Matthew Pearl: The Poe Shadow

[Anamnesis]

This is the second of Pearl's literary mysteries, the first being 2003's The Dante Club. You can guess which piece of literature inspired that book . In 1849 a young lawyer named Quentin Clark, after reading about the death of Edgar Allen Poe, finds out that the story does not make sense. Having admired Poe's works for quite some time he takes it upon himself to figure out what really happened. Encountering assassins and rebellious political groups along the way, this does not go as easy as he would have hoped.

Overall there were elements of the book that I liked and disliked. Pearl vividly recreates mid-1800's America and Europe for the audience while not going overboard with florid descriptions. Also, the story is well-structured and suspenseful. I rarely encountered a lull in the book. Well, until . . .

The ending. It seemed like the conclusions reached about Poe's death took forever to be described. I wasn't too fond on the way Pearl decided to unearth his revelations either, having Clark and another important character talk about what happened for what was probably ten pages. I also felt that some of the subplots were silly and detracted from the main mystery. While I enjoyed this book, I think I prefer Pearl's earlier work more as it remained focused and had a better conclusion.

 

[Robert]

I tried to read The Poe Shadow, but I gave up after about fifty or so pages. I just couldn't find anything about it that I liked. It seemed so pointless.

The Dante Club was the better of the two novels.

 

[angerball]

I gave up on The Poe Shadow earlier this year. I thought it started brilliantly, and had me hooked, but it just started to drag. It's like there wasn't enough happening to keep the story moving forwards, and in the end I had to put it down.

 

[GERBAM]

The second novel debacle

I too read both of Pearl's books and was struck by how he portrayed the personalities of the characters (based upon what is known about all of them)
I found the DANTE CLUB truly delightful to read. The story was far less gloomy than the POE SHADOW and perhaps this is what turned readers off? I enjoyed both books and was really in the mood to be taken into the worlds each exhibits.

I think we have to suspend some of our 20-20th centuries expectations. To my mind Pearl wrote both books in the spirit of the mystery novels published in the 19th century.

I really look forward to reading books like these ... that take real people who are artists in some way and tell a compelling story based on truth or not because the tale humanizes the celebrity. I am just now reading and ARC of a book coming out soon titled THE DRACULA DOSSIER by James Reese ... I won't spoil it for anyone but the little I have read so far has me riveted.

I do admit that some of these kinds of books, like other kinds of books can be royal distortions and make reading them no fun at all.

And I think Pearl may be suffering from the 2nd novel downer for lots of readers as you all expressed. I am eager to see where he goes next in his
19th century milieu. The Shelleys perhaps? Great stuff to work with there. Or maybe a focus on one of Dicken's or Hardy's novels? I think it's fun to speculate.

 

[Anamnesis]

Yeah, I figured that Pearl was just trying to remain faithful to the time period in which his book was set. It still didn't make certain scenes any less irritating .

I'm not sure what Pearl's upcoming novel is going to be about. I think it'd be cool if he wrote about the Shelleys. The Bronte family is another possibility.

 

[Robert]

As long as his next novel is better then the Poe Shadow.

 

[GERBAM]

I'm not sure what Pearl's upcoming novel is going to be about. I think it'd be cool if he wrote about the Shelleys. The Bronte family is another possibility.

ANAMNESIS
GMTA I was playing with the ideas you all shared and based on them I came to the conclusion that THE SHELLEYS would probably be next. Their story is so rich in every human emotion and FRANKENSTEIN was born of the friendships they had. While Percy is still read with pleasure it's Mary who broke ground with 'THE MONSTER'. She broke so many 19thC rules and yet she was not treated the way the Brontes were. Interesting paradox.

I love the Brontes too but their story is not as exciting in so many respects.

Another group who would be splendid is THE PRE-RAPHAELITES who were a group of painters and poets (Dante Gabriel Rosetti) who dared challenge the status quo of the art world when they entered their work in a competition. They are amazingly interesting. If you are looking for a great biography to wile away the summer 'PRE-RAPHAELITES IN LOVE' is an extraordinary book.

I may have mentioned that I am reading THE DRACULA DOSSIER which seems to be teh story of Stoker's life so far. It's slow going but I remain very curious
about the way James Reese inserted footnotes and direct quotes from other sources ... I have to check to see if they are fiction too.

Anyway all of us seem to be willing to stick with Pearl for at least one more book. That's a good thing IMHO.