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bookwormabby54's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
abycesca24's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I like the suspense this short story offers. I was on the edge of my seat while reading the last part of the story. There was also a decent build-up of the suspense from start to finish. The foreshadowing aided the plot. However, the story jumps from one time frame to another so the presentation of time is not seamless. Although, this technique made the story realistic. Also, it has the right amount of mystery. I appreciated that the author held back some vital information from the reader. Too much information ruins the story, doesn't it?
hangsawoman's review
the good thing about M.R. James is that all of his books are about how academics deserve to die
lnatal's review
4.0
From BBC Radio 4 - 15 Minute Drama:
by the master of the ghost story, M.R.James. The tale of a curse passed on by a curiously inscribed slip of paper.
dramatised by Neil Brand
M.R. James ..... Mark Gatiss
Dunning ..... John Bowler
Karswell ..... Ewan Bailey
Gayton ..... Paul Heath
Mrs. Gayton ..... Saffron Coomber
Harrington ..... Ronny Jhutti
Assistant ..... Lewis Bray
Director: David Hunter
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001mdb
by the master of the ghost story, M.R.James. The tale of a curse passed on by a curiously inscribed slip of paper.
dramatised by Neil Brand
M.R. James ..... Mark Gatiss
Dunning ..... John Bowler
Karswell ..... Ewan Bailey
Gayton ..... Paul Heath
Mrs. Gayton ..... Saffron Coomber
Harrington ..... Ronny Jhutti
Assistant ..... Lewis Bray
Director: David Hunter
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001mdb
hartd's review
This story was recommended in a Reddit thread of the scariest things people had ever read. I am wimpy and it seemed tame compared to a lot of the other suggestions, so I read it. Also, I love the Legendary Pink Dots song of the same name, but I still don't know the relationship between this story and the song (if there is one).
It's pretty creepy, but not all that scary by modern standards, and the distancing effect that is present in so much old speculative fiction made it a little bit challenging to read - every part of the story is second- or thirdhand.
I sort of shipped the main victim and the brother, and I'd be really surprised if I were alone in that thought.
It's pretty creepy, but not all that scary by modern standards, and the distancing effect that is present in so much old speculative fiction made it a little bit challenging to read - every part of the story is second- or thirdhand.
I sort of shipped the main victim and the brother, and I'd be really surprised if I were alone in that thought.
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