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sunnybopeep's review against another edition
3.5
Ummmmm, i don’t think ETA Hoffman is for everybody, because his stories literally made me feel more insane than anything else I have ever read. I’m not sure if that is normal, but I’m convinced that this man was actually batshit CRAZY like looney house crazy.
I really enjoyed The Golden Pot, and The Sandman was really great too with its twist at the end. Granted, it did start dragging a bit toward the middle. The last two stories were very long and rambling, and it kind of gets to the point where four of Hoffman’s stories in a row is TOO MUCH. You can really tell that he writes about the same general thing, has all of the same general characters in each of his stories, and he loves putting stories within stories that make you lose your mind. They are very whimsical and fairytale-esque, but they also feel like they’re squeezing ur melon.
So I kinda don’t recommend reading more than one or two of his stories very sparsely.
I really enjoyed The Golden Pot, and The Sandman was really great too with its twist at the end. Granted, it did start dragging a bit toward the middle. The last two stories were very long and rambling, and it kind of gets to the point where four of Hoffman’s stories in a row is TOO MUCH. You can really tell that he writes about the same general thing, has all of the same general characters in each of his stories, and he loves putting stories within stories that make you lose your mind. They are very whimsical and fairytale-esque, but they also feel like they’re squeezing ur melon.
So I kinda don’t recommend reading more than one or two of his stories very sparsely.
Content Warnings
Master Flea :(
avinsh10's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of tales focuses on protagonists being romantics(AKA dreamers), who spend most of their time dreaming rather than living. The moral of the stories are very similar to Oxford World Classic's "Gentle Creature and Other Stories from Dostoevsky". The only difference is more fantastically elements and less psychology.
1. The Golden Pot - 4 Stars
Hoffman creates an engrossing fairy tale that relies on imaginative storytelling.
2. Sandman - 5 Stars
This one reminded me of Hitchcock's Vertigo. The protagonist's obsession over "The Sandman" myth develops a deep innate fear in him that grows into a full-fledged trauma as he grows up. The power of an idea once implanted can consume one's rationality and eventually leads to catastrophe.
3. Princess Brambilla - 2 Stars
Chaotic and uneven. Another story that highlights the risks of living within a dream.
4. Master Flea - 4 Stars
Excellent and engaging story about understanding what love is rather than fantasizing about it.
5. My Cousin's Corner Window - 4 Stars
I agree with other reviewers this story does seem out of place with this collection. Reading the author's chronology gave me a new insight into this story. It was written during his final days when he was bedridden. Hoffmann's swan song is a colorful expression of the various facets within the human condition.
Regards,
Vinay
1. The Golden Pot - 4 Stars
Hoffman creates an engrossing fairy tale that relies on imaginative storytelling.
2. Sandman - 5 Stars
This one reminded me of Hitchcock's Vertigo. The protagonist's obsession over "The Sandman" myth develops a deep innate fear in him that grows into a full-fledged trauma as he grows up. The power of an idea once implanted can consume one's rationality and eventually leads to catastrophe.
3. Princess Brambilla - 2 Stars
Chaotic and uneven. Another story that highlights the risks of living within a dream.
4. Master Flea - 4 Stars
Excellent and engaging story about understanding what love is rather than fantasizing about it.
5. My Cousin's Corner Window - 4 Stars
I agree with other reviewers this story does seem out of place with this collection. Reading the author's chronology gave me a new insight into this story. It was written during his final days when he was bedridden. Hoffmann's swan song is a colorful expression of the various facets within the human condition.
Regards,
Vinay
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