Granta 117 (Granta: The Magazine of New Writing)

by John Freeman

[Cameron Trost]

There is some fine prose in this publication, but the anthology isn't what it says it is. The only horror story was The Dune by Stephen King. If King's tale hadn't been horror, it really would have been freaky. This is an anthology of essays and personal reflections about death and drug addiction. Horrible and poignant, yes, but horror, no. There is some good writing but too much use of the second person. If you're writing unpleasant things about yourself or people you know, admit it. Don't tell the reader what he or she did! A bit on the nose, don't you think? "You open this book and read some decent writing, but after a few pages you realise it's not horror at all. You keep going, skim here and there, and then close it and reach for a bottle of whisky instead."