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A review by maryehavens
Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Robert Maturin
2.0
I don’t know if it was listening to this stories within a story that was super-confusing (because it was), the beating over the head with the religious stuff (it was written by an Irish priest), or the fact that this is a forerunner to the Gothic and I was expecting some creepy castles and a linear plot (I was) but I found myself wanting something much more digestible. Sometimes you just need that.
If I stumble upon this again, I might give it a shot. Sometimes I abandon books because of the book and sometimes it’s because of me. This one is because of me. It’s not great but it’s not terrible.
Update: after reading most of The Monk, another foray into the beginnings of Gothic literature, I realize I will never go back to Melmoth unless I'm forced to. It was too difficult for me to digest and The Monk, although possible considered of less quality in literary circles, is easy enough for me to follow and actually want to read. And that makes all the difference :)
If I stumble upon this again, I might give it a shot. Sometimes I abandon books because of the book and sometimes it’s because of me. This one is because of me. It’s not great but it’s not terrible.
Update: after reading most of The Monk, another foray into the beginnings of Gothic literature, I realize I will never go back to Melmoth unless I'm forced to. It was too difficult for me to digest and The Monk, although possible considered of less quality in literary circles, is easy enough for me to follow and actually want to read. And that makes all the difference :)