Who knows how books find themselves onto the shelves at The Second Story? I should know, I guess, but I swear some books just appear.
I know the movie was nothing like the book, but when Wuthering Heights hit the theatres, it changed my life. I’m not an Elordi enthusiast and I don’t have an egg kink, but I was so completely entertained by the ridiculousness that was that film. It got me wondering what other treasures could be discovered in old books.
I grabbed a few gothic romances, tucked them under the front desk, and started with The Loch.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Janet Caird is the author of this Scottish gothic romance, which depicts as the title suggests, the notorious “loch”, home to the Lochness monster, though no mysterious sea creature graces these pages. Instead, a natural disaster causes the Loch to drain, revealing once hidden caves and a mysterious civilization of cave dwellers who are kidnapping, blinding, and *occasionally* murdering the townspeople. Meanwhile, main character Janet is bringing boys to her yard left and right with her confidence, emotionalism, and hotness. But you won’t believe the man she falls for (hint, he has no eyes).
This book was incredibly well-paced, with cliff hangers at the end of each chapter. It navigates complex social structures, the effects of a major trauma on the people of a town, and the way humans respond to “other.” It tackles greed, love, projection, cowardice, bravery, and idiocy, all within 150 pages.
But the most incredible feature of this book? The sentences. Juicy, tender, and tangy, these sentences are varied, some thick with commas, others clipped short. Caird takes time to indulge in the pleasure of a good sentence.
So many pop-books these days are written with the intention to “disappear the writer” (The expectation being that the reader should forget a writer ever existed.) In my opinion, you can’t make the writer disappear and maintain artful sentences. Half the beauty of art is that feeling of awe we hold when we realize a real human did this.
In spite of so much to recommend The Loch, I will say that the romance was a lesser plot-point. If you’re a romance reader, you might not find much to keep you between the pages with Caird. However, if you’re a lover of eco-thrillers, man vs wild, man vs man, and suspense, this book will take you somewhere entirely new.
If you’re interested in reading this book by Janet Caird, get in line. On Thriftbooks, the mass market is selling for $25.
I’m keeping my copy, but if you’re wanting to discover something new (that is, old) I’d highly recommend a visit to your local used bookstore. Treasures can be found in the real world, algorithms be damned.
Last week, I talked a big game about reading outside the algorithm, specifically by taking risks in reading indie-published books. You can read the piece here, but I must admit that I wrote it somewhat aspirationally.
You see, I am not yet an avid indie book reader. I have read a few and they were impactful, and I really do believe in the importance of reading outside of the recommendations on BookTok, but I am, admittedly, directed by the wind of marketing and reels. I read books I’ve seen reels about and books that have nice covers and books recommended by friends with very similar taste to me. I read books on display at the library, or that have been recommended on BookTok, even though I don’t have TikTok.
All that to say, I am not a person that reads adventurously, but I am becoming a person who reads adventurously.
If you are also a person becoming an adventurous reader you’re in the right place.
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