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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Dwarfing Dracula in terms of sales upon it's publication, The Beetle has since faded into obscurity beneath the shadow the iconic vampire casts over pop culture. Despite this, both stories act as remarkably compatible companion pieces to each other. The melodramatic style and gothic atmosphere acts as a magic mirror between Marsh and Stoker's writing, a black lace curtain drawn back in a two-man flourish. Revealed is both a psychological horror stemming from Eastern mythologies and a parliamentary Political Thriller, drawing its tensions from the scandal perceived by the eye of traditional Western values. The horror lies in the unknown, a staple influence on the later Lovecraftian theme, the creature here too is something entirely foreign to the multiple narrators (an aspect that invites their automatic suspicion and hostility), an influence that seeks domination by disrupting political powers and the minds of upstanding members of civilised society (a precursor to Lovecraft's cultists). In much the same way, The Beetle's influence goes beyond the page then, in that it's inspiration of early 20th century horror literature, helped along by it's popular bestselling status at the time, is apparent. It still holds up today, just as well as Dracula, drawing new interpretations of it's political and psychological themes from both sides of the fence as well as remaining a solid piece of escapism. To top it all off the four narrators have distinct personalities which keeps the prose from becoming stale, the style keeps the tone consistent and their stories work well both as short stories sharing the same mystery and as one continuing yarn of intrigue. Overall, The Beetle is a somewhat overlooked classic of horror literature and holds just as much iconic relevance as Dracula or Frankenstein.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Rape
Review in Library Journal January 2020 issue: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=ljx200101horror
Three Words That Describe This Book: forgotten classic, thought provoking, bugs!
Draft Review:
Originally published the same year as Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Marsh’s chilling novel, while all but forgotten today, was actually more popular than the classic vampire novel during its time. Now brought back as part of an initiative by the Horror Writers Association to present classic horror tales to the modern reader, adding historical context, lists of further reading, and discussion questions, The Beetle is ready for its long delayed close-up. Drawing upon a Victorian fascination with the dark powers of the Egyptian scarab, the story begins with Holt, a homeless man, who enters a deserted building to gain shelter. He sees an odd insect that transforms into a demformed man commanding Holt to break into the home of a member of Parliament, setting the stage for a tale of intrigue, love, and revenge told through four narrators, describing their personal encounters with the mysterious, shape shifting Beetle, allowing the reader to fall into the scandalous tale from multiple angles, and immersing all in terror as a visceral threat to the whole of England emerges. The plot itself, while bordering on silly at times, surprisingly manages to also tackle some serious issues of class, gender, sexual, and ethnic identity while still providing plenty of satisfying chills.
Verdict: Victorian era Gothic tales appeal to a wide range of readers, and The Beetle’s timeless themes paired with the universal ick factor of creepy crawlies ensures that this crowd pleaser from the past will continue to strike fear in the hearts and minds of 21st Century readers.
Three Words That Describe This Book: forgotten classic, thought provoking, bugs!
Draft Review:
Originally published the same year as Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Marsh’s chilling novel, while all but forgotten today, was actually more popular than the classic vampire novel during its time. Now brought back as part of an initiative by the Horror Writers Association to present classic horror tales to the modern reader, adding historical context, lists of further reading, and discussion questions, The Beetle is ready for its long delayed close-up. Drawing upon a Victorian fascination with the dark powers of the Egyptian scarab, the story begins with Holt, a homeless man, who enters a deserted building to gain shelter. He sees an odd insect that transforms into a demformed man commanding Holt to break into the home of a member of Parliament, setting the stage for a tale of intrigue, love, and revenge told through four narrators, describing their personal encounters with the mysterious, shape shifting Beetle, allowing the reader to fall into the scandalous tale from multiple angles, and immersing all in terror as a visceral threat to the whole of England emerges. The plot itself, while bordering on silly at times, surprisingly manages to also tackle some serious issues of class, gender, sexual, and ethnic identity while still providing plenty of satisfying chills.
Verdict: Victorian era Gothic tales appeal to a wide range of readers, and The Beetle’s timeless themes paired with the universal ick factor of creepy crawlies ensures that this crowd pleaser from the past will continue to strike fear in the hearts and minds of 21st Century readers.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is such a mixed bag. There's one genuinely gloriously terrifying scene at the start (IYKYK), a couple truly hilarious moments and characters, but also a tonne of weird Victorian racism and misogyny and an unsatisfactory ending.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The worlds worst detectives track down the worlds most racist bug!