Reviews

The Story of the Late Mr.Elvesham Illustrated by H.G. Wells

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tcleary98's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

The primary issue with this book is that from the very first page you know exactly what is going to happen - and there is no twist. Even a short story can feel like it’s dragging when you can see the destination and are impatient throughout the journey.

With such a clear set up, I had anticipated a twist. Even in such a short story, there was certainly room to include one. Perhaps the twist was a meta-twist, the lack of resolution, of salvation. There is something bleakly satisfying about dropping someone in a horrifying situation and never letting them out - a trope many horror stories/movies play on (a certain Black Mirror episode comes to mind).

Perhaps at the time this was written, the premise had not been so thoroughly tilled. Perhaps it was new, exciting and even unexpected.

Whilst it was well written, it is difficult to become absorbed in a book that sets out a clear premise at the outset and then walks towards it. No deviations, no hidden insights, not even really a rising sense of tension. For such a short story to work, it must be a very, very short story. An intriguing vignette to muse on at one’s leisure. It may not have made much sense, but if Black Mirror adapted this story, it would at least have ended with a twist!

grievingfortheliving's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

lilzmarg's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

ziemia_do_nany's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

lazyshazy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

gudrqa's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

4.5

The story is short so there isn’t much NOT to like.
I had to subtract some points since it is the Audrey edition and I think the guide part did not do it justice.
SPOILERS BELOW
I think when exploring this book we need to actually ask ourselves first… did it really happen? Did they switch their bodies at all. Or is Mr Elvesham just old and senile. I think it’s even more distressing to think there was no magic, no supernatural and that this might happen to all of us.
Does it matter if it even happened?
And if it happened - how much of us is our body. Our ticks, voice, weird pains, shape of our nails. Is it even possible to be oneself without one’s body?