First off … my disclaimer. I don’t normally read horror. So, I was a little nervous about the 52 in 52 challenge of reading a book with elements of horror in it. I thought about reading a Stephen King. He is, after, the King of Horror. But, at the same time, I’m trying to (mostly) use books I already own, either on my Kindle or the physical copies, for this activity.

So, I had a look through my Kindle and found this book. I’ve obviously heard the phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” personality, so I knew the concept. I just wasn’t sure if it was classed as horror. So, I googled it and found it is widely considered to be the first horror novel written. So, I gave it a go.

With regards to the genre, it isn’t in the same vein as someone like Stephen King. It’s not gory horror. It’s darker and more gothic. The descriptions of London and houses inhabited by both men are of grey skies, mist, rain, and dark nights with a moon that is (mostly) hidden. This gives a great atmosphere to the story. It makes everything feel a little more dangerous.

The story in this novel is based in the duality of Dr Henry Jekyll and Mr Edward Hyde. I think Robert Louis Stevenson was trying to explore the human psyche. Inside all of us, there is a darkness, an evil that could easily escape given the right circumstances. In this case, the evil Mr Hyde takes over the psyche of Dr Jekyll and becomes grotesque, both physically and in his actions. Yet, Dr Jekyll is still a part of him. It’s a complicated and interesting premise. I think most of us have a little of both characters inside us. The problem arises when we allow one to dominate completely the other. The way that Dr Jekyll mixes a potion, and that is what allows Mr Hyde to emerge, would make the original readers of this book feel less like it could happen to them. It would be a bit of a safety net.

In terms of the author’s style, I had to keep reminding myself it was published over 130 years ago. Styles were completely different then. Even so, I found it hard to read the run-on sentences and abundance of semicolons. Also, the way that the narrator is not Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde, but a solicitor, Mr Utterson, who knew both men, bugs me. This immediately removes the reader from the story. It removes them from the action. It removes them from the danger. And it irritated me big time. I found it hard to get into this, and the only saving grace is how short it is.

So, all in all, I think I probably should have read a Stephen King. Maybe, I will in future weeks. But I won’t be returning to this again, and not because of the horror genre, but because of the author’s style. It is really not my bag.

People who like horror. I think it's probably a must for them. It is, after all, an original and unique story of its time.

The length.

The narration by Mr Utterson. Robert Louis Stevenson's writing style.

Read something I know I will like. Something contemporary.

Bored.

I've never read any Robert Louis Stevenson before. I've been interested in reading Treasure Island, but if the style in that is similar to this book, I don't think I will.

I guess, because it is a classic. It is important because it introduced the world to a new genre of fiction that has become incredibly popular.

I found myself bored. I wanted it to end. I've said I was glad it only has around 100 pages, but even that felt like an eternity to me.

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Created Jul 02, 2021 at 7:36am • Submit your own review...