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raincorbyn's review against another edition
3.0
Gothicka starts off a very insightful survey of early Gothick lit, and contextualizes those important books in their religious, political, and global history. Soon enough, though, it becomes a catalog of lists and descriptions of books, movies, and other spooky media.
I like bold theses in books like this, whether or not I ultimately agree in the end. I hope for the author's insights and conclusions. This felt like "I had a great time at Sitges" until the book ran out of pages and it then was "I don't know what to make of how Gothick has changed, but it has changed while being alive and well." All in all a pleasant conversation, but I hope for more crunch from my lit theory.
I like bold theses in books like this, whether or not I ultimately agree in the end. I hope for the author's insights and conclusions. This felt like "I had a great time at Sitges" until the book ran out of pages and it then was "I don't know what to make of how Gothick has changed, but it has changed while being alive and well." All in all a pleasant conversation, but I hope for more crunch from my lit theory.
typicalbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Though I dug into this with massive optimism, I wasn't ready for the dissection and regular return to Dan Brown's work throughout. Enjoyable and interesting reading for authors, horror readers and film fans, Gothika unfolds the 'gothic' lurking under many contemporary fan faves. Even if I liked the idea more than the contents, it will still be lent to a few academics that will also enjoy the ideas that Nelson mulls over.
evavroslin's review against another edition
5.0
This book is essential reading for anyone who loves the Gothic and its traditions/roots in literature, and contains very useful analyses of everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Twilight to Anne Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton, Poppy Z. Brite and beyond. There are chapters devoted to zombies, to how the Gothick ethos has bled into cities, a chapter devoted to Guillermo del Toro (which is phenomenal), and more. I absolutely devoured this book, particularly for its analysis of why the dominant themes of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre have endured in popularity and continue to play out in current fiction and films.
fredsphere's review
5.0
Nelson has done a great thing. This book includes an erudite history of the Gothic in books and film. It also reviews a great many recent additions (and no other book has inspired me to consume so many books and movies reviewed). Most impressively, Nelson offers a tentative prediction for where the Gothic is heading. It's a bold prediction: that the Gothic will lead to the development of a neo-Gnositc American-based world religion in the 21st century.
Nelson really knows the genre, but what's especially impressive is her understanding and sympathy for the whole wide world of religious impulses. She admits to her biases, but I see them very little here; I'm pretty sure she and I disagree, but "my side" gets a rare fair hearing. She truly has the heart of a great reviewer, which always begins with sympathy and enthusiasm for the artist's intent.
For this topic, getting religion right is essential. Nelson understands that "Gothick" is, at heart, a religious venture. I don't share her optimism for the long-term success of Gnosticism--I think it's radical subjectivity is self-defeating--but she's dead-on to see its rise in Gothic (and general American) culture, and I feel like I've learned a lot from her insight. Her theories even explain the otherwise mystifying popularity of [book:Twilight|41865], with its well-known artistic limitations. It fits in the trend, advanced first by Anne Rice, of reforming and sort-of-redeeming vampires and other Gothic monsters.
Finally, I'd just like to mention one more delightful personal detail: I found this book the old fashioned way, by pulling it off the shelf while browsing a library. It wasn't covered in cobwebs, and the library's resident ghost didn't cackle as I touched it, but somehow, that detail seems very right.
Anyone interested in religion, Gothic literature (or really any genre), and modern trends in genre evolution and repurposing, really needs to read this book.
Nelson really knows the genre, but what's especially impressive is her understanding and sympathy for the whole wide world of religious impulses. She admits to her biases, but I see them very little here; I'm pretty sure she and I disagree, but "my side" gets a rare fair hearing. She truly has the heart of a great reviewer, which always begins with sympathy and enthusiasm for the artist's intent.
For this topic, getting religion right is essential. Nelson understands that "Gothick" is, at heart, a religious venture. I don't share her optimism for the long-term success of Gnosticism--I think it's radical subjectivity is self-defeating--but she's dead-on to see its rise in Gothic (and general American) culture, and I feel like I've learned a lot from her insight. Her theories even explain the otherwise mystifying popularity of [book:Twilight|41865], with its well-known artistic limitations. It fits in the trend, advanced first by Anne Rice, of reforming and sort-of-redeeming vampires and other Gothic monsters.
Finally, I'd just like to mention one more delightful personal detail: I found this book the old fashioned way, by pulling it off the shelf while browsing a library. It wasn't covered in cobwebs, and the library's resident ghost didn't cackle as I touched it, but somehow, that detail seems very right.
Anyone interested in religion, Gothic literature (or really any genre), and modern trends in genre evolution and repurposing, really needs to read this book.
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