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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Bradbury is always like coming home, even when home is is occasionally surprisingly dark.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Falling a little behind on my GR challenge because we have a new puppy. But this collection is easily second place or tied at first with Martian Chronicles as my favorite Bradbury. Some really sweet stories and some really scary ones, RB does it all beautifully.
These were all excellent but I think my favorite was The Man Upstairs. I think you can see a very clear line from these stories to Stephen King’s short stories. If I had read the story The Scythe and not known who the author was, it’s a toss up who of the two I would’ve guessed wrote it. I personally really enjoyed that element.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
"The Dwarf" 4/5 Stars
This collection starts strong with the sad cruelty of humanity on full display.
"The Next in Line" 2.5/5 Stars
I enjoyed the setting more than the story. The ending just kind of happens...
"The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse" 3/5 Stars
A zany, fun story that makes fun of postmodernism.
"Skeleton" 4.5/5 Stars
Definitely a standout of this collection as it examines parts of a whole and the treachery of the body. I think the supernatural section at the end is almost unnecessary, but it’s a nice cap on the horror.
"The Jar" 4.5/5 Stars
Perception is everything, and the truth is nothing. This is way ahead of its time.
"The Lake" 5/5 Stars
The best of the collection really touches at the natural horrors of loss and memory.
"The Emissary" 3/5 Stars
Interesting, but ultimately the ending lets it down.
"Touched With Fire" 3/5 Stars
Another one where the ending lets it down.
"The Small Assassin" 4/5 Stars
Babies are terrifying.
"The Crowd" 3.5/5 Stars
A base Bradbury story that involves taking a common phenomena and applying some conspiratorial thinking.
"Jack-in-the-Box" 2/5 Stars
I wonder in Daron Aronofsky read this story because it feels like a non-supernatural version of mother! in a lot of ways. The kid is being groomed and is the center of the world for his caretaker. It’s the low point of the collection for me.
"The Scythe" 3/5 Stars
A little predictable, but it may be because it’s so copied.
"Uncle Einar" 4/5 Stars
One of two stories in this collection to feature members of the Elliott family, a collection of movie monsters and immortal beings. This story focuses on a character named Uncle Einar, who tries to find a way into the skies after damaging his biological radar.
"The Wind" 3/5 Stars
I was hoping for a little more here. Bradbury manages to make a cool supernatural force, but I think the narrative conceit of a phone call let down some of the dramatic potential.
"The Man Upstairs" 3.5/5 Stars
A nice little horror-mystery from a child’s perspective.
"There Was an Old Woman" 4/5 Stars
A enjoyable little dark comedy.
"The Cistern" 4/5 Stars
A cool little love story!
"Homecoming" 4/5 Stars
The other Elliott family story involves a child’s desires and expectations. The desire to grow up is something that many writers put as a blanket statement, but Bradbury gives his young protagonist an expectation that his family’s pressures need to fulfill.
"The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone" 3/5 Stars
It’s an interesting concept, and I think it’s meant to be encouragment to not only read and write, but to go out and experience life. However, I think it comes off as rather strange in a world that doesn’t really do much of either.
This collection starts strong with the sad cruelty of humanity on full display.
"The Next in Line" 2.5/5 Stars
I enjoyed the setting more than the story. The ending just kind of happens...
"The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse" 3/5 Stars
A zany, fun story that makes fun of postmodernism.
"Skeleton" 4.5/5 Stars
Definitely a standout of this collection as it examines parts of a whole and the treachery of the body. I think the supernatural section at the end is almost unnecessary, but it’s a nice cap on the horror.
"The Jar" 4.5/5 Stars
Perception is everything, and the truth is nothing. This is way ahead of its time.
"The Lake" 5/5 Stars
The best of the collection really touches at the natural horrors of loss and memory.
"The Emissary" 3/5 Stars
Interesting, but ultimately the ending lets it down.
"Touched With Fire" 3/5 Stars
Another one where the ending lets it down.
"The Small Assassin" 4/5 Stars
Babies are terrifying.
"The Crowd" 3.5/5 Stars
A base Bradbury story that involves taking a common phenomena and applying some conspiratorial thinking.
"Jack-in-the-Box" 2/5 Stars
I wonder in Daron Aronofsky read this story because it feels like a non-supernatural version of mother! in a lot of ways. The kid is being groomed and is the center of the world for his caretaker. It’s the low point of the collection for me.
"The Scythe" 3/5 Stars
A little predictable, but it may be because it’s so copied.
"Uncle Einar" 4/5 Stars
One of two stories in this collection to feature members of the Elliott family, a collection of movie monsters and immortal beings. This story focuses on a character named Uncle Einar, who tries to find a way into the skies after damaging his biological radar.
"The Wind" 3/5 Stars
I was hoping for a little more here. Bradbury manages to make a cool supernatural force, but I think the narrative conceit of a phone call let down some of the dramatic potential.
"The Man Upstairs" 3.5/5 Stars
A nice little horror-mystery from a child’s perspective.
"There Was an Old Woman" 4/5 Stars
A enjoyable little dark comedy.
"The Cistern" 4/5 Stars
A cool little love story!
"Homecoming" 4/5 Stars
The other Elliott family story involves a child’s desires and expectations. The desire to grow up is something that many writers put as a blanket statement, but Bradbury gives his young protagonist an expectation that his family’s pressures need to fulfill.
"The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone" 3/5 Stars
It’s an interesting concept, and I think it’s meant to be encouragment to not only read and write, but to go out and experience life. However, I think it comes off as rather strange in a world that doesn’t really do much of either.
All in all I enjoyed this collection. Some stories didn't hit the mark with me though. I ended up giving it four stars because the illustrations that are in here pushed the book to a different level.
"The Dwarf" (3 stars)- I liked it okay, but was actually disappointed in the ending. I thought Bradbury was going one way with the story and it kind of fizzled for me.
"The Next in Line" (5 stars)- Loved it from beginning to end. This story of a married couple visiting a small town and the terror the wife starts to feel as she realizes how morbid the whole town is was creepy. The ending was messed up too, and I ended up hating he husband.
"The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse" (1 star). This was weird and not engaging at all. I read it twice and shrugged. It didn't really fit the mood of the rest of the stories.
"Skeleton" (3.5 stars)- I am still curious about the doctor. I won't say much more because I don't want to spoil other readers. I thought this was OK, but it didn't blow me away as much as "Next in Line" and some of the other stories I really enjoyed.
"The Jar" (3.5 stars)- Good story about the power of imagination as well as past regrets. The ending was a bit gross because I realized what was in the jar.
"The Lake" (2.5 stars)- I really didn't enjoy this one. I think because I had so many questions about how a body could be found 10 years later in water and be intact at all.
"The Emissary" (5 stars)- What a sad and lonely story about a boy and his dog. The ending actually gave me shivers. This story takes place on Halloween and also November (autumn) in case anyone is still looking for stories to read for the bingo.
"Touched With Fire" (2.5 stars)- Eh. Not really into this one at all. There was way too much going on with this story and saying that murder happens at a certain heat could have been done better.
"The Small Assassin" (5 stars)- This one was so good. I wish it had been longer. The ending was creepy as anything.
"The Crowd" (2 stars)- Okay but once again I wasn't blown away by it. There always seemed to be a really awesome story and then an okay story in between.
"Jack-in-the-Box" (4 stars)- What a sad story and the reveal of what was going on really definitely made me think what could have been if Bradbury decided to keep certain people alive.
"The Scythe" (4 stars)- I loved this one. What a wonderful idea and enjoyable plot and conclusion. Not my favorite, but almost just because I thought the ending left too many questions though.
"Uncle Einar" (5 stars)- Not horror really, this was actually a very sweet love story I thought. And the ending was happy. I'm still surprised it ended up in this collection.
"The Wind" (3 stars)- Eh. Okay, not great. There was too much suspension of disbelief for me to get past. I can't imagine wind coming to life to stalk someone.
"The Man Upstairs" (4 stars)- Creepy. I think I'm going to be scared of small children for a while.
"There Was an Old Woman" (3 stars)- okay, I just found it borng after a while and rushed read this to get past it.
"The Cistern" (3 stars)- Yeah I was still bored reading this one too. Not that engaging.
"Homecoming" (4 stars)-Taking place before, on, and after Halloween you get to see a family preparing for a special reunion.
"The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone" (3.5 stars)- I was so confused while reading this and the story was a lot of talking with me wondering what the heck was going on.
I read enjoyed the illustrations in this one and included one in my Booklikes post. Too bad I can't upload via Goodreads.
"The Dwarf" (3 stars)- I liked it okay, but was actually disappointed in the ending. I thought Bradbury was going one way with the story and it kind of fizzled for me.
"The Next in Line" (5 stars)- Loved it from beginning to end. This story of a married couple visiting a small town and the terror the wife starts to feel as she realizes how morbid the whole town is was creepy. The ending was messed up too, and I ended up hating he husband.
"The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse" (1 star). This was weird and not engaging at all. I read it twice and shrugged. It didn't really fit the mood of the rest of the stories.
"Skeleton" (3.5 stars)- I am still curious about the doctor. I won't say much more because I don't want to spoil other readers. I thought this was OK, but it didn't blow me away as much as "Next in Line" and some of the other stories I really enjoyed.
"The Jar" (3.5 stars)- Good story about the power of imagination as well as past regrets. The ending was a bit gross because I realized what was in the jar.
"The Lake" (2.5 stars)- I really didn't enjoy this one. I think because I had so many questions about how a body could be found 10 years later in water and be intact at all.
"The Emissary" (5 stars)- What a sad and lonely story about a boy and his dog. The ending actually gave me shivers. This story takes place on Halloween and also November (autumn) in case anyone is still looking for stories to read for the bingo.
"Touched With Fire" (2.5 stars)- Eh. Not really into this one at all. There was way too much going on with this story and saying that murder happens at a certain heat could have been done better.
"The Small Assassin" (5 stars)- This one was so good. I wish it had been longer. The ending was creepy as anything.
"The Crowd" (2 stars)- Okay but once again I wasn't blown away by it. There always seemed to be a really awesome story and then an okay story in between.
"Jack-in-the-Box" (4 stars)- What a sad story and the reveal of what was going on really definitely made me think what could have been if Bradbury decided to keep certain people alive.
"The Scythe" (4 stars)- I loved this one. What a wonderful idea and enjoyable plot and conclusion. Not my favorite, but almost just because I thought the ending left too many questions though.
"Uncle Einar" (5 stars)- Not horror really, this was actually a very sweet love story I thought. And the ending was happy. I'm still surprised it ended up in this collection.
"The Wind" (3 stars)- Eh. Okay, not great. There was too much suspension of disbelief for me to get past. I can't imagine wind coming to life to stalk someone.
"The Man Upstairs" (4 stars)- Creepy. I think I'm going to be scared of small children for a while.
"There Was an Old Woman" (3 stars)- okay, I just found it borng after a while and rushed read this to get past it.
"The Cistern" (3 stars)- Yeah I was still bored reading this one too. Not that engaging.
"Homecoming" (4 stars)-Taking place before, on, and after Halloween you get to see a family preparing for a special reunion.
"The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone" (3.5 stars)- I was so confused while reading this and the story was a lot of talking with me wondering what the heck was going on.
I read enjoyed the illustrations in this one and included one in my Booklikes post. Too bad I can't upload via Goodreads.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A