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The Fall of the House of Usher

Edgar Allan Poe

Start date: April 1, 2020

Finish date: April 30, 2020

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: April 2020 Completist Book Selection
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What Members Thought

Apr 04, 2020 Scarlett Readz and Runz....Through Novel Time & Distance rated it really liked it

Love Poe ♡ The gothic vibes did not disappoint in this creepy tale at the edge of insanity. I've expected nothing less.
Vivid. Contorted. Quiver. ...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Aug 31, 2022 Summer (speaking_bookish) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: companions-novellas, horror, fantasy, adult, classics, mental-health

I felt compelled to read one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most well-known works before reading a reimagining of the story by T. Kingfisher. I am so glad that I chose to do so. I adored this story so much, Poe was a very gifted storyteller and even though this story was written in the late 1830’s I still found it to be very accessible and easy to understand with some reflection on certain portions.

I looked upon the scene before me—upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain—

I looked upon the scene before me—upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain—upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows—upon a few rank sedges—and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees—with an utter depression of soul which I can compare to no earthly sensation more properly than to the after-dream of the reveller upon opium—the bitter lapse into every-day life—the hideous dropping off of the veil.

The Fall of the House of Usher quite literally raised the hair on the back of my neck and I found myself covered in goosebumps both from the eeriness of the story and the majesty of Poe’s wordplay. I was in awe reading this and can’t remember having such a visceral reaction to a story, especially a classic, in a very long time.

To an anomalous species of terror I found him a bounden slave. “I shall perish,” said he, “I must perish in this deplorable folly. Thus, thus, and not otherwise, shall I be lost. I dread the events of the future, not in themselves, but in their results. I shudder at the thought of any, even the most trivial, incident, which may operate upon this intolerable agitation of soul.

I think it goes without saying that I recommend this story if you’re considering picking it up. It’s only 29 pages long and instead of looking forward to the end like I sometimes find myself when reading classics, even ones that I enjoy, I felt exactly the opposite while reading this one; I wished that it had been longer. I listened to the first few pages of this on audiobook as well and I think I’ll read along while listening the next time I sit down with this story- that there will be a next time is an absolute given at this point. TFotHoU absolutely wowed me. ...more

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