Reviews
Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with The Merry Men & Other Tales and Fables, by Robert Louis Stevenson
hjulia5's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ula_mizhir's review against another edition
3.25
Stevenson is a marvellous writer he has a very unique way of explaining his tales.
Overall this book is a 3.25/5!
Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 3.5/5
Very original tale yet it got tedious in the end.
The Merry Men 2/5 I can’t say this is a just rating because I was perplexed half of the time by one of the characters accents.
Markheim 5/5 I am enamoured by this tale it felt like it was going on for years yet such a fast read.
Thrawn Janet 2.5/5 like The Merry Men I wish I understood Scottish dictionary.
Ollala 4/5 I can’t say much but this was so beautifully written it ensnared me.
Will O’ the Mill 4/5 I loved every bit of it.
The treasure of Franchard 2.5/5 tedious and quite boring but I rated it higher for the authors writing style.
Overall this book is a 3.25/5!
Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 3.5/5
Very original tale yet it got tedious in the end.
The Merry Men 2/5 I can’t say this is a just rating because I was perplexed half of the time by one of the characters accents.
Markheim 5/5 I am enamoured by this tale it felt like it was going on for years yet such a fast read.
Thrawn Janet 2.5/5 like The Merry Men I wish I understood Scottish dictionary.
Ollala 4/5 I can’t say much but this was so beautifully written it ensnared me.
Will O’ the Mill 4/5 I loved every bit of it.
The treasure of Franchard 2.5/5 tedious and quite boring but I rated it higher for the authors writing style.
regitzexenia's review against another edition
4.0
This review is mostly going to be of the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I reread this more or less every year in October, just as Bram Stoker's Dracula, for what they both have in common is the way they craft a creepy and uncomfortable horror in a way that is so human that I can not help but be fascinated. Although I know that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person, it is still easy to see and feel that Stevenson has really done a lot to disguise this fact, while also dropping hints. It might have worked better then than it does now, as the phenomenon of a "Jekyll & Hyde" persona has become such a widespread expression that I think most people know a little about this part of history, even if they have not read the book.
But for me it does not take anything away from the book. I like to reread it anyway and noticing the small details in the descriptions. There are many ways that one can choose to interpret the book: an effective portrayal of man's good and bad sides, as something that is in all of us, society's sometimes hypocritical positions on many issues, especially in Stevenson's own time, and there are probably many other interpretations, I have not even thought about. And perhaps that is why I like this book. The hateful, and easy-to-hate Mr Hyde and the mysteriously disappearing, but lovable in everyone's eyes Dr Jekyll are both characters, who most people know, but the book has many ways to see them. The Italian writer Italo Calvino has said "A classic is a book der har never finished saying what it har to say" and for me, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde just such a book.
This review is also found on my blog, here.
I reread this more or less every year in October, just as Bram Stoker's Dracula, for what they both have in common is the way they craft a creepy and uncomfortable horror in a way that is so human that I can not help but be fascinated. Although I know that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person, it is still easy to see and feel that Stevenson has really done a lot to disguise this fact, while also dropping hints. It might have worked better then than it does now, as the phenomenon of a "Jekyll & Hyde" persona has become such a widespread expression that I think most people know a little about this part of history, even if they have not read the book.
But for me it does not take anything away from the book. I like to reread it anyway and noticing the small details in the descriptions. There are many ways that one can choose to interpret the book: an effective portrayal of man's good and bad sides, as something that is in all of us, society's sometimes hypocritical positions on many issues, especially in Stevenson's own time, and there are probably many other interpretations, I have not even thought about. And perhaps that is why I like this book. The hateful, and easy-to-hate Mr Hyde and the mysteriously disappearing, but lovable in everyone's eyes Dr Jekyll are both characters, who most people know, but the book has many ways to see them. The Italian writer Italo Calvino has said "A classic is a book der har never finished saying what it har to say" and for me, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde just such a book.
This review is also found on my blog, here.
marinuchi_goo13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
susiswag's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.25
eveejoystar's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of the shortest books I've ever read, but it took me forever to read. It was simply not a joy to read.
I most likely didn't enjoy it as much because I already knew that Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde were the same person, and it took forever for the book to get there.
I definently enjoyed the Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde part of The Page Master more. ;)
davybaby's review against another edition
3.0
SPOILER ALERT! Jekyll and Hyde are the same person! I just ruined it for you. You're welcome.
Stevenson writes a rollicking good adventure, as in [b:Kidnapped|325128|Kidnapped (David Balfour, #1)|Robert Louis Stevenson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328869457s/325128.jpg|963266] and [b:Treasure Island|295|Treasure Island|Robert Louis Stevenson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312023209s/295.jpg|3077988]. In this novella, he also writes a fascinating psychological horror story. It was by no means action-packed, but his exploration of Jekyll and his horrible alter ego was well-done and intriguing. It was nearly allegorical in its study of morality. Jekyll is an essentially flawless good person, and he finds outlet of his hidden evil desires through Hyde. These evil urges become difficult to control, and eventually the question of who is the man and who is the alter ego becomes tricky.
I noticed that in both Jekyll & Hyde and Kidnapped, a lawyer is a main character who is a true friend and benevolent. Could this unusual view of the world have anything to do with Stevenson's training as a lawyer? Certainly not. Just a clear-eyed observant nature.
The book was well worth a read, and certainly very influential.
Stevenson writes a rollicking good adventure, as in [b:Kidnapped|325128|Kidnapped (David Balfour, #1)|Robert Louis Stevenson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328869457s/325128.jpg|963266] and [b:Treasure Island|295|Treasure Island|Robert Louis Stevenson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312023209s/295.jpg|3077988]. In this novella, he also writes a fascinating psychological horror story. It was by no means action-packed, but his exploration of Jekyll and his horrible alter ego was well-done and intriguing. It was nearly allegorical in its study of morality. Jekyll is an essentially flawless good person, and he finds outlet of his hidden evil desires through Hyde. These evil urges become difficult to control, and eventually the question of who is the man and who is the alter ego becomes tricky.
I noticed that in both Jekyll & Hyde and Kidnapped, a lawyer is a main character who is a true friend and benevolent. Could this unusual view of the world have anything to do with Stevenson's training as a lawyer? Certainly not. Just a clear-eyed observant nature.
The book was well worth a read, and certainly very influential.
faircloughliv's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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
2.0
be11aloca's review against another edition
mysterious
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
2.0