Nevermore

Rating:
Summary: The good points of the novel are as follows...
Review: As people who have read my reviews undoubtedly know, I only write one if I find the work fabulous beyond belief, or want to chuck every copy in existence into a trashcan, then set the lot on fire. This would be an instance of the fabulous kind ( tho by far, not the best book Ive ever read). I must say (to the point at last! ) that the author's depiction of poe appeared very realistic and characteristic of what is known of his life and psyche. The rather gory depictions of the murders are quite along the line of poe's dark writings, and I found them not disgusting, but interesting, as the author seeks to tell where Poe might have gotten inspiration for many of his short stories and poems (obviously the raven being the main work referenced). Although the story is a little far-fetched, I was entertained throughout with Poe and Crocketts antics as they ban together to solve the murders plaguing Baltimore. Although I wouldnt recommend this book to everyone, (those who have read his stories/poems would undoubtedly find it more interesting than those who have not), if you are looking for a quick mystery with unique characters (poe and crockett as "investigators"), I rather think you would enjoy this book. It is a refreshing divergence from the typical (often dully predictable) mysteries in circulation right now. Look for references to "The raven" "The Tell-Tale Heart" "The Cask of Amontillado" "the Masque of the Red Death" "The Premature Burial", and more.

Rating:
Summary: Well, I'll be!!
Review: I could not stop imagining Johnny Depp and John Wayne cast as the main characters in this book! It was awesome to me, but as a native of San Antonio, my opinion is biased. I am also a fan of Poe and enjoyed the made-up recounts of the "fall of the house of Asher!" Read it, if you dare!

Rating:
Summary: I tried to make it to the end
Review: I really did try to finish reading this book -- Honest I did! -- but I just couldn't.

In the beginning, the idea of a full length novel written in Poe-esque style was interesting. Then, when that style was combined with an authentic backwoods Kentucky dialect for Davy Crockett, it was a novelty. After 150 pages it was no longer interesting nor novel, it was just painful. Buried underneath all of this "highfalutin" writing is, I think, a very good story, but I just didn't have the fortitude to dig deep enough to find it.

I have no doubt in my mind that this novel was meticulously researched. I have no doubt that the writing and speaking styles correctly and accurately represent both Poe and Crockett. I have no doubt that the historical settings are correct and representative of the time period. I do, however, have serious doubts about the readability and enjoyment of this book.

Rating:
Summary: a pleasure to read
Review: I recently read Harold Schechter"s novel "Nevermore", and was pleasantly surprised. I actually picked the book off of the bargain table not having heard anything about the author or the book. However, my interest in Edgar Allan Poe's works prompted me to buy it. I thoroughly enjoyed being transported to 1830's Baltimore, a city I have spent some time in. Mr.Schechter nearly convinced me that I was reading one of Poe's actual works. I could actually feel the dark oppresive atmosphere of the setting. I have always enjoyed reading the prose of the nineteenth century American writers, and Schechter seems to have an exceptional talent in this arena. I did have to use a dictionary to enable myself to be transported into the story, but what a ride, and what a learning experience as well. It is a shame that this type of writing is no longer popular.

Rating:
Summary: a pleasure to read
Review: I recently read Harold Schechter"s novel "Nevermore", and was pleasantly surprised. I actually picked the book off of the bargain table not having heard anything about the author or the book. However, my interest in Edgar Allan Poe's works prompted me to buy it. I thoroughly enjoyed being transported to 1830's Baltimore, a city I have spent some time in. Mr.Schechter nearly convinced me that I was reading one of Poe's actual works. I could actually feel the dark oppresive atmosphere of the setting. I have always enjoyed reading the prose of the nineteenth century American writers, and Schechter seems to have an exceptional talent in this arena. I did have to use a dictionary to enable myself to be transported into the story, but what a ride, and what a learning experience as well. It is a shame that this type of writing is no longer popular.

Rating:
Summary: Never again.......
Review: I wanted to like this book - I really did. I love the work of EA Poe and loved the premise of Nevermore but the book did not live up to my expectations. As one can tell by reading the other reviews posted here - many readers seem to have felt this way.

While Harold Schechter has a wonderful background in history that made this book very believable he chose to write the book from Poe's perspective and in his "voice" which only made the book difficult to read. The constant use of italics (about two or three words were italicized per page) and the repetition of certain adjectives such as angelic (which Poe uses every time he describes his beloved Niece Virginia) and devoted (which he uses to describe his own dear aunt Muddy) only get in the way of what could be an exceptional narrative.

While the premise is creative the author weaves many of Poe's own plot lines throughout Nevermore which sort-of detracts from the brilliance of Poe, suggesting that he took his plot lines from real events.

The plot line is thus - in 1834, Davy Crocket publishes his autobiography and Poe roasts it. Crocket shows up and demands an apology or a duel - neither of which take place as a murder occurs which the two join forces to help solve. At the first murder site Poe notices a word scrawled in blood upon the wall which he twice mistakes for the wrong word (which is odd since he supposedly mentally gifted) and both times the word he mistakes still figures into the plot. Once the duo is finally on the right track Poe must look into himself to help solve the murders.

Schechter made Poe out to be an arrogant, self important, condescending wimp, who faints at every murder scene - which only made me dislike Poe. I completely agree with [e-mail]'s review - I think Schecter has a brilliant and creative mind and I will consider reading him again in the future.

Rating:
Summary: This wasn't a comedy? This wasn't a parody?
Review: I was surprised to realize that this book wasn't a comedy. I was laughing happily at the ridiculous prose (crafted to imitate Poe's writing style) and the clever, over-the-top parodies of both Crockett's and Poe's characters. But as I read on, I realized that the novel possibly wasn't intended to be funny. Did I misunderstand? I came to Amazon.Com to find out. Well. Here I found it. It's supposed to be a deadly serious book. None of the reviewers, neither professional nor readers like myself, describe the book as a parody. (Or even acknowledge the parody.) As I read on, I found myself less and less willing to put up with the author's style. Unable to trust it as humor, it's simply a tedious book. I didn't finish it.

Rating:
Summary: Davy Crockett and Edgar Allan Poe investigate MURDER!
Review: In a bizarre and playful rearrangement of history, Nevermore sees the meeting of rugged frontiersman Dave Crockett and celebrated author of the macabre Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore of the early nineteenth century.
In the rich and quaint setting of the period, the brawny hero and the literary genius come to the assistance of the local police to solve a series of murders based around the mystery of 'Nevermore.'
The novel is rich in atmosphere and a delight to read for both fans of crime-writing and English literature. For not only is the story fraught with adventure, but the prose rich in its mastery of the English language. In fact, and at times, it seems as though Schechter is afflicted with logopathy. That though takes nothing away from the book which is a pleasure to read.

Rating:
Summary: Light-Hearted Mystery for Poe Fans
Review: In Harold Schechter's "Nevermore" a young Edgar Allan Poe narrates how he teams up with Davy Crockett to solve a string of ghastly murders in Baltimore. There is much humor, comedy and sarcasm in this book. Schechter, who is certainly well-versed in Poe's writings, has crafted a dead-on parody of Poe's distinctive, if somewhat annoying, narrative style. Readers will have fun finding parallels to Poe's tales and poetry in the novel. Each murder in the novel has striking similarities to a different Poe tale.

In keeping with the parody, the characters in this book are delightfully exaggerated. Poe, Crockett, Maria Clemm and Roger Asher are particularly well done.

The novel is a little too long and some of the jokes tend to get a little stale. Overall, this is a fun, intelligent mystery which keeps the reader guessing almost until the end.

Rating:
Summary: Not for All Tastes
Review: The advice given to most aspiring authors is for them to write what they want to read. I doubt if anyone but Harold Schechter wanted to read a book with Edgar A. Poe and Davy Crockett on the trail of a vicious murderer, but if Schechter thought a gap existed in literature that he wanted to fill, that's fine. And, in fact, the premise was intriguing.

If it had been done in third person, it might've got five stars. Here's the kick: it's written in the first person by Poe. Now, Poe was a great imaginative writer, but although his ideas were astounding he set a high tone and standard for his wordsmanship, so his prose never became lurid (or interesting). He wrote his horrors with almost scientific precision -- which is why we're all glad he wrote short stories, since an entire novel by Poe might look . . . well, something like this.

The faux Poe's-prose is well done, although sometimes approaches satire. Unfortunately it's unrelenting. It's obviously carefully written, with a studied Poe-ness. The stiltedness works very well for some high-burlesque up front, and after the first chapter or two Schechter might've let up a little on the Poeism, or lapsed a little into a more Wodehousian formality with the odd turns of phrase. Instead, it reads -- with the intention I'm sure Schechter meant -- like a novel Poe might've written, and Poe's writing and character both come across eventually as insufferable bores. After a few chapters one wishes Davy Crockett would pick Poe up by his feet and twirl him around and around until he hurls him out of Baltimore altogether.

The other weakness of this book is that, like many, many other historical novels, characters are apt to say the most unlikely things about "current events", that are thrown in (on the optimistic side) to give the book a good timeline for the reader, or (more pessimistic) to show off the author's erudition -- which in this case is impressive.

The book's saving grace is that, unlike so many recent history/mysteries, it's not an enormous book and, if one can hack through Poe's dense prose, can be put away in a relatively short time. So if you're a bibliophile, as I am, always looking for the out-of-the-way or even the wacky, you might want a copy on your shelves. The book is not recommended for the general reader.