Book 26 - Something Wicked This Way Comes

Originally posted 04-13-07!

Title: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Author: Ray Bradbury
Pages: 293
Grade: B+/A-

Summary: (I like to steal from Amazon, I do I do.)

A masterpiece of modern Gothic literature, Something Wicked This Way Comes is the memorable story of two boys, James Nightshade and William Halloway, and the evil that grips their small Midwestern town with the arrival of a "dark carnival" one Autumn midnight. How these two innocents, both age 13, save the souls of the town (as well as their own), makes for compelling reading on timeless themes. What would you do if your secret wishes could be granted by the mysterious ringmaster Mr. Dark? Bradbury excels in revealing the dark side that exists in us all, teaching us ultimately to celebrate the shadows rather than fear them.

My thoughts: I love Bradbury. I love Bradbury largely because I'm always left with a message after I finish reading. I don't know that it is always the message everyone else has but I'm left with one all the same. This book is the story of two boys, best friends, who are trying to save their town. They aren't perfect. One of them even caves to the darkness. But the prevailing message of this novel, for me, is that laughter, happiness can defeat the darkness. A smile can scare off fear. Death isn't a scary, horrifying thing waiting to come get you. Death is just what happens. It's only scary if you allow the fear and the pain and the sorrow to overtake you. A dark, well thought out novel stating basically "Don't Worry...Be Happy."

Also, I should remember to recommend this come Halloween time to my book communities. Because unlike the standard 'horror/monster' novels like Dracula/Frankenstein... this novel actually had be tense at times. I was worried for the boys. And while not 'scary', I'd take dark, tense novel over standard classic monster novel that really doesn't do anything for me, for Halloween any day. (Mind you I say that with a deep love of both Dracula and Frankenstein...just saying they is not in any way the skury!