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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
(3.5)
Lovecraft Country has gotten a decent amount of praise over the few years it’s been out, and with the HBO show fast approaching, I wanted to read the acclaimed source material before I tuned into my tv.
While I understand the idea behind LC — and I think it’s an interesting one — it never entirely came together the way I’d hoped. Trying to do a deep dive on racism against the black community in 1950s America by way of Lovecraft-inspired “horror” stories (the irony there is not lost on me) has potential, but it never manages to stick the landing; it feels more like it should have been one or the other — a piece of literature, a serious exploration of racism (what it feels most like), or a Lovecraftian horror story (which is the aspect that falters).
By and large, LC is well-written and entertaining, but I never feel a true sense of horror from the supernatural elements, and I never feel any real threat to the character’s lives in that same regard. Instead, the actual threat, the fear I feel, is all a result of the racism. And maybe that’s the point — in fact, I’m sure that it is — but as I said: it should have been one or the other. Because the traditional horror of monsters and ghosts and alternate dimensions...that all just feels like window dressing. That’s not to say there’s no effective horror/weird sequences, but they’re definitely not the focus.
It’s good as an exploration, as a learning experience, for what the black community had to endure in the 1950s (let’s be honest: what they’re still enduring), but not so much as a Lovecraftian work of fiction. Worth reading, but manage your expectations.
Lovecraft Country has gotten a decent amount of praise over the few years it’s been out, and with the HBO show fast approaching, I wanted to read the acclaimed source material before I tuned into my tv.
While I understand the idea behind LC — and I think it’s an interesting one — it never entirely came together the way I’d hoped. Trying to do a deep dive on racism against the black community in 1950s America by way of Lovecraft-inspired “horror” stories (the irony there is not lost on me) has potential, but it never manages to stick the landing; it feels more like it should have been one or the other — a piece of literature, a serious exploration of racism (what it feels most like), or a Lovecraftian horror story (which is the aspect that falters).
By and large, LC is well-written and entertaining, but I never feel a true sense of horror from the supernatural elements, and I never feel any real threat to the character’s lives in that same regard. Instead, the actual threat, the fear I feel, is all a result of the racism. And maybe that’s the point — in fact, I’m sure that it is — but as I said: it should have been one or the other. Because the traditional horror of monsters and ghosts and alternate dimensions...that all just feels like window dressing. That’s not to say there’s no effective horror/weird sequences, but they’re definitely not the focus.
It’s good as an exploration, as a learning experience, for what the black community had to endure in the 1950s (let’s be honest: what they’re still enduring), but not so much as a Lovecraftian work of fiction. Worth reading, but manage your expectations.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
I like a lot of concepts in this but I didn't feel like any story was amazing. I was just kind of bored. I am excited to watch the show now though.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. I think the premise of a black family trying to survive a strange witchcraft cult during Jim Crow is so captivating. My one issue is that I feel like this book could have been double the amount of pages or a series of books. There are so many interesting sci-fi elements that I would have loved delving deeper into.
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this book. I like how each section was about a character, and added to the main story. I’m looking forward to watching the show now.