Sometimes I wish we didn’t categorize books. For the longest time I refused, almost viscerally, to read Horror. Fear, gore, unsavory hideous characters is what I thought.

Then, while participating in a reading challenge of New England authors, I forced myself to read The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, by the (in my mind) notorious, H.P. Lovecraft (Rhode Island).

I loved it. 

I was stunningly shocked by the writing, the historical/archaeological/scientific/psychological sophistication that had me obsessed for weeks. 

I went on to read At the Mountains of Madness and my admiration only grew. I recently read two short stories – a genre he is also a master.

The Other Gods (1933)
A story of men and gods. Both have their place and it is not for the good of either to meet 😶

Cool Air (1928)
Just a writer in need of a clean decent place to live. Thinks he found one until his upstairs neighbor has a mishap with ammonia that drips through the ceiling. How could he know his quiet writerly life would take this turn – caring for a man who was actually… you’ll have to read this story yourself!

If not for that reading challenge I never would have picked up this beautifully bound book of horror!

Monday’s Bookish Musings is an occasional post on a bookish experience that has caused me to ponder or learn more.