Book Club

[ALRATIBA]

I was an English major and our thesis genre was Supernatural Horror.  Always a fan of supernatural horror (and fantasy) ... so I had a great time in that class.  And .... 

that's where I first dscovered H. P. Lovecraft.  

Anyway ... today Amazon KIndle Deals has The Complete Fiction of H. P. Lovecraft for only $2.99!   Contains over 1100 pagaes!  I ordered it!

So - if you're a fan ... check it out!

[LoriLori]

@ALRATIBA 

Very interesting.  What was the theme of your thesis?

Love Lovecraft.  And Edgar Allen Poe.  Very different styles, both groundbreaking. 

Today I don't enjoy re-reading Lovecraft much (although for those who haven't read him, run to Kindle!) but I never tire of re-reading Poe.  I even had a cat named Anabel Lee (I took out an "n" because she was starved as and way underweight when I chose her as a kitten from the shelter . So the extra "n" seemed superfluous.  Best cat ever.  (For me.)  Named after a beautiful, horrifying poem LOL.

[ALRATIBA]

@LoriLori 

The title of the paper was "What Done It?"

It was a survey of American, English and Irish short (horror) stories comparing the "source" of the "horror" ... whether an actual item (like a haunted or sacred tree or cursed monkey's paw) or an imaginary (unseen) horror.... internal or external. 

I'm sorry I didn't save a copy ... it was really good (and I got an "A" on the course).

[LoriLori]

Fasciating theme!  Did you choose it?  I would love to read it, congrats on the no doubt well-deserved A.  Wish you had it to upload!

What other writers?  Did you have Poe?  M.R. James?  Not sure I know any Irish ones, always up for new masters of horror, the genre IMO best suited for short stories.

[ALRATIBA]

Just an aside .... I'm sitting here laughing ... thinking about this ...

I have a friend who for some odd reason cannot stand the word "genre."  

She can't explain why but if you want to "set her off" .... just ask here what her favorite literary genre is.   ')  

[ALRATIBA]

@LoriLori 

We were free to choose whatever we wanted.  It was a senior seminar and the course genre was supernatural horror.

This was a really looooooong time ago.  

At the time - it seemed like the paper wrote itself (or maybe I was using a haunted typewriter!).  

I recall I had a stack of short stories that I was particularly drawn to and knew I wanted to include them all ... and was looking for a way to link them.  So ... I started writing about them ... one by one.  All of a sudden ... the paper was done and all I had to do is write an intro and summary and stick a cover sheet on it. 

[LoriLori]

@ALRATIBA   Thanks!  So interested.  Remember if MR James was in it or Poe? 

I know people have words they don't like from friends but also because the man who hosted The Actor's Studio asked most actors that question.  (I recall he got a lot of "moist" LOL).  "Genre" is a new one to me.  

[teganslaw]

I have a couple books with H.P. Lovecraft's writings. Discovered him while in high school. 

I also have a copy of Edgar Allen Poe's tales and poems. Poe also wrote satire, although the stories don't seem to be as well known as his horror. 

[ALRATIBA]

@LoriLori 

Definitely not James - there was something about his writing that turned me off - can't explain it.  LeFanu was a particular favorite.  I think I had a couple of his in there.  Jacobs (The Monkey's Paw).  I recall I had a few Americans, but mainly Irish and English. 

I have an "issue" regarding many American writers.  Generally prefer English writers.  But don't tell anyone that .... just between you and me.

---------------------------------

It was written on a typewriter (no PC back then) ... and didn't think to keep a copy.

[LoriLori]

@teganslaw  I didn't know that and I have collected works.  Interesting!  So maybe he would have loved what The Simpsons did with "The Raven" on the very first Halloween episode.