dorothy_gale's review against another edition
3.0
I'm certain this was my 3rd time with this book. All 3 were audio versions, but in high school it was cassette tapes, pre-kids it was audio CD, and now Audible. It wasn't horrible enough for me not to repeat it, but it wasn't good enough for it to be memorable. I can get past the 1886 writing style, and even the London setting, but maybe a video format would be more impressionable? The 1931 version I will skip, but I do see that Amazon has a 2017 version that features oscar-winning Mickey Rooney in his final role.
There is something that draws me to this story of duality, but I guess I'm just waiting to be wowed by the right performance. Sorry Mr. Stevenson!
There is something that draws me to this story of duality, but I guess I'm just waiting to be wowed by the right performance. Sorry Mr. Stevenson!
ksallaz's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gingrace's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
thespookyantagonist's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
lessidisa's review against another edition
3.0
C'est une redite par rapport à Frankenstein que je n'avais déjà pas plus apprécié que ça ; les personnages sont antipathiques au Royaume-Uni. De plus peut-être que le livre aurait pu être bien si le synopsis et la préface ne révélait pas d’emblée le pot-aux-roses. Enfin bref ce livre met en scène des hommes qui n'ont rien d'intéressant à faire donc ils font n'importe quoi qui leur passe par la tête on va dire. Moi je vois ça comme ça.
Lu pendant la tempête Ciaran, vache c'était impressionnant on aurait dit que la maison aurait pu décoller.
Lu pendant la tempête Ciaran, vache c'était impressionnant on aurait dit que la maison aurait pu décoller.
lovethybookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
flexluthor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
electrozombie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
mad_about_books's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While watching the 2015 series "Jekyll and Hyde" on PBS Masterpiece, I realized that although I know the story, I'd never actually read the novella. As I started reading Stevenson's words, I knew why I had never read it. For anyone immersed in modern horror stories, this is a difficult read. The language of this nineteenth century novella is turgid and yawn inducing. I found Jekyll and Hyde to be just above unreadable. Part of this is the style of writing, part is the Amazon Classics Edition's lack of editing. Dr. Jekyll is, was, and always will be Henry Jekyll, yet this edition refers to him as Harry on several occasions. Happily, the Amazon Classics Edition is no longer available. (It does remain in my Kindle library and can be reviewed on Goodreads.)
The story as we know it from stage and screen is all derived from the last chapter of the novella, "Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case" wherein we are told of the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde in detail. Prior to that, the duality central to the tale is barely hinted at.
I can find a case to be made for mental health issues and drug abuse within its pages. Such conclusions would be far more modern than the time and place of the narrative. The study of mental health at that time was in its nascence and drugs that are illegal today then were not.
I suppose that afficionados of the gothic horror tale should make an effort to read this, but that might be an ask too far for all but the dedicated.