09-05-2010, 03:19 AM
(09-03-2010, 07:52 AM)Monique Devereaux Wrote: I've re-read two Holts this year, Bride and Kirkland. Ultimately I was disappointed because, while the plots have all the Gothic tropes, their was ZERO atmosphere...I think it rained for one sentence in Bride. I need storms (and darkness). Give me STORMS!!!I'm quoting you here, Monique, as it seems this post was meant for this topic.
I've been thinking about the weather issue a little. In movies it's kind of a cheap trick to add atmosphere, obviously because the audience can hear the wind and the thunder as a background to the story. Creepy music does the same. In books the author would need to describe the bad weather, but why should she? It probably has nothing to do with the story. I think it's a bigger accomplishment for the author to create a scary mood by the circumstances that involve the storyline, than to revert to writing about short term weather conditions.
