Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Just finished Something Wicked This Way Comes. I wasn’t really a fan. As some said the prose wasn’t that great. Not sure if it’s because of all the Lovecraft I read, but I didn’t find it scary at all actually.

Patrick, I think all the Lovecraft has desensitised you.

I think it has lol. SWTWC has nothing to stand on when compared to the Cthulhu Cult and Dream Realms lol.

I am creeped out by freak shows so I liked it. And I have been overdosing on lovecraft

Lovecraft doesn't scare me. Trying to think of something I've read that really scared me...I guess it has to be visual to scare me. When I'm reading I feel more in control.

I have the same reactions as you, Book Nerd. I may be freaked out by what I read, but not scared, if that makes any sense.

But I can't watch scary movies, or gory scenes either, even if they are short.

Book Nerd wrote: "Lovecraft doesn't scare me. Trying to think of something I've read that really scared me...I guess it has to be visual to scare me. When I'm reading I feel more in control."

I’m so glad you said that! You & Rosemarie have explained how I feel. The books I find scariest are those which appear to be almost normal but then have an unexpected twist. Those with unrealistic monsters etc just don’t work for me, though I can see why they are popular.

I thought Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” was plenty scary. If we can stretch the definition of scary to include disturbing I nominate Flannery O’Connor’s “Wise Blood.”

Mark wrote: "I thought Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” was plenty scary. If we can stretch the definition of scary to include disturbing I nominate Flannery O’Connor’s “Wise Blood.”"

Thanks, Mark - I’ll try this one. There are so many Lovecraft stories I didn’t know which to choose.

Trisha wrote: "Mark wrote: "I thought Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” was plenty scary. If we can stretch the definition of scary to include disturbing I nominate Flannery O’Connor’s “Wise Blood.”"

Tha..."

Cool. This should probably be called a novella. It is fairly long. - )

Sorry, Mark - I read “At the Mountains of Madness” today, but didn’t like it. Perhaps it’s the way he wrote. Maybe it should have been scary, but I thoroughly disliked his endless lists & boring detailed measurements of almost everything. I just wanted him to get on & tell the story! I’m glad I read this as I had wondered if I’d given up on the author too soon, but this has confirmed that, with a couple of exceptions, his writing is not for me. Thank you for the recommendation, it was worth trying.

That’s cool.

Lovecraft does get wordy at times, Trisha. He is not for everyone.

Rosemarie wrote: "Lovecraft does get wordy at times, Trisha. He is not for everyone."
“Mountains of Madness” is the only thing I have ever read by this author.

I have just finished reading his complete collection of short stories, which took me more than two years. He grows on you.

Rosemarie wrote: "I have just finished reading his complete collection of short stories, which took me more than two years. He grows on you."

I’m impressed!

Thanks. The stories are addictive!

They are addictive! I'll find a collection of all his stuff one day, but I only read the ones in the Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales of HP Lovecraft. I look forward to reading the rest next year! October is almost over and then onto my sci-fi binge for November lol.

Mark wrote: "I thought Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” was plenty scary."
Honestly I just felt bad for the elder beings. They woke up to find their civilization fallen and their city overrun by a bunch of apes.

Book Nerd wrote: "Mark wrote: "I thought Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” was plenty scary."
Honestly I just felt bad for the elder beings. They woke up to find their civilization fallen and their city over..."
It has been 25 years since I read it.

Mark wrote: "Book Nerd wrote: "Mark wrote: "I thought Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” was plenty scary."
Honestly I just felt bad for the elder beings. They woke up to find their civilization fallen a..."
It's been a long time since I read it too. I just tend to identify with aliens.

Mark & Book Nerd - are you talking about a different story? I read it yesterday, it was set in Antarctica. No elder beings & no apes - unless I misunderstood it completely! There was a lot of ice & a huge number of arches...

Trisha, they go inside a mountain, a long way down, and .....it takes a lot of description of the setting before the action begins.

Trisha wrote: "Mark & Book Nerd - are you talking about a different story? I read it yesterday, it was set in Antarctica. No elder beings & no apes - unless I misunderstood it completely! There was a lot of ice &..."

At the Mountains of Madness spoilers:
(view spoiler)[Elder beings are what the creatures with the star shaped heads are called. Not sure if it's explicitly mentioned in the story.
By apes I meant humans. Just being funny. We're extremely primitive lifeforms to them. (hide spoiler)]

Anyway, way off topic.

Would anyone read more books by Bradbury after reading this one? That is, if this is the only Bradbury book you have read.

If you have read more than one book by Bradbury, which ones have you read?

Book Nerd wrote: "Mark wrote: "Book Nerd wrote: "Mark wrote: "I thought Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” was plenty scary."
Honestly I just felt bad for the elder beings. They woke up to find their civiliza..."
I think I understood who you were referring to: both with the elders and the apes. I guess I was being over cautious. I’m new here.

Glad to have you in the group, Mark. Your contributions are appreciated.

Rosemarie wrote: "If you have read more than one book by Bradbury, which ones have you read?"

Yes, I definitely want to read more. I thought “Fahrenheit 451” was excellent, & already have a copy of “The Illustrated Man” to read soon. There are several of his books I want to read, including short stories. I like the way he writes.

So do I, Trisha. One of my favourites is Dandelion Wine.

Rosemarie wrote: "So do I, Trisha. One of my favourites is Dandelion Wine."

I’ll add that to my wish list - thank you Rosemarie.

Rosemarie wrote: "Glad to have you in the group, Mark. Your contributions are appreciated."
Thank you, Rosemarie.

Trisha wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "If you have read more than one book by Bradbury, which ones have you read?"

Yes, I definitely want to read more. I thought “Fahrenheit 451” was excellent, & already have a copy o..."

I've always wanted to read The Illustrated Man. I think it was hard to find a copy if I remember right. But I could try interlibrary loans.

Ray wrote that he was inspired by Mr Electrico, a carnival performer who was charged up and emitted sparks. As well as the act, the man told him that Ray was the reincarnation of his friend who died beside him in WW1. Heady stuff for a 12 year old! A few weeks later, Ray wrote his first story, about Mars. We should thank Mr Electrico.