Circus of Dr Lao

The first fantasy story that I read was Terry Goodkinds series the Wizard’s First Rule, I thought it was very misogynistic in hindsight, but I still enjoyed it very much. It hit a lot of fantasy check boxes for me and the novels were very dense yet immersive as well. The Circus of Dr. Lao is very different kind of fantasy story in comparison, rather than a tale about “the chosen one”, this is about a circus that comes to town that has a myriad of mythological creatures. What makes it really interesting is the town in Arizona the circus visits. I instantly imagined the accents of the townspeople there, and found myself laughing often at that fact. Which I think is certainly a showcase in the skill of Charles G Finney, along with that is the way the perspectives of the townspeople is depicted when associated with the circus. It seemed like each person in town was inexplicably drawn to the circus, even though they were not only skeptical and dismissive towards it. I was very interested in each of the creature’s backstories and how Dr. Lao came to acquire them, this would then be followed by the townspeople’s reaction to the spectacle, and in some cases punishment for dismissing the creatures or attractions as fake. I just loved how this story was written, it has a sharp humor and descriptions I thought were brief yet very informative. I think that longer books take a great deal of time in describing everything because they have the page count to do so, but Charles Finney’s writing seemed very decisive and to the point, which I very much appreciated.

Kwaidan

My own experience with horror films/stories is pretty limited, most of which are I want to say are western style sensibilities. Jump scares, gore, screaming and a lot of running. Reading the small tales in Kwaidan was not only interesting, but I also enjoyed the slow burn of each story. Giving the reader very little so that it turns on the imagination and trying to see what comes next in the story. I found it to be less horror and more like suspense/thriller with some creepy visual elements, while the end of these stories can be quite severe, I myself did not feel a sense of dread or a feeling that this story will give me nightmares. The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi was a good intro to the rest of the book, it has a nice historical element that I thought showed pride in their heritage. I also thought it does a nice job introducing the reader to its slowed down contemplative pacing. The descriptions of the surroundings is really nice and I was imagining the various locations quite vividly. It seems like the Japanese take great care to get the reader invested in the setting, specifically nature. The creatures Rokuro-Kubi were particularly interesting, and the method for exterminating was very interesting too. I really do enjoy Japanese monsters, visually they seem unique which adds more to the horror aspect of these stories. The atmospheric nature helps to anchor these tales of supernatural forces, giving the creatures/ghosts more impact when they are revealed.

Interview With The Vampire Analysis

For me, the main theme that goes off in my head is Lestat's enduring devotion to Louis. Which in some cases might be a good thing, in his case it's a mentally/physically draining and abusive relationship. This is not to say that I think that Lestat is some saintly character because of his love and need to have Louis in his life forever, but just that he is blinded and burned by that love. Lestat seeks Louis's approval and companionship even after Louis helps in his attempted murder. The same way that a negligent parent or lover is always sought after by someone who needs to feel "completed" by them. I am actually more curious as to what would happen if Louis fully gave in to Lestat's desires for eternal companionship. Would they live happily ever after in the night? Or would it be a bloody end based on Lestat's impulsive actions? To me, it would be the latter, considering that I think Lestat assumes he wants someone to help anchor him, but eventually growing tired of Louis's incessant criticisms and possibly trying to change Lestat's chaotic and whimsical nature. Although it is admirable that Louis does his best to resist the nature of being a vampire, it seems clear it has lead him to a miserable existence at the end of the tale.

Frankenstein Analysis

I enjoyed reading Frankenstein because I love the themes it presents, how obssession and Victor's avoidance of taking action/responsibity causes the destruction of everyone in his life. The Monster, is the absolute payment of Victor's experimentations and reluctance to take responsibility for creating him. As I read this I noticed how Victor kept running and avoiding the problems he himself created, and almost immediately dire consequences followed suite. It seemed like as The Monster became more educated, gaining knowledge about how he came to be; I thought those were the things that built up his resentment towards Victor, and then the events that unfolded while with the DeLaceys' ignited his quest to destroy Victor's life. In the end, what I got from this story was that Victor was not only obsessed but also a coward; although he was certainly ready to die in mortal combat with the creature, he could not confront himself for causing the deaths of those who loved him. There are obviously other elements in the story to be discussed, but his cowardice is what triggered the most emotions from me after reading.