About this title: An intense psychological drama devoted to the burden of inherited guilt and the work of retribution. As always in Hawthorne, the greatest sin is the violation of the integrity of another person's soul.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
Edition: Study Guide ed.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Sparknotes
Date Published: 12/2003
ISBN-13:9781586636715ISBN:1586636715
Description: Fine Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 72 p. read more
"I picked this book up as part of my run-up to Halloween reading I try to do every year. In fact, I started to read this several years ago and stopped (I don't remember why). This time I started and completed it.
First, the book's language is a little tough to grasp at times; Hawthorne used phrase constructions that we would not use today, so it took some time to understand what he was saying. While that element requires some investment, I think it was worth it. I even learned a new word, one I will likely also forget. Hawthorne uses "eleemosynary" once near the end of the book, forcing me to get out my dictionary. (It means "derived from or provided by charity.")
The book was published in 1851, so I presume the ideas, themes, story lines it tells influences others books and movies I've read and seen. The reason I mention this is because this is your classic cursed family story and it might seem familiar in its broad outlines. While it's not a haunted house story in the sense you might think, the house is haunted, is a burden on the family, and is part of the curse that afflicts the family. The house is also just as much a character as any of the individuals in it. It has some fantastical elements within it that the characters must deal with and the repercussions of those elements. However, much of this is examining the characters (including the house) and describing and talking about them.
Hawthorne does a very good job of setting scenes and describing characters. The initial chapter on the background of the house, Colonel Pyncheon, and Matthew Maule is effectively done and does a great job of setting up the curse that will haunt Pyncheon's for ages. I particularly liked the description of the day the house is opened to the public and the discovery of Colonel Pyncheon's demise. The chapter on Alice Pyncheon's tale is also engrossing and captures all of the romantic horror notions you might want out of such a story.
There is also a lot of humor in the book. Hawthorne writes in a way that I'm not used to, but upon careful reading, besides the obvious humor, there are some subtle phrases that are used that when re-read, are very funny. How can we not laugh at his descriptions and scenes of the little boy who frequents the penny store for cookies?"
"I picked up this book as it's a classic I've heard about but never read. It's advertised as part romance, mystery, reality, and fantasy. There's some truth to that, but I didn't find it to be a very engaging read.
Nothing seems to happen in most of the book, and I think the story would work better as a novelette. I found the story very slow, without much of a plot, and I really didn't care for any of the characters. Clifford was terribly annoying, especially his long, rambling poetic speeches. And I could say likewise for the narrator. Overall, the book errs with too much narration and not enough dialogue. Don't tell me but show me through the characters' actions and words.
I'd also aver that it really isn't much of a romance. I kept waiting for the romance to happen, but it's just not there. They meet each other, have a few conversations, Holgrave tells her a legend, and then the next thing you know, they're saying that they love each other. That's what I'd call a surprise rather than a romance.
For me, the most interesting part of the novel was Holgrave's legend that he told to Phoebe. The legend is filled with good plotting, mystery, supernatural happenings, interesting characters, etc. That's good storytelling and helps redeem the book. I also found the ending satisfying if perhaps too neatly wrapped up."
"Another "great American novel" that really is one of the Great American Novels, this book is a surprisingly quick read, by turns charming and creepy, with a small but excellently drawn cast of characters ranging from the comically tragic but dignified Hepzibah, to the gracefully mysterious Holgrave. An unexpected plot twist at the beginning of the book's final third leads to two chapters of excellent writing, one detailing Clifford and Hepzibah's flight on a train and the almost psychotic breakdown Clifford experiences while talking to a fellow traveler (the whole scene is very much in the vein of CRIME AND PUNISHMENT) and another detailing the passage of time from the perspective of a corpse. Smaller characters pop up in deftly crafted portraits and fantastic and wise passages and quotes litter the novel like gems in a treasure trove of gold coins. A definite must read for everyone interested in early American literature, gothic romances and good books all around."
"the first chapter is probably one of the spookiest things i've ever read. i love it, and i will read it - as a story - again. but, after that, the horror is hawthorne's writing. i stopped reading with about twenty-five pages to go, not because it was difficult reading, but because i could not have imagined caring less. to the extent that there's a story in there somewhere, it's murky and convoluted at best. the characters are dull. the whole thing's sort of awful, though the daguerrotypist (what's his name) has sort of interesting screed about how we inhabit dead men's houses, read their books, obey their laws, et cetera, and that maybe this is not the best idea. it's particularly interesting in that it shows up in hawthorne, so if you can find that passage online, by all means, do so. that aside, it's shocking that this is the same guy who did the scarlet letter."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
