With M. R. James, amongst the finest ghost stories in the language--a review of E. F. Benson's collected short stories . Memorable, "How Fear Departed from the Long Gallery," "The Room in the Tower," and "Mrs. Amworth." While I don't agree with the blogger in Benson's wider range (M. R. James has quite a range from "Casting the Runes" to "Count Magnus" to "'Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You My Lad," and Lovecraft also had a large range from "Cool Air" to "Whisperer in the Darkness" to "Color Out of Space" not to mention the central position of the Mythos. But that said, I cannot argue with the reviewer's admiration of the quality and range of Mr. Benson's wonderful collection. Well worth one's time if one is into October Reading. And what is particularly nice is that Benson does offer us, occasionally, the real and true, dyed-in-the-wool ghost story--a rarity...
Sometimes I think that McEwan thinks all women discovered the idea of sex suddenly about 1940. His themes of women's sexual awareness ARE better suited for Edwardian times.
ReplyDeleteDear Connie,
ReplyDeleteI blush to admit that I haven't read enough McEwan to even be able to agree. My introduction was _On Chesil Beach_ and I've been disinclined to pursue any others I've picked up to their conclusion. I'm sure they are fine works, but I just haven't discovered the access point yet.
shalom,
Steven