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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Interesting but not great.
The premise is good - a series of interconnected short stories about racism in mid century America, told through the lens of pulp fiction. I love reading these types of books - old fashioned sci fi, twisty adventure stories, creepy old school horror - but they are problematic: racist and sexist and all sorts. Teasing these issues out in a book which plays with these genres is meta and interesting.
The characters are good, if underdeveloped, and the stories are pacy. But reading a stylised version of the (literal) horrors of racism written by a white author felt a bit icky. I’m not sure if this is Matt Ruff’s story to tell.
The premise is good - a series of interconnected short stories about racism in mid century America, told through the lens of pulp fiction. I love reading these types of books - old fashioned sci fi, twisty adventure stories, creepy old school horror - but they are problematic: racist and sexist and all sorts. Teasing these issues out in a book which plays with these genres is meta and interesting.
The characters are good, if underdeveloped, and the stories are pacy. But reading a stylised version of the (literal) horrors of racism written by a white author felt a bit icky. I’m not sure if this is Matt Ruff’s story to tell.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So, Lovecraft was a racist and shouldn't have his lugubrious visage associated with a horror award? Can't argue with this depiction of an America still so racist in the North that Black motorists need a guidebook to tell them which places on their route will actually serve them. This wasn't a bad novel and took an unexpected turn some of the way in, but I didn't find it engaging. It really wasn't for me.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A wonderful blend of magic and history that culminates in a Ray Bradburyesque novel which uses Lovecraftian horrors to showcase the horrors of a pre-civil rights America
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No