H.P. Lovecraft

You need to get your mind out of the framework that there needs to be a twist, or suprise ending, Volls. It's more about the grammar and atmosphere than it is the actual events taking place. You're right that some of the surprises at the end of these stories are easy to guess, but it's not really about that. It's more about changing the way you percieve reality around you. As I said before, Call of Cthulhu is my favorite of his works. The first paragraph is one of the most finely-written pieces of literature in history, in my opinion. Whisperer in Darkness and Haunter of the Dark both gave me the willies. That's a hefty number of pages you're planning on reading tonight. Hope you enjoy it!

I decided against reading them at work since it takes more mental presence than I can give to read his works appropriately, so we'll see if I read them later.

Regarding his style, most of his stories thus far have been vague and left his horrifying revelation for the last few paragraphs. Since I'm a fantasy nut and such, it's just never a revelation for me, since I'd guessed from clues halfway through the piece. Like I said, I think it's just a problem with me and our times, since we're much more educated in regards to his subject matter. It's not a true complaint against him, more like a complaint that I'm robbed of the full effect by knowing so much.

The writing is superb though, that's for sure. You really need to have a quiet location to read and absorb it, or you really miss out on a lot.

You really need to have a quiet location to read and absorb it, or you really miss out on a lot.

Agreed. I tried reading through a chunk of my current book on a plane a month back, and that was a pretty poor choice. Kinda hard to appreciate the finer points of proper, early 20th century vernacular with a pair of shrieking children pistoning their feet into the back of your seat every two minutes.

Agreed. I tried reading through a chunk of my current book on a plane a month back, and that was a pretty poor choice. Kinda hard to appreciate the finer points of proper, early 20th century vernacular with a pair of shrieking children pistoning their feet into the back of your seat every two minutes.

Last plane ride or two were perfectly fine for reading. /shrug

I left my book at work last night, so I didn't get to read any more. Maybe tonight or tomorrow.