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jobinsonlis's review against another edition
3.0
I read M.R. James in college five hundred years ago and didn’t really enjoy his more naturalistic approach to supernatural horror versus the Gothic tradition I love so very much. I enjoyed him a little more here and appreciated his dry sense of humor but I’d still rather have bizarre, overdramatic ghost stories.
mollybonovskyanderson's review against another edition
4.0
I discovered these stories via a documentary I watched on the origins of folk horror. I was struck by how many British horror stories (especially the ones made into short films for Christmas by the BBC) were written by M.R. James.
Nearly all of the stories involve a curious archivist/historian/scholar/archaeologist uprooting something he really shouldn't, and unleashes some primeval horror that doesn't just frighten or haunt, it has the capacity and will to kill.
These aren't easy stories to read, as the vernacular can be very crusty (I don't know how else to put it), and there are more often that not layers, that is, stories within stories within stories, during which the author makes sure to pop in and remind you he's there to say, "but I won't bore you with these details," or "dear reader," or something like that. It's charming, if not a bit repetitive. I was hoping to get my hands on the DVD box set of the film version of these stories, but unfortunately they're only available in PAL format.
Nearly all of the stories involve a curious archivist/historian/scholar/archaeologist uprooting something he really shouldn't, and unleashes some primeval horror that doesn't just frighten or haunt, it has the capacity and will to kill.
These aren't easy stories to read, as the vernacular can be very crusty (I don't know how else to put it), and there are more often that not layers, that is, stories within stories within stories, during which the author makes sure to pop in and remind you he's there to say, "but I won't bore you with these details," or "dear reader," or something like that. It's charming, if not a bit repetitive. I was hoping to get my hands on the DVD box set of the film version of these stories, but unfortunately they're only available in PAL format.
shaunwaldie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fantasma13's review against another edition
4.0
A very spooky and enjoyble experience. A very good book to read out of fun at night!
devdev_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
First read: 01/02/2020-4 stars
Second read: 05/05/2024 - 3 stars
There are four stories that stand out as amazing, with being eerie and compelling in this book, but then the rest are just okay. Didn’t realise it was so male-centric on my first read but wow it really is.
Second read: 05/05/2024 - 3 stars
There are four stories that stand out as amazing, with being eerie and compelling in this book, but then the rest are just okay. Didn’t realise it was so male-centric on my first read but wow it really is.
wunkymatts's review against another edition
4.0
I've read a few MR James stories before, but never gone through a chunk all at once like this. This edition has the stories in order of publishing so I could see themes emerging when he used similar subject matter for a while. There were also occasions when he would reference previous stories, which gave me a little literary thrill.
There's something very cosy about James, in an Agatha Christie way. His world is a world that I would love to inhabit, of dusty libraries and long discussions on obscure subjects that go on late into the night. I enjoy it even though I know it doesn't exist and even if it did I wouldn't be invited (certainly not to any of James' ghost stories readings. He was not in favour of women being admitted to university).
The thing that really stood out for me is, as well as how fearlessly he describes his horrors, creating delightfully sickening jolt scares for the reader, is how funny he is. He is very arch and knowing and is not afraid to poke fun at his people and his profession making his work even more enjoyable.
There's something very cosy about James, in an Agatha Christie way. His world is a world that I would love to inhabit, of dusty libraries and long discussions on obscure subjects that go on late into the night. I enjoy it even though I know it doesn't exist and even if it did I wouldn't be invited (certainly not to any of James' ghost stories readings. He was not in favour of women being admitted to university).
The thing that really stood out for me is, as well as how fearlessly he describes his horrors, creating delightfully sickening jolt scares for the reader, is how funny he is. He is very arch and knowing and is not afraid to poke fun at his people and his profession making his work even more enjoyable.
foofers1622's review against another edition
4.0
Classic creepy ghost stories that are written as if the narrator is telling you a story over a drink.
oscarpatton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
master of the genre - but as Waugh said of all writers, only with two or three real stories in him. all the rest variations thereupon
perjacxis's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I was very excited to read this collection and enjoyed the first stories quite a lot but unfortunately, this enjoyment didn't last. I can't quite put the finger on what changed but I didn't connect with some stories at all and most stories don't seem very memorable to me.
My favourites were Lost Hearts, Casting the Runes, The Mezzotint, and A View From A Hill.
I was very excited to read this collection and enjoyed the first stories quite a lot but unfortunately, this enjoyment didn't last. I can't quite put the finger on what changed but I didn't connect with some stories at all and most stories don't seem very memorable to me.
My favourites were Lost Hearts, Casting the Runes, The Mezzotint, and A View From A Hill.