Reviews

From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury

katemarieslibrary's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

rayn0n's review against another edition

4.0

Delightful and Addams Family/Haunted Mansion-esque.

daniem's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

rogue_runner's review against another edition

4.0

This was good! A little purple prosey, particularly at the beginning, but really enjoyed it, particularly as a spooky Christmas treat. I really enjoyed how Bradbury obviously was working with the same ideas as Richard Addams of the Addams Family, but took it his own direction. Super fun!

lairedae's review against another edition

5.0

I am in love, absolutely in love with Bradbury's brand of paranormal, offbeat and odd stories. This entire novel focuses on the Elliot family - 55 years of love and infrequent labour apparently based in some parts on Bradbury's own family gatherings. It is, essentially, a collection of short stories that tell a longer story. Favourites for me are "West of October" and "On the Orient North" but I found the rest of the book to be delightfully crafted. Recommended if you're a fan of Bradbury's short stories and prose.

ril_amber's review against another edition

2.0

I think at this point I'll just stop trying to enjoy Bradbury's writing.

The book is short, but still it's longer than it needed to be, with overabundant over the top descriptions and not enough sense. Believe me, I'm all for poetic and metaphor-rich prose, but when Catherynne M. Valente does it, it's delightful, and Ray Bradbury's style is just annoying to me.
I did not like that every description of women mentions their breaths, including young girls and 4000 year old mummies, I actually hated mind-raping Cecy, I didn't care for Timothy, and the only reason this is not a one star review is Uncle Einar.

So, in conclusion, if you want a story about a human child being raised by the assorted undead, read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, if you're looking for beings created and sustained by human belief, take American Gods, and if you want something fun with a delightfully morbid gothic family, by god, go watch The Addams Family.

innae's review against another edition

3.0

Reading Bradbury is often like reading poetry - his word choice is just so beautiful. This is the story of The Family, and I enjoyed it; although sometimes it felt like it was hard to read - again with the poetry issue. Like reading The Odyssey.

knicke's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Fun read, very magical — I found the language a bit difficult to get around and that made it a slow read for me. That being said it has everything I want in a Halloween story and it’s probably my favourite Bradbury (next to The October Country).

una_10bananas's review against another edition

dark lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I love this book and all things Bradbury, but especially Uncle Einar

juliebrochmann's review

4.0

okay...forstår Bradbury-hypen nu. Den her er som the Addams family, men hvis Strunge havde skrevet den ca. samme tid som Livets Hastighed.