The author's blog, trulygrotesque.com, is most excellent. Book 2, Tales of the Truly Grotesque: Hook Lion, and Stinker, is also on my list. Once again, the idea of the grotesque is linked to children. My first impressions are that these books are part of what I like to call the 'morbid kid' genre, Gothic stories full of melodrama, dire predicaments, and sweaty, hairy adults with unsightly facial moles. I would put Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events in this category also.
Vile indeed. The market for unpleasantness is immense. Roald Dahl was one of my childhood favourites. Who could forget the heinous Miss Trunchbull throwing little school children out the window? There were only a choice few to choose from back then. R. L. Stine's Goosebumps series was another good one. I still remember the horror of Say Cheese and Die.
Sure, it leans more towards cheesy horror (oh, snap), but I think these books could still be included in my 'morbid kid' category.
I rather liked Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events!
ReplyDeleteYes, they are great! My little sister has read them all, she loves them.
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