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A review by mariebrunelm
Mosses from an Old Manse by Nathaniel Hawthorne
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is a collection of stories, most of them fantastical, with a few verging on philosophy or comedy. I was recommended it so long ago, I can't remember the person or the reason they directed me toward it, but I was glad to discover in the contents the short story "Rapaccini's Daughter", which I was intrigued by.
The first fantastical stories deal heavily with the theme of beauty in Gothic atmospheres. Despite the fact that they often feature women dying, which made me want to roll my eyes, I did appreciate the unique concepts that united them. It had been a long time since I'd read 19th-century literature so I needed a few dozen pages to get the rhythm of the sentences, but after that I was fine. A couple of stories went far above my head because they required knowledge of works I was not familiar with, but most of them were completely accessible and enjoyable. My favourite was one featuring an old witch and her scarecrow, which I'm ready to bet inspired Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle. If you're ready to overlook 19th-centuries outdated values, I'd recommend this collection as a fine example of fantastical short stories.
The first fantastical stories deal heavily with the theme of beauty in Gothic atmospheres. Despite the fact that they often feature women dying, which made me want to roll my eyes, I did appreciate the unique concepts that united them. It had been a long time since I'd read 19th-century literature so I needed a few dozen pages to get the rhythm of the sentences, but after that I was fine. A couple of stories went far above my head because they required knowledge of works I was not familiar with, but most of them were completely accessible and enjoyable. My favourite was one featuring an old witch and her scarecrow, which I'm ready to bet inspired Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle. If you're ready to overlook 19th-centuries outdated values, I'd recommend this collection as a fine example of fantastical short stories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Racism, Sexism