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3.11 AVERAGE
3.11 AVERAGE
“A man in the grips of unexplainable passion, or maybe crazy fear?”
—A Personal Matter pg. 36
—A Personal Matter pg. 36
This novel started out with everything I love in a classic nautical tale. Adventure, secrecy, suspense, mutiny, shipwrecks... I was fully captivated and thought Poe did a terrific job up until about halfway through. Throughout the entire cannibalism scene, I just gaped aghast through those pages and thought "Oh, there's some Poe!" I was thinking how reminiscent Moby-Dick it was, up until that point and whew. After that the storylines felt scattered and unintentional, like he wasn't sure where exactly he wanted to go with the story. I kind of lost my captivation and wondered where the charm of the first half went. And then that abrupt end. WHAT. I immediately had to look up more about why he would end this his one novel that way, and that's when I read that is was released as a serial that was discontinued. What a shame. Overall, I enjoyed a lot of it and am glad I finally read this strange little tale.
He is called the master for a reason. Poe's only novel is short, and in the style of the times filled with informative digressions, but still manages to create a miasma of dread and a blinding pace. You will be constantly surprised, and very few of those surprises will leave you confident about venturing into the ocean....
This book is like the earliest Chuck Palahniuk . Total barf!
Okay, I read this book for mostly two reasons: 1) I bought the book Pym by Mat Johnson, and figured I should read the book it is referencing first, and 2) Melville House published it in their novella series and you know I'm a sucker for Melville House.
Of course, in what should probably be embarrassing for someone in love with a publisher who has named themselves after Melville, I can't really stand nautical writing. I mean, there's nothing really wrong with books that take place at sea, but inevitably there are multiple scenes all about rigging the jib sail and something the mizzen deck and I have no reference for any of these things and can't be bothered and it makes me batty. My strategy for this book was basically just to cross my eyes and skim through all those sections, which was pretty okay for getting me the background I need in order to appreciate Pym.
This is a strange book. Of that tradition of adventure books filled with peril after peril and a few unlikely escapes. Rather different from Poe's horror, but there are some bits of dread that do feel more familiar. Then there is the frighteningly racist depiction of the "natives" discovered in the Antarctic region. I am so incredibly curious to see Pym's updated version.
Glad I read it, but not my fave.
Of course, in what should probably be embarrassing for someone in love with a publisher who has named themselves after Melville, I can't really stand nautical writing. I mean, there's nothing really wrong with books that take place at sea, but inevitably there are multiple scenes all about rigging the jib sail and something the mizzen deck and I have no reference for any of these things and can't be bothered and it makes me batty. My strategy for this book was basically just to cross my eyes and skim through all those sections, which was pretty okay for getting me the background I need in order to appreciate Pym.
This is a strange book. Of that tradition of adventure books filled with peril after peril and a few unlikely escapes. Rather different from Poe's horror, but there are some bits of dread that do feel more familiar. Then there is the frighteningly racist depiction of the "natives" discovered in the Antarctic region. I am so incredibly curious to see Pym's updated version.
Glad I read it, but not my fave.
Very creepy book. After reading, you will think of it every time you are at the ocean.
In this book it is easy to see the precursor to H P Lovecraft
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Alcohol
2.5 Stars. I was tempted to round up to 3, but the ending swayed me in the opposite direction.
From modern standards, this story is a stetch. But when you put the book back in it's historical context, it's a classic adventure story. Unlike many Poe stories, there is no supernatural element in this story. It's also interesting because it's the only long work by Poe. Worth the read if you have some spare time.