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A review by cryptofauna
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
i just. didn’t get it?
this just seems like the kind of book that just feels weird / wrong with a white author?? it’s obviously historically accurate but the amount of slurs and insanely racist language is a little overwhelming. i know that’s the point, and like yes racism is uncomfortable but it just felt off to me.
the plot was vaguely interesting but it felt extremely disjointed and there were so many characters that i was consistently lost on who was who.
worldbuilding and magic system was interesting but it still felt like because the main characters didn’t understand it that it wasn’t able to be completely explained / fleshed out
ALSO this is NOT lovecraftian (as we generally think of it now, it’s possible more of his actual stuff was like this??) but there’s no big spooky monsters or anything like that it’s just racism
this just seems like the kind of book that just feels weird / wrong with a white author?? it’s obviously historically accurate but the amount of slurs and insanely racist language is a little overwhelming. i know that’s the point, and like yes racism is uncomfortable but it just felt off to me.
the plot was vaguely interesting but it felt extremely disjointed and there were so many characters that i was consistently lost on who was who.
worldbuilding and magic system was interesting but it still felt like because the main characters didn’t understand it that it wasn’t able to be completely explained / fleshed out
ALSO this is NOT lovecraftian (as we generally think of it now, it’s possible more of his actual stuff was like this??) but there’s no big spooky monsters or anything like that it’s just racism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism