Review of The Study of Sentient Things
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Theresa Moffitt
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Review of The Study of Sentient Things
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Study of Sentient Things" by Trevor McCall.]
The Study of Sentient Things and Other Stories by Trevor McCall is a collection of short stories. Each story is filled with suspense and horror. Readers who are fans of Edgar Allan Poe will enjoy these stories immensely. Each of the four stories explores one of Poe’s classic horror tales. The author updated The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Black Cat by adding additional detail and suspense. He created unexpected and fascinating connections between the different stories. There is also a fifth short story that is an original work of horror and suspense.
The stories can be unnerving at times when the narrator addresses the reader directly. For example, in “Eighth Night” the narrator attempts to justify the planned murder of an old man by dehumanizing him. This is accomplished by focusing on the victim’s “vulture eye.” The narrator finds it offensive and ungodly. By focusing on this one offensive attribute, the reader is expected to agree with the narrator that murder is necessary. At times, the narrator pleads with readers for understanding and approval. In “Broken Vessels,” McCall provides a complex and detailed examination of two enemies that chase each other through time and place. Their interactions with each other are fascinating and their dialogue is very sophisticated. Their banter back and forth as they challenge and engage with one another kept me intrigued throughout the story.
The author was highly creative in taking these classic works of Poe and building upon them. He added additional suspense to the stories and another layer of horror. I have always enjoyed reading Edgar Allan Poe’s stories and the darkness he created. McCall has taken them a step further and provided a captivating way to connect the stories. This makes the progression from the end of one story to the beginning of the next story seamless. I found this book difficult to put down because of the way one story led into the next.
What I liked most about the book were the creative additions to well-known stories. They have been updated, and fans of the horror genre will surely enjoy reading them. As previously stated, the characters address the readers directly at times. The desperation and pleading of these characters to be understood were very emotional. The author has a unique writing style that conveys these complex emotions exceptionally well. However, there were more than ten errors in the book. That is the only negative aspect of the book that I experienced. The author could improve the book with some additional editing to correct these errors.
Since there were more than ten errors in the book, I rate it 3 out of 4 stars. The creativity expressed by the author in developing new aspects of these well-known stories is impressive. Also, the complex world of “Broken Vessels” challenges readers to follow the characters as they chase each other through horrific experiences. However, the number of errors prevented me from giving it a perfect rating. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy suspense and horror. It would especially appeal to fans of Edgar Allan Poe who are interested in a unique perspective and a re-working of some of his well-known stories.
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The Study of Sentient Things
View: on Bookshelves
The Study of Sentient Things and Other Stories by Trevor McCall is a collection of short stories. Each story is filled with suspense and horror. Readers who are fans of Edgar Allan Poe will enjoy these stories immensely. Each of the four stories explores one of Poe’s classic horror tales. The author updated The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Black Cat by adding additional detail and suspense. He created unexpected and fascinating connections between the different stories. There is also a fifth short story that is an original work of horror and suspense.
The stories can be unnerving at times when the narrator addresses the reader directly. For example, in “Eighth Night” the narrator attempts to justify the planned murder of an old man by dehumanizing him. This is accomplished by focusing on the victim’s “vulture eye.” The narrator finds it offensive and ungodly. By focusing on this one offensive attribute, the reader is expected to agree with the narrator that murder is necessary. At times, the narrator pleads with readers for understanding and approval. In “Broken Vessels,” McCall provides a complex and detailed examination of two enemies that chase each other through time and place. Their interactions with each other are fascinating and their dialogue is very sophisticated. Their banter back and forth as they challenge and engage with one another kept me intrigued throughout the story.
The author was highly creative in taking these classic works of Poe and building upon them. He added additional suspense to the stories and another layer of horror. I have always enjoyed reading Edgar Allan Poe’s stories and the darkness he created. McCall has taken them a step further and provided a captivating way to connect the stories. This makes the progression from the end of one story to the beginning of the next story seamless. I found this book difficult to put down because of the way one story led into the next.
What I liked most about the book were the creative additions to well-known stories. They have been updated, and fans of the horror genre will surely enjoy reading them. As previously stated, the characters address the readers directly at times. The desperation and pleading of these characters to be understood were very emotional. The author has a unique writing style that conveys these complex emotions exceptionally well. However, there were more than ten errors in the book. That is the only negative aspect of the book that I experienced. The author could improve the book with some additional editing to correct these errors.
Since there were more than ten errors in the book, I rate it 3 out of 4 stars. The creativity expressed by the author in developing new aspects of these well-known stories is impressive. Also, the complex world of “Broken Vessels” challenges readers to follow the characters as they chase each other through horrific experiences. However, the number of errors prevented me from giving it a perfect rating. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy suspense and horror. It would especially appeal to fans of Edgar Allan Poe who are interested in a unique perspective and a re-working of some of his well-known stories.
******
The Study of Sentient Things
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Keys to Harmony by Margalit Jakob
