Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Ray Bradbury is most famous for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451. I wanted to explore another one of his works and I was not disappointed. Something Wicked This Way Comes has a perfect fall vibe so absolutely read it before winter arrives if you can!
The Analysis:
Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are on the cusp of adolescence, yearning to be older and more independent. The two boys act as foils to one another, Will being contemplative, cautious and Jim representing the daring and curious. Will is set up as a force of good, while Jim seems to have a darkness inside him. Besides the typical adventures of young boys, life in their idyllic town seems mundane. When a lightning rod salesman arrives one day in October claiming a big storm is on the horizon, he also foreshadows the arrival of something more sinister...
“But one strange wild dark long year, Halloween came early.”
A mysterious carnival arrives just outside the town in the middle of the night. The next day, it appears to be just any other carnival with rides, candy apples, and sideshows. Yet the mirror maze seems to beckon visitors in a haunting manner and some of the carnival hosts are more menacing than jovial. Jim is determined to find out what is going on beneath the surface, and Will, reluctant but loyal, joins his friend in this quest.
This book reads beautifully, with poetic descriptions and rich imagery. Bradbury offers some quotable passages and highlights how shared experiences are the fabric of what connects people to one another. I was disappointed with a couple of intriguing setups that didn’t amount to anything, but the story still managed to build suspense. While the book serves as a creepy story, it also is a reflection on friendships, aging, and prioritizing the right things. I will leave you with this idea from the book: “Is Death important? No. Everything that happens before Death is what counts.”
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