Dueling Monsters Round 2: Jekyll/Hyde Recap

 

 Round 2 of Dueling Monsters has come to an end.  In the battle between Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Oscar Wilde's The Portrait of Dorian Gray, which side will you declare as your winner?

For me Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde beats out Dorian Gray for several reasons.  

More Monstrous: As I explained in my review, Dr. Jekyll basically unleashes his evil side on the world and he enjoys it (at the beginning).  It is, in fact, his stated goal to allow each part of his nature (the good and the bad) to be unhindered by the other. He doesn't take into account how Mr. Hyde's actions will affect others; he simply likes getting to do as he pleases without fear of discovery. Dorian, on the other hand, starts off by simply being vain and rather naive.  To be sure, this progresses over time to a feeling of self-entitlement and leads him down a very dark path, but I don't see that it was ever his intention to turn out the way he did.  [Actually, I found Lord Henry to be creepier than Dorian in parts - there's a discussion of this in the comment section of my review if you are interested in why.] The intention of each character is very important to me, and that's why I go with Jekyll/Hyde over Dorian Gray.  Except that the ending throws this off a bit, as I'll explain in my next point.

Who He Is In The End:  At the end of Jekyll/Hyde, Dr. Jekyll has done everything humanly possible to get rid of Mr. Hyde (albeit too late) so that does redeem him somewhat in my mind.  Dorian Gray, on the other hand, doesn't want to redeem himself when he destroys the painting; he just wants the reminder of his bad behavior to go away.  In the end, Gray is an evil, self-focused man while Jekyll is trying desperately to be good.  So for that reason I have to say that Gray is more monstrous in the end.

More Accessible: Ignoring for the present which character is worse than the other, I found Jekyll/Hyde to be very easy to understand and enjoyable to read.  It is the most accessible of the classic monster books I've read so far* in fact.  The language was simple and straightforward, the plot was easy to follow and not full of holes, and the characters were fleshed out just as much as they had to be for the story to work.  Dorian Gray was beautifully written but it was more difficult to read.  There was, for me, a lot of excess that could have been trimmed off and the story would have worked just as well.  So Jekyll/Hyde again beats out Dorian Gray.

The Result: Two out of three points go to the Jekyll/Hyde side of the Duel and I hereby declare The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde my winner.  Check out the posts below to see which book other Duelers chose as their winner, and share your own thoughts in the comments!

By the way, if you didn't check out the Jekyll/Hyde music video I posted from the cartoon Arthur, definitely go watch it now - it actually includes a ton of stuff from the book. :)

Here are links to the participant reviews of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and also thoughts on the match-up.  Let me know if I missed yours and I'll add it as soon as I can, in between all the Halloween goings-on today.

• My Reader's Block posted an excellent review that takes into consideration the concept of addiction to self, and also the lack of female characters - find out which she choose as the bigger baddie in her recap post
• The Zen Leaf has read both books several times and gives a great comparison of their respective merits in her duel-off post, which includes thoughts on the graphic novel versions
• Fizzy Thoughts (my Duel co-host) was disappointed to not find Mary Reilly in this book, but appreciated that is was so short - see who she thinks is more monstrous in her recap
• Life is a Patchwork Quilt  read both books and includes a comparison of the lives of both authors in her post
• Milk and Honey Quilts is one of the only participants who chose to answer the discussion questions I posted for Jekyll/Hyde 
• eclectic/eccentric had previously read Dorian and read Jekyll/Hyde just last week.  See who she thinks was the bigger baddy in her comparison post.
• Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity barely squeezed in a reading of Jekyll/Hyde before the end of the month, but since she'd previously read Dorian she was able to compare the two and declare a winner.
• Subliminal Intervention also read both books and shares her thoughts on them, including some creepy comparisons to modern life.
• The Introverted Reader read Dorian Gray a while ago but tackled Jekyll/Hyde for the first time.

Thanks to all who participated in this year's Dueling Monsters and I hope you'll join Jill and I for a Round 3 next year!

* In case you are wondering which classic monster books I've read, here's a list: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Invisible Man, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

My Favorite Reads: The Poisonwood Bible

My Favorite Reads is a way to revisit books you love but that you read before you had a blog. This week I'd like to tell you about Barbara Kingsolver's THE POISONWOOD BIBLE.

When I first heard about this book I thought it was some sort of sacrilegious novel, something that I'd never choose to read. You have to admit that the title DOES sound strange! One day I saw it on the shelf of ta thrift store's book room and picked it up, just to see what it was actually about. I ended up paying about 50 cents for that very beat-up copy and taking it home with me.

This book hooked me from the first few pages when I read that there is a woman who has four daughters and that one of those daughters has died - which one? and how? and why? What is the whole story here?!

In case you aren't familiar, the book tells the tale of a Southern family in the 1950s (I think) who move to Africa to be missionaries. If ever there was a more unprepared and prejudiced group of people, I 'd be very surprised. The story follows their experiences over approximately 40 years.

Each chapter is told by one of the women - the mother or one of the four daughters. Only the father doesn't get a say in the story. The women each have a distinct voice and you can easily "hear" which one is narrating.

This book is beautifully written, has engaging and dynamic characters, deals with difficult topics, and tells a fascinating story. I've read it twice and recommended it to numerous friends, each time with good results. I even convinced my book club to read it; it turned out to be one of our very best club books. [If you are interested you can read about our discussion here and here.]

I got my mom to listen to the audiobook and she gave it rave reviews. Of course, she also fell in love with Anatole (one of the characters) while listening, so that may have influenced her just a little bit ... ;)

If you still need more encouragement to read this book, you might like to know that it is on the 1,001 books list.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.


For more My Favorite Reads please visit At Home With Books every Thursday.

My Favorite Reads: Swimming to Antarctica

Today I'd like to tell you about Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer, by Lynne Cox.

It is August 7, 1987, and I am swimming across the Bering Sea. I am somewhere near – or across – the U.S.-Soviet border. The water stings. It’s icy cold. My face feels as if it has been shot full of novocaine and it’s separating from my skull. It’s as if I’m swimming naked into a blizzard. My hands are numb, and they ache deep down through the bone. I can’t tell if they are pulling any water. They feel as though they are becoming detached from my body. I look down at them through the ash-colored water: they are splotchy and bluish white; they are the hands of a dead person. I take a tight, nervous breath. Suddenly it occurs to me that my life is escaping through my hands.

That is the very first sentence of the book - way to get the reader's attention, no? I read this book a few years ago, I think just before I started blogging, and I still remember parts of it very, VERY clearly.

I'm not into sports memoirs but I do have a fascination with the Polar regions, which is why I picked up this book. Lynne is an open-water, long-distance swimmer who has a "thing" for swimming in extremely cold water. It is simply amazing the things that she puts her body through BY CHOICE; I can't imagine being FORCED to do those things, letting alone volunteering.

The book chronicles her swimming career from the age of 9 when she chooses to stay in the freezing pool to swim while her teammates opt for 2 hours of calisthenics out of the water. Her first open water swim was from the San Diego shoreline over to Catalina Island; if I recall, she was a young teen at the time.

I found this book utterly fascinating. I loved reading about Lynne's training, her reasons for swimming, the research on hypothermia she helped with, and the amazing swims she completed. I'm definitely NOT inspired to do anything like this myself, but I loved reading about it all the same, and I think many of you would enjoy it as well.



My Favorite Reads is hosted by At Home With Books every Thursday. If you'd like to share a book that you read pre-blogging, please join in!

My Favorite Reads: books by Melanie Rawn

Welcome to the weekly event where we all talk about books that we loved before we started blogging. Click here to learn more about it. This week I'm talking about an author rather than a specific book ... (for previous favorites click here).

The Author: Melanie Rawn

The Books: two fantasy trilogies, The Dragon Prince series and The Dragon Star series, published between 1988 and 1994 - pages range from 480 to 776

What They Are About: I have to be honest and say that I can't remember the plot of these books. I remember a few specific events and themes, but that is about all. Here's what Amazon has to say about the first book: An arranged marriage between Prince Rohan of Stronghold and the "sunrunner" Sioned of Goddess Keep promises to bring a new kind of peace to a strife-torn land until the machinations of a self-serving High Prince plunge the world into war. Romance, intrigue, magic, and myth mingle freely in this first of a series that should appeal to readers of fantasy and epic romance.

Why I Love Them: I remember thinking that these books were different from the other fantasy I was reading. The magic system was unique and interesting and the dragons were different as well. My sister, my dad and I all devoured these books - the paperbacks were falling apart by the time we got through with them.

Other Thoughts: If I recall correctly, my sister and I saw someone reading one of these books on a plane and we talked to him about it. He highly recommended them, so we decided to read them (we were both huge fantasy fans). We both fell in love with these books right away.

Would I Recommend Them?: If you are a fantasy fan who also enjoys a bit of a love story thrown in, this is the book for you. It is different and exciting, and it isn't sappy or lovey-dovey.

Books In The Series: In case you are curious, here is a list of all the books in the two trilogies ...

DRAGON PRINCE SERIES:

1. Dragon Prince - Prince Rohan and Sioned, his wife and a Sunrunner witch, fight to save the last of the remaining dragons.
2. The Star Scroll - Rohan's son Pol grows to manhood...a foe vanquished ages ago gains strength...the only hope lay in the long lost Star Scroll.
3. Sunrunner's Fire - Spell wars set the land ablaze...dragons soar the skies, lured by magic's fiery call.

DRAGON STAR SERIES:

1. (A new cycle begins, generations unfold, and Fate displays a sick sense of humor.)
2. Stronghold - A generation of peace is about to be shattered as a seemingly unstoppable invasion force lays siege to High Prince Rohan's realm....
3. The Dragon Token - Is it too late for Prince Pol's troops and Lord Andry's Sunrunners to turn the tide of battle?
4. Skybowl -the conclusion of the series

My Favorite Reads is hosted by At Home With Books. All are welcome to participate so please join in!

My Favorite Reads: Sarum

This weekly event, hosted by At Home With Books, is a place to remember and share books that we read before we started blogging. All are welcome to join!


The Book: Sarum: A Novel of England, by Edward Rutherford - published in 1988 - 1,056 pages

What It Is About: It is basically an overview of all of English history, focused on one particular place and several specific families. Here's a summary from Library Journal:

A first novel, Rutherfurd's sweeping saga of the area surrounding Stonehenge and Salisbury, England, covers 10,000 years and includes many generations of five families. Each family has one or more characteristic types who appear in successive centuries: the round-headed balding man who is good with his hands; the blue-eyed blonde woman who insists on having her independence; the dark, narrow-faced fisher of river waters and secrets. Their fortunes rise and fall both economically and politically, but the land triumphs over the passage of time and the ravages of humans. Rutherfurd has told the story of the land he was born in and has told it well. The verbosity of a Michener is missing, but all the other elements are present, from geology and archaeology to a rich story of human life. Highly recommended.

Why I Love It: I don't remember many of the specifics of this book but I do remember being enthralled with it. I loved how each family had its own characteristics that you could trace through the generations. And I remember learning so much history from this book while being entertained at the same time.

Other Thoughts: This book hadn't crossed my mind in many years. But when I saw Swapna's photos from her trip to England, specifically her visit to Sarum, I was immediately reminded of this book.

Would I Recommend It?: Those who enjoy historical fiction would likely enjoy this book. On Amazon.com it is shown as a Young Adult novel ... really? I was a young adult when I read it, but I was reading all sorts of books at the time so I can't say if this is an appropriate label or not. Regardless, it is epic in scope and fascinating to read.


For more of my before-blogging favorites click here.


*** Reminder: I'm giving away two copies of CW Gortner's wonderful novel THE LAST QUEEN. Click here for details! ***

My Favorite Reads: Treasure Island

At Home With Books has a weekly meme where we can all talk about books we read and loved before we started blogging. Hope you enjoy my reminiscences!

The book: Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson - published in 1883 - 224 pages

What is is about: This is the story of young Jim Hawkins and his adventures with the pirate Long John Silver in his search for buried treasure.

Why I love it: This is an adventure story meant to be enjoyed by children but it is not "just" a kids story. There is fun and adventure, yes, but there is also friendship and a blurred line between right and wrong. Is Long John Silver "all" bad? If he is a pirate, how can he be "good" in any way? What is the "right thing" for young Jim to do? These are not simple questions to answer nor are they simply the problems of children. Of course, for the most part I love the book because it is FUN ... but the morality issues it weaves in are what make it an enduring classic.

Other thoughts: Two things come to mind ...

First, there's a relatively new book out called SILVER, by Edward Chupack that is a retelling of this book. I have it on my shelf waiting to be read.

And second, I've seen many of the movie adaptations of this book but my favorite will always be The Muppets Treasure Island. Here are a few clips for your viewing enjoyment:





Do I own it? I fell in love with this book in middle school. I'd check it out from the library over and over again, reading it at home and in class (stuffed in my desk so the teachers couldn't see) until I finally lost it. That was the first book I ever had to pay the library for ... I was mortified. I never did find it, and I've never bought a copy for myself. I might get one for Kiddo one day though ...

Would I recommend it? Oh yes, most certainly. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book (but of course I'm biased!).

My Favorite Reads: The Mists of Avalon

I've been wanting to write about some of the books I read prior to blogging and now I have an excuse: At Home With Books's meme, My Favorite Reads. The idea behind this weekly event is to share with your readers some of the best books that you read BB (Before Blogging). I won't participate every week but I will chime in from time to time. I've made a list of some books I want to share with you and I'll tackle one whenever I get a chance.


This week I'm going to talk about a book that I LOVE with all my heart, THE MISTS OF AVALON. I've read this book at least twice, listened to the audio version once, and watched the TV miniseries based on it as well.

The book: The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley - published in 1982 - 912 pages

What it is about: The book is a retelling of the King Arthur story through the eyes of the women involved. Focus is on Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, and other female characters. More time is spent on their lives and the mystical/druidical background of the story than on Arthur himself.

Why I love it: This book has it all - strong and powerful women, love, lust, betrayal, adventure, you name it. The story is full of details that immerse you in the lives of these people.

Other thoughts: This is one of those books where learning something about the author leads to a deeper understanding of the book. When my book club read this (at my prompting of course) we saw that the author's feminism and religious beliefs came through very clearly in her writing. That was something I didn't know before reading about the author.

Would I recommend it? Before blogging I'd have said yes unreservedly - this is a fantastic book in every way. However I've read on several blogs that people find this book challenging so now I'm a bit leery about recommending it. I guess I'd have to say that if you DO find it challenging, it is VERY worth the effort you put into it. For me, this is a "must read" for just about everyone.

Do I own it? Yes I do. This is one of the few books in my "permanent collection" as I call it. I don't know where I got it originally (likely from my dad), but I've had it since middle or high school. During my "romantic" phase in high school I pressed a rose between the pages ... and it is still there. I have no recollection of who gave me the rose but I've still got it all the same.