Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by tcleary98
The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham by H.G. Wells
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
The primary issue with this book is that from the very first page you know exactly what is going to happen - and there is no twist. Even a short story can feel like it’s dragging when you can see the destination and are impatient throughout the journey.
With such a clear set up, I had anticipated a twist. Even in such a short story, there was certainly room to include one. Perhaps the twist was a meta-twist, the lack of resolution, of salvation. There is something bleakly satisfying about dropping someone in a horrifying situation and never letting them out - a trope many horror stories/movies play on (a certain Black Mirror episode comes to mind).
Perhaps at the time this was written, the premise had not been so thoroughly tilled. Perhaps it was new, exciting and even unexpected.
Whilst it was well written, it is difficult to become absorbed in a book that sets out a clear premise at the outset and then walks towards it. No deviations, no hidden insights, not even really a rising sense of tension. For such a short story to work, it must be a very, very short story. An intriguing vignette to muse on at one’s leisure. It may not have made much sense, but if Black Mirror adapted this story, it would at least have ended with a twist!
With such a clear set up, I had anticipated a twist. Even in such a short story, there was certainly room to include one. Perhaps the twist was a meta-twist, the lack of resolution, of salvation. There is something bleakly satisfying about dropping someone in a horrifying situation and never letting them out - a trope many horror stories/movies play on (a certain Black Mirror episode comes to mind).
Perhaps at the time this was written, the premise had not been so thoroughly tilled. Perhaps it was new, exciting and even unexpected.
Whilst it was well written, it is difficult to become absorbed in a book that sets out a clear premise at the outset and then walks towards it. No deviations, no hidden insights, not even really a rising sense of tension. For such a short story to work, it must be a very, very short story. An intriguing vignette to muse on at one’s leisure. It may not have made much sense, but if Black Mirror adapted this story, it would at least have ended with a twist!