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crunchplant's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The monk is SO LONG! TOO LONG! but, it is also so good! The establishment of the important characters in the beginning, the divergence of many plots, and the final convergence of both resulting in retribution delivered by some characters unto others. There was romance, grief, loss, forgiveness, deceit, murder! What a Gothic!
However, I will say this book was quite obviously written in the time span of 10 weeks by a 19 year old queer who thoroughly enjoyed gothics and plays. There are poems that nobody wanted to hear, unnecessary ramblings (however I suppose that is characteristc of a Gothic), and sub-plots that go on a tad bit too long. All I'm saying is there definitely wasn't an editor.
I was quite pleased that this book spurred an interest in a playwright style fiction. I took no interest to Shakespeare in highschool, but the formatting of drama taking place in one location, mostly unfolding as an ongoing exposition conversation between two characters was actually really fun and really well accomplished in this. Also? The Catholic Church commentary? Delicious.
TLDR: great playwright little Twink boy from the 18th century!
However, I will say this book was quite obviously written in the time span of 10 weeks by a 19 year old queer who thoroughly enjoyed gothics and plays. There are poems that nobody wanted to hear, unnecessary ramblings (however I suppose that is characteristc of a Gothic), and sub-plots that go on a tad bit too long. All I'm saying is there definitely wasn't an editor.
I was quite pleased that this book spurred an interest in a playwright style fiction. I took no interest to Shakespeare in highschool, but the formatting of drama taking place in one location, mostly unfolding as an ongoing exposition conversation between two characters was actually really fun and really well accomplished in this. Also? The Catholic Church commentary? Delicious.
TLDR: great playwright little Twink boy from the 18th century!
theelliad's review against another edition
3.0
This book was equal parts confusing and intruiging and yet somehow not even that bad? The intertextual nature of it means there is a lot in it that I am excited to study and I cannot wait to bring justice to some of these characters! There is definitely an overwhelming sense of the gothic within this which i’m so excited to pick apart! Equally, this just wasn’t thatttt good and there are ones I’ve enjoyed more :))
cli22's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Ogni volta che non mi aspetto di piangere per un libro scritto duecento anni fa, mi devo ricredere.
spo0kyayden's review against another edition
3.0
Kind of blah, kind of Great.
“Sometimes I felt the bloated Toad, hideous and pampered with the poisonous vapours of the dungeon, dragging his loathsome length along my bosom: Sometimes the quick cold Lizard roused me leaving his slimy track upon my face, and entangling itself in the tresses of my wild and matted hair: Often have I at waking found my fingers ringed with the long worms which bred in the corrupted flesh of my Infant.”
― Matthew Gregory Lewis, The Monk
“Sometimes I felt the bloated Toad, hideous and pampered with the poisonous vapours of the dungeon, dragging his loathsome length along my bosom: Sometimes the quick cold Lizard roused me leaving his slimy track upon my face, and entangling itself in the tresses of my wild and matted hair: Often have I at waking found my fingers ringed with the long worms which bred in the corrupted flesh of my Infant.”
― Matthew Gregory Lewis, The Monk
lecybeth's review against another edition
2.0
This was creepy and I couldn't get past the weird obsession with the sister.
bthwlsh222's review against another edition
It was so incredibly boring that I couldn’t read more than 3 pages at a time.
ljbooks1's review against another edition
3.0
Wow, this sure lives up to its title 'most shocking gothic novel'!
It's unlike anything I've ever read in this period and so interesting to see the plot which includes things that were shocking even to a modern audience now, so the reaction when published must have been even worse. I don't know how he got away with writing it.
There were big chunks of plot where I lost interest in the characters and story, but the main plot line was fascinating. The commentary on religion was also of interest while reading this.
If studying the gothic romantic or just interested in this period it is a must read.
It's unlike anything I've ever read in this period and so interesting to see the plot which includes things that were shocking even to a modern audience now, so the reaction when published must have been even worse. I don't know how he got away with writing it.
There were big chunks of plot where I lost interest in the characters and story, but the main plot line was fascinating. The commentary on religion was also of interest while reading this.
If studying the gothic romantic or just interested in this period it is a must read.
tartie's review against another edition
Este libro es demasiado. Ni siquiera sé que nota darle.
Por una parte, me ha gustado. Por otra ¿por qué me ha gustado? No lo sé. Tiene más o menos todos los elementos que pueden ser trigger para mí. A la vez tiene una sensación de rapidez y angustia que me los ha hecho mucho más llevaderos que en otras novelas.
De momento se va a quedar sin estrellas hasta que tenga claro qué nota quiero darle. Pero os voy a decir que la acción transcurre en Madrid.
Por una parte, me ha gustado. Por otra ¿por qué me ha gustado? No lo sé. Tiene más o menos todos los elementos que pueden ser trigger para mí. A la vez tiene una sensación de rapidez y angustia que me los ha hecho mucho más llevaderos que en otras novelas.
De momento se va a quedar sin estrellas hasta que tenga claro qué nota quiero darle. Pero os voy a decir que la acción transcurre en Madrid.
johana_monq's review against another edition
5.0
Una historia transgresora para su época, bien ambientada y con muchos elementos fantásticos, de miedo y de crítica social que la hacen muy entretenida Tiene varias tramas que se van entrelazando y convergen en un final muy interesante.
"Los que son conscientes de la perfidia y el egoísmo de la humanidad acogen siempre un cumplido con aprensión y desconfianza. Sospechan que detrás se oculta algún secreto motivo. Manifiestan su agradecimiento con cautela y prevención, y temen alabar plenamente una acción generosa, sabedores de que algún día se les puede pedir una retribución".
"No tardó el sueño en vencer sus sentidos; y durante varias horas gozó de ese sereno descanso que sólo la inocencia conoce, y por el que muchos monarcas darían con gusto su corona".
"Para el que está cargado de crímenes, la muerte se halla doblemente armada de terrores".
"Los que son conscientes de la perfidia y el egoísmo de la humanidad acogen siempre un cumplido con aprensión y desconfianza. Sospechan que detrás se oculta algún secreto motivo. Manifiestan su agradecimiento con cautela y prevención, y temen alabar plenamente una acción generosa, sabedores de que algún día se les puede pedir una retribución".
"No tardó el sueño en vencer sus sentidos; y durante varias horas gozó de ese sereno descanso que sólo la inocencia conoce, y por el que muchos monarcas darían con gusto su corona".
"Para el que está cargado de crímenes, la muerte se halla doblemente armada de terrores".
veemars's review against another edition
4.0
This is HBO level drama! The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because it can be a bit tedious at times as there is a story, within a story, within a story. I had no idea what this book was about initially I was truly surprised at the twists and turns throughout. Shocks and surprises down to the very last pages kept me on the edge of my seat. My favorite read so far this year.