maxwelldemay's review against another edition
5.0
3 / 4 : Read!
[An uncooperative scrivener is asked to leave his place of employment only to 'rather not']
Another fascinating mystery from Melville— 'who this Bartleby thinks he is' is a question as involved as 'what is the White Whale?' Coalesced around the scrivener are the law office's equally colorful cohorts.
A perfect story to throw in front of a bunch of college freshmen.
I listened to a narration by Michael Lackey
[An uncooperative scrivener is asked to leave his place of employment only to 'rather not']
Another fascinating mystery from Melville— 'who this Bartleby thinks he is' is a question as involved as 'what is the White Whale?' Coalesced around the scrivener are the law office's equally colorful cohorts.
A perfect story to throw in front of a bunch of college freshmen.
I listened to a narration by Michael Lackey
buying_time_'s review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The employees of a small but successful law office are unusual. Messrs Turkey — a model employee up to lunchtime, becomes erratic in the afternoon; and Nippers — an irascible chap in the mornings, yet favourable in the afternoons. And Ginger Nut, the office dogsbody. Then there's Bartelby. A new hire who would 'prefer not to' do anything other than copy documents — a mantra that frustratingly endears him to his boss. Unfortunately, it also defines Bartleby's own will to life.
Charmingly written, Bartleby is a short but interesting allegorical tale of work, life, and free-will (among other themes) and shows how damaging a reluctance to accept a change in life can be.
hazel_heart's review against another edition
2.0
What did I just read? At first I thought it was gonna have a cool plot twist or a clever gimmick about this Bartleby guy or a bigger picture but nah it's just the same thing over and over again.
I give it 2 stars because, had I done any worse this poor pitiable Herman fellow would surely fall into depths of darkest desires. No sir, I shall not condemn such a poor soul to lonely despair, not as he's already shunned and pushed around by brutes and the like over and over again. I shall raise a helping hand, give him two stars and tell him to be on his way, only then may I have a clear conscious!
I give it 2 stars because, had I done any worse this poor pitiable Herman fellow would surely fall into depths of darkest desires. No sir, I shall not condemn such a poor soul to lonely despair, not as he's already shunned and pushed around by brutes and the like over and over again. I shall raise a helping hand, give him two stars and tell him to be on his way, only then may I have a clear conscious!
joana_costa's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bambooty's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
kayla_can_read's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Bartelby feels like the human mix of a grudge and grief
carrotsoup's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
shiradest's review against another edition
4.0
"these letters speed to death. ... humanity."
Wow.
:-(
16 August, 12016 HE
(Human Era, the Universal Holocene Calendar)
Wow.
:-(
16 August, 12016 HE
(Human Era, the Universal Holocene Calendar)
katetriestoread's review against another edition
3.0
this story was much better than I expected. interesting prose but the pacing did get much slower near the end of the story. wasn’t the best, wasn’t the worst. a solid 6/10.