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alanffm's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of stories mostly from Melville's The Piazza Tales explores a range of vivid worlds and motifs that are as exotic as they are moving. The theme of law and justice runs through most of these stories and is highlighted in two of my favorite ones Billy Bud, Sailor and Bartleby. There is something profound about Melville's approach to storytelling - his use of mythology and ability to capture the moral conundrums of his characters' actions is superb. My main criticism is with the selection of stories chosen for this anthology. Why exactly were only some stories selected from The Piazza Tales while others are not? I can't seem to find a common theme between everything (even the theme of law is absent in one of the selected stories). Overall a great read, but be warned, there are definitely boring stretches in some parts of the book. Great read for those interested in law, exploration, life at sea, ethics, and philosophy.
smiths2112's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
spjuver's review
2.0
Enjoyed Bartleby The Scrivner, The Piazza and Billy Budd. Had a hard time getting into the other stories.
jessicaw's review
If you're looking for a book to put you to sleep, this one might be up your alley. I normally love the classics, but this one just did not hold my interest for very long...which, since they're short(er) stories, I thought I'd be okay.
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