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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
The reveal doesn’t worth all the descriptive setup. I didn’t like Lovecraft’s idea to make some green fungus/acid the main horror object in the story. It would be more frightening to read about that “elbow” and not the boring stuff from our world. Early Howard’s works continue to disappoint me.
In my weird and horror reading, H.P. Lovecraft is a cosmic black hole, conspicuous by his absence. True – I had read, a decade and a half back, an anthology of his short stories expertly curated by S.T.Joshi. I must admit, however, that I was not particularly impressed by Lovecraft’s overly dramatic and prolix style, sometimes bordering on self-parody. I have, since then, given his works a wide berth.
Lately, however, I’ve been tempted to once again dip into Lovecraft’s dark and hostile universe. Possibly the latest cataclysmic and post-apocalyptic news reports had a hand in this. I opted to start with the novelette “The Shunned House”, which I downloaded off the Gutenberg Project website.
“The Shunned House” is a relatively early work, having been written in 1924. It was also close to being the first published book by Lovecraft, with approximately 250 copies printed by W. Paul Cook for Recluse Press. As it happened, the book was never issued, and the work was published posthumously in the October 1937 issue of Weird Tales.
The story is interesting because whilst clearly indebted to the Gothic tradition, it also has some idiosyncratic elements which distinguish it as a Lovecraftian work. The plot is quite similar to many other “haunted house” tales, with some reliance on tropes of the genre and, more limitedly, reference to elements of vampire literature. The “shunned house” of the title has long lain untenanted and abandoned in a street of Providence, Rhode Island. Local legends associate it with a string of mysterious sicknesses and deaths by “wasting away”. The narrator who, as a boy, used to roam its fetid and dark rooms for a dare, develops an obsessions with the place and his history, one that he shares with his uncle, Dr Elihu Whipple “a sane, conservative physician of the old school…a bachelor, a white-haired, clean-shaven, old-fashioned gentleman, and a local historian of note”. The narrator’s research points to something horrible buried under the floor of the house’s cellar, which is infested with repellent “fungi, grotesquely like the vegetation in the yard outside…truly horrible in their outlines; detestable parodies of toadstools and Indian pipes”. With a view to exorcising the terrible presence in the house, the narrator and his uncle spend a night in the cellar. This is, of course, always a rash course of action in a horror story, and the nocturnal sojourn, unsurprisingly, leads to a terrifying denouement.
Lovecraft’s story is a tribute to the conventional “haunted house” tale, especially in its eerie descriptions and scary backstory. There are also several nods to the Gothic genre, not least the literary conceit that this story is a realistic account of an actual occurrence involving research of existing documentation. The concept of a present cursed by the sins of the past is also quite typical of the American Gothic.
What I found particularly interesting about this story is its “scientific”, materialistic approach. Although black magic and dubious rituals seem to have given rise to the entity haunting the house, the narrator and his uncle plan to battle it not through spiritual/supernatural means but with a contraption which shoots “ether radiation” and, should that not work, two World War I flame-throwers. Eventually, it is six carboys of acid which will put the house to rest. It is also significant that the “monster” is not a ghost in the traditional sense of the word, but a being much more physical and, in some ways, more horrible.
Of course, this idea of old monsters haunting the present would loom large in Lovecraft’s Cthulhu stories and, in this regard, “The Shunned House” acquires particular significance. The prose also points to Lovecraft’s mature style, with its preponderance of ornate, baroque descriptions replete with adjectives and adverbs. I guess I can live with that in limited doses.
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-shunned-house-by-hp-lovecraft.html
Lately, however, I’ve been tempted to once again dip into Lovecraft’s dark and hostile universe. Possibly the latest cataclysmic and post-apocalyptic news reports had a hand in this. I opted to start with the novelette “The Shunned House”, which I downloaded off the Gutenberg Project website.
“The Shunned House” is a relatively early work, having been written in 1924. It was also close to being the first published book by Lovecraft, with approximately 250 copies printed by W. Paul Cook for Recluse Press. As it happened, the book was never issued, and the work was published posthumously in the October 1937 issue of Weird Tales.
The story is interesting because whilst clearly indebted to the Gothic tradition, it also has some idiosyncratic elements which distinguish it as a Lovecraftian work. The plot is quite similar to many other “haunted house” tales, with some reliance on tropes of the genre and, more limitedly, reference to elements of vampire literature. The “shunned house” of the title has long lain untenanted and abandoned in a street of Providence, Rhode Island. Local legends associate it with a string of mysterious sicknesses and deaths by “wasting away”. The narrator who, as a boy, used to roam its fetid and dark rooms for a dare, develops an obsessions with the place and his history, one that he shares with his uncle, Dr Elihu Whipple “a sane, conservative physician of the old school…a bachelor, a white-haired, clean-shaven, old-fashioned gentleman, and a local historian of note”. The narrator’s research points to something horrible buried under the floor of the house’s cellar, which is infested with repellent “fungi, grotesquely like the vegetation in the yard outside…truly horrible in their outlines; detestable parodies of toadstools and Indian pipes”. With a view to exorcising the terrible presence in the house, the narrator and his uncle spend a night in the cellar. This is, of course, always a rash course of action in a horror story, and the nocturnal sojourn, unsurprisingly, leads to a terrifying denouement.
Lovecraft’s story is a tribute to the conventional “haunted house” tale, especially in its eerie descriptions and scary backstory. There are also several nods to the Gothic genre, not least the literary conceit that this story is a realistic account of an actual occurrence involving research of existing documentation. The concept of a present cursed by the sins of the past is also quite typical of the American Gothic.
What I found particularly interesting about this story is its “scientific”, materialistic approach. Although black magic and dubious rituals seem to have given rise to the entity haunting the house, the narrator and his uncle plan to battle it not through spiritual/supernatural means but with a contraption which shoots “ether radiation” and, should that not work, two World War I flame-throwers. Eventually, it is six carboys of acid which will put the house to rest. It is also significant that the “monster” is not a ghost in the traditional sense of the word, but a being much more physical and, in some ways, more horrible.
Of course, this idea of old monsters haunting the present would loom large in Lovecraft’s Cthulhu stories and, in this regard, “The Shunned House” acquires particular significance. The prose also points to Lovecraft’s mature style, with its preponderance of ornate, baroque descriptions replete with adjectives and adverbs. I guess I can live with that in limited doses.
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-shunned-house-by-hp-lovecraft.html
Recensione completa qui: http://thereadingpal.blogspot.it/2016/11/recensione-32-la-casa-stregata-lorrore.html
La casa stregata
3 e 1/2 su 5
Perfino negli orrori più spaventosi di rado
manca l'ironia. Talvolta essa entra direttamente
nell'insieme degli avvenimenti, mentre altre volte
è legata soltanto alla posizione fortuita di questi
tra le persone ed i luoghi. Il secondo tipo di
ironia è meravigliosamente esemplificato da un
caso verificatosi nell'antica cittadina di Providence.
Dunque... La Casa Stregata è un racconto particolare, ma non terrificante quanto "temevo" e quanto mi aspettavo, vista la fama dello scrittore.
Il protagonista racconta che c'è una casa particolare a Providence, non particolarmente speciale nell'aspetto, ma strana in quanto si sono verificati molti decessi simili, di intere famiglie non correlate, nella proprietà.
Le persone ne parlano ma, stranamente, non collegano i fatti ad un evento soprannaturale, come invece succede di solito. Il protagonista e suo zio decidono di indagare, e si trovano a fronteggiare qualcosa di inaspettato.
Pur non avendo inquietato come avrebbe dovuto, e l'ho letto anche in un posto parecchio inquietante, posso capire perché Lovecraft piaccia tanto e sia in pratica all'origine di un culto.
E' un racconto che si legge bene e senza doversi interrompere per qualche motivo come lo stile di scrittura o la storia.
L'orrore a Red Hook
4 su 5
Poiché univa all'immaginazione la metodicità
scientifica, era conscio del fatto che l'uomo
moderno, quando non esistono leggi, tende
costantemente a sfogare gli istinti più tenebrosi, che
risalgono ai nostri scimmieschi, primitivi antenati,
nella vita ordinaria e nelle manifestazioni
di culto.
Ho trovato questo racconto migliore rispetto al primo e più "simile" a ciò che mi ero aspettata ascoltando le opinioni di altri lettori sui racconti di Lovecraft.
In L'orrore a Red Hook seguiamo un'investigazione su alcuni loschi stranieri ed il loro satanico culto, e che gli investigatori sospettano essere capitanati da un olandese eccentrico di nome Robert Suydam.
Le cose diventano sempre più strane, bambini scompaiono, si sentono suoni macabri provenienti da una chiesa in disuso utilizzata da questi strani individui.
L'ispettore Malone rimane sconvolto da ciò che vede a casa di Suydam e non ne parla con nessuno per evitare di essere messo in manicomio, ma il tutto ci viene descritto e veniamo resi partecipi di ciò che ha causato questa reazione in Malone.
Pur non avendomi colpita particolarmente, il racconto ha quegli elementi che potrebbero suscitare inquietudine e terrore in altre persone, soprattutto per i richiami satanici a vari demoni, tra cui Lilith, e alla dea Ecate.
Detto questo, Lovecraft mi ha attirato di più rispetto a come, tempo fa, mi aveva attirato Poe con i suoi racconti (poco o nulla). Lo stile di Lovecraft è particolare, così come anche ciò di cui racconta, con pienezza di particolari e pur non credendoci lui stesso. Penso che proverò a leggere le altre opere per farmi un'idea più completa su questo scrittore che ha creato, ed è diventato lui stesso, un mito.
This is one of the best title ever; it is so evocative. I liked the story it had a nice build up, I liked the exploration of an alternative to "vampires"; it that way it made me think of Carmilla from Sheridan Le Fanu. Truly what attracted me to this short story once we forget that it is from one of the masters is the title, it is perfect for a haunted house story.
Flamethrowers and acid are always the answer to your problems
Much longer then it needed to be causing me to lose interest in the house which makes people speak french.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, especially the theorising as to what is behind all the mysterious deaths. Made it feel like a spooky episode of a podcast discussing supernatural occurrences in haunted houses. So if you’re into those I’d highly recommend this!
Hola, lectores. No tienen idea (o tal vez sí), de lo complicado que fue reseñar la primera de tres historias que conforman el libro Novelas de H. P. Lovecraft. Si soy honesto con ustedes, he leído muy poco del autor obras y desconocía más ahí de los Mitos del Cthulu.
Para poder sentarme y escribir esta reseña y las otras dos que vienen en los próximos días, tuve que leer guías, artículos y ver videos en YouTube para poder entender el complejo mundo de mitos y horror cósmico que caracterizan a Lovecraft.
Mi error fue no informarme de todo el lore que comparten las historias lovecraftianas, así que leer el libro sin información me causó hizo que mi experiencia con esta obra fuera de confusión. No sabía que estaba leyendo, me sentí perdido en todo momento y no encontraba conexión alguna entre lo que leía con lo que Lovecraft quería transmitirme. Como mencioné, gran error fue leerme estas historias sin contexto y mucho menos sin haber leído previamente las historias que le anteceden.
Si bien, la historia de la que les hablaré tiene muy poca relación con los Mitos del Cthulu, también se alejan un poco del Ciclo Onírico, otra de sus "sagas" o historias principales.
La casa maldita es una historia sencilla de entender y fue con la que más logré conectar y sentirme a gusto y para nada perdido. Aunque según mis investigaciones comparte referencias con otras historias previas del autor, mismas que incluso suelen ser solo especulativas, ya que no hay nada que lo confirme.
El narrador de la historia en un joven interesado en un suceso aparentemente paranormal sobre una casa a la cual todos clasificarían como maldita, ya que todo aquel que vive en ella, muere por circunstancias extrañas.
Esta vivienda antigua está ubicada en medio de la ciudad de Providence. Está abandonada debido a las muchas muertes a lo largo de distintas décadas, por lo que nadie se atreve a vivirla, ni siquiera sus dueños, quienes la heredaron de sus familiares.
Lovecraft nos explica con mucho detalle toda la historia de la casa, desde su construcción, los primeros sucesos que pasaron, las familias que la han habitado, insinuando en ocasiones algunos elementos paranormales que no acabarán de quedar claros hasta el final de la obra.
El personaje central de la obra, tiene esa particular característica de ser todo un sabio obsesionado con la casa, ya que, desde pequeño siente una atracción por los estudios de su tío sobre la misma. Es a través de recuerdos, vivencias de los familiares e investigación, que la trama se va desenvolviendo y revelando los secretos ocultos de la casa.
Lentamente, Lovecraft nos va soltando detalles de la trama para mantenernos atentos y al hilo de lo que viene a continuación para los personajes. El desenlace no era el que esperaba, pero me ha gustado bastante, ya que me mantuvo pegado a las páginas.
Leer historias cortas de Lovecraft me ha parecido más interesante que leer sus novelas, ya que tiende a exceder en lo descriptivo. En lo personal, prefiero un término medio cuando leo, con descripción y narrativa temporal.
Este relato no es el típico de la casa encantada por un ser maligno, al contrario, todo tiene explicaciones científicas del fenómeno haciendo que la forma en que es narrada la historia sea verosímil y contuntente.
LEER COMPLETO EN MI BLOG: https://www.blogdivergente.com/2021/05/resena-la-casa-maldita-de-h-p-lovecraft.html
Para poder sentarme y escribir esta reseña y las otras dos que vienen en los próximos días, tuve que leer guías, artículos y ver videos en YouTube para poder entender el complejo mundo de mitos y horror cósmico que caracterizan a Lovecraft.
Mi error fue no informarme de todo el lore que comparten las historias lovecraftianas, así que leer el libro sin información me causó hizo que mi experiencia con esta obra fuera de confusión. No sabía que estaba leyendo, me sentí perdido en todo momento y no encontraba conexión alguna entre lo que leía con lo que Lovecraft quería transmitirme. Como mencioné, gran error fue leerme estas historias sin contexto y mucho menos sin haber leído previamente las historias que le anteceden.
Si bien, la historia de la que les hablaré tiene muy poca relación con los Mitos del Cthulu, también se alejan un poco del Ciclo Onírico, otra de sus "sagas" o historias principales.
La casa maldita es una historia sencilla de entender y fue con la que más logré conectar y sentirme a gusto y para nada perdido. Aunque según mis investigaciones comparte referencias con otras historias previas del autor, mismas que incluso suelen ser solo especulativas, ya que no hay nada que lo confirme.
El narrador de la historia en un joven interesado en un suceso aparentemente paranormal sobre una casa a la cual todos clasificarían como maldita, ya que todo aquel que vive en ella, muere por circunstancias extrañas.
Esta vivienda antigua está ubicada en medio de la ciudad de Providence. Está abandonada debido a las muchas muertes a lo largo de distintas décadas, por lo que nadie se atreve a vivirla, ni siquiera sus dueños, quienes la heredaron de sus familiares.
Lovecraft nos explica con mucho detalle toda la historia de la casa, desde su construcción, los primeros sucesos que pasaron, las familias que la han habitado, insinuando en ocasiones algunos elementos paranormales que no acabarán de quedar claros hasta el final de la obra.
El personaje central de la obra, tiene esa particular característica de ser todo un sabio obsesionado con la casa, ya que, desde pequeño siente una atracción por los estudios de su tío sobre la misma. Es a través de recuerdos, vivencias de los familiares e investigación, que la trama se va desenvolviendo y revelando los secretos ocultos de la casa.
Lentamente, Lovecraft nos va soltando detalles de la trama para mantenernos atentos y al hilo de lo que viene a continuación para los personajes. El desenlace no era el que esperaba, pero me ha gustado bastante, ya que me mantuvo pegado a las páginas.
Leer historias cortas de Lovecraft me ha parecido más interesante que leer sus novelas, ya que tiende a exceder en lo descriptivo. En lo personal, prefiero un término medio cuando leo, con descripción y narrativa temporal.
Este relato no es el típico de la casa encantada por un ser maligno, al contrario, todo tiene explicaciones científicas del fenómeno haciendo que la forma en que es narrada la historia sea verosímil y contuntente.
LEER COMPLETO EN MI BLOG: https://www.blogdivergente.com/2021/05/resena-la-casa-maldita-de-h-p-lovecraft.html
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This books is extremely well written. The author has a command of the language and it is evident in the descriptive paragraphs. The idea behind the story is interesting in that the house is an entity--frightening and seemingly cursed.