Time for Lovecraft

I mention it on this blog every year: today is the birthday of H.P. Lovecraft. Maybe THE most important horror writer of the last century. For me, his birthday marks one important date in the countdown to the countdown to Halloween. I try to read at least one of his stories before my favourite holiday, generally around his birthday. Lovecraft also wrote great horror to read during summertime, not sure why but this is how I feel reading it. This year, I am not sure if I will read one of his original stories, but I am currently reading Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. Which I bought at £6.66.When I have finished this book, I will hopefully find time to watch the whole TV series adaptation, maybe even in time for Halloween. But I digress. One good thing about Lovecraft is that, in spite of his many flaws, among them his gross racism, antisemitism and homophobia, he nevertheless influenced a lot of writers, some of them capable of writing great horror based on the mythos he created.

I bought Lovecraft Country for £6.66

The title says it all and I kid you not: I bought Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff for the precise sum of £6.66. Actually, I do kid you, but only a little: it got cheaper than that, that said at some point it was reduced to the number of the beast and it struck me that I would have bought it at 666. I am sure it was intentional. I can't wait to read it. I started watching the TV series last year, but had to stop due to a lack of time.Anyway, I love the horror stories of H.P. Lovecraft, in spite of his racism and his antisemitism. Now I will be able to enjoy it in a work that also addresses Lovecraft's most deplorable traits. I always make sure I read some of Lovecraft's mythos, either his direct work or the work of his continuators, in my countdown to Halloween reads which I start in August. As it's going to be Walpurgis Night very soon, the countdown to the countdown to Halloween, I might start reading the novel then. Surely it is allowed to be in a spooky mood already.