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nikku_callian's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
1.25
yleavy's review against another edition
It was boring and poorly-written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
kirstenann5's review against another edition
2.0
There is a reason Poe is known as a poet and teller of short tales. This is his only novel, and rightfully so.
There is no doubt the writing in this novel is fantastic. There are several moments where his genius in poetically describing a simple emotion or situation left me in awe. The story too, is very very exciting at times, and is like that of classic adventure tales of the 19th century. Where this book fails however, is how much useless information is included. I mean this in a joking manner, but it often reminded me of when you insert nonsense into a paper to make it longer. Poe included so much information that was completely unnecessary to the story. He describes the ins and outs of the boat, he goes on and on about attitude and longitude, about bird species etc. It's mind numbing to someone who has no interest in these things' nd does absolutely nothing for the tale.
The characters are also all incredibly flat. While he is really good at describing emotions like fear and pain, none of the characters, including Pym, who is first person, have any personality.
That said, I did not hate this, and found myself very intrigued in the high points of the tale.
There is no doubt the writing in this novel is fantastic. There are several moments where his genius in poetically describing a simple emotion or situation left me in awe. The story too, is very very exciting at times, and is like that of classic adventure tales of the 19th century. Where this book fails however, is how much useless information is included. I mean this in a joking manner, but it often reminded me of when you insert nonsense into a paper to make it longer. Poe included so much information that was completely unnecessary to the story. He describes the ins and outs of the boat, he goes on and on about attitude and longitude, about bird species etc. It's mind numbing to someone who has no interest in these things' nd does absolutely nothing for the tale.
The characters are also all incredibly flat. While he is really good at describing emotions like fear and pain, none of the characters, including Pym, who is first person, have any personality.
That said, I did not hate this, and found myself very intrigued in the high points of the tale.
coreymanuel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
caroli22's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I loved the begging of this book (might read Jules Verne), however, halfway through it got a little too sea-coded-chords for me, nevetherless I think it is a good and interesting novel that saddly lost its final two/three chapters
I loved the begging of this book (might read Jules Verne), however, halfway through it got a little too sea-coded-chords for me, nevetherless I think it is a good and interesting novel that saddly lost its final two/three chapters
chloewiart's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
J'ai plutôt aimé le début mais j'ai été vraiment déçue par le dernier tiers. Quant à la fin... N'en parlons pas.
lillowo's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
It's a book! But Poe doesn't seem to understand the idea of a unifying arch for novels. The first half of the book was SUPER interesting and I was hooked. It felt almost like a few extended short stories, but it felt cohesive and complete.
The second half is supposedly a mirror of the first and honestly. I can't fully see it. Like we get ocean time and being buried. Also while it's the middle point of the narrative, it's 64% through the book. So this "mirror" is so much more rushed. Also the horrors and interesting plot go downhill so fast. The first half I was so engaged with. But the second half felt like I was waiting for it to end. I am left with so many questions and with how many "fuck you"s Poe wrote in this book in the form of info dumps, I found my patience with the book running thin.
Also. The fourth arch follows Pym in exploring this island and the people. And it is so embued with racism. While there is talk abt it being a satire on race and I could see that, if it's a satire, it's a lazily done one and gives no commentary.
The ending left me quite unsatisfied. And not in the way that leaves a story festering in my mind. Just a little annoyed.
The second half is supposedly a mirror of the first and honestly. I can't fully see it. Like we get ocean time and being buried. Also while it's the middle point of the narrative, it's 64% through the book. So this "mirror" is so much more rushed. Also the horrors and interesting plot go downhill so fast. The first half I was so engaged with. But the second half felt like I was waiting for it to end. I am left with so many questions and with how many "fuck you"s Poe wrote in this book in the form of info dumps, I found my patience with the book running thin.
Also. The fourth arch follows Pym in exploring this island and the people. And it is so embued with racism. While there is talk abt it being a satire on race and I could see that, if it's a satire, it's a lazily done one and gives no commentary.
The ending left me quite unsatisfied. And not in the way that leaves a story festering in my mind. Just a little annoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Racism