Edgar Allan Poe
1842
Around 40 pages
Happy October, everyone! Usually during this time of the year I like to read a few good horror novels. This year I am going to read Perfume: Story of a Murderer (another list book). I will probably read Martin Chuzzlewit (another Charles Dickens; if that is not horror I don't know what is) after so I will back shortly!
This is a story I had read before and I am sure a lot of my readers are at least familiar with the concept. An unnamed narrator is arrested by the Inquisition and is put in cell. Gradually, he realizes that a bladed pendulum is swinging down and will eventually kill him. There also walls that will burn your skin off and seemingly bottomless pits. I think I would prefer the pendulum.
I thought this story was a huge improvement from Fall of The House of Usher. Poe presents us with a claustrophobic nightmare that I think might be his scariest story. It is a bit frustrating that we get absolutely no background on the character. However, I think we immediately begin to picture ourselves in the protagonist's situation and knowing too much about the character might prevent us from doing that.
So for anyone looking for a good horror story to read to get in the Halloween mood, this is a good start. I would also recommend Dracula and The Tell Tale Heart. Other suggestions? Leave them in the comments section!
RATING: *****
Interesting Facts:
May have been influenced by the Quran.
Frequent use of literary consonance.
Trailer for 1991 version:
1 comment:
I am going to read this book. I have never read it and I think the only story I have read of Poe's is The Telltale Heart. I must get with it here! Thanks for the review!
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