Lovecraft: What Am I Missing?

[LongBlade]

OK,

I picked up the Kindle anthology of HP Lovecraft.

I'm slogging through the first story about some guy in the Antarctic (At the Mountains of Madness).

While I can appreciate the setting, the prose is awful. It's like Lovecraft took a sophomore level thesaurus and stuck it in a blender. He uses lots of big words but all they do is get in the way of what might be an otherwise good story.

As an editor I'm pulling out my hair trying to force myself to enjoy a story that is not well told.

Why is this guy being hailed as anything other than a really poor writer? Does it get better? Are any of the stories worth reading?

[Toonces]

Two things:

1.  His stories vary wildly regarding their quality.  Some of the stories in your anthology he probably wrote when he was like 14 or something.
2.  They're cult popular.  Not everyone gets it.  I didn't really care for the Lovecraft stories I read either. 

[LongBlade]

Thanks.

This first one is painful.

I finally gave up. Looked at the first short story. Not great either, though it was written in 1916 IIRC and may have been when he was young. Even then it was far too wordy to be useful.

Hopefully someone can recommend something decent worth reading.

[Windigo]

Thanks.

This first one is painful.

I finally gave up. Looked at the first short story. Not great either, though it was written in 1916 IIRC and may have been when he was young. Even then it was far too wordy to be useful.

Hopefully someone can recommend something decent worth reading.

[Gusington]

Try Shadow Over Innsmouth.

[Windigo]

Try Shadow Over Innsmouth.

Some friend....  a little self discovery that doesn't involve his hands would be good for LB   ;)

[Gusington]

Thanks for the imagery.

[mirth]

Thanks for the imagery.

You have to admit, it was very Lovecraftian.

[Toonces]

I'd say go for something popular like Call of Cthulu or something like that.  If that doesn't satisfy you, likely it's time to move on.  I'm assuming you're looking for a Lovecraft recommendation. 

[GDS_Starfury]

hes a Som'bitch favorite.  what else need be said.

[Gusington]

I like Lovecraft too!

[Shelldrake]

Try Shadow Over Innsmouth.

+1

I also enjoyed The Rats in the Walls and The Thing On The Doorstep.

[eyebiter]

Try one of the HP Lovecraft movies instead?

http://www.hplovecraft.com/popcult/moviestv/based.aspx

Dagon, From Beyond, and Reanimator are three worth watching.

[mirth]

Reanimator was a hoot!

[Staggerwing]

Reanimator was a hoot!