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leelulah's review
2.0
I've read this collection to understand Eudora Welty's [b:On Writing|12581|On Writing|Eudora Welty|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403184503s/12581.jpg|14866].
I have enjoyed the Bride Comes to Yellow Sky, The Open Boat and The Blue Hotel. When I got to Maggie, A Girl of the Streets, initially I was moved, reminded of Twain's Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.
But unlike them, there's no hope of improvement for Maggie Johnson. Born in a poor and unloving family, her fate is to remain used, abused and die alone. Not a big fan of naturalism for its deterministic nature. The story is well crafted, and I don't ask necessarily for a happy ending, but there is a slightly "she had it coming" sensation as one reads this.
Pete and her family are of no help to her. Her mother and brother are abusive, her father wasn't bad towards her but was really cruel with her son and wife. She had a terrible relationship with her perpetually angered mother.
Maggie's only distinctive quality that would apparently give her a better social standing was beauty, but that's where she by lack of education, commits a fatal mistake.
I have enjoyed the Bride Comes to Yellow Sky, The Open Boat and The Blue Hotel. When I got to Maggie, A Girl of the Streets, initially I was moved, reminded of Twain's Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.
But unlike them, there's no hope of improvement for Maggie Johnson. Born in a poor and unloving family, her fate is to remain used, abused and die alone. Not a big fan of naturalism for its deterministic nature. The story is well crafted, and I don't ask necessarily for a happy ending, but there is a slightly "she had it coming" sensation as one reads this.
Pete and her family are of no help to her. Her mother and brother are abusive, her father wasn't bad towards her but was really cruel with her son and wife. She had a terrible relationship with her perpetually angered mother.
Maggie's only distinctive quality that would apparently give her a better social standing was beauty, but that's where she by lack of education, commits a fatal mistake.
thebisexualbooknerd's review
5.0
I deeply admire Stephen Crane, not just for his candid, open writing style, but also for his ability to write across a wide range of genres. I'll take each story by itself:
Maggie, A Girl Of The Streets:
Set in the streets of a big city, this novella has all the grit and rustic charm of a Dickens book. Whether or not Crane was emulating his style it is hard to know, but it certainly came across that way. The characters are simultaneously lovable and despicable, the result of being broken and destitute.
The Open Boat:
An autobiographical tale, Crane takes his gaze to the sea. There he discusses brotherhood, the meaning of life, and existentialism, among other things.
The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky:
This is something of a western, featuring a town marshal, his new wife, and a drunk crazy man out to kill. I won't spoil the ending, but comment that I found it rather silly and thought the bride's death would have been more effective. This story, as well as the next one, reminds me a good deal of Steinbeck, as it was brief, stark, and fulfilling.
The Blue Hotel:
The last in this anthology of stories, this is by far the strangest. It's not a mystery, but an ominous portrait of several adrenaline-high men. The whole story was unpredictable and laced with suspense. Although not my favorite, I immensely enjoyed the dialogue.
On the whole, this is a lovely anthology, and one that fully expresses Crane's diversity and talent.
Maggie, A Girl Of The Streets:
Set in the streets of a big city, this novella has all the grit and rustic charm of a Dickens book. Whether or not Crane was emulating his style it is hard to know, but it certainly came across that way. The characters are simultaneously lovable and despicable, the result of being broken and destitute.
The Open Boat:
An autobiographical tale, Crane takes his gaze to the sea. There he discusses brotherhood, the meaning of life, and existentialism, among other things.
The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky:
This is something of a western, featuring a town marshal, his new wife, and a drunk crazy man out to kill. I won't spoil the ending, but comment that I found it rather silly and thought the bride's death would have been more effective. This story, as well as the next one, reminds me a good deal of Steinbeck, as it was brief, stark, and fulfilling.
The Blue Hotel:
The last in this anthology of stories, this is by far the strangest. It's not a mystery, but an ominous portrait of several adrenaline-high men. The whole story was unpredictable and laced with suspense. Although not my favorite, I immensely enjoyed the dialogue.
On the whole, this is a lovely anthology, and one that fully expresses Crane's diversity and talent.
rahthesungod's review
4.0
Each story rated as follows:
Maggie: A Girl of the Streets--5 stars
The Open Boat-- 3 stars
The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky--3 stars
Blue Hotel--4 stars
Stephen Crane is a visceral, brilliant writer who tells plotted, cutting stories with detailed and poetic prose. There's no way not to love him.
Maggie: A Girl of the Streets--5 stars
The Open Boat-- 3 stars
The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky--3 stars
Blue Hotel--4 stars
Stephen Crane is a visceral, brilliant writer who tells plotted, cutting stories with detailed and poetic prose. There's no way not to love him.
jamiereadthis's review against another edition
4.0
“When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples.”
“The Open Boat.” What a fantastic little story.
“The Open Boat.” What a fantastic little story.
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