M.R.James - What's the big deal?

Rizla · 01-16-2013, 05:35 PM

I've heard readers on here singing his praises. Seriously, what's the big deal? I've read three of his stories and I was disappointed by all three. One was the story the famous Rolling the Runes story and movie is based on. The story was...thin compared to the TV and movie adaptions. I read one about a haunted dolls-house. This was better. The description of the goings-on in the doll's house were good, but the story went absolutely nowhere. No explanation, no ending as such. I was looking for the next page. The last one was about some Cambridge academic ranging across Spain looking for illuminated texts, finding one which produced a ghost of some sort, and that was it. Again, no real ending. What is the big deal about this guy? Has he written something really good that I don't know about. Please feel free to recommend me some stories of him that live up to his reputation.

jgaiser · 01-16-2013, 07:02 PM

Don't know a lot about M. R. James, though he seems to be a contemporary of H. P. Lovecraft (Lovecraft admired his works). Early Horror writer. As with a lot of early "Classics", tastes change. If he isn't working for, it's probably time to move on to another author.

01-16-2013, 05:35 PM	#1
Rizla Guru Posts: 821 Karma: 2637377 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: PRS-650 / Cybook Opus	M.R.James - What's the big deal? I've heard readers on here singing his praises. Seriously, what's the big deal? I've read three of his stories and I was disappointed by all three. One was the story the famous Rolling the Runes story and movie is based on. The story was...thin compared to the TV and movie adaptions. I read one about a haunted dolls-house. This was better. The description of the goings-on in the doll's house were good, but the story went absolutely nowhere. No explanation, no ending as such. I was looking for the next page. The last one was about some Cambridge academic ranging across Spain looking for illuminated texts, finding one which produced a ghost of some sort, and that was it. Again, no real ending. What is the big deal about this guy? Has he written something really good that I don't know about. Please feel free to recommend me some stories of him that live up to his reputation. __________________ Just do it - Marlon Brando on acting.

01-16-2013, 07:02 PM	#2
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 2,216 Karma: 13472511 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle GDX, Kindle 3, KPW, Nook HD+	Don't know a lot about M. R. James, though he seems to be a contemporary of H. P. Lovecraft (Lovecraft admired his works). Early Horror writer. As with a lot of early "Classics", tastes change. If he isn't working for, it's probably time to move on to another author. __________________ Jerry -- My LibraryThing -- My Goodreads

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The Big Deal is back!	wyndslash	Deals, Freebies, and Resources (No Self-Promotion)	20	03-21-2012 01:52 PM
The Big Deal @ Amazon	djulian	Deals, Freebies, and Resources (No Self-Promotion)	1	12-22-2011 08:55 PM
Amazon: The Big Deal Sale until 7/27	NightBird	Deals, Freebies, and Resources (No Self-Promotion)	89	08-01-2011 12:36 AM
Searching and Wikipedia are a big deal	Zoot	Amazon Kindle	17	12-03-2007 01:09 PM
what's the big deal about formats? -- a little calculation	sic	Sony Reader	4	11-25-2006 02:10 PM


Advertisement Enthusiast