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booksofmalice's review against another edition
5.0
Edgar Allan Poe is one of the few writers where everything he writes is just amazing. He is one of the few writers that i have read everything of, he has a very special way with words that just makes me want to read more and more.
allyeb626's review against another edition
4.0
On and off reading the poetry right now... ---June 2015
Reading stories for school and for fun at the same time! ---January 2016
Reading stories for school and for fun at the same time! ---January 2016
melina333's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
4.5
eryk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
erin_knor's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
I love the Gothic writing. Not every story/poem was a winner but I certainly have my favorites.
coleridgegirl's review against another edition
5.0
Have I actually read them all? Doubtful but I can’t think of a bad one
spentcello's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
The sheer amount of material inspired by these stories and poems is staggering. Almost every story has been drawn on somewhat in something else I've read - perhaps not that surprising given the genres I tend to read, but still quite mind-boggling. I'd read a lot of these stories about a decade ago, but it was nice revisiting them as I've read a lot more widely now and appreciate the historical context more.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture, and Cannibalism
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, and Blood
marlonaustin's review against another edition
3.0
“other friends have flown before / on the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before” is such an emo line i cant help but imagine if poe was around today he’d write lyrics for bring me the horizon
i’ve not touched it for two years and cant say i rly want to? the spooky stories are great and four of the poems are absolute bangers but everything else just isnt rly my vibe and there are only so many poems you can read about pretty women dying mysteriously (he famously said it was ‘unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world’ but surely he could find smth else?)
i’ve not touched it for two years and cant say i rly want to? the spooky stories are great and four of the poems are absolute bangers but everything else just isnt rly my vibe and there are only so many poems you can read about pretty women dying mysteriously (he famously said it was ‘unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world’ but surely he could find smth else?)