The Night Ocean

This book borrows its title from a short story coauthored by H.P. Lovecraft, and it starts out like a classic Lovecraft tale, with an escaped psychiatric patient sending his wife a message from beyond the grave.

But just when you think you know what kind of book you’re reading, author La Farge throws in a twist—and then he does it again and again. It’s a unique and amazing novel that defies categorization.

This wonderful dark novel about H.P. Lovecraft’s relationship with a young fan, R.H. Barlow, implicitly makes the case for Lovecraft’s continuing relevance in popular culture—even as he is widely condemned for his undoubted racism.

I found one of the most human and multi-dimensional portraits of Lovecraft I’ve ever read in this book. Barlow himself is no less compelling in these pages. The prose is vivid and immaculate. If you love language and are interested in Lovecraft, The Night Ocean is a fantastic read.

Where to begin with this beautiful novel? I read it several years ago, and the melancholy and magic of this one has stayed with me. At its core, it’s about a young HP Lovecraft (with a guest appearance from William Burroughs) and his love affair with a Florida man. It’s also about truth and the nature of story, the way tales unfold with each telling, and in some ways it’s a spiritual successor to Devil House by John Darnielle. An epic novel that demands (and rewards) rereading.