The Bloody Chamber

by Angela Carter
The Bloody Chamber cover
Good Books rating 3.69
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  • ID: 7699
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-16
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
Julia's Books · Julia · 2023-07-05
intriguing 4.00

The collection of short stories is a mix of familiar myths retold with a unique twist. The writing is vivid and the themes are dark and provocative.

Julia's review highlights the collection's dark and provocative themes, noting how Angela Carter retells familiar myths with a unique and vivid writing style. She appreciates the bold exploration of desire, power, and human nature, but also acknowledges that some stories may not resonate with every reader. The collection is a daring deconstruction of traditional narratives, making it a compelling read for those who enjoy thought-provoking literature.

Quick quotes

    The writing is vivid and the themes are dark and provocative.

    The collection is a mix of familiar myths retold with a unique twist.

    The stories are bold explorations of desire, power, and human nature.

The Kelly Edit · 2023-02-01
brilliant 4.00

This collection is a fiery, daring exploration of desire, power, and human nature, where traditional narratives are deconstructed. The stories are both shocking and brilliant, though not universally appealing.

The reviewer highlights the collection's bold and daring exploration of desire, power, and human nature. The stories are described as fiery and thrilling, deconstructing traditional narratives in a way that is both shocking and brilliant. However, the reviewer acknowledges that the stories may not be to everyone's taste, with some being particularly unsettling or unpleasant. The prose is praised for its beauty and the stories for their mythic quality, making it a collection that is both dark and captivating.

Quick quotes

    This collection of short stories is a fiery, daring exploration of desire, power, and human nature, where traditional narratives are completely deconstructed.

    The stories are shocking, thrilling, brilliant and awful all at once.

    Probably not to everyone's taste, for sure.

The People's Friend · 2020-07-23
good 3.75

The stories are shocking, thrilling, brilliant, and awful all at once. Not everyone will enjoy them, but they are undeniably impactful.

The reviewer from The People's Friend notes that the stories in this collection are a mix of shocking, thrilling, brilliant, and awful elements. They acknowledge that not every story will resonate with all readers, but the collection is undeniably impactful. The reviewer appreciates the boldness and originality of Carter's writing, which challenges conventional storytelling and offers a unique perspective on traditional narratives. The collection is described as thought-provoking and memorable, despite its mixed reception.

Quick quotes

    The stories are shocking, thrilling, brilliant, and awful all at once.

    Not everyone will enjoy them, but they are undeniably impactful.

    The collection is thought-provoking and memorable.

Once Upon a Bookcase · 2017-10-30
good 3.00

The collection is described as a retelling of classic fairy tales with a dark and sexual twist. The longest story, a retelling of Bluebeard, is criticized for dragging on.

The reviewer notes that the collection is a retelling of classic fairy tales, with a particular focus on the dark and sexual elements of these stories. The longest story, a retelling of Bluebeard, is seen as having enough room for beautiful prose and character development, but the reviewer felt it dragged on and could have been more concise. Despite this, the collection is praised for its bold and daring approach to classic tales, making it a captivating read for those who enjoy dark and twisty storytelling.

Quick quotes

    The Bloody Chamber is a retelling of Bluebeard. It's the longest in the collection, at 42 pages long.

    To be honest, I felt it dragged.

    The collection is a bold and daring exploration of classic fairy tales with a dark and sexual twist.

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