Thursday, August 13, 2015

Edgar and The Tree House Of Usher by Jennifer Adams

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's short story THE FALL of the HOUSE of USHER this is a cute hardback children's book about 3 little birds. Edgar and his friend Roderick and Edgar's sister Lenore. Edgar goes to visit his friend Roderick who is playing in his tree house. Lenore decides that she wants to follow, but there are "no girls allowed" in Roderick's tree house.

There are definite nods to THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER in this story book for children, but the outcome is much better than the original tale for sure.

I enjoyed the illustrations as well in this BabyLit book. As always with the BabyLit books they are age appropriate while introducing the reader to classic literature.

I had never read the book THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER before so when I received this book I wasn't sure what the original was all about. So I got out my handy dandy all things Poe book and read the story.

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THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER by Edgar Allan Poe 


 So really I think Edgar Allan Poe was one twisted individual, but I really enjoy his stories, because there always seems to be a twist. In The Fall of the House of Usher Roderick Usher requests his friend to come stay with him in his time of need. Roderick appears to be a hypochondriac(mentioned a couple of times in the story) and the voice telling the story(the friend that went to help Usher) is surprised by how bad Usher has declined. Roderick and his sister Madeline are living in the family mansion that has become run-down. Madeline's health is declining as well and the friend only sees her once at the very beginning of the story. Roderick seems to also be slipping into madness living in the gloomy oppressive house. The friend feels the oppression as well. When Madeline passes away Roderick talks his friend into entombing her inside one of the vaults in the house for a fortnight before burying her in the family plot. To appease him his friend agrees. Then one dark and stormy night Roderick ends up coming to his friends room for comfort during the storm. The friend reads him a story, but throughout the reading they keep hearing banging and screaming from within the house. Guess who?! For the rest of the story you are going to have to check it out yourselves. I think it was worth the read.

 



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