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A review by smallbutfiery
His Hideous Heart by Dahlia Adler
2.0
I used this book to first read the original tales in the back portion of the book. Then I planned to read the retellings. I got through the whole first tale. And then I skimmed a few of the other ones.
Just read the originals! The reimagined tales are watered down ideas without the depth or lyrical genius of Poe.
I appreciate the idea of this book! I just don’t think it turned out well. My favorite part of this book beside the original tales and poems is the introduction! Adler described perfectly how I feel about Poe’s writing.
“He turned my skin cold and damp while I read about the catacombs in “The Cask of Amontillado” and slowly crumbled my heart with “Annabel Lee.” He set my entire body on edge through “The Tell-Tale Heart” and stole my breath with “The Pit and the Pendulum.” He made me mourn for women I’d never met and cheer for retribution I didn’t even completely understand, and all I knew was that he was the first person I’d been assigned to read who made me marvel at what an author could do, where an author could place you, what he could make you physically feel.”
Just read the originals! The reimagined tales are watered down ideas without the depth or lyrical genius of Poe.
I appreciate the idea of this book! I just don’t think it turned out well. My favorite part of this book beside the original tales and poems is the introduction! Adler described perfectly how I feel about Poe’s writing.
“He turned my skin cold and damp while I read about the catacombs in “The Cask of Amontillado” and slowly crumbled my heart with “Annabel Lee.” He set my entire body on edge through “The Tell-Tale Heart” and stole my breath with “The Pit and the Pendulum.” He made me mourn for women I’d never met and cheer for retribution I didn’t even completely understand, and all I knew was that he was the first person I’d been assigned to read who made me marvel at what an author could do, where an author could place you, what he could make you physically feel.”