Literary Horror discussion

Also, Campbell's protagonists are commonly presented as being overwhelmed by their problems, whether these are everyday or supernatural in nature; oftentimes, these characters are undergoing periods of transition or tumult; a new situation, job or home, a second chance after previous failure; or are just generally anxious and neurotic - this sense of disorientation is something captured perfectly by Campbell's elliptical style (and explains, as someone with a lifelong anxiety disorder, perhaps why I find it so easy to relate to Ramsey's writing).

Mike wrote: "Totally agree 100% Jordan...I think that anyone who really wants to be able to tap into Campbell's mindset (and the mindset of his characters) would be VERY well served by reading his introduction ..."
Spot on.That's a haunting little essay.

Randolph wrote: "Karl Hexean wrote: "Mike wrote: "Totally agree 100% Jordan...I think that anyone who really wants to be able to tap into Campbell's mindset (and the mindset of his characters) would be VERY well se..."

Awesome. It's a good one. :)

I'm about half way through and think it's so so. Agree with Randolph that it's quite sparse on the weirdness in the first half, although the few times it has kicked off have been good. The prose seems slightly bland for my tastes.

I got the new Laird Barron book through and for now have switched to that, will come back to this later.

Jodi wrote: "Randolph wrote: "One thing that doesn't work very well for me is trees and forests being scary or latently eerie. I spent a fair amount of time in the woods, once camped all the way around lake Sup..."

Yes,or suck you into it. I have far more creepy moments from time in the woods then from any time in the city.

Randolph wrote: "I have a latent fear of mines and caves etc. so there is no way I was going down in that hole."

I read that chapter last night. I'm not normally claustrophobic, but I certainly was then. Beginning to really enjoy this.

Mike wrote: "This idea of the natural world being itself horrific or malevolent is really something fascinating. I'm immediately thinking of the film Antichrist which was released a year or two ago...."

Haven't yet seen the film, but I *do* most certainly know what you mean. Some of my own experiences in Vermont (a cemetery deep in woods so thick and disorienting-for example-that my ind was tricked enough on returning to find myself on the opposite end of where I had entered the previous day)still disturb me. When it comes to the woods in art, I often think of The Black Lodge from Twin Peaks.

I have seen weird things in the woods; born of there and sometimes brought.

Ha. The above looks a bit more "dramatic" than it sounded in my head.;)-My post, I mean.

Awesome. I hope that you some day write them down- even if a bit "disguised".

I agree. If someone feels secure in a forest then he wouldn't find the first half of this book eerie. I love forests but am also afraid of them, but I also love being afraid, so I thought the book was great.
I liked the mother, who was making videos.

Off the top of my head, my favorite forest horror story is Aickman's Into the Wood, I like how the forest there is just a forest, but also a part of something bigger.

I have to read that.

Maryann wrote: "Karl Hexean wrote: "Mike wrote: "Totally agree 100% Jordan...I think that anyone who really wants to be able to tap into Campbell's mindset (and the mindset of his characters) would be VERY well se..."

Yes, it's interesting when a writer steps forward to speak of the work and it's connection (or lack therof) to life.
Glad that you liked it.

Sorry it took me so long and I fell so far behind in the group read. I FINALLY finished this sucker.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...