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sorkatani 's review for:

4.0
mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If you haven't read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, then it is likely you're unaware of what the story is actually about as it is often depicted differently in other mediums.

Dr Jekyll is not the sympathetic character many depictions portray him as. Instead, he is a rather introverted doctor who wonders what it would be like to act as his most base self. He is aware of what he does as Mr. Hyde and it is only after his Hyde-side starts to gain the ability to take control, unsummoned by potion, that Jekyll starts to fight for control of his body. 
This isn't the morality tale of a man with two separate personalities vying for dominance. Instead, it's a tale of a man who wanted to be able to get away with being his worst self and succeeded.

The story is also told from the perspective of those around Jekyll and not by Jekyll/Hyde himself. It's really only through the final expository letter that Jekyll takes the reigns of narration. 

There is also the issue with Stevenson (and the general Victorian era) assigning morality to a person's perceived attractiveness. Hyde is frequently described as "ugly" in a manner that implies "bad" or "evil." Hyde's physique is meant to be so hideous that there must be an underlining "deformity" to account for the repulsion others feel when looking upon him. This is obviously very ableistic and problematic, and I do recommend that if reading aloud to children that you point these issues out and discuss them.

All that said, I absolutely love this story. It's short and intriguing, and Stevenson's writing style is much less stuffy than other writers of his era.

The narration was also very good.

I listened to the audiobook via Everand.