The Bibliophile's Compass

1835  New York Sun publishes Moon hoax story about John Herschel and the supposed discovery of life and civilization on the Moon 2005 My Cleaner by Maggie Gee is published The story is told from the viewpoint of Vanessa Henman, an English writer, and Mary Tendo Ugandan graduate of Makerere University. Vanessa's 22-year-old son Justin refuses to get out of bed with depression. Justin asks for Mary who looked after him as a child so Vanessa writes to her. 2019 Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi This is a love story and a story about betrayal—not between lovers but between a mother and a daughter. Shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize

Title : Shadow Author : Edgar Allan Poe Publication Year : 1835 Pages : 4 Rating : ⭐⭐ Genre : Parable, Horror, Gothic Source : eBook and audiobook @storytel.tr Opening Sentence : YE who read are still among the living; but I who write shall have long since gone my way into the region of shadows. Poe's "Shadow—A Parable" is a similar chilling story to "The Masque of the Red Death," portraying death as an inescapable, omnipresent force. Much like the Red Death patiently stalks both the living and the dead during a plague, the enigmatic Shadow in this tale emerges as an embodiment of mortality, patiently waiting at the door to claim its due. Both stories feature characters attempting to escape an epidemic, only to be confronted by the terrifying inevitability of their own demise, highlighting how death is the ultimate uninvited guest, unaffected by wealth or isolation. "Shadow" is a must-read for its evocative atmosphere and profound exploration ...

Title : Lionizing Author : Edgar Allan Poe Publication Year : 1835 Pages : 6 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐ Genre : Satire Source : eBook & audiobook @storytel.tr Opening Sentence : I am, — that is to say I was — a great man, but I am neither the author of Junius nor the man in the mask, for my name, I believe, is Robert Jones, and I was born somewhere in the city of Fum-Fudge. This is an absurd satirical work by Edgar Allan Poe. It's so absurd that I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I gave it three stars because the level of absurdity is beyond what one typically encounters, and it had me laughing out loud. So, what’s the story? It revolves around a character named Robert Jones, who is admired in the fictional town of Fum-Fudge for his perfect nose and his scholarship in Nosology. However, the plot takes a turn when Jones experiences a downfall, this time due to someone else's nose! Though the text is quite short, it's filled with countless amusing names and terms. If...

Title : King Pest Author : Edgar Allan Poe Publication Year : 1835 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐ Genre : Allegory, Satire, Gothic, Horror, Grotesque Source : Ebook @everand_us This is undoubtedly one of the most absurd short stories by Edgar Allan Poe. If you've read my previous reviews, you know I sometimes start with the line, "What the hell did I just read?" However, this tale takes that sentiment to a whole new level. It's not just confusing; it demands a dictionary to decipher the characters and their descriptions. I found myself navigating what felt like the mind of a drunken individual lost in a haze of hallucinations. The sheer absurdity of this narrative leaves you bewildered. The story follows two seafaring drunks who, unable to pay for their drinks, flee into a forbidden part of London during the Great Plague. This area is fraught with danger, as entering it during that time was punishable by death. As fate would have it, they unwittingly stumble into the home of the...

Title : Young Goodman Brown Author : Nathaniel Hawthorne Publication Year : 1835 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Genre : Allegory Source : Book "Young Goodman Brown" is like that one awkward family reunion where everyone puts on a nice face but secretly judges each other’s life choices! This Hawthorne classic is a beautiful, twisted allegory that I think everyone should read at least once. I’ve read it a few times: first as a student (eye rolls included), then as a teacher (double eye roll), and now just for fun—because nothing says 'good time' like existential dread, right? Each read reveals new layers of beauty and meaning, though it’s a bit like peeling an onion; it might make you cry. The first time through, I was clueless about the religious undertones and felt like I am just reading about Everyman. But once you get the gist of Hawthorne's family drama and his Puritan roast, the story transforms into a magnifying glass on human nature, complete with plot twists. By the...

Title : Diary of a Madman Author : Nikolai Gogol Publication Year: 1835 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Genre : --- Source : Ebook @everand_us The title "Diary of a Madman" is less a suggestion and more a blaring siren, announcing the delightful unraveling within. Gogol doesn't tiptoe into madness; he cannonballs in, using language, content, and the very elastic nature of time to mirror the protagonist's delightful descent. It's a darkly comedic freefall into insanity, feeling less like a study and more like a gleeful, untamed ride. It's worth noting that alongside the portrayal of madness, the story also reflects various forms of societal prejudice prevalent at the time. The narrative doesn't shy away from showcasing racism, misogyny, and sexism, which can be jarring for a modern reader. It's interesting how these elements are woven into the protagonist's distorted perception of reality. Interestingly, Gogol seems content to let the madness simply exist ...

Title : The Haunted Mind Author : Nathaniel Hawthorne Publication Year: 1835 Rating : DNFed Genre : — Source : Ebook @everand_us I DNFed “The Haunted Mind” by page five! Honestly, I think this book needs a severe identity crisis. It reads more like a philosophical or psychological essay on sleep than a short story. I didn’t sign up for a deep dive into the thrilling world of sleep stages and wakefulness, especially before bedtime! Pro tip: avoid reading this when you’re on the brink of dozing off unless you want your brain to doze off for good. Was I bored by all the intricate details of the protagonist’s slumber party? Maybe I was just too tired to care! But hey, if you’re dying to know what Hawthorne thinks happens when we transition from deep sleep to wakefulness, give it a shot—in broad daylight! Quotation 1 . Yesterday has already vanished among the shadows of the past; to-morrow has not yet emerged from the future. Quotation 2 . It is too cold even for the thoughts to v...

Title : Berenice Author : Edgar Allan Poe Publication Year : 1835 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Genre : Horror, Gothic Source : Ebook @everand_us I just finished re-reading this short story, and it's still a wild ride of beauty and creepiness—like a haunted carousel that you can't get off! Edgar Allan Poe is really settling into his gothic groove, moving away from his earlier humorous tales to something much more sinister. Who knew he had it in him to evolve from a jokester to the king of gloom? Well, everyone probably already knew! If you thought "Morella" was eerie, brace yourself! Our narrator (Egaeus)—who has the surprisingly rare distinction of having a name—offers us a glimpse into his peculiar psychological state and his love life. Spoiler alert: things take a bizarre turn, and I was definitely not prepared for this level of wrongness! So, our guy is grappling with an obsessive disorder, a monomania fixating on… wait for it… his wife's teeth! Yes, you read that rig...

Title : The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall Author : Edgar Allan Poe Publication Year : 1835 Rating : DNFed Genre : proto-SciFi Influenced by George Tucker's A Voyage to the Moon Influenced Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon Source : Library Book + Ebook  @everand_us This is my first DNF of 2025, but don't get me wrong—the story wasn't bad! I just couldn't handle the scientific details. Who knew I signed up for a seminar on astrophysics instead of a leisurely read? The real flaw here is my intolerance for scientific detail. Now, let's talk about the story's merits. It's like one of the original blueprints for sci-fi, and Edgar Allan Poe was a genius to be one of the authors to kick off this whole genre. Fun fact: he published it as a hoax in a journal and was thrilled that people almost believed in moon aliens! Turns out the satiric tone was a bit of a giveaway. So, this might tickle your fancy if you're into sci-fi with a dash ...

Edgar Allan Poe certainly mastered the art of gothic and horror storytelling, and "Morella" is a classic example of him finding his groove. It's akin to watching a chef finally perfect a soufflé—while the first bite might be a bit odd, soon it becomes a full banquet of terror! Let's start with our protagonist, Morella. She possesses an impressive intellect, packed with her interest in knowledge of German philosophy and identity—because nothing sparks a dinner party conversation quite like discussions on existential crises! We've seen what happens when anyone gets too profoundly into German philosophy or anything related in Poe's stories. The next thing you know, they're contemplating their life choices and adopting a bleak outlook on the future. It's a classic horror scenario! Morella also has a fascinating hobby: she loves cozying up in bed with books. Seriously, who among us hasn't thought that the best way to spend the day is by avoiding human i...

Get ready for a delightfully spooky adventure with Nikolai Gogol's "Viy," a short story that skillfully walks the line between humor and horror. Suppose you're on the lookout for something that dances around the spooky talent of Hoffmann and almost reaches the psychological depths of Poe. In that case, this is the story for you! Our protagonist, Khoma Brut, a philosophy student with questionable luck, inadvertently kills a witch—a real oversight, if you ask me. What he doesn't realize is that this little mishap throws him right into a swirl of chaos orchestrated by a Cossack chief, who summons Khoma to fulfil a peculiar request from his dearly (almost) departed daughter. Her final wish is that he prays for her—both on her deathbed and after her death—and which father can refuse his beloved daughter's wish on her deathbed. Quite an unusual choice, as you'd think a theology student would be the best choice. Naturally, Khoma isn't jumping at the chance ...