Horror Aficionados discussion
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July 2012 Read: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
My copy arrived today. Didn't realize it was such a short book. Should be a quick read. :)
I'm going to start reading this tonight. Or tomorrow night.
I will start it today or tomorrow. I got this at the used bookstore and am super excited to read it. It is my first Lovecraft book.
Phenomenal story!! It might be short but I believe it's Lovecraft's longest piece of fiction. Don't let the length deceive you either, it's actually quite deep and definitely calls for a careful reading.I read it for my first time about 4 months and absolutely loved it! Enjoy people.
best
Michael
Your first Lovecraft, Jennbunny? It will be interesting to see what you think of it. People either love or hate Lovecraft.
Yep....my first one! I love the cover of mine!
My first Lovercraft, too.. I've started this months read, finished first chapter. I'm not sure yet, but I'm keeping an open mind.
Lovecraft is awesome. My favorite author. My avatar is one of lovecrafts favorite paintings.
I'll join the gals....my first Lovecraft also. A buddy of mine said you kinda have to acquire a taste for him. I'm like six chapters in, he makes ya use yer little brain! :)
Lee wrote: "I'll join the gals....my first Lovecraft also. A buddy of mine said you kinda have to acquire a taste for him. I'm like six chapters in, he makes ya use yer little brain! :)"This is very true. You indeed need to first, get used to his writing, and second acquire a taste for him. For me, it's more about content than his writing style.
holy crap, how many pages is he gonna dedicate to Charles' walking around? I have found myself wondering if there is a point. so this book obviously starts out slower than a turtle in a crisper drawer of a fridge.
Nora wrote: "My copy arrived today. Didn't realize it was such a short book. Should be a quick read. :)"Well I was wrong, not a quick read becasue I keep putting it down in order to do other things. I am not giving up yet, though. I am sure it has to get better.
I'll have to dust of my Lovecraft anthology that has it soon. ;)
Finished it tonight. Second time I read it and I still think it's fantastic. It does start out a little slow and Lovecraft can be wordy but bear with it. The second half really picks up.I think a lot of his material falls into more of a Twilight Zone - SciFi kind of genre but the one we're reading this month is solid horror IMO.
A good story but very long and textually dense making it not the best place to start for those uninitiated with Lovecraft.
It would be my first Lovecraft, too, but based on the comments not sure if I'm gonna jump in.
Gatorman wrote: "It would be my first Lovecraft, too, but based on the comments not sure if I'm gonna jump in."well, everyone has different tastes, maybe you'd like it?
I went ahead and downloaded it on my Nook. Looked at the first few pages and it does seem kinda dry but I will give it a shot.
I started it last night....I think I am about 15 pages in.
It has a very literary feel to the beginning, where you have to learn Ward's life in order to understand the end. It is pretty dry, but it's also the kind of dry I don't mind. It does speak of insanity and occultism, so it's not that dry. LOL
Yep I do not think it is dry....I like it so far.
wow, it's my first Lovecraft too!! how exciting, all these Lovecraftian virgins :)
Yay! Maybe we have some new Lovecraft converts?
As I mentioned in my intro to this group read, this is my second time through this story. I have to say that I am enjoying it so much better this time!
The term "Lovecraft Virgin" should be trademarked. ;)
THEY SHALL BE SACRIFICED TO THE ELDER GODS
Jason wrote: "It is pretty dry, but it's also the kind of dry I don't mind. It does speak of insanity and occultism, so it's not that dry. LOL "I am suprised to find that someone could manage to make such topics rather tedious. I am on page 44, still hopeful it will get better.
Scott wrote: "THEY SHALL BE SACRIFICED TO THE ELDER GODS"Oh good, I have always wanted to be sacrificed.
Tuesday works for me.
Lol, well I guess that'd make sense as dues in a Horror Group :)
Have been a Lovecraft fan for a long time. I downloaded it last night and have started it. I hope the new Lovecraft readers get hooked. It will probably be a different kind of read that people are not used to.
Anyone else bothered by the glaring spelling errors?
So far....my book doesn't have any errors that I see.
Not an e-book, reading a regular book. the top two that stick out to me are page 42 ten or son of the most...
page 54 S second flaming thing..
He did spell things in a more of an old British style. Like shewed instead of showed, colour instead of color, etc. Anything else is probably an editorial mistake, considering how often these stories have been published.
Hi Jason. I think I have figured out why Lovecraft gives me chills and no other author can. He is almost like reading a newspaper story. It seems like it's true. Just like when the towns people gather to the farm house in this book. Lovecraft tells the scene from the eyewitness point of view, the distant neighbors that sees and hears vague disturbing images and sounds.It's almost like the old gritty horror movies that have a documentary feel for them, they seem almost real and disturbing. Or even the new onslaught films of the handheld camera. They too have a creepy realism. So does Lovecraft.
I totally agree, Mike. Lovecraft was a genius at creating these types of scenes. A lot of his stories read like a report or an article, and so it becomes even more easy to suspend your disbelief and get the creeps!
Oh yeah....that is what it seems like....more news article written. As I was reading, I was thinking this seems so real like....almost like a true story.
Indeed! That's one reason why I like Lovecraft so much. He can pull me into his story and make me believe for a time. He didn't do this with all stories, but when he got it right, he killed it!
Jason wrote: "He did spell things in a more of an old British style. Like shewed instead of showed, colour instead of color, etc. Anything else is probably an editorial mistake, considering how often these stori..."The British spellings I don't consider spelling errors just different ways of spelling. I don't care if it's an editorial error it's still annoying. Obviously they didn't pay close enough attention.
As for the story itself, I find it rather boring and tedious. I just don't find it an engaging story.
I gave it zero stars.
Reading my "printed copy" of Lovecraft....in the bright sunlight, so I don't get skeered! :)
I agree with it's "like reading a news article"....and your they're as a witness.
Wow what a tan! I do NOT tan....I slather on sunblock (spf 100 if I can get it). I am a sun freak!
All you need is a nice cold iced tea! :)
Wow, you're in great shape, Lee! Ooh, baby! *whistles*I started the book today after the fun of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Good change of mood.
OK lee we know you are flexing hard in that pic when you relax everything goes south.Looking good Louis feeling good....
Horror Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
H.P. Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life (other topics)H.P. Lovecraft: A Life (other topics)
Naomi's Room (other topics)
The Woman in White (other topics)
Storm Front (other topics)
More...
I'm personally glad this won for one main reason. I read it after having my hernia operated on back in January, and so therefore don't remember much of it. The pain meds they gave me were so damn good. They were so good I still dream about them....ahhh...
Anyway, let's discuss!