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avnaerrdy's review against another edition
3.0
I just am not well versed enough in history and philosophy to really be able to appreciate most of the points made... But the bits I did get I tended to enjoy
barney_hay's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
2.5
I’m sure for very well read people this would be much funnier. I found some bits amusing, however for the most part just a bit of a slog.
atrollreads's review against another edition
It is incredibly dry and boring. It might be my state of mind though so I may give it another shot later.
a_lex_reads's review against another edition
3.0
"I'll play the part of a whetstone, which sharpens iron, but is itself unable to cut" - Horace. A sharp and twisty piece of writing, funny in its bleakness, worry, and Victorian morals. I think it draws a good observation of humanity's continuing fascination with the disturbing and how in our desire to understand it, we can end up deifying it.
mt0698's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
Graphic: Death and Animal death
snakeling's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.25
Once you get past the (deliberately?) pompous, flowery style, this book is hilarious.
Moderate: Murder
mrwcc's review against another edition
5.0
Quite splendid and unique. There was a wonderful Chestertonesque humour present.
sssummer's review against another edition
4.0
This was cute! And pretty fun. It's definitely good satire and is honestly more relevant than ever considering shows nowadays like Hannibal or My Favourite Murder.
I liked most of the references to philosophers and how they twisted their words/morality, (for an example, the famous Kant maxim of honesty that stipulates if a murder asks you where someone is you must answer honestly and point them in the right direction. The society in this piece argues they are even so moral as to go a step further and help apprehend the target.)
My deduction of a star is perhaps a bit unfair, but I did find as a subjective experience a lot of references and some of the language went over my head. A lot of the jokes I didn't get is probably because I'm missing historical context. I would love for someone to make a modern version of this piece.
I liked most of the references to philosophers and how they twisted their words/morality, (for an example, the famous Kant maxim of honesty that stipulates if a murder asks you where someone is you must answer honestly and point them in the right direction. The society in this piece argues they are even so moral as to go a step further and help apprehend the target.)
My deduction of a star is perhaps a bit unfair, but I did find as a subjective experience a lot of references and some of the language went over my head. A lot of the jokes I didn't get is probably because I'm missing historical context. I would love for someone to make a modern version of this piece.