Dear Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,
I’m glad we finally met! You definitely spooked me out and left me with a distinct impression. I wouldn’t mind meeting Dr. Jekyll again, however, Mr. Hyde will not be invited.
With Love,
Hannah
P.S. Book Details
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Book Length: 144 pages
Book Genre: Classic, Fiction
Publication Date: January 1886
Awards: Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) for Audio Fiction – Abridged (1999)
Synopsis: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the original title of a novella written by the famous Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson that was first published in 1886. The work is commonly known today as The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, or simply Jekyll & Hyde. It is about a London lawyer named John Gabriel Utterson who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde.
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For someone who doesn’t do well with horror books, I found myself enjoying the storyline Stevenson brought to life with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. However, I should note the use of “horror” is probably significantly different than most readers would classify “horror”. For this reason, I have classified this book as fiction.
While I was researching some to write this review, I found an interesting article on the study of dualism in this novel. Through the lens of psychology, I found this book to be more interesting than I did simply reading the story. Within the premise of the story, a man, Dr. Jekyll, turns into his split-personality counterpart of an evil man, Mr. Hyde, during the night without anyone knowing. This creates an air of mystery and curiosity for the reader. The article highlights the dualism in light and dark. Dr. Jekyll is fully aware of having an evil ulta-ego, and it creates an interesting dynamic in his presentation with his lawyer friend.
The narration for this book was excellent. The narrator had a voice which enveloped me into the story and the setting. I ended up sitting down and closing my eyes to enjoy the book in the full capacity. The imagery by Stevenson coupled with brilliant narration made it feel I too was walking with the characters and seeing Mr. Hyde creep into the night.
I appreciate hearing some of the “behind the scenes” to the book, and how to go deeper with the concepts Stevenson wrote about. It is probably egotistical to say, but I feel proud of myself for branching out into the horror-ish genre. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is most likely a book I will only read once. I recommend this book to people who enjoy classical literature, and enjoy deeper meaning to a short story. If you enjoy audiobooks and are looking for a (not-so-spooky) spooky read, this is a great option.
Goodreads | A study in dualism: The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
To Books, With Love 