[REVIEW] Magnum Opus by Caitlin Marceau
Magnum Opus
By Caitlin Marceau
Timber Ghost Press
5 out of 5 Stars
Jealousy is a feeling we’ve all experienced before, even if we’d rather not admit it, it’s ugly and unpleasant and can lead to questionable actions. Magnum Opus is a tale of jealousy, the worst kind of jealousy, the one between friends. Kim and Charlotte have been best friends for years, always supporting and cheering each other on, however, one of them doesn’t appreciate sharing the spotlight, and when the opportunity presents itself to eliminate the competition, how could she resist? I went into this completely blind and the experience was wonderful, so I’ll do my best to keep this review as vague as possible. However, if you want the full gut-punching effect, it’s best if you stop reading this review now and pick the novella up, I promise it’s worth it.
The story is divided into four chapters, each one covering a month in the protagonist’s life and documenting her slow descent into madness as Kim’s ghost haunts her every waking moment. It reminded me of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, the reader is constantly wondering whether what’s happening it’s real or if it’s all in Charlotte’s head the guilt over her friend’s death chips away at her sanity. Marceau did it beautifully, the protagonist grows weaker at the same rate that the ghost grows stronger, with Kim’s apparition feeding off of her friend’s life force and taking over her home. For me, that was the scariest element, the progression of Charlotte’s house from her heaven to a hostile environment, one room at a time, until nowhere is safe and the reader becomes just as anguished as her. Once again, Marceau has gifted us with a modern gothic: we have a haunted house, a macro-cosmos (Charlotte’s home) reflecting the protagonist’s mental microcosmos, emotional isolation, and a constant feeling of unsettlement.
Speaking of feelings, I was conflicted during most of the narrative and going back and forth between despising Charlotte and empathizing with her. As I’ve mentioned, all of us have struggled with jealousy and thought that somebody else was reaping the rewards that we deserved, so we can connect to Charlotte on that level. However, we also know what she did was unforgivable, cruel, and selfish, especially seeing as Kim was her best friend and only treated her with kindness. Because of this, I also felt the ghost’s judgment and disapproval, I became claustrophobic right along with Charlotte and constantly looked around me as I read just to make sure I wasn’t being watched. One of the many themes that Caitlin explores in her writing is the afterlife, and by this, I mean the most disturbing and terrifying kinds of the afterlife (please go read her short story Stuck featured in PALIMPSEST). Although there’s no way to be certain that what Charlotte is seeing is truly Kim’s ghost, the possibility of spending your afterlife haunting your best friend due to her betrayal is terrifying.
Finally, I’ve always been terrified of those life-sized cardboard cut-outs exhibited in stores, and always avoided them like the plague when browsing around. However, after reading Magnum Opus that fear has reached a new level and if I ever come across one in an establishment, I’ll be leaving immediately. This is perfect for a Halloween marathon, a book club, a fall day, or a night when you’re looking for a quick read or a summer day. Well, there’s no going wrong with this novelette and once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down before you’re finished.
