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willwork4airfare's review
3.0
I would not have finished it if it were not for class, but it had its good moments.
Spoiler
Pretty grossly guilty of killing off a female character for men to get their shit together.jennyp0208's review
1.0
Having read, and adored, Little Women, I was intrigued to see this Alcott novel on a free shelf. I'd never heard of it before and was curious. It is so unlike Little Women that quoting one about the other is the only way I can properly respond (from Chapter 34, Friend):
Mr. Bhaer…. said with great disgust, "I wish these papers did not come into the house. They are not for the children to see, nor young people to read. It is not well, and I have no patience with those who make this harm."
"All may not be so bad - only silly, you know, and if there is a demand for it, I don't see any harm in supplying it. Many very respectable people make an honest living out of what are called sensation stories," said Jo.
[…]
"They are trash, and will soon be worse trash if I go on, for each is more sensational than the last."
A Modern Mephistopheles honestly surprises me in its over the top sensationalism. From Helwyze's soulless manipulation and power plays, to Canaris' willingness to play right back along with him, to Olivia's tragic loyalty and Glady's tragic heroism... Add a dose of heavy handed wordiness and you have a hot mess of a novel. I'm flabbergasted that the same author wrote both books - even more so that this book was published 10 years after Little Women, 6 years after Little Men. It makes me want to find a biography on Alcott's life, which is it's one saving grace. Because of that, this book does not earn a place on my permanent shelves.
Mr. Bhaer…. said with great disgust, "I wish these papers did not come into the house. They are not for the children to see, nor young people to read. It is not well, and I have no patience with those who make this harm."
"All may not be so bad - only silly, you know, and if there is a demand for it, I don't see any harm in supplying it. Many very respectable people make an honest living out of what are called sensation stories," said Jo.
[…]
"They are trash, and will soon be worse trash if I go on, for each is more sensational than the last."
A Modern Mephistopheles honestly surprises me in its over the top sensationalism. From Helwyze's soulless manipulation and power plays, to Canaris' willingness to play right back along with him, to Olivia's tragic loyalty and Glady's tragic heroism... Add a dose of heavy handed wordiness and you have a hot mess of a novel. I'm flabbergasted that the same author wrote both books - even more so that this book was published 10 years after Little Women, 6 years after Little Men. It makes me want to find a biography on Alcott's life, which is it's one saving grace. Because of that, this book does not earn a place on my permanent shelves.
pagesofpins's review
2.0
Helwyze: All sensationalist literature by Louisa May Alcott has to have a handsome stranger who is obviously Satan. And what a handsome devil I am, to be sure.
Canaris: I am poor. No one cares about my art. Might as well go eat worms.
Helwyze: Naw, stick with me, kid. In exchange for a few provisos that may or may not include your soul, I'm gonna make you a star.
Canaris: Hot dog!
Helwyze: Go marry that chick.
Gladys: I am pure and womanly, with feminine ladylike girlish qualities. Have I mentioned my female spirit?
Canaris: What? But I don't love her.
Helwyze: We'll totally destroy her. It will be hilarious. But if you're going to be ungrateful.....
Canaris: No! I'm grateful! I'll marry her.
Gladys: I can make you good, and make you love me. Men love women who change them.
Canaris: I won us tons of money gambling, baby. Also my writing has made us double rich.
Gladys: GASP! How wicked!
Helwyze: Have some soothing chocolates, Gladys. It's a shame your husband doesn't love you but is still devoted to you every second out of guilt or something, and also is decidedly unwholesome. My sympathies.
Gladys: These are tasty! *passes out*
Helwyze: Just kidding! It's hashish! What a riot!
Olivia: My lover is the meanest. Wake up, Gladys! I want to be your mom, even though you're a grown ass woman. Can I be your mom?
Gladys: *blinks* Mommy?
Canaris: Darling! I love you after all! I can't wait for us to have tons of babies! I'll teach them to play catch and gamble.
Gladys: Olivia can be our baby's grandma!
Olivia: Hold on, what are you trying to say?
Helwyze: Gladys' sweetness has destroyed me! I am suddenly mostly paralyzed.
Gladys: Helwyze's wickedness has destroyed me and my baby! We are fading away to pale and somber death.
Canaris: All this crap and I'm still poor?
The End
Canaris: I am poor. No one cares about my art. Might as well go eat worms.
Helwyze: Naw, stick with me, kid. In exchange for a few provisos that may or may not include your soul, I'm gonna make you a star.
Canaris: Hot dog!
Helwyze: Go marry that chick.
Gladys: I am pure and womanly, with feminine ladylike girlish qualities. Have I mentioned my female spirit?
Canaris: What? But I don't love her.
Helwyze: We'll totally destroy her. It will be hilarious. But if you're going to be ungrateful.....
Canaris: No! I'm grateful! I'll marry her.
Gladys: I can make you good, and make you love me. Men love women who change them.
Canaris: I won us tons of money gambling, baby. Also my writing has made us double rich.
Gladys: GASP! How wicked!
Helwyze: Have some soothing chocolates, Gladys. It's a shame your husband doesn't love you but is still devoted to you every second out of guilt or something, and also is decidedly unwholesome. My sympathies.
Gladys: These are tasty! *passes out*
Helwyze: Just kidding! It's hashish! What a riot!
Olivia: My lover is the meanest. Wake up, Gladys! I want to be your mom, even though you're a grown ass woman. Can I be your mom?
Gladys: *blinks* Mommy?
Canaris: Darling! I love you after all! I can't wait for us to have tons of babies! I'll teach them to play catch and gamble.
Gladys: Olivia can be our baby's grandma!
Olivia: Hold on, what are you trying to say?
Helwyze: Gladys' sweetness has destroyed me! I am suddenly mostly paralyzed.
Gladys: Helwyze's wickedness has destroyed me and my baby! We are fading away to pale and somber death.
Canaris: All this crap and I'm still poor?
The End
emilystrange123's review
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
aldozirsov's review
3.0
hasil hunting ke Pamulang Sabtu 30 Mei 2009. Beda cover depan dan hardcover edition.
hannah_dillard's review
3.0
It reminds me of Shakespeare in the way this is laid out...it’s interesting to read something other than Alcott’s longer novels
hopeevey's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kaymichelle388's review
2.0
I think the appeal of this novel comes mainly with the shock value of "Louisa May Alcott wrote what?!" And there certainly are some shocks - themes of obsession, greed, drugs, and homoeroticism certainly don't mesh with the squeaky clean image Alcott portrayed in her more well-known morality tales. I appreciate Alcott's lurid side, but I didn't find this novel particularly well-written. It's much more of a character study without much plot to spread around. I'm glad I read it, simply for sake of having read it, but I doubt I'll be picking it up again. I would recommend "A Long Fatal Love Chase" as a better representation of Alcott's sensationalist writing.
pelachick's review
3.0
Quite departure from Little Women. This is one of the more gothic novels by Alcott. While the story does have a surprise ending, it still has the morality tale so common of the time. There are some interesting characters but they tend to be one dimensional.