sneaking in a reading Wednesday

[felinejumper]

Not a full report, but I've been reading Sarah Waters' Affinity and wow, is it a claustrophobic queer horror experience. I think I really like it,but it's almost too intense an experience to enthusiastically recommend. It's visceral and creepy and deeply disturbing.

My brother & his partner did me the immense favor of showing me The Handmaiden--which, incidentally, watching that bath scene? That buttons scene? With a family member? Do NOT recommend, I've never been so turned on in the presence of a family member before, I can't tell if they know how hot those scenes are-- and I was like yes, I sure do need more of this in my life. And thus, Affinity.

I described Handmaiden as "body horror", but in reading Affinity am realizing that maybe Sarah Waters falls into more of a "soul horror" category; or that those are equivalent categories for me in a way that differs from the norm. The creeping sense of spirits and ghosts that are not actually beyond mortal ability, & the extreme tightness of narration both keep me off balance in a very particular way. It's reminiscent of Carol in some ways--the claustrophobia, the ever-present doom, the hidden machinations of others -- in ways that seem, ah, perhaps just recognizable. I can't quite figure out why "body horror" is the right term for all of that, but I think it reflects a horror with the body as a whole, with embodiment, rather than the mutilation of the body being made un-whole or unwell.

Somewhat unfortunate that I'm about to meet a new person in checks watch now o'clock while completely mired in the horrors of Millbank and Victorian era prisons, but hey, whatcha gonna do.

Comments

[breathedout]

I'll be interested in your take on the ending of Affinity. I have... characterization issues with it. But I do love the claustrophobic atmosphere, and I love your comparison to Carol!

[fhionnuisce]

Yeah, Affinity was A LOT and freaked me out...

[chestnut_pod]

Agreed entirely on the claustrophobia and horror aspects - Affinity was a hard read for me but I can acknowledge that I think it's one of her best.

[sea_changed]

Oh yes, I love Affinity, and for just the reasons you mention ("soul horror"!). There's such and airless, obsessive, breathlessness to it, that completely pulls you under.

[achray]

Yes, I find the ending of Affinity tricky too. Have you read The Little Stranger? I think it is even more visceral and disturbing than Affinity.