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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
medium-paced
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is probably my favorite of the Victorian novels I’ve read for this project. It feels a bit more modern in its structure—relating a relatively straightforward story—but retains that Victorian, removed narrator who is always aware of the conceit of the book. For example, Chapter 8 begins, “The eighth chapter is exceedingly brief” (p. 45).
Griffin is also an interesting character who both garners sympathy for his plight and revulsion for his actions. (Also he is at times deeply stupid, which endears him to me.) I particularly enjoyed the slow reveal of his invisibility. One of my favorite moments comes on page 17, “But she saw he had removed his glasses; they were beside him on the table, and it seemed to her that his eye sockets were extraordinarily hollow.” The hints and nods as it builds to that initial reveal are very effective, even if the reader obviously knows what’s coming.
Griffin is also an interesting character who both garners sympathy for his plight and revulsion for his actions. (Also he is at times deeply stupid, which endears him to me.) I particularly enjoyed the slow reveal of his invisibility. One of my favorite moments comes on page 17, “But she saw he had removed his glasses; they were beside him on the table, and it seemed to her that his eye sockets were extraordinarily hollow.” The hints and nods as it builds to that initial reveal are very effective, even if the reader obviously knows what’s coming.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't know if I was expecting a lot from this book, or if it was just really that average. Though written well enough, the storyline was a complete bore. So not what I wanted from my first Wells novel.
Over long , and the man is unpleasant and so we lack sympathy for him and the story suffers a little,great idea however.
The only reason that this isn’t a DNF is the short length of the story. He really just decided to go full murderer on that town.
tense
fast-paced
Enjoy HG Wells. Quite an entertaining albeit sad book. Easy, quick read.
Wells is a brilliant writer of his time. This story descended quickly into the strange like many of Wells' stories and has a hidden layer forcing you to think.