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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
dark
fast-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
3.5 stars
I enjoyed about half of the stories in this collection. The others were fine, with only a few that I disliked.
The stories cover a variety of themes : automn, the carnival, death, mental health. There were a few creepy ones that gave me vibes of Pet Semetary and Rosemary's Baby. I imagine the authors of those works might have been inspired by Bradbury.
Here are my favorites :
The Dwarf
The Emissary
The Small Assassin
Touched With Fire
Jack-in-the-Box
The Scythe
The Man Upstairs
There Was an Old Woman
I enjoyed about half of the stories in this collection. The others were fine, with only a few that I disliked.
The stories cover a variety of themes : automn, the carnival, death, mental health. There were a few creepy ones that gave me vibes of Pet Semetary and Rosemary's Baby. I imagine the authors of those works might have been inspired by Bradbury.
Here are my favorites :
The Dwarf
The Emissary
The Small Assassin
Touched With Fire
Jack-in-the-Box
The Scythe
The Man Upstairs
There Was an Old Woman
Bookopoly 2022. - Disability
Buddy Readathon s Anom - 2
2,5
Nije mi odgovarala ova knjiga. Deprimirala me je i kad sam ju ostavila, teško bi mi ju bilo nastaviti čitati. Atmosfera je mračna, katkad morbidna. Likovi su većinom na ovaj ili onaj način čudaci. Neke od priča su mi bolesne (Budni pokerski žeton H. Matissea, Kostur), neke baš tužne (Kepec, Emisar). Bilo ih je i par zabavnih (Putnik, Stric Einar, Prekrasna smrt Dudleya Stonea), ali većinom su me uzrujale (Kosa, Teglica, Vjetar) ili su mi jednostavno bile nezanimljive (Oprljeni ognjem, Bila jednom jedna starica, Obiteljsko prelo).
Buddy Readathon s Anom - 2
2,5
Nije mi odgovarala ova knjiga. Deprimirala me je i kad sam ju ostavila, teško bi mi ju bilo nastaviti čitati. Atmosfera je mračna, katkad morbidna. Likovi su većinom na ovaj ili onaj način čudaci. Neke od priča su mi bolesne (Budni pokerski žeton H. Matissea, Kostur), neke baš tužne (Kepec, Emisar). Bilo ih je i par zabavnih (Putnik, Stric Einar, Prekrasna smrt Dudleya Stonea), ali većinom su me uzrujale (Kosa, Teglica, Vjetar) ili su mi jednostavno bile nezanimljive (Oprljeni ognjem, Bila jednom jedna starica, Obiteljsko prelo).
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Some really good stories in this and beautifully written. Some amazing quotes and stories that stick with you. Not sure if I really enjoy short story collections but this one is a great one.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ah Bradbury, you brilliant man! Some of these stories I’d read in other collections, but the majority were new and exciting. Bradbury was ahead of his time in his approach to writing about societal expectations and standards, human behavior, and the potential dark (and light) that accompanies each person internally.
He captures childhood, life, mystery, fear, shock, and awe in each collection. I don’t think reading this book a second time you would take away the same lessons: it feels like something that will be new read each time. ❤️
He captures childhood, life, mystery, fear, shock, and awe in each collection. I don’t think reading this book a second time you would take away the same lessons: it feels like something that will be new read each time. ❤️
A collection of more-or-less spooky stories. I've seen this categorized as horror, but I don't think it ever quite gets as far as that. "Spooky" is about the right word - the scarier of them have the vibe of a campfire story, aiming to good-naturedly give you a shiver and then pass the marshmallows, more than keep you up at night.
Most of the stories are capable and rewarding, but for the most part lack the pyrotechnics of The Illustrated Man. The standouts are "The Scythe" and "The Small Assassin", with an honorable mention to "The Emissary" thanks to a banger of an ending.
Individual story ratings:
The Dwarf 3.5
The Next in Line 2.5
The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse 3
Skeleton 3
The Jar 2.5
The Lake 3
The Emissary 5
Touched with fire 3
The Small Assassin 5
The Crowd 2.5
Jack-in-the-Box 3
The Scythe 5
Uncle Einar 3
The Wind 3.5
The Man Upstairs 4
There Was An Old Woman 3
The Cistern 2.5
Homecoming 3
The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone 4
Most of the stories are capable and rewarding, but for the most part lack the pyrotechnics of The Illustrated Man. The standouts are "The Scythe" and "The Small Assassin", with an honorable mention to "The Emissary" thanks to a banger of an ending.
Individual story ratings:
The Dwarf 3.5
The Next in Line 2.5
The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse 3
Skeleton 3
The Jar 2.5
The Lake 3
The Emissary 5
Touched with fire 3
The Small Assassin 5
The Crowd 2.5
Jack-in-the-Box 3
The Scythe 5
Uncle Einar 3
The Wind 3.5
The Man Upstairs 4
There Was An Old Woman 3
The Cistern 2.5
Homecoming 3
The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone 4
This short story collection is my first Ray Bradbury - and definitely won't be my last. Most of the short stories have something wicked and sinister. Nevertheless, I think it is a perfect mix of the fantastic and the macabre. It was so much fun to read these stories by myself, while listening to some Halloween ASMR on YouTube. I felt like a child again - reading under the blanket with a torchlight. I had really a good time with this book - especially, when I watched the TV series- adaptation of some of the short stories (really "Tales of the Crypt" / "The Twilight Zone" - Style).
My favorite stories (5⭐) were: Skeleton, The Jar, The Small Assassine, The Wind, The Scythe, Jack-in-the-box, The Lake, and There Was An Old Woman.
My favorite stories (5⭐) were: Skeleton, The Jar, The Small Assassine, The Wind, The Scythe, Jack-in-the-box, The Lake, and There Was An Old Woman.