Sunday, September 09, 2007
Rating : 2.5/5
Reason for Reading : Classics Challenge, RIP Challenge, So Many Books So Little Time Challenge, Guardian Greatest Books Challenge
A collection of 73 tales and 52 poems spanning the writing career of Edgar Allan Poe. He is best known for his poem "The Raven" and tale of "The Tell-Take Heart". A favourite among gothic horror fans, I was really looking forward to reading this complete collection.
Sadly I was quite let down. There was a lot of gothic horror tales, but there were a lot of random tales as well. The ones I really enjoyed were:
A collection of 73 tales and 52 poems spanning the writing career of Edgar Allan Poe. He is best known for his poem "The Raven" and tale of "The Tell-Take Heart". A favourite among gothic horror fans, I was really looking forward to reading this complete collection.
Sadly I was quite let down. There was a lot of gothic horror tales, but there were a lot of random tales as well. The ones I really enjoyed were:
- The Unparalled Adventures of one Hans Pfaal (non-horror)
- The Gold Bug
- The Murders in the Rue Morgue
- The Mystery of Marie Roget
- The Black Cat
- The Tell-Tale Heart
- A Predicament
- Diddling (non-horror)
- Hop-Frog
- William Wilson
- Beatrice
- The System of Dr Tarr and Professor Fether
- Narrative of A. Gordon Pym
- Eleonora
- Some words with a Mummy (non-horror)
- The Spectacles
This is only a list of 16 tales and out of 73 it's a pretty small proportion. I found that there were far too many I didn't enjoy between those I did which mad it very difficult to keep going and finish them all.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed the poetry and they are something I would go back and read again. I think the best thing to do is stick to a collection of his best horror ones to save being disappointed with the rest (however they do become a little formulaic after a while).
On the other hand, I really enjoyed the poetry and they are something I would go back and read again. I think the best thing to do is stick to a collection of his best horror ones to save being disappointed with the rest (however they do become a little formulaic after a while).
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6 comments:
wow that's a lot! Of the ones you listed I barely remember reading the Tell-tale Heart when I was in middle school (I think lol) I think the only other thing like this I read back then was The Pit and the Pendulum.
I have this same book....I'm reading only some of the stories for Short Stories Sunday! I guess I know which ones to read!
By the way...love the red hair! I've gone back and forth between red, dark brown and dark blonde for years!
I'm reading a condensed version: 12 tales. I just finished 3 of them today and just can't ever seem to come to grips with how creepy he really is. :) Thoroughly enjoying them, though.
That's the problem with complete collections...you get the good and the bad. I've only ever read collections of "selected tales". I guess they pick the best ones for that.
I'm reading Poe's Tales too and yes I'm finding some of them disappointing and leaving me thinking that's not what I thought they'd be like. I thought the Black Cat was quite sickening, but not scary and I guessed what was coming at the end.
I haven't read any of his books but I do have one in my TBR. It's The Raven and Other Writings. Happy reading!
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