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The Chuckling Whatsit
The Chuckling Whatsit | Richard Sala
2 posts | 1 read | 3 to read
In The Chuckling Whatsit, Sala weaves the gothic cartooning traditions of Edward Gorey and Charles Addams with a densely constructed, melodramatic murder mystery involving astrology, ghouls, academia and outsider art. Part noir, part horror and part comedy, this labyrinthian tale of intrigue follows an unemployed writer named Broom who becomes unwittingly ensnared in a complex plot involving mysterious outsider artist Emile Jarnac, the shadowy machinations of the Ghoul Appreciation Society Headquarters (GASH), and the enigmatic Mr. Ixnay. Sala's deadpan delivery makes this ingeniously layered narrative a roller-coaster ride of darkly pure comic suspense.
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vivastory
The Chuckling Whatsit | Richard Sala
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This was the year that I discovered the wonderful & weird works of Richard Sala who unfortunately died just a few years ago. Blending elements of mystery & horror in a pulp style, the first work I read by Sala I read this year was Poison Flowers & Pandemonium. However, it was when I read “The Chuckling Whatsit“ in July that completely won me over with the sinister & bizarre storytelling. It was as if David Lynch & Charles Burns (cont)

vivastory were writing EC comics. Good stuff! Book 5 of #12Booksof2023 @andrew65 4mo
Andrew65 These look good. 4mo
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vivastory
The Chuckling Whatsit | Richard Sala
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I usually post my #weeklyreport Sunday afternoon but this has been such a great reading week I am going to post now. 7 books read since previous report: 3 manga, 1 graphic novel, 1 story collection, 1 novel & 1 collection of linked novellas. The three managa were vol 7-9 of Blood On the Tracks. So disturbing. So intense. The gn was the tagged one by Sala. A hybrid of pulp, crime, expressionism & horror. The story collection was Carys Davies (cont)

vivastory Redemption of Galen Pike. I sat down one morning with the intention of reading just 1 or 2 & before I knew it I had finished it. Incredible collection. The novel & the novella I have posted reviews for recently (O'Brien's final book in her trilogy & Malfi's Ghostwritten). An excellent reading week. Am now 100 pages into Tarrt's The Little Friend & about halfway through a reread of Frank O'Hara's Meditations In An Emergency.
@cinfhen
9mo
Cinfhen I can absolutely relate to #BookishProblem 😂Such a wonderful week!!! Are you enjoying 9mo
vivastory @Cinfhen Very much! It's my first Tartt. 9mo
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BarbaraBB It‘s been quite the week indeed, wow! 9mo
Cinfhen Ohhh, that‘s good to know. I‘ve seen lots of mixed reviews so I was a little hesitant. 9mo
vivastory @Cinfhen I still have a ways to go so I'm reluctant to give a definitive opinion but I like what I have read so far. It took me a little bit to get accustomed to her style but once I did I enjoyed it & Harriet is a great character. It will probably be one I dip in & out of over a few weeks until I finish it. 9mo
Cinfhen Ok, I‘ll keep my eyes open for your final thoughts 😁 9mo
75 likes7 comments