the_dave_harmon 's review for:

The Aspern Papers by Henry James

5.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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i was all set on 4 stars until the ending! For someone who wrote in the 19th century Henry James is a very readable author. you can even easily enjoy him on audiobook format. and its not because he was writing for YA or anything like that. there is a richness in his sentences that is a pleasure to read, unlike someone like Faulkner who is anything but a pleasure to read. and he has deep real characters and realistic plots without all the romantic drivel. gasp, i just realized: James is the opposite of Dickens!!! Everything awful that Dickens does, James does the opposite. 
anyways this little novella was excellent. and quite suspenseful. set in Venice. great characters and a great ending. and its based on or inspired by a true story.