Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Jan 14, 2019 Renata rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, fiction, grownup, book-club

I'm glad I read this but I think in this day and age the story is more valuable as a pop culture touchpoint/archetype/whatever. TBH I think whatever you already know about Jekyll & Hyde is sufficient and unless you are doing an academic deep dive of some sort, you can get by just fine without ever reading this actual book. ...more

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Mar 05, 2020 Jessica Haider rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 1001-books, london-calling, 1000_books

3.5 stars

I am pretty sure that I read an abridged version of this in middle or high school and I know that I've seen at least one theatrical production of Jekyll & Hyde so I went in knowing what the story was. This one was picked as my monthly selection for the 1001 TBR Takedown, so, I am finally "officially" reading the unabridged version.

The book was short enough so it was a quick read but it never fully engaged me. It is a well known classic tale of good and evil and the dual nature of men, ...more

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Mar 06, 2015 Roman Colombo rated it really liked it

I think I expected a little more, but it's hard to appreciate some of the narrative when the twist is already a famous story precisely because of the twist itself. I imagine it's like watching the Usual Suspects already knowing who Kaiser Soze is. But the style is still pretty interesting, and Jekyll's confession is really well-written.

Also, the audio of this is really well done. ...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Melle rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, horror, uk-england-london

The description of other characters' interpretations of the alarming changes in Jekyll and the sheer creepiness of Hyde are surprisingly unnerving. I was expecting this book to read pretty tamely by today's standards, but I think I am going to spend tonight reconsidering if I really know anyone in my life. ...more

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Jan 09, 2024 Elizabeth rated it liked it · review of another edition

Finally reading this book was a little anticlimactic because the story is so pervasive in so many other things. Nothing was surprising. And the ending is really disappointing.

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May 05, 2025 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy-and-sci-fi, literary-schmiterary, audio, classic, horror

A classic allegory of drug addiction, when the addict thinks of himself as helpless to stop.

I generally struggle with Victorian literature, I find the style very off-putting and it's difficult for me to become engaged in the story. This was no exception. At least it was short! A star for such an original story idea, and a star for shortness. Two stars!

This would have been gripping if the first part - the observations of Mr Hyde by others - served as only a short framing device, and the seco ...more

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