I’ve mentioned in passing how the rise of the neo-Gothic architectural movement was deeply intertwined with the advent of Gothic literature. But the Gothic Revival was more than just a fun aesthetic phase—it was a political, philosophical, and artistic statement. Both Gothic literature and the revival of Gothic architecture emerged as a reaction against neoclassicism and the Enlightenment. Continue reading Let’s Have Another Gothic Revival in Architecture!
A Tribute to Mary Higgins Clark, the Queen of Suspense
The suspense genre recently lost one of its greatest literary figures: Mary Higgins Clark died on January 31, 2020, at the age of 92. She had been lauded for many decades as the “Queen of Suspense”—a well-earned titled considering that she published at least one best-selling suspense novel per year ever since her breakout debut in 1975. The suspense novel, or psychological thriller, is one of the many modern genres that evolved out of the Gothic. It is closely tied to another of these genres, detective fiction, and builds on Ann Radcliffe’s concept of terror as the driving force of Gothic fiction. Suspense novels generally involve some sort of crime and/or mystery and focus on the psychological states of the characters as they hurtle toward an uncertain outcome. These novels are characterized by ambiguity, plot twists, and most of all by the sense of worry and anticipation that they arouse in the characters and the reader. Mary Higgins Clark’s novels tend to feature resourceful female protagonists who must solve a mystery they are personally connected to. (One of her most common plot tropes is an accused woman who must prove her own innocence.) Her books are particularly beloved for their relatable leading ladies, who are usually older women that must take on the role of amateur sleuth when their lives are interrupted by violent crime. I reviewed one of Clark’s novels here on this blog a few years back, but today I want to take a broader look at her legacy. Continue reading A Tribute to Mary Higgins Clark, the Queen of Suspense
The Canterville Ghost—Oscar Wilde’s Gothic Parody
You probably know Oscar Wilde from his iconic Gothic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (and its unfortunate role in his trial for homosexuality). He is also widely celebrated for his comedic plays, like The Importance of Being Earnest. But less well-known is a delightful little piece that combines Wilde’s Gothic sensibilities with his biting sense of humor: The Canterville Ghost (1887) is a short story that parodies common elements of the typical ghost story while also satirizing differences in attitude and behavior between Americans and the British. Continue reading The Canterville Ghost—Oscar Wilde’s Gothic Parody
Gothic Tropes: The Naif
Every evil plot needs an innocent victim.… The naïf is one of the core stock characters in Gothic literature. From the same French root as “naive,” the naïf is someone who exemplifies innocence and has not yet been corrupted or made cynical by their encounters with the outside world. This character serves as a foil to innate evil and is usually the main victim of the story’s monster or villain. In Gothic fiction, the naïf is generally a young woman, sometimes an adolescent, who has lived a sheltered life and is suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar and dangerous environment. Because of her lack of experience, the naïf tends to underestimate evil and often trusts the wrong people. The more passive incarnations of this character resemble the stereotypical “damsel in distress,” and need to be rescued by a gallant hero. But sometimes when the naïf loses her innocence, she gains experience and agency. Continue reading Gothic Tropes: The Naif
Review of Burn the Dark–Witch Hunters and Hauntings
After wiping out witches all around the country, there’s only one place left for Robin Martine to go: home. A witch-hunting Youtube star returns to her hometown and confronts her past in Burn the Dark, the first book in S. A. Hunt’s fantasy/horror series Malus Domestica. If that title sounds familiar, it may be because the series spent several years as a self-published top-seller on Amazon. But last week, Burn the Dark finally came out in print from a traditional publisher, and can now be found on shelves at your local bookstore! Continue reading Review of Burn the Dark–Witch Hunters and Hauntings
Intro to New England Gothic
The Gothic initially developed as a European genre, drawing on that continent’s backdrop of medieval castles, crusading knights, and religious turmoil for its iconic imagery. But when this literary movement hopped the Atlantic, the American Gothic was created, which sought inspiration in the geography and local history of specific regions of the United States. The most recognizable strain of American Gothic literature is Southern Gothic, in which the corruption beneath the veneer of Southern respectability is exposed and examined. Apart the American South, another region known for producing seminal works of American Gothic literature is New England. With a history that includes some of the earliest pilgrims learning to survive in a new and unfamiliar wilderness, the infamous witch trials, and the birth of the Spiritualist movement, it’s no wonder that this region would produce tales of supernatural horror. Even the environment—full of foreboding mountains, unbroken forests, and harsh winters—lends itself particularly well to terror. Works of New England Gothic often address themes of religious fanaticism, the occult, and backwoods isolation, and many works deal specifically with the legacy of the Salem witch trials. Below are a few of the authors best known for writing New England Gothic: Continue reading Intro to New England Gothic
Books I’m Excited for in 2020
It’s a new year and you know what that means—new books! With 2019 over, it’s time to start planning out my fresh reads for 2020. There are so many great books releasing this year that I had a hard time narrowing it down to a simple list. But here are a few of the books that I’m most excited about adding to my TBR pile: Continue reading Books I’m Excited for in 2020
My 2019 Reading Challenge Recap
Let’s look back at my year of books! Every year I participate in the Goodreads Reading Challenge, setting myself a numerical goal of books to read, as well as some more abstract goals. This year I set myself an easily attainable numerical goal, though I did end up losing sight of some of my larger objectives.
Review of Spirits Unwrapped—An Unconventional Mummy Anthology
While you’re unwrapping your gifts this holiday season, how about unwrapping a few ancient mummies, as well? (Except, not literally. The Victorians used to do that, and it was a pretty sketchy practice…) Spirits Unwrapped, edited by Daniel Braum, is an anthology of fourteen unconventional mummy tales. It was released by the small indie publisher Lethe Press back in October and has finally made its way up to the top of my post-Halloween book pile. Continue reading Review of Spirits Unwrapped—An Unconventional Mummy Anthology
Go See Beetlejuice the Musical Before It Closes!
If you haven’t yet heard, Tim Burton’s beloved comedy-horror film Beetlejuice has recently been made into a Broadway musical. It opened at the Winter Garden Theatre back in April and, despite initial mixed reviews, has since become a surprise hit and one of the most popular shows of the season! The production stars Alex Brightman as the mischievous spirit Beetlejuice and Sophia Anne Caruso as the young protagonist Lydia Deetz, with lyrics and music by Eddie Perfect. In spite of the show’s popularity, the producers recently announced that it will be closing this summer to make room for The Music Man. The final Broadway production will be on June 6, and there are plans to launch a national tour in 2021. But if you’re able to get to New York City within the next six months, I highly recommend you go see it before it closes! I saw the show right when it opened back in April and absolutely loved it. Read on for my thoughts: Continue reading Go See Beetlejuice the Musical Before It Closes!