Community Reviews
Style
As anyone who’s read old literature knows, the style of writing has changed dramatically over time. There is an obvious reason why the motto ‘show, don’t tell’ was adopted and this is a perfect example of why. So much of the story is told through hearsay. It is near impossible to really determine what actually happened, but we are just expected to believe what the characters say to be true. That being said, I did believe it. There was something in the particular tone of the writing and/or characters that made me believe every word.
Disjointed
It is quite interesting to reflect upon stories that once were. They are written very disjointed and disconnected, jumping from scene to scene and location to location, offering very little detail. Even the detail offered was not written in a manner as to be enjoyable or vivid. It was only offered as needed and the rest of the story focused on the characters.
Characters
I liked Dr. Jekyll. I liked Mr. Hyde. I wasn’t really a huge fan of the narrator, but that has more to do with how fully he follows the ideals of that particular time. His prejudices and personal opinions were very obvious and annoying. I also wasn’t sure he was the best narrator for the story, but oh well. Perhaps this, too, was a style thing of days long past.
That Ending
I was very satisfied with the ending of this story. It was not quite what I expected, having never heard the true tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and knowing only adaptations. That being said, I thought it quite fitting for the story and the style in which the story was told. No doubt it has plenty of remnants of the time period as well.
That Ending
The fact the Dr. Jekyll ended up giving into his darkness and enjoying it and coming back to it even after his Jekyll conscience told him it was wrong, was very refreshing. I like that the darkness calls to us. I like that people are two halves: good and bad, but one still has power over the other and they are still of the same person. For Dr. Jekyll to give in and Mr. Hyde to do so as well was very well done.
As anyone who’s read old literature knows, the style of writing has changed dramatically over time. There is an obvious reason why the motto ‘show, don’t tell’ was adopted and this is a perfect example of why. So much of the story is told through hearsay. It is near impossible to really determine what actually happened, but we are just expected to believe what the characters say to be true. That being said, I did believe it. There was something in the particular tone of the writing and/or characters that made me believe every word.
Disjointed
It is quite interesting to reflect upon stories that once were. They are written very disjointed and disconnected, jumping from scene to scene and location to location, offering very little detail. Even the detail offered was not written in a manner as to be enjoyable or vivid. It was only offered as needed and the rest of the story focused on the characters.
Characters
I liked Dr. Jekyll. I liked Mr. Hyde. I wasn’t really a huge fan of the narrator, but that has more to do with how fully he follows the ideals of that particular time. His prejudices and personal opinions were very obvious and annoying. I also wasn’t sure he was the best narrator for the story, but oh well. Perhaps this, too, was a style thing of days long past.
That Ending
I was very satisfied with the ending of this story. It was not quite what I expected, having never heard the true tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and knowing only adaptations. That being said, I thought it quite fitting for the story and the style in which the story was told. No doubt it has plenty of remnants of the time period as well.
That Ending
The fact the Dr. Jekyll ended up giving into his darkness and enjoying it and coming back to it even after his Jekyll conscience told him it was wrong, was very refreshing. I like that the darkness calls to us. I like that people are two halves: good and bad, but one still has power over the other and they are still of the same person. For Dr. Jekyll to give in and Mr. Hyde to do so as well was very well done.
So I am realizing how much I enjoy these classic gothic horror/suspense novels. That said, this particular one is a bit lacking. It’s partly the pacing, and partly the rather blunt ways that Stevenson obscures the twist. As a reader, you’re not given those tantalizing glimpses that make these stories so compelling. At least, not enough of them, and they’re not as well executed as they could be. You never feel like you’re on the verge of being drawn into Jekyll’s (or Hyde’s!) point of view, until the very last chapter. So what you’re left with is a pretty opaque mystery with a lengthy, philosophical reveal that doesn’t really feel like it was earned.
I am lucky enough to have a beautiful leather bound copy of this book and it is absolutely stunning. After the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde there is another story called The Bottle Imp.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written in 1886. The two lives of Dr Henry Jekyll and Mr Edward Hyde collided into one, both containing mystery, twists and turns aswell as some gothic terror. What started as a science experiment turned into a nightmare for poor Dr Jekyll. It changed his life and it became out of his control. Mr Hyde wouldn't leave.. he liked life too much, but his life was too much for Dr Jekyll to take. A story of a vicious circle for poor Dr Jekyll.. The story has terror, horror, mystery and of course suspense to keep you on your toes. The narrative by Dr Jekyll makes the story even better; how he acts compared to how Mr Hyde acts is astonishing, morbid and scary. Such a great story for it's time.
The Bottle Imp is a twisted short story written in 1891. The story is about the powers that a magic bottle that houses an Imp has. Whatever you want you receive, what ever you wish for you receive. Not without paying a price, succumbed by the devil Keawe has to fight for his future as well as his life. This short story has many twists and turns as well as some suspense.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written in 1886. The two lives of Dr Henry Jekyll and Mr Edward Hyde collided into one, both containing mystery, twists and turns aswell as some gothic terror. What started as a science experiment turned into a nightmare for poor Dr Jekyll. It changed his life and it became out of his control. Mr Hyde wouldn't leave.. he liked life too much, but his life was too much for Dr Jekyll to take. A story of a vicious circle for poor Dr Jekyll.. The story has terror, horror, mystery and of course suspense to keep you on your toes. The narrative by Dr Jekyll makes the story even better; how he acts compared to how Mr Hyde acts is astonishing, morbid and scary. Such a great story for it's time.
The Bottle Imp is a twisted short story written in 1891. The story is about the powers that a magic bottle that houses an Imp has. Whatever you want you receive, what ever you wish for you receive. Not without paying a price, succumbed by the devil Keawe has to fight for his future as well as his life. This short story has many twists and turns as well as some suspense.
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