Author : Washington Irving
Publication date : 1820, click here to download the book
Since it's almost Halloween, I thought it would be cool to read some scary stories. I don't really read horror anyway, not because I am such a chicken, but it's rare that I feel connected enough with a ghost story. Maybe I should blame the covers since it's one of those things that make me pick a book. Horror covers are usually scary or ghostly, and a ghost rarely look cute nor whimsical, so yeah...
I have this intention to read more classic. I was so ignorant about them in the past because I couldn't relate with ancient writing style. They tend to be a bit too poetic for me, and bear too much unnecessary details. Then again, taste were so much different back then, I could as well tolerate it.
To sum it up, The Legend of Sleepy hollow is the combo of two stuffs that I am not really comfortable with. What made me choose this book is the thickness. I think it suits better as a novella since it's only 102 pages long. I was looking for a quick read, so I thought it's a good choice.
I believe many of you are familiar with this story, a headless horseman roaming around the village. Yes, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is about it. Now, if you watch the TV series, it's far different. The series has a very heroic (and handsome) Ichabod Crane as the protagonist, really, who can refuse watching it?
Well the book version, ladies and gentlemen is way duller. Let me tell you why! First, it makes me confused because the paragraphs are long and there's dialogue in it. At all! It was an agony reading it and I am glad it's a short story. I can't imagine myself reaching the last page if it were more than 250 pages long. It'd definitely put it on my DNF list!
The fact that it's a short tale, doesn't mean it's not infested with unnecessary fillers. There are many descriptions that actually have nothing (important) to do with the protagonist and the ghosts. Oh, the book version of Ichabod Crane doesn't deserve to be a protagonist though. I personally believe a protagonist has to contribute something positive to the story, it's not the case with Ichabod Crane.
Well, actually there is something postive. Ichabod Crane is a good teacher.
But he's far from heroic and this is the case where the movie is actually better that the book. So much better, actually! Oh, just so you know, the headless horseman ghost doesn't appear until the last few pages. As a horror book, I believe it's a complete fail.
Lucky number 1 rating for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Oh, how I wish I could fall in love with it, but it's not for me. And since there's no dialogue in the book, I cannot give you my favorite quote. Your turn, ladies and gentlemen, are you a fan of the TV series? Have you read the book? What do you think of it?
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