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yolanda_h's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Minor: Suicide and Murder
quitegood's review against another edition
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
2.0
I was inspired to read this book on a whim after watching a clip from 2004 action film Van Helsing which festured the Mr. Hyde scene, and wondered "How much has Holywood bastardised this character?" so upon learning the original text was a novella and cheap to buy, got myself a copy.
From a comparison point of view, reading this book was fascinating, and seeing how many liberties have been taken with the original concept over the years. I think the Incredible Hulk is possibly the best adaptation of the story, and every subsequent interpretation just copies from the Hulk. As for the actual text, its surprisingly nuanced in places but also laughably inaccurate from a modern perspective.
That all said, don't feel obliged to actually read this. While it has some fascinating ideas, the execution is just boring. I get that I'm over a hundred years removed from this literary style, but that doesn't erase the fact to a modern audience this book is very dull. I found this book fascinating as a thing of study, but as an actual narrative, its paced strangely and has no real characters, and the moments of 'terror' are so quaint by today's standards.
Am I condemning a book because it doesn't measure up to books that have had decades of literary theory to build upon and improve? No. I'm saying don't feel compelled to read this as it is classic, you'll likely be disappointed.
I am going to see if there are any modern retellings of this, fleshing out the characters. This story is ripe for a queer retelling.
From a comparison point of view, reading this book was fascinating, and seeing how many liberties have been taken with the original concept over the years. I think the Incredible Hulk is possibly the best adaptation of the story, and every subsequent interpretation just copies from the Hulk. As for the actual text, its surprisingly nuanced in places but also laughably inaccurate from a modern perspective.
That all said, don't feel obliged to actually read this. While it has some fascinating ideas, the execution is just boring. I get that I'm over a hundred years removed from this literary style, but that doesn't erase the fact to a modern audience this book is very dull. I found this book fascinating as a thing of study, but as an actual narrative, its paced strangely and has no real characters, and the moments of 'terror' are so quaint by today's standards.
Am I condemning a book because it doesn't measure up to books that have had decades of literary theory to build upon and improve? No. I'm saying don't feel compelled to read this as it is classic, you'll likely be disappointed.
I am going to see if there are any modern retellings of this, fleshing out the characters. This story is ripe for a queer retelling.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
martyrbat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Drug use, and Toxic friendship
joshkiba13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
". . . all human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil."
What a dark little piece of literature! I'm about to start a class where our subject material will be The Picture of Dorian Gray, which I've heard is a companion novel to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I therefore took it upon myself to read the latter in one sitting as a way to prepare myself for my study of the former in class.
I thought I knew the gist of this story going into it having seen The Pagemaster and Arthur, but I was pleased to find that there was so much more to the novel than just a scientist with a creepy alter ego. The story not only covers mankind's darker side, but also shows us how our friends and dear ones become alienated from us as we delve into the darkness. Utterson and Lanyon dearly missed their friend, andupon learning the truth, Lanyon even took ill and shortly thereafter died .
I enjoyed Utterson as a character, and I thought it was cool to see the story through the eyes of a friend and bystander rather than through Jekyll's perspective. It's kind of like how the story of Dune revolves around Paul Atreides, but is greatly told from the perspectives of the Lady Jessica and others under Paul's influence. I just wish that at the very end of the story we could have seenUtterson's reaction to Henry's letter !
Robert Louis Stevenson described the setting of 19th century London so visually (though it took time to get accustomed to some older-styled prose). I could see the brown fog and the crowded (or deserted) streets. He used a lot of creative description, such as referring to the large streets as arteries, or describing moon being tilted as if the wind had knocked it over, or how he described Jekyll's tincture going from red to purple to green with effervescence. I think the most visual part of the story was when Utterson and Enfield encounter Dr. Jekyll in his window:
"But [Jekyll's] words were hardly uttered, before the smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair, as froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below. They saw it but for a glimpse for the window was instantly thrust down; but that glimpse had been sufficient, and they turned and left the court without a word . . . They were both pale; and there was an answering horror in their eyes."
I loved how the story began in the middle of the events; Enfield describes his dark encounter with Mr. Hyde to Utterson, who then takes it upon himself to investigate. The mystery unfolded slowly and satisfyingly. I found that even though I knew from pop culture that Jekyll and Hyde were one in the same, the story was still gripping and dark.
That's the other thing, too. It's thought-compelling that Mr. Hyde was not a product of some magical potion, but actually a manifestation of Jekyll's previously repressed darker side. Hyde is smaller in stature because Jekyll's evil was not fully developed as was the kind facade he'd put on himself.
A great read, and one that springs a lot of compelling questions about friendship and human nature.
What a dark little piece of literature! I'm about to start a class where our subject material will be The Picture of Dorian Gray, which I've heard is a companion novel to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I therefore took it upon myself to read the latter in one sitting as a way to prepare myself for my study of the former in class.
I thought I knew the gist of this story going into it having seen The Pagemaster and Arthur, but I was pleased to find that there was so much more to the novel than just a scientist with a creepy alter ego. The story not only covers mankind's darker side, but also shows us how our friends and dear ones become alienated from us as we delve into the darkness. Utterson and Lanyon dearly missed their friend, and
I enjoyed Utterson as a character, and I thought it was cool to see the story through the eyes of a friend and bystander rather than through Jekyll's perspective. It's kind of like how the story of Dune revolves around Paul Atreides, but is greatly told from the perspectives of the Lady Jessica and others under Paul's influence. I just wish that at the very end of the story we could have seen
Robert Louis Stevenson described the setting of 19th century London so visually (though it took time to get accustomed to some older-styled prose). I could see the brown fog and the crowded (or deserted) streets. He used a lot of creative description, such as referring to the large streets as arteries, or describing moon being tilted as if the wind had knocked it over, or how he described Jekyll's tincture going from red to purple to green with effervescence. I think the most visual part of the story was when Utterson and Enfield encounter Dr. Jekyll in his window:
"But [Jekyll's] words were hardly uttered, before the smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair, as froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below. They saw it but for a glimpse for the window was instantly thrust down; but that glimpse had been sufficient, and they turned and left the court without a word . . . They were both pale; and there was an answering horror in their eyes."
I loved how the story began in the middle of the events; Enfield describes his dark encounter with Mr. Hyde to Utterson, who then takes it upon himself to investigate. The mystery unfolded slowly and satisfyingly. I found that even though I knew from pop culture that Jekyll and Hyde were one in the same, the story was still gripping and dark.
That's the other thing, too. It's thought-compelling that Mr. Hyde was not a product of some magical potion, but actually a manifestation of Jekyll's previously repressed darker side. Hyde is smaller in stature because Jekyll's evil was not fully developed as was the kind facade he'd put on himself.
A great read, and one that springs a lot of compelling questions about friendship and human nature.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicide
pinetree_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A good classic. Although it might not be what you consider to be a particular "thrilling" book I was always tempted to just keep going.
It makes you think. But only if you want to.
It makes you think. But only if you want to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
maryry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Violence
221bpinkst's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Violence, and Murder
nujhakhan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
read for gcse :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Suicide
ccoral's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read for class. Interesting book, dealing with the thought that there are two sides to all of us and the desire to be one. We fight against are destructive side, but in the end it seems to be what prevails, as suggested by the book. What I liked most was how it highlights the destructive effect of expectations and how that plays into reputation, which is essential for being set in the Victorian period.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Minor: Suicide
spaceyquesadilla's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide