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spentcello's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Complete collections are always a bit fraught, because there are very few people whose life's output is of very high quality - in other words, there's often a lot of fluff. This was true of Poe's collection and I felt bogged down in some of the longer pieces, particularly the satirical pieces as they were so profuse (made worse by most of them being clumped together in the book). I found the first couple very funny, however, after a while I decided that Poe's the kind of joker who never lets it go and just pushes and pushes a joke until it's really quite dead.
Poe's life was tragic and you can see it in his stories. In particular, his stories where alcohol is the catalyst for series of events that ruin the life of a central character were powerful considering Poe's personal history. But I also hate the narrative of the tortured artist, and the idea that it is in some measure good (or worse, necessary) for someone to suffer so that they produce deep and meaningful art. I disagree. I'm not glad Poe had awful things in his life, was an alcoholic, had his wife die horribly, and all sorts of other loss. I respect and appreciate Poe's stories and the reach of his legacy, but in no way think that his misfortune were a net gain for the world.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture, and Cannibalism
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, and Blood
bearystarry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Basically a lot of beautiful, moody writing interjected with some very intense moments of hideous racism.
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
roadki77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Cannibalism