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mandyfish's review against another edition
5.0
Poe is the master of the short story. No one does it better, and if you want to know how to do it right, start here.
isisotherme's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mxunsmiley's review
4.0
Of course Poe has plenty reason to be heralded as one of the greats, even if he does have more than a couple of misses, I think, and the tried-and-true Poe formula can grate the nerves when it falls flat--I'm speaking of how he often opens his short stories with his narrator either assuring the reader that he is not insane, or that his insanity is actually lucidity, or going on at length to describe his own character. The prime example of this is probably The Man of the Crowd, which I feel is one of his weakest stories.
I also have to remark on the irony that Poe's name is one letter away from "poet" yet he really does not have more than a handful of winners in this category--despite this form being his favorite and what he loved to ramble on and on about. The Conqueror Worm is not included in the poetry section, rather it's contained in Ligeia, one of my favorite of Poe's stories in general, but it's an example of what I think he could have produced a lot more of if given the opportunity--not to fail to mention The Raven, of course, of which he also had the grace to explain his writing process in The Philosophy of Composition, an essay I really enjoyed. He also rejects the idea that artists should hide their methods and processes in general there, something that I think hinders artistic community, so I'm glad even a classic author had the sense to realize this.
It was also really funny to read how petty he could be in his critiques of poets like Wordsworth and contemporaries. Poe really could not stand transcendentalism and intellectualism, huh. His ideas of the goal of poetry and art as a whole inspires a lot of introspection, too, though they can border on excessive.
Particularly I think Hop-Frog can really stand for a lot of analysis in how disability is figured into speculative fiction, and fiction in general. It caught me by surprise in that it was the story that ended up fascinating me the most.
I also have to remark on the irony that Poe's name is one letter away from "poet" yet he really does not have more than a handful of winners in this category--despite this form being his favorite and what he loved to ramble on and on about. The Conqueror Worm is not included in the poetry section, rather it's contained in Ligeia, one of my favorite of Poe's stories in general, but it's an example of what I think he could have produced a lot more of if given the opportunity--not to fail to mention The Raven, of course, of which he also had the grace to explain his writing process in The Philosophy of Composition, an essay I really enjoyed. He also rejects the idea that artists should hide their methods and processes in general there, something that I think hinders artistic community, so I'm glad even a classic author had the sense to realize this.
It was also really funny to read how petty he could be in his critiques of poets like Wordsworth and contemporaries. Poe really could not stand transcendentalism and intellectualism, huh. His ideas of the goal of poetry and art as a whole inspires a lot of introspection, too, though they can border on excessive.
Particularly I think Hop-Frog can really stand for a lot of analysis in how disability is figured into speculative fiction, and fiction in general. It caught me by surprise in that it was the story that ended up fascinating me the most.
nnarsl's review against another edition
5.0
excellent sentences from Mister Poe! I detest required reading but the Maryland State Department of Education really missed a chance to force this collection of MD creations down our throats!
The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death
The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death
jturcios95's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
strawburial's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I am a huge fan of gothic fiction, so of course I like Edgar Allan Poe. This audiobook in particular was thoroughly enjoyable. The reader had a wonderful voice that was full of emotion and brought these tales to life. It was also paired with great music choices.
mrsmobarak's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0