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jayalex_8's reviews
103 reviews
informative
reflective
slow-paced
An interesting dive into the analogy of ‘all the world’s a stage..’, but ultimately limited by its publishing era and author’s over assertiveness of his white male american perspective. There are some interesting points about the dramaturgical analysis of social interactions, especially about the roles of performer/s, teams, audiences, and those ‘disruptions’ which constantly seek to tear down these socially constructed roles and arenas of performance.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A fantastic collection of short stories from Leskov, English readers will appreciate his allusions to many classical English works. Whilst ‘Lady Macbeth’ earns the titular story position, all of the other stories contained within were equally enjoyable and many great passages I have dog-eared for my commonplace. A fine writer that I will look to explore further. A collection of translation and other notes at the back, from translator McDuff, are useful and informative.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Rose Tattoo is clearly the standout of this collection of three of Williams’ works, and earns its place as the titular play of the three. Although I didn’t particularly enjoy Serafina, reading her as a manipulative, chaotic and somewhat narcissistic woman, I enjoyed Williams’ motifs and found them to be sufficiently consistent enough to bring to life the home of a once-devout Catholic Sicilian immigrant to the US. I particularly enjoyed the daughter’s ‘Juliet’ debacle!
The Camino Real is really not suited to paper consumption in my opinion, though I imagine the brisk pace and cacophonous atmosphere indicated through Williams’ stage directions play out well in a theatre. I am slightly concerned for the safety of the actor bestowed the role of Kilroy though, who is instructed to leap from a theatre Box and onto the stage!
Orpheus Descending - with its minimal success at the time - does not hold up. In my limited experience of Williams’ works, it reads as a pale first draft, and I found myself unable to stop comparing Lady back to Blanche Dubois, a much more detailed female lead in my memory. I found it hard to believe that Lady could not have discovered the truth of her father’s burning for two decades while living in a gossip-ridden small Southern US town… considering Williams’ own essay, which is included in this edition, in which he states that he had chipped away at some form of Orpheus for near 17 years, I felt severely underwhelmed!
The Camino Real is really not suited to paper consumption in my opinion, though I imagine the brisk pace and cacophonous atmosphere indicated through Williams’ stage directions play out well in a theatre. I am slightly concerned for the safety of the actor bestowed the role of Kilroy though, who is instructed to leap from a theatre Box and onto the stage!
Orpheus Descending - with its minimal success at the time - does not hold up. In my limited experience of Williams’ works, it reads as a pale first draft, and I found myself unable to stop comparing Lady back to Blanche Dubois, a much more detailed female lead in my memory. I found it hard to believe that Lady could not have discovered the truth of her father’s burning for two decades while living in a gossip-ridden small Southern US town… considering Williams’ own essay, which is included in this edition, in which he states that he had chipped away at some form of Orpheus for near 17 years, I felt severely underwhelmed!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Colonisation
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
An interesting and useful overview and delve into some of the interesting aspects of Darwin’s theories of evolution. However, I would note that this VSI was written in the early 2000s, and some of the language used … reflects that era, to say the least. Still, an interesting beginning for anyone looking to learn more about Evolution, Darwin and how we might receive Darwinism today.