Lovecraft...with a sense of humor
Written: Mar 11 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Well-written, good use of dialogue, original characters.
Cons: I don't think the poems lend anything to the work.
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for good, old-fashion horror with a fresh voice, definately give this book a try.
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| dgrossman's Full Review: Julie Ann Dawson - September And Other Stories |
I have to be honest. I love horror stories, but usually avoid female horror writers. I've just found too many female horror writers get caught up in a dark, erotic funk that normally degenerates into another independent woman falling in love with a vampire or similar theme. So when my girlfriend insisted that I read September, I cringed. I think, however, I owe Ms. Dawson an apology for prejudging.
This collection of sixteen short stories and poems is clever, original, and often funny. The first story "A Candle for Imbolc" introduces the character of Natasha Collins, a professor of philosophy and religion who has the ability to interact with spirits and other assorted supernaturals. Natasha is one of three sisters (the other two are a doctor and an archeologist) who come from an affluent family. But don't think these stories are another girl-power clique. All three of the sister struggle to be successful in their fields, and the greatest challenge they face comes from their own mother, a tradition-bound matriarch whose only desire is for her daughters to marry and have children. The interaction between the sisters and their mother makes for some entertaining dialogue, while at the same time giving a realistic interpretation of how women struggled for equality in the 1920's.
But this isn't a feminist book, it's a horror book. And the horror does spill out in a smooth and subtle fashion. In the first story, Natasha decides to go speak with the spirit of a man who died on campus after examining some sumerian candleholders. In "The Horror in the Attic" we get a classic Lovecraftian tale with Natasha investigating the apparent suicide of a construction worker on her mother's friend's property, only to uncover a strange alien intelligence.
These stories are followed by the novella-length September. In this, Natasha's sister is finally given the chance to head up her own expedition to uncover the tomb of a forgotten pharaoh. It was in September that I realized just how good of a writer Dawson is. Throughout the first stories, you're left wondering if the events really happened or if Natasha is just delusional. Indeed, nobody else around her sees or experiences any of the things she does. But the scene with her psychologist made me do a double-take, and I had to read it twice before realizing what had just happened.
The rest of the stories change gears dramatically. "To Dine With A Demon" gives a theological twist to the old sell-your-soul theme. A few of the stories appear to be "real-life" tales from Dawson's own life, not so much horror stories but simultaneously creepy and amusing snapshots. "Bus 264" may be the most controversial of the bunch, as it tells the story of a teenage girl trying to get to the clinic for an abortion before her parents come home from vacation. What happens at the bus station changes her life forever.
Dawson has a very concise writing style. She doesn't waste words, but gets right to the meat of her story. That combined with her wit and dark sense of humor makes for an enjoyable collection of scares.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
dgrossman
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 1 member
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