Lovecraft Country. Matt Ruff. 2016. Picador. 330 pages. [Source: Personal Copy.]
I was late to the party on this one. I saw advertisements for the HBO series prior to its release and knew I’d check the show out on the strength of who was connected to it. I was not, however, committed to reading the book until I actually saw the first episode. Now I’m pretty invested.
Lovecraft Country is centered on Atticus, a young Chicago native who’s returning from military service at the request of his father, Montrose. Montrose has long been obsessed with understanding the family history of Atticus’ late mother. Things take an odd turn when Montrose sends a letter that compels Atticus to meet him in Ardham, Massachusetts. It’s the heart of Lovecraft Country, a literary world made famous by the author of the same name. It’s filled with evil creatures, but Atticus finds that not all monsters are figments of imagination.
What struck me most about this book is how deeply it looks at racism in America. Some examples are glaring — sundown town, anyone — but many are insidious, like the lies than are easily told about “the help” that cost them their livelihoods. There are also elements of sexism, classism, and colorism that arise for different characters. That’s what I found most compelling here; I’m not generally into historical fiction because I like suspension of disbelief. The state of the world right now does not make Lovecraft Country like this a place of respite. Instead, it’s a harsh reminder. With this book, the racism and white privilege served as character in itself.
I am not shocked that the book is better than its television counterpart. The story is robust and creative in ways I didn’t know I’d enjoy. I was most struck by different elements of science fiction that were centered in each chapter. Space travel, spells of protection, possession, magic potions, and the like. You name it, it’s here. I loved being able to get a little bit of all those elements, then seeing how they worked together across the book.
Lovecraft Country is almost like a series of novellas within a book. It comprises chapters that have a different character at the center, but each chapter builds on those previous. I enjoyed that each character had the chance to be the center of attention, even the women. To that end, no character felt like an afterthought because the book laid bare how they were integral to the ultimate resolution.
As someone who’s new to Lovecraft fiction, I wasn’t sure what I’d get. I expected more gore and horror. What I got was more suspense and fantasy and social critique all in one. I found it hard to put down and am eager to explore the genre. The verdict is still out on how it will compare to the full series, but I’ll be watching and comparing along the way.
No Comments