Fiction

Book review: The Unnamable by H. P. Lovecraft
Sometimes a story draws you in not with elaborate events or sweeping narratives, but with the quiet menace of atmosphere, the whispered promise of something vast and unknowable just beyond the veil of ordinary perception. H. P. Lovecraft’s The Unnamable is one such story—brief in length, modest in action, and yet deeply resonant in its exploration of the boundaries of human understanding. Reading it is like peering through a crack in reality, where logic begins to falter and fear takes root.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Ahh, Hambug Again
Stave One: A Miserable Christmas Eve Liberty had perished – it was an absolute, and little doubt could be given upon that. The moment the President had taken his oath – everything had been certified as tangible as the death certificate of Freedom’s undoing. It had been affirmed and stamped with official government authority and with it the ability to do whatsoever he wished instantly became that of President Thrump.
By Sai Marie Johnson8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Reading The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is like descending into a shadowed corridor where every flicker of candlelight reveals another ambiguity. From the very first pages, I found myself pulled into a narrative that is as haunting as it is elusive, and that compels the reader to participate actively in the unraveling of its mysteries. The story wraps itself around you gradually, drawing you deeper with its unsettling atmosphere and psychological depth, until you realize there is no simple way out.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Street by H. P. Lovecraft
Reading The Street by H. P. Lovecraft is an experience unlike any other I’ve had with short fiction. Though brief in length, this story leaves a surprisingly lasting impression, not through plot alone, but through atmosphere, symbolism, and a strange fusion of nostalgia and foreboding. As with many of Lovecraft’s works, it operates less as a straightforward narrative and more as a vessel for broader philosophical or cultural concerns, wrapped in richly archaic prose and filtered through a haunting, almost dreamlike lens.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Stranger by Albert Camus
Reading The Stranger by Albert Camus was an experience unlike any other in my literary journey. From the first page to the last, I felt drawn into a world that was both starkly simple and unsettlingly profound, a world filtered through the consciousness of a man who defied conventional emotion and meaning. It is one of those books that continues to echo in the mind long after it’s finished, forcing a confrontation with difficult truths and existential realities.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Strange High House in the Mist by H. P. Lovecraft
Reading The Strange High House in the Mist by H. P. Lovecraft felt like stepping into a dream laced with mystery, unease, and ancient wonder. It is one of those short stories that seems to whisper to the reader in half-heard voices, drawing them slowly and deliberately toward a horizon that never quite reveals its secrets. As someone who has long admired Lovecraft’s unique brand of cosmic horror, this particular tale stood out not only for its thematic richness but for the way it builds an atmosphere of looming otherworldliness through a deceptively simple premise.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
There are books that entertain, books that challenge, and books that leave a subtle yet profound mark on how we understand human nature. For me, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson belongs to that rare third category. It's a novel that seeps under your skin not through overt horror or spectacle, but through its psychological resonance and moral complexity.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
There are books that warm you gradually, like tea cooling in your hands, and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of those. When I first approached it, I expected a gentle children's tale, a nostalgic window into Edwardian storytelling. What I found was something far deeper: a novel of psychological transformation, the redemptive power of nature, and the often-forgotten potential of lonely or wounded children to blossom.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Reading The Picture of Dorian Gray was like stepping into a rich tapestry of decadence, morality, beauty, and horror. I went in expecting a classic Gothic novel and came out with a profound reflection on the human condition, the corrupting power of vanity, and the struggle between outward appearance and inner truth. Oscar Wilde’s only novel is more than a haunting tale; it is a philosophical exploration of art, youth, and conscience—woven together with dazzling prose and biting wit.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
When I first picked up The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, I expected a solid Victorian mystery, but what I discovered was something far more complex and rewarding. This novel, often hailed as the first full-length detective novel in the English language, proved to be a rich, layered narrative that blends suspense, psychological insight, and social commentary into a remarkably sophisticated whole.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Million Pound Bank Note by Mark Twain
I always find it fascinating when a short literary work manages to deliver as much wit, social critique, and narrative charm as a full-length novel, and The Million Pound Bank Note by Mark Twain is a prime example of such brilliance in brevity. With his trademark humor and astute observation of human nature, Twain crafts a satirical story that remains surprisingly relevant despite having been written more than a century ago.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub
Book review: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
Reading The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum felt like stepping into a tenderly imagined mythological world that seeks to explain one of the most beloved figures in global folklore. As someone who has always been fascinated by origin stories, I approached this book with curiosity and was surprised by how earnestly and inventively Baum crafted a full-fledged life for a character we usually associate with mystery and timelessness.
By Caleb Foster8 months ago in BookClub