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A review by readingrobin
Sleepy Hollow and Other Short Stories by Washington Irving
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Steeped in rich, lyrical prose, Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" has lasted this long in America's collective consciousness for good reason. Though almost every adaption has taken its own creative liberties, they all stem from this story that oozes autumnal ambiance and oddly seems more playful than spooky in tone. The language can make the story feel a little dense at times, but it ultimately enhances the atmosphere that comes with old storytelling.
The other stories in this collection were definitely worth the read as well. "The Spectre Bridegroom" had its own kind of subtle humor and "Rip Van Winkle" is another standout classic. "Old Christmas" was a story that I somewhat questioned at first, wondering if it truly counted as a story and not just someone's rambling nostalgia of Christmases past, but that ending paragraph managed to justify the whole thing. I had never really read it before and found it so unlike his other stories that hinge upon some kind of underlying moral message, which does make it special in its own way. It's Irving's attempt at escapsim and I have to say, as a festive person, it really did get me in the mood for the season.
The other stories in this collection were definitely worth the read as well. "The Spectre Bridegroom" had its own kind of subtle humor and "Rip Van Winkle" is another standout classic. "Old Christmas" was a story that I somewhat questioned at first, wondering if it truly counted as a story and not just someone's rambling nostalgia of Christmases past, but that ending paragraph managed to justify the whole thing. I had never really read it before and found it so unlike his other stories that hinge upon some kind of underlying moral message, which does make it special in its own way. It's Irving's attempt at escapsim and I have to say, as a festive person, it really did get me in the mood for the season.