Book meme- Day 21

[scripsi]

21. Summer read.

For some reason, I tend to reread Lovecraft and M. R. James during the summer. Possibly because summer nights in Sweden aren’t dark at all, and it’s much easier to not being frightened by scary stories when it isn’t dark outside. However, I spend much of my summers in our summer house, which is on an island in the archipelago outside Stockholm. It isn’t really a good idea to read Lovecraft by the sea, especially if I’m alone in the house. Even worse if I follow up rereading Anders Fager* who mix Lovecraft mythos with very Swedish folklore. The island our summer house is on is specifically named by Fager in one of his short stories which feature the Deep Ones…

And if I reread Laurie R King’s Kate Martinelli books, I do it during the summer too. Not because they feel especially summery, but because those books live in the summer house. I don’t care for King’s books about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, but I really like her standalones as well as the ones about Kate Martinelli. Especially the first one; A Grave Talent. I love the description of art and artist, and I also think it’s a fairly clever murder mystery.

Comments

[earthspirits]

I read Lovecraft from time to time, and I also enjoy pastiches of Lovecraft / Sherlock Holmes.

Big fan of M.R. James, Oliver Onions, and E.F. Benson - I find classic ghost stories very appealing, and read throughout the year - although I especially love in the winter or at Christmas / Yule.

Like you, not a fan of King's Russell / Holmes series.

[scripsi]

I never read Oliver Onions. Clearly, I need to do something about that! :)

[siduri1959]

I tend to reread Lovecraft in the summer, too. I think because that is when I had the time to read Lovecraft and I often did it at the beach or on a boat!

[scripsi]

And that didn't scare you? :)

[siduri1959]

LOL, no. I grew up in New England, not far from where the real locations of some of his fictional settings are. New England is like that. Really. LOL.

[thenewbuzwuzz]

"It isn’t really a good idea to read Lovecraft by the sea"
Oh my god, I bet :)

[scripsi]

I don't recommend it. ;)

[strangelyjonathan]

Oh, I haven't read Lovecraft in ages! I have one more Gaiman book to read on my list, and maybe I'll circle back. So true, scary stories are easier for me to deal with when it's still light outside. I don't know why, since I have no fear of the dark.

[scripsi]

Well, even if you aren't afraid of the dark, you also can't see<7i> much in it... :)