lmy612's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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
2.0
I’ve never read anything by H. P. Lovecraft before and now I don’t know if I will.
The Call of Cthulhu is one of H. P. Lovecraft’s best known stories but it was a big flop for me. I guess people in the 1920s were scared by different things than people in the 2020s.
And let it be known, I scare easily! I rarely read horror because I generally can’t handle them and scare myself senseless. Especially at night. This wasn’t that.
The Call of Cthulhu is one of H. P. Lovecraft’s best known stories but it was a big flop for me. I guess people in the 1920s were scared by different things than people in the 2020s.
And let it be known, I scare easily! I rarely read horror because I generally can’t handle them and scare myself senseless. Especially at night. This wasn’t that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Classism, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness
aspeights's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
a foundational horror text, could do with less overt racism though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Classism, Colonisation, Racism, and Death
henrygravesprince's review against another edition
medium-paced
0.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Mental illness and Violence
Cultskay_ne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
First foray into reading something from H.P. Lovecraft and not knowing anything about him so why not read about Cthulu- well the story was good but honestly was not expecting Was not really sure what I was expecting when I started reading it, but I guess it made me disappointed. Other than that, I'll try reading his other stories to see if I want to continue readings his works.
Spoiler
the racism and the members of the Cthulu cult to be minorities -- quote is from when Legrasse and his men bring the cultists back to headquarters, "..., the prisoners all proved to be men of a very low, mixed-blooded, and mentally aberrant type. Most were seamen, and a sprinkling of negroes and mulattoes..." -- I really don't know a lot about Lovecraft and currently can only chalk this up to times being different.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
loreleilee's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
biiancaco's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
There is overt racism. HP Lovecraft uses many pejorative slurs. He seems to hate biracial people the most. His prejudice is clear in how he divides his protagonists and antagonists.
It is the white intelligent man vs the swarthy mentally aberrant savage. Whether it is a mestizo, a black man, or an Indian, he despises all.
Besides that, this short-story was incredibly well-written. The language is reticent of Gothic Horror, I would liken it to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or Modern Day Prometheus and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.
The prose is luscious, full of fun alliteration, the verbs are buoyant and evoke action and pace!
To quote a few, "shivering squatter" "mirror in marble" "yellow hair turned white" "pursuing jelly which rose above the unclean froth like the stern of a daemon galleon"
A touch of Realism lays a great foundation to this Weird Fiction, all thanks to HP Lovecraft's technical nautical knowledge as well as his placing of a scientist in the forefront of the story. Strange occurrences told in a straight and plain manner, feel more real.
Cthulhu is not the only "monstrous menace". The fact that the author has given him a face makes him less threatening. To HP Lovecraft, the more frightening monsters are ones unknown, they lie in wait beyond our own universe. Because really, is it logical to believe that humans are the ONLY conscious beings?
What is it that we do not know? This is the horror the character faces. He is confronted with the truth that we are not alone. And in the end of his discovery he muses that,
The beginning of the short story already informs us how we can avoid this futile stress.
It is the white intelligent man vs the swarthy mentally aberrant savage. Whether it is a mestizo, a black man, or an Indian, he despises all.
Besides that, this short-story was incredibly well-written. The language is reticent of Gothic Horror, I would liken it to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or Modern Day Prometheus and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.
The prose is luscious, full of fun alliteration, the verbs are buoyant and evoke action and pace!
To quote a few, "shivering squatter" "mirror in marble" "yellow hair turned white" "pursuing jelly which rose above the unclean froth like the stern of a daemon galleon"
A touch of Realism lays a great foundation to this Weird Fiction, all thanks to HP Lovecraft's technical nautical knowledge as well as his placing of a scientist in the forefront of the story. Strange occurrences told in a straight and plain manner, feel more real.
Cthulhu is not the only "monstrous menace". The fact that the author has given him a face makes him less threatening. To HP Lovecraft, the more frightening monsters are ones unknown, they lie in wait beyond our own universe. Because really, is it logical to believe that humans are the ONLY conscious beings?
What is it that we do not know? This is the horror the character faces. He is confronted with the truth that we are not alone. And in the end of his discovery he muses that,
Spoiler
"Death would be a boon if only it could blot out the memories" </spoilers>The beginning of the short story already informs us how we can avoid this futile stress.
"We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far "
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
The racism and xenophobia is straightforward and only limited to slurs and metaphors. There is no graphic violence described.itsreyz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I knew Lovecraft was racist but BOI did I not expect this level of xenophobia TT It was especially disturbing to listen to, stereotypes and slurs flew left and right.
The plot itself was fine, the writing generally holds up well but this is definitely not Lovecraft's best work. Bit boring imo, I found myself zoning out several times (and I tend to like slow storytelling).
I guess the fact that the xenophobia was more horrifying than the story itself kinda says it all, lol.
The plot itself was fine, the writing generally holds up well but this is definitely not Lovecraft's best work. Bit boring imo, I found myself zoning out several times (and I tend to like slow storytelling).
I guess the fact that the xenophobia was more horrifying than the story itself kinda says it all, lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mental illness
trulydevious's review against another edition
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
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death
More...