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ellasm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
marianne_clh's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.5
bluelilyblue's review
Objectively not very good by today's standards and yet there's so much to admire in the novel that may have started the Gothic tradition. It's quite amazing how a genre so straightforward in its aesthetics and so simple in its devices keeps flourishing while breaking its own stereotypes--constantly changing yet so true to itself. I feel like it's hard to talk about Walpole and Otranto without also talking about everything that came after it, and that says it all about its influence--and about the generic consistency (not to be confused with triteness!) of Gothic fiction.
**Re-read for essay-writing purposes and I still find it fascinating that we most likely owe all haunted house stories to this silly little novel(la). 'They start up,' said the friar, 'who are suddenly beheld in the seat of lawful princes, but they wither away like the grass, and their place knows them no more.'
**Re-read for essay-writing purposes and I still find it fascinating that we most likely owe all haunted house stories to this silly little novel(la). 'They start up,' said the friar, 'who are suddenly beheld in the seat of lawful princes, but they wither away like the grass, and their place knows them no more.'
alderblue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
m_e_ruzak's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
hjb_128's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment
songwind's review against another edition
3.0
I don't remember exactly why I downloaded this book. I think it may have had something to do with my reading of The Great God Pan.
Regardless, this is a decent story with a few flaws. It inhabited an uncomfortable in-between length that neither left sufficient room for character development and background, nor was short enough to excuse the lack.
It was interesting to read the original Gothic novel, forebear of Poe.
Regardless, this is a decent story with a few flaws. It inhabited an uncomfortable in-between length that neither left sufficient room for character development and background, nor was short enough to excuse the lack.
It was interesting to read the original Gothic novel, forebear of Poe.
eraofevergreens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5