| An upset from hell | 5.07.2009 |
I have been an avid Clive Barker fan since I first dipped my imagination into his Books of Blood. He has fashioned my mental landscape with writing more than any other author I have ever read. The way he weaves words together has astounded me over the years. On a number of occasions I have found myself pulled from a story and reading a sentence or paragraph over again to admire the craftsmanship put into it.
About one week ago I received a review copy of the Adventures of Maximillian Bacchus and his Traveling Circus. A manuscript that had been languishing for 40 years. My initial reaction to this was positive. This would be writings that were closer to the Books of Blood era. I had no idea why this work had sat unpublished for so long. Perhaps it had simply been overlooked.
After the release of his recent novel Mister B. Gone, I was looking forward to this even more. I was thoroughly disappointed with Mister. Looking back I realize that I never reviewed that work on Horror-Web. I had reviewed it on release when the Little Blog of Horrors was it's own website. A rather shortlived time, but exciting because it paved the way for my role taking over Horror-Web. With regard to Mister B. Gone though...I had been looking forward to reading it and was disappointed. There were some highly repetitive parts to it. Parts that frustrated me. But more depth on that would be review quality and this isn't meant to be a review of any specific work.
His new release (Bacchus) left me feeling the same way. So much potential and yet the actual release left me feeling a bit empty. I have the utmost respect for Clive as a writer, artist and director. While I haven't enjoyed either of his two most current releases, I know that I am looking forward to the Scarlet Gospels release just as eagerly. Along with Abarat 3, Abarat 4, the 3rd book of the Art, and whatever other stories he decides to release into the world.
I hated finishing Bacchus and giving it a bad review. You can check out the review here. Part of me looks at the work and says it would have been better left unseen. But another part of me looks at it and says that anything he has written I want to read. Ultimately, this is a title for the completist. Which I am. Certainly not one to get new readers with.
Bloody MonkeyZ
About one week ago I received a review copy of the Adventures of Maximillian Bacchus and his Traveling Circus. A manuscript that had been languishing for 40 years. My initial reaction to this was positive. This would be writings that were closer to the Books of Blood era. I had no idea why this work had sat unpublished for so long. Perhaps it had simply been overlooked.
After the release of his recent novel Mister B. Gone, I was looking forward to this even more. I was thoroughly disappointed with Mister. Looking back I realize that I never reviewed that work on Horror-Web. I had reviewed it on release when the Little Blog of Horrors was it's own website. A rather shortlived time, but exciting because it paved the way for my role taking over Horror-Web. With regard to Mister B. Gone though...I had been looking forward to reading it and was disappointed. There were some highly repetitive parts to it. Parts that frustrated me. But more depth on that would be review quality and this isn't meant to be a review of any specific work.
His new release (Bacchus) left me feeling the same way. So much potential and yet the actual release left me feeling a bit empty. I have the utmost respect for Clive as a writer, artist and director. While I haven't enjoyed either of his two most current releases, I know that I am looking forward to the Scarlet Gospels release just as eagerly. Along with Abarat 3, Abarat 4, the 3rd book of the Art, and whatever other stories he decides to release into the world.
I hated finishing Bacchus and giving it a bad review. You can check out the review here. Part of me looks at the work and says it would have been better left unseen. But another part of me looks at it and says that anything he has written I want to read. Ultimately, this is a title for the completist. Which I am. Certainly not one to get new readers with.
Bloody MonkeyZ
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