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revilsky 's review for:
The Willows
by Algernon Blackwood
adventurous
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:
No
Having never come across Algernon Blackwood's work before, I found it to be quite an experience. In this classic short story, there’s only a thin line separating our world from the spiritual world. It captures the emotions of how we humans feel when being in awe and surrounded by nature, or getting lost in a wilderness. Or maybe it’s just nature playing tricks with the protagonist's mind. As with other ambiguous works of fiction, that is up to the reader to decide.
It’s incredible how fresh Algernon’s prose is despite being from a bygone era and containing a few outdated references. It is indeed the impetus of much of modern horror and weird fiction tropes and cliches. No wonder it had such a profound effect on his admirer H.P. Lovecraft. So many quotable and memorable lines and a creepy and ominous atmosphere. This is a book that is to be read alone at night, when out camping, or by listening to an audiobook while strolling down a riverside. Preferably with some willows in sight for the maximum effect. Also, I’m never gonna look at an otter the same way again.