Reading Horror and Sci-Fi

    This week is all about the weird which may be one of the most interesting genre I have explored up till now. Fiction that falls into this category usually are known for their non-traditional way of storytelling and how it connects psychological trauma with supernatural elements. For this week I read Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. It is a classic story of character who venture into the unknown and face dangerous supernatural elements that one way or the other connected by science. As your usual Horror Sci-Fi goes little by little each character is eliminated leaving the main character alone with their choices and thoughts.  Our cast of character in this book have no names and are only known by their roles. Our protagonist who is the Biologist is the one guiding us through this journey as we accompany her through her physical and psychological transformation. The Biologist is a character unlike many that I have experienced. She is a woman who for the most part ...

     This week is all about Asian Horror and how the genre brings in a different side of horror that us westerns do not expect. We are talking about the world of the psychological and all the different life questions that would split out head open if we were to truly dive into it. This genre explores everything that is strange and also moments of awkwardness. It is truly a genre that is not for all but for those who want to dive headfirst into everything that doesn’t make sense and doesn’t necessarily have to. A perfect example of this is “A Wild Sheep Chase” by Haruki Murakami.   As I said previously, the world of Asian horror is not just ghost and supernatural but rather things that don’t make sense and are not in our control. It’s all about analyzing the madness in the protagonist brain or rather in this case their emptiness. Meet the narrator of this story who like in many other Murakami stories does not have a name also does not care or remember anyone else’s ...

Vampire Week!              This week is vampire week and I have decided to read Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. When I first started reading I did not know what to expect. I didn’t know if I should expect the vampires to be modern and kinda goofy like in the Twilight franchise or have a creepy old school vampire like in Nosferatu. Little did I know the psychological drama that this book was offering me through the point of view of Louis who is gladly retelling his tale of unfortunate events.      As most fiction that involves vampires this book explores how relationships change and deform once you have turned to the dark side. How you outlive others who aren’t part of your kind and watch as the world changes without ever stopping. Yet this book truly makes the readers jump into the deep end by exploring how becoming a vampire not only changes your diet but makes you outlive your previous beliefs or morals. How as the years go by a...

     The book I read this week was Frankenstein by Mary Shelley which is known to be a classic in not only gothic literature but in pop culture. Little did I know the different themes and points of view I would be exploring from what seems to be a simple narrative that is everything but simple. The world of Frankenstein is not only mysterious but haunting as we get into the perspective of not only Viktor but the monster. A surprising twist that makes you question what is right or wrong. What is the difference between nurture and nature? Would the monster have stood a chance to live in society if he was not abandoned? Or is the nature of the world to judge all that is deemed unnatural? As a reader, you are impacted by many elements known in gothic literature such as the feeling of fear and mystery that emanates from the gloomy setting and specific descriptions. These elements force the reader to feel the dread that Frankenstein feels as well as the monster. It’s because of...