Sci-Fi & Scary

Lovecraft Country was a book mainly comprised of elements that I don’t particularly enjoy. It was set in a time period (the 50’s) that means nothing to me. One of the main themes of the book (racism) is something that I can understand intellectually, but not really emotionally. The chapters were also allotted to various members of the family. While some people like this, I hated that I never got to really know any one character. So it would be easy for me to say I didn’t particularly enjoy this book. But, surprisingly, I did like it.

It took a while for Lovecraft Country to hook me. I was always interested in it, but never to the point that I had to sit down and read it. It probably wasn’t until around page 260 or so that I felt compelled to finish the story. I don’t think it was until the supernatural elements were taking hold in the story that I perked up. Until that time, I felt sorry for the struggles of the Turners and curious about the bits of supernatural elements.

Even though stuff does happen almost from the beginning, Lovecraft Country has a slow-burn feel to it. Matt Ruff lets the atmosphere of that era in history build up to horror inside your mind before he introduces the horror you were expecting. I can’t speak for how accurate the dialogue is during that time, but it felt believable. The action scenes, both supernatural and otherwise, were well-written. While I wasn’t particularly invested in any of the characters, I did find myself admiring Letitia and Atticus. Specifically, Letitia’s spirit and Atticus’ refusal to back down from anything. Letitia is the type of spirited female you want to cheer for.

Lovecraft Country does a good job of making us aware of just how far we’ve come in a relatively short amount of time. It also sends shivers down my spine considering the current state of unrest our country is in.

Past horror and supernatural horror combined is a surprisingly effective combination that Matt Ruff utilizes at near maximum efficiency. Lovecraft Country isn’t a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, but it’s one you won’t quickly forget.