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mirtlifthewise's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lewismillholland's review
2.0
As much as I want to love the work of a journalist-turned-author, I couldn't fall in love with this book. Its embrace of impressionism gives us the story only through Fleming's eyes and Fleming's mind, and god does he have annoying eyes and mind. It's a series of rationalizations and self-inflations that don't go anywhere. Maybe it was exciting to readers in 1900? For me, at least, I couldn't get into it. Only read about 80% of the main story, the Red Badge of Courage.
The selected works of fiction in the back were almost uniformly duds as well, except for the one about the boat in the open sea. There are four men adrift in the ocean -- a cook, the captain, the oiler and the correspondent (a thin veil for Crane himself) -- and so much of the story's focus is on dialogue and actions. There's little room for existential ennui and inner turmoil when death is so close at hand. It's for that story alone that I'm giving this book two stars instead of one.
One last thought. There's a pretty widespread critique of Crane's depiction of the Civil War without having served himself (he was too young). But I'm not sure why that's a problem? Assuming he read contemporary texts and spoke with a veteran or two, I don't see why he isn't entitled to write about the topic. Unless there's more that I'm missing?
The selected works of fiction in the back were almost uniformly duds as well, except for the one about the boat in the open sea. There are four men adrift in the ocean -- a cook, the captain, the oiler and the correspondent (a thin veil for Crane himself) -- and so much of the story's focus is on dialogue and actions. There's little room for existential ennui and inner turmoil when death is so close at hand. It's for that story alone that I'm giving this book two stars instead of one.
One last thought. There's a pretty widespread critique of Crane's depiction of the Civil War without having served himself (he was too young). But I'm not sure why that's a problem? Assuming he read contemporary texts and spoke with a veteran or two, I don't see why he isn't entitled to write about the topic. Unless there's more that I'm missing?
faiththompson416's review
1.0
Normally I reserve one star ratings for books I DNF'd.
This, being a school book, is an exception. However, I cannot tell you how much I hated it.
The writing style is atrocious. I have never seen such overuse of the past participle in all my life. Everything was "were hanging, was running, was looking, was talking." EVERYTHING. It got so old so fast. The similes are awful (I found only one that made me say "Wow, that's a good simile!") and the rest of it...ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
The one thing that made this book at all enjoyable was the young lieutenant. All he did was swear (the words weren't written out) but he was hilarious and stupid while still being brave on the battlefield.
But that guy isn't enough to take this book up to two stars for me. No, my biggest problem is with the protagonist and the representation.
Henry Fleming, our "hero," is the most irritating jerk of a protagonist I have ever read. I have never in my life wished that an MC would die more. I still can't believe he came through the book completely unscathed. He lied, he mistreated his mother, he didn't care about his fellows, he ran away from the fight, he let himself get hit over the head by one of his OWN men and told his regiment he was valiantly shot by a rebel, he schemes to use a package given to him by his friend (who trusts him and likes him) as leverage AGAINST said friend, despite the fact that this friend is one of the only likeable characters in the book. And then about halfway through he has a sudden change in heart and suddenly thinks of himself as a hero. He leads the charges. He carries the colors. He holds his regiment. AND I DON'T GET IT!
This doesn't even start to deal with how problematic this soldier representation is. Stephen Crane, when I looked it up, was out to write a "psychological picture of fear", but he went overboard. So, so overboard. The soldiers in this book are cowards and fearful, running away when it gets to be too hard and so often refusing to fight. They make fun of each other. They stab each other in the back. And sure, maybe some soldiers are like that, but I've seen enough Civil War movies and read enough books about it (as well as any other war, come on) to know that soldiers are more often than not heroes. They're not perfect, they're not superhuman, but they're selfless and brave. And this book made me angry because it portrayed the entire Union army as a bunch of useless, cowardly idiots.
I don't recommend this book to anyone. I'm not really sure why it became a classic. But oh well. Now I've read it, and hopefully I never have to think about it again.
This, being a school book, is an exception. However, I cannot tell you how much I hated it.
The writing style is atrocious. I have never seen such overuse of the past participle in all my life. Everything was "were hanging, was running, was looking, was talking." EVERYTHING. It got so old so fast. The similes are awful (I found only one that made me say "Wow, that's a good simile!") and the rest of it...ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
The one thing that made this book at all enjoyable was the young lieutenant. All he did was swear (the words weren't written out) but he was hilarious and stupid while still being brave on the battlefield.
But that guy isn't enough to take this book up to two stars for me. No, my biggest problem is with the protagonist and the representation.
Henry Fleming, our "hero," is the most irritating jerk of a protagonist I have ever read. I have never in my life wished that an MC would die more. I still can't believe he came through the book completely unscathed. He lied, he mistreated his mother, he didn't care about his fellows, he ran away from the fight, he let himself get hit over the head by one of his OWN men and told his regiment he was valiantly shot by a rebel, he schemes to use a package given to him by his friend (who trusts him and likes him) as leverage AGAINST said friend, despite the fact that this friend is one of the only likeable characters in the book. And then about halfway through he has a sudden change in heart and suddenly thinks of himself as a hero. He leads the charges. He carries the colors. He holds his regiment. AND I DON'T GET IT!
This doesn't even start to deal with how problematic this soldier representation is. Stephen Crane, when I looked it up, was out to write a "psychological picture of fear", but he went overboard. So, so overboard. The soldiers in this book are cowards and fearful, running away when it gets to be too hard and so often refusing to fight. They make fun of each other. They stab each other in the back. And sure, maybe some soldiers are like that, but I've seen enough Civil War movies and read enough books about it (as well as any other war, come on) to know that soldiers are more often than not heroes. They're not perfect, they're not superhuman, but they're selfless and brave. And this book made me angry because it portrayed the entire Union army as a bunch of useless, cowardly idiots.
I don't recommend this book to anyone. I'm not really sure why it became a classic. But oh well. Now I've read it, and hopefully I never have to think about it again.
salbulga's review
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mightync's review
4.0
Though a work of fiction it seemed very realistic. It's quite impressive that someone who has never seen combat would be able to capture the sentiments of the soldier so well. Stephen Crane's writing style is unique and authentic, conjuring battlefield images along with the combatant's inner voice to create a truly, one-of-a-kind work of art. The selected short fiction were a treat as well.
vaderbird's review
2.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
lisagoes007's review
2.0
I read this in high school without much instruction, I might have appreciated it with discussion. The sentences are long winded and the description of the surroundings distracted me from the story line. It might have been interesting, but the incredibly thorough details kept me from enjoying it.
bekkabergamot's review
4.0
Surprise, surprise... I disagree with what the masses have told me about this book. Although, I don't actually know too many of my peers who have read this (it seems the schools near me skipped this classic), the adults I've known have always told me that this was very "DRY" book, hence making it not high on my priority list. I've read Stephen Crane's poetry for many years now and never understood how someone could write such beautiful, bittersweet poetry but boring, dry historical novels. Well, the answer is that his book was not boring or dry. "The Red Badge of Courage" is a short novel, perhaps a novella, brimming with poetic prose and haunting effigies of men at war. It follows the main character of Henry Fleming as the youth experiences the many shifting psychological developments of one at war. It was shocking for me that Stephen Crane published this book when he was 24 years old and especially that he had no experience of war, the military, or anything which could substantiate the very powerful depiction of war and human psychology which this book delivers. Although, I admit to finding many war stories a bit dry at times (because battle movements and war stories are not of interest to me) I feel compelled to share that I found the writing beautiful and devastating. I think overall, this is a war story I would recommend to others; and I will add that it is more than a war story, it is also a coming of age story as well (for both the protagonist and the country).