Reviews

I was inspired to read this book on a whim after watching a clip from 2004 action film Van Helsing which festured the Mr. Hyde scene, and wondered "How much has Holywood bastardised this character?" so upon learning the original text was a novella and cheap to buy, got myself a copy.
From a comparison point of view, reading this book was fascinating, and seeing how many liberties have been taken with the original concept over the years. I think the Incredible Hulk is possibly the best adaptation of the story, and every subsequent interpretation just copies from the Hulk. As for the actual text, its surprisingly nuanced in places but also laughably inaccurate from a modern perspective.
That all said, don't feel obliged to actually read this. While it has some fascinating ideas, the execution is just boring. I get that I'm over a hundred years removed from this literary style, but that doesn't erase the fact to a modern audience this book is very dull. I found this book fascinating as a thing of study, but as an actual narrative, its paced strangely and has no real characters, and the moments of 'terror' are so quaint by today's standards.
Am I condemning a book because it doesn't measure up to books that have had decades of literary theory to build upon and improve? No. I'm saying don't feel compelled to read this as it is classic, you'll likely be disappointed.
I am going to see if there are any modern retellings of this, fleshing out the characters. This story is ripe for a queer retelling.

Content Warnings

a_chickletz's review against another edition

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2.0

You think you know this story, but you don't. You honestly by god don't.

Hollywood adaptations of this story really bloat it up and give it more character. It's gonna be one of those where I enjoy what Hollywood does with the story than what the author originally did.

This story is not told through the eyes of Dr. Jekyll, no. It is told through the eyes of one of his friends with some random cameos from Dr. Jekyll here and there. Oh, and Mr. Hyde makes an appearance too.

I'm going to spoiler cut a rant about this book.

Spoiler

Maybe it was me, but Jekyll was a crap dude. At nearing 50, he was bored with life. He was rich, educated, pampered, spoiled, a nice guy. He got bored and decided what would happen if good and evil could be split? Apparently we are to assume that Dr. Jekyll is a saint and the living representation of good - which I doubt but whatever. His Hyde persona is the representation of evil.

After everything that Hyde does - running over a kid in the street, beating up people, killing a man, acting like a dick, Jekyll is aware of everything he did as Hyde and he... enjoys it? Why? Because it was different than his life and he felt younger, alive, and reckless. What a fucking dumbass. So much dumbass from this man, I kid you not. Then... he actually considers letting go of his life (as in by faking his death) and signing everything over to Hyde. Then he decides against it because he chickens out.... but then he finds out that he can't stop changing into Hyde and wakes up sometimes as Hyde.

Let me tell you: Jekyll probably didn't change into Hyde at all. What it really did is reveal his nasty ass self that has always been down there, deep down. Yet, it wouldn't explain how his body shrunk and his face changed. ... Yeah.

I feel like the whole thing was a dig at people with mental illnesses. Strange, but when I finished it I couldn't help thinking that. Anyway, do yourself a favor and skip reading this book. The movie adaptations are more enjoyable and more interesting.

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