Reviews

Three Gothic Novels by Peter Fairclough, William Beckford, Horace Walpole, Mario Praz, Mary Shelley

koutsoukoutou's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"The Castle of Otranto" was alright, it was short and sweet. "Frankenstein" I liked a lot, but "Vathek" was a nightmare to get through. I felt like I was reading words without any meaning attached to them. Also, none of the characters were likeable enough to give me a push to read it 

renia_gk's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

guinevere_s1994's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

littlepanda's review against another edition

3.0

This novel compiles three major Gothic novel. although it is a good start to introduce someone to Gothicism I was not compelled by any of it. I already read Frankenstein, it was the only one that I somehow enjoyed. for the two others, I didn't like the whole supernatural lore, it was a bit too much, it lost its value. I don't think that Gothic novels are for me. well I tried anyways.

mallow's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

scarylions's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nick_lehotsky's review against another edition

3.0

While entertaining to trace the evolution of it through these three novels, Frankenstein is the most put together (pun intended) of the lot. This is certainly due to the synthesis of form and subject (humanity as the author of its own destruction) as well as the more grounded prose style of the author. It certainly doesn’t hurt that there’s layere here (a framed epistemological narrative, encasing another narrative? That’s my type) as well as secondary characters who at least are given some minor personality. Definitely glad I revisited Frankenstein, not particularly thrilled just yet by the other two.

annikavo's review against another edition

3.0

DNF voor 'Vathek': op blz 118 van het boek ben ik gestopt. Wat een raar, stom, gek verhaal. Ik zal het wellicht niet begrijpen, maar ik hou er ook maar mee op. *1

Als eerste had ik Frankenstein gelezen en het verbaasde mij hoe weinig eigenlijk het hele "bouw proces" in het boek voor kwam. Het gaat meer over de zoektocht van het monster naar zijn maker en daarna de maker naar zijn monster. Ontroerend op sommige punten en weerzinwekkend op andere. *4 (deze haalt het gemiddelde erg omhoog en het is ook de dikste van de 3)

Mijn mening over het eerste verhaal zal ik later hieronder plaatsen. *2
Het kasteel van Otranto: wat een raar geschreven boek. Geen " om beginnen van gesproken zinnen aan te geven. Hopen dat je de juiste zinnen aan de juiste personen bedenkt.
Ook een warrig verhaal waarin toevallig is zoals het gaat. Nee, niet echt voor herhaling vatbaar.

bozakrowka's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

growsagewiththyme's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A fascinating intro into the gothic tradition!