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A review by lit_laugh_luv
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
5.0
Like most readers, I was familiar with the premise of this but I'd never actually read it in full - and wow, I'm very surprised at how much I enjoyed this! It is a masterclass in suspense and foreshadowing, and even knowing the "twist", I enjoyed how it was revealed. Mr. Utterson's role as an amateur detective is propulsive and the explicit timeline helps add a necessary chronology to the events.
The themes in this have held up quite well over time - the physical manifestation of desire, transformation as a form of escapism, and the human fascination with the supernatural are all well explored in Dr. Jekyll's reflections. Even the most minute of details feel intentionally crafted which gives a lot of weight to every sentence in an otherwise short read. For example, the small and interconnected cast helps reinforce the theme of reputation and duality as we see their contrasting opinions on Mr. Hyde himself.
Overall, this has strong writing and even stronger storytelling. It's a classic most readers are aware of, but I enjoyed what a quick and accessible read it was. I definitely was expecting this to land closer to 3 or 4 stars, but I really don't have anything negative to say about this one!
The themes in this have held up quite well over time - the physical manifestation of desire, transformation as a form of escapism, and the human fascination with the supernatural are all well explored in Dr. Jekyll's reflections. Even the most minute of details feel intentionally crafted which gives a lot of weight to every sentence in an otherwise short read. For example, the small and interconnected cast helps reinforce the theme of reputation and duality as we see their contrasting opinions on Mr. Hyde himself.
Overall, this has strong writing and even stronger storytelling. It's a classic most readers are aware of, but I enjoyed what a quick and accessible read it was. I definitely was expecting this to land closer to 3 or 4 stars, but I really don't have anything negative to say about this one!