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anastasia_raf's review against another edition
- 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
If you're interested in reading his whatever we should be aware of:
"He was an explicit white supremacist and his racist views were apparent in his writing."
Please take the time to read this https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5883881
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Classism and Colonisation
savviecake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Chronic illness and Mental illness
Minor: Violence and Suicidal thoughts
biiancaco's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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.itsreirei's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mental illness
trulydevious's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death
exists's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Moderate: Racial slurs
gayledayle's review against another edition
- 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
1.0
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
extremely racist didn’t like thatnatalyr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This style of writing, complex in all its nuances and need to articulate an unquestionable level of intensity, must be slowly and thoroughly digested. I found myself revisiting paragraphs to ensure I'd gleaned every drop of understanding from the intricately crafted intimations.
There is evidence of certain prejudices that are characteristic of the time in which it was written, a time with considerably less knowledge, understanding and acceptance of all people, race and status. A time of fear, even, of people perceived as strangers. Whilst I do not share or condone these beliefs myself, I feel it is important to consider it from an educational standpoint. I wish it would be in order to show how far we have come, however, in actuality, it just highlights that the issues today are of an ancient beast. Much like the one in the story.
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism