear or obvious in this book, maybe not.
Anyhow, I loved this book. Recommend for gothic fans (Southern or otherwise), haunted house fans, and horror fans in general.
So incredibly southern in all the ways that feel true. Most people just can't nail it. Plus the things that southern people think are scary--besides themselves. My mind pictures are permanently imprinted with the horrors of the last few pages.
The Elementals was a good listen on Audible. The southern characters, and setting were unique and reminded me of old family members I have in Alabama.
I'm not usually one for stories of haunted houses, but I will say I did enjoy listening to this book.
Although I wasn't blown away, or shivering in fear it was at the very least a fun read with interesting twists and turns.
Also, good enough gore as well as interesting "spirits"? that really envoked macabre imagery.
I'm not usually one for stories of haunted houses, but I will say I did enjoy listening to this book.
Although I wasn't blown away, or shivering in fear it was at the very least a fun read with interesting twists and turns.
Also, good enough gore as well as interesting "spirits"? that really envoked macabre imagery.
I've got a case of the sleepy Sunday's and this book didn't help. It almost put me to sleep multiple times. I was so bored with it for the majority of it and even when it got a bit interesting, it was still so freaking underwhelming. 🫠