laurawikoff's review against another edition
Im sorry mr poe. I really thought i would like these, but to me the stories were either predictable or anticlimactic, and i found the prose uninteresting. Might try listening as an audiobook another time, but i simply didnt enjoy reading it in print.
sammmm7's review against another edition
tense
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? N/A
2.75
inkerly's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book! Rapturing, riveting, repulsing, gut-wrenching! There's no more to tell! it's facile and storytelling structure is well written and thoroughly summarized as four compiled stories around the basis of some of the most chilling gripping horror tales. The maestro of horror fiction has done it again! My favorite written story by Poe is the Gole-Bug tale. I finished this book in four days. I would definitely recommend this easy and fun read to close friends of mine. So, enjoy!
lunnashh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.0
Though I like the uniquenes of each story, I find most of them tedious and odd. The ones I like are "The Black Cat" and "Hop-Frog".
viveknshah's review against another edition
2.0
Hooter: Collection of Poe's macabre and gory short stories that make you Halloween ready
Part of Puffin's collection aimed at young adults, this is a great introduction to the world of Edgar Allan Poe. Reading his back story, you realise with how much ease he could spin this stuff up. His true life story is as macabre as his writings. Having said that, I found the language a mouthful to read and painful at times. Considering this is an abridged version of his writings to make it more palatable, I feel the reverse with the complex writing style being implemented that you lose the impact of the gripping terror that Poe wants to engulf you with. In some essence, the mystery and terror does reach out but doesn't really envelop you.
Part of Puffin's collection aimed at young adults, this is a great introduction to the world of Edgar Allan Poe. Reading his back story, you realise with how much ease he could spin this stuff up. His true life story is as macabre as his writings. Having said that, I found the language a mouthful to read and painful at times. Considering this is an abridged version of his writings to make it more palatable, I feel the reverse with the complex writing style being implemented that you lose the impact of the gripping terror that Poe wants to engulf you with. In some essence, the mystery and terror does reach out but doesn't really envelop you.
thubanterrapin's review
3.0
Some of the stories are fun some others, well, I just hope I learn to appreciate Poe's prose in the future.
nichola's review against another edition
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? No
Why did I re-read this?
Because I needed a refresher on the Fall of the House of Usher in order to read the new T. Kingfisher.
But, did I get sucked in an enjoy the melodrama of Poe all over again? Yes.
Did I think that the different narrators were all the same man having a truly bad year? Yes.
Did I get to the murders in Rue Morgue, realise how much Sherlock is based on Dupin and then laught at the prospect of Dupin or Sherlock trying to decode a neurodivergent brain? ABSOLUTELY.
Also these stories are definitely the externalisation of a few of Poe's own issues.
Because I needed a refresher on the Fall of the House of Usher in order to read the new T. Kingfisher.
But, did I get sucked in an enjoy the melodrama of Poe all over again? Yes.
Did I think that the different narrators were all the same man having a truly bad year? Yes.
Did I get to the murders in Rue Morgue, realise how much Sherlock is based on Dupin and then laught at the prospect of Dupin or Sherlock trying to decode a neurodivergent brain? ABSOLUTELY.
Also these stories are definitely the externalisation of a few of Poe's own issues.
mochomito's review against another edition
3.0
I was going to give this 4 stars, but I didn't like The Gold Bug story.
p0ps_'s review
4.0
The majority of the stories (The Pit and the Pendulum, The Fall of the House of Usher, Descent into the Maelström, The Tell Tale Heart, William Wilson, MS Found In a Bottle) where extremely good and entertaining. Even the ludicrous plots were saved by Poe’s dramatic writing.