El extraño caso del Doctor Jekyll y Mr. Hyde

Por Robert Louis Stevenson y Marta Gómez-Pintado Valero

Publicada por primera vez en inglés en 1886 trata acerca de un abogado, Gabriel John Utterson, que investiga la extraña relación entre su viejo amigo, el Dr. Henry Jekyll, y el misántropo Edward Hyde. El libro es conocido por ser una representación vívida de la psicopatología correspondiente a un desdoblamiento de personalidad.

Las ilustraciones de esta edición son de Marta Gómez-Pintado, que ilustró en esta misma colección Alicia en el país de las maravillas.

"Stevenson, que abrió caminos a los mundos de Pessoa y de Borges, profundiza en un tipo de escritura, un estilo y una construcción, que le permite mantener unidos los polos más extremos con sus redes antagónicas y opuestas."

Enrique Vila-Matas

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Nórdica Libros
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 1 jun 2012
• ISBN: 9788492683376

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and travel writer. Born the son of a lighthouse engineer, Stevenson suffered from a lifelong lung ailment that forced him to travel constantly in search of warmer climates. Rather than follow his father’s footsteps, Stevenson pursued a love of literature and adventure that would inspire such works as Treasure Island (1883), Kidnapped (1886), Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886), and Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes (1879).

Vista previa del libro

EL EXTRAÑO CASO DEL DOCTOR JEKYLL Y MR. HYDE

Robert Louis Stevenson

Ilustraciones de Marta Gómez-Pintado

Traducción de Juan Antonio Molina Foix

Título original: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

© de las ilustraciones: Marta Gómez-Pintado

© de la traducción: Juan Antonio Molina Foix

Edición en ebook: junio de 2013

© Nórdica Libros, S.L.

C/ Fuerte de Navidad, 11, 1.º B 28044 Madrid (España)

www.nordicalibros.com

ISBN DIGITAL: 978-84-92683-37-6

Diseño de colección: Diego Moreno

Corrección ortotipográfica: Ana Patrón

Maquetación ebook: Caurina Diseño Gráfico

Cualquier forma de reproducción, distribución, comunicación pública o transformación de esta obra solo puede ser realizada con la autorización de sus titulares, salvo excepción prevista por la ley. Diríjase a CEDRO (Centro Español de Derechos Reprográficos, www.cedro.org) si necesita fotocopiar o escanear algún fragmento de esta obra.

A Katharine de Mattos ¹

1 Se trata de la prima del autor, Katharine Elizabeth Alan Stevenson (1851-1939), casada más tarde con William Sydney de Mattos, que compartió su infancia con él y frecuentó el cottage de Skerryvore durante la época de gestación de la novela. (N. del T.)

Malo es desatar los lazos que unen por decreto divino;

seguiremos siendo los hijos del brezo y del viento;

aun lejos del hogar, para ti y para mí

todavía florece hermosa la retama en la región del norte.

Contenido

Portadilla

Créditos

Dedicatoria

Cita

Autor

Ilustradora

Ilustración

La historia de la puerta

En busca de Mr. Hyde

El doctor Jekyll se encontraba completamente a gusto

El caso del asesinato de Carew

El incidente de la carta

El extraordinario incidente del doctor Lanyon

El incidente de la ventana

La última noche

El relato del doctor Lanyon

Declaración completa de Henry Jekyll sobre el caso

Robert Louis Stevenson

(Edimburgo, 1850 - Vailima Upolu, Samoa Occidental, 1894)

---

En la tumba de este escritor escocés, en una lejana isla de los mares del Sur a la que fue por motivos de salud, figura grabado el apodo que le dieron los samoanos: Tusitala, «el contador de historias».

Se dio a conocer como novelista con La isla del tesoro (1883) y su popularidad como escritor se basó fundamentalmente en los emocionantes argumentos de sus novelas fantásticas y de aventuras, en las que siempre aparecen contrapuestos el bien y el mal, a modo de alegoría moral que se sirve del misterio y la aventura.

Fue muy reconocido en vida y su escritura ha sido de gran influencia para importantes autores posteriores.

Marta Gómez-Pintado

---

Nació en 1967 en Madrid, donde estudió Bellas Artes.

Compagina su labor como pintora, dibujante, retratista, ilustradora y profesora de dibujo y pintura.

Ha realizado diversas exposiciones de obra pictórica y obra gráfica. Ha ilustrado poesía (El año en que todos se aburrieron la mente. Luca. Esperma de ballena. Xusto O´Mon.) y algún pasaje de Don Quijote de La Mancha («El Quijote entre todos»).

Su primera visita al otro lado del espejo la hace con Alicia y Gulliver, personal revisión de dichos mitos, fundidos en un encuentro imaginario e ilustrados también por ella.

Se identifica plenamente con André Breton cuando afirma «Soy todo lo que he hecho y todo lo que no he hecho».

La historia de la puerta

El abogado Mr. Utterson era un hombre de semblante adusto, jamás iluminado por una sonrisa; frío, parco y vergonzoso en la conversación; remiso en sentimientos; enjuto, alto, taciturno, aburrido, y sin embargo adorable, en alguna medida. En las reuniones de amigos, y cuando el vino era de su agrado, irradiaba de sus ojos algo eminentemente humano; algo que, a decir verdad, jamás salía a relucir en su conversación, pero que expresaba no solo con aquellos gestos silenciosos de su cara después de la cena, sino más a menudo y llamativamente en su vida cotidiana. Era austero consigo mismo; bebía ginebra cuando estaba solo, para mortificar su afición por los vinos añejos; y aunque le encantaba el teatro, hacía ya veinte años que no cruzaba las puertas de ninguno. En cambio mostraba una acreditada tolerancia en su trato con los demás; unas veces asombrándose, casi con envidia, de la gran tensión anímica que implicaban sus delitos; y en cualquier situación extrema era más propenso a prestar ayuda que a reprender. «Me inclino por la herejía de Caín —solía decir pintorescamente—: dejo que mi hermano se vaya al diablo por su propio pie».¹ Con este carácter, a menudo tuvo la suerte de ser el último conocido de confianza y la última influencia bienhechora en las vidas de hombres venidos a menos. Y mientras estos siguieron acudiendo a sus aposentos, jamás les mostró el más leve cambio de actitud.

Sin duda esa proeza le resultaba fácil a Mr. Utterson, ya que era reservado en el mejor de los casos, e incluso sus amistades parecían basarse en una similar liberalidad francamente cordial. Es característico de un hombre modesto el aceptar su círculo de amistades creado de manera casual; y ese era el estilo del abogado. Sus amigos eran los que tenían su misma sangre, o aquellos a quienes conocía desde hacía más tiempo; sus afectos crecían con el tiempo, como la hiedra, y no implicaban la menor inclinación por el objeto. De ahí, sin duda, el vínculo que le unía con Mr. Richard Enfield, pariente lejano suyo y hombre muy conocido en la ciudad. A muchos les intrigaba qué podían ver el uno en el otro, o qué tema de conversación podían compartir. Quienes se tropezaban con ellos en sus paseos dominicales contaban que no decían nada, que parecían extraordinariamente aburridos, y que acogían con evidente alivio la aparición de un amigo. A pesar de todo eso, aquellos dos hombres otorgaban la mayor importancia a esas excursiones, las consideraban lo más preciado de cada semana y, con tal de poder disfrutarlas sin interrupción, no solo dejaban de lado ocasiones de placer, sino que incluso se resistían a las demandas de sus negocios.

Sucedió que en uno de aquellos paseos sus pasos los llevaron a una callejuela en un concurrido barrio de Londres. La calle era pequeña y de las consideradas tranquilas, aunque en los días laborables se llevaba a cabo en ella un floreciente comercio. Al parecer, a sus habitantes les iba muy bien, y todos ellos porfiaban con la esperanza de que les fuera todavía mejor y empleaban el excedente de sus ganancias en coquetería; de modo que los escaparates de las tiendas que se alineaban a lo largo de aquella calle parecían invitarle a uno como si fueran filas de sonrientes dependientas. Incluso en domingo, cuando ocultaba sus más floridos encantos y permanecía relativamente vacía de tráfico, la calle resplandecía por contraste con su sórdido vecindario, como un fuego en un bosque; y con sus postigos recién pintados, sus bronces bien pulidos, y la general limpieza y alegría ambiental, atraía y complacía en el acto la mirada del viandante.

A dos puertas de una esquina, a mano izquierda yendo hacia el este, la entrada a un patio rompía el alineamiento de las fachadas; y justo en aquel lugar, la siniestra mole de cierto edificio proyectaba su gablete sobre la calle. Tenía dos pisos de altura; no se veía ninguna ventana, solo una puerta en la planta baja y un frente ciego de muro descolorido en el piso superior; y en todos sus rasgos mostraba las señales de un prolongado y sórdido abandono. La puerta, desprovista de campanilla o aldaba, estaba excoriada y despintada. Los vagabundos se metían en el hueco y encendían cerillas en los entrepaños; los niños jugaban a las tiendas en los escalones; el colegial había probado su navaja en las molduras; y durante casi una generación nadie parecía haber ahuyentado a aquellos visitantes fortuitos, ni reparado sus destrozos.

Mr. Enfield y el abogado se encontraban al otro lado de la callejuela; pero cuando llegaron frente a la entrada, el primero alzó

Comentarios para El extraño caso del Doctor Jekyll y Mr. Hyde

[sometimeunderwater · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Bet this was a blitz before everyone and their kid knew the secret twist. A fine gothic novella, proceeding on railroad towards the ending you already knew was coming.

[readingover50 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I am watching the new season of Penny Dreadful and they are featuring Dr. Jekyll this year. I realized I have never read this book, so I decided to pick it up in preparation for the show.

The writing feels very dense, and the pacing is slow. The reader slowly gets a feeling of dread, rather than outright scares. This is common with many of the horror stories of the period that I have read.

The story is interesting, with much musing on the nature of good and evil. It was a bit slower paced than I like, but this is a short book and easy to read in a day.

[williemeikle-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

It's not called a classic without good reason. It's an almost perfectly plotted short novel, all the parts complementing each other, all serving to build tension and anticipation. The good doctor is suitably tragic, Hyde is suitably degenerate and, despite having seen the multitude of adaptations over the years, it still feels remarkably fresh and modern. All of Stevenson's stylistic flourishes are on show, as well as his rarely bettered storytelling ability. I'd give it six stars if I could.

[starla_aurora · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

interesting... not what I remember from 15 yrs ago. that's what happens with memory and Hollywood influence.

[john257hopper · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This is a re-read of this classic 19th century novella which has been the inspiration behind so many spin-offs since. It is a taut and atmospheric piece of writing, and the conclusion that Jekyll and Hyde are one and the same, two sides of the same being, only becomes evident near the end - it is hard for us to understand how this would have shocked and thrilled the reader in 1886, so familiar has the Jekyll and Hyde motif become.

[stahl2ricco · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

“... that man is not truly one, but truly two.”The idea that we all have a dark side? Well, certainly the main character of this story does! Dr. Henry Jekyll meets/creates/releases Edward Hyde, “The evil side of my nature,...”, and is not the same for it! It's a quick read, well except for the last chapter that draaaaags on, and an important story in the history of "horror" literature, so I'm glad I read it! Not scary by today's standards, but still a freaky idea and one that has been repeated often! I wonder which of my two halves would be the dominant one? Or do I have more than two? Hmm...

[margaretfield · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

might be the best crafted short story I've ever read

[angelajmaher · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This is one of those classic stories it would be almost impossible to not be aware of on some level. The basic concept of the book is deeply ingrained in pop culture, but a lot of people probably haven't read the origin of what has become a legend of sorts.Reading the classics isn't always easy; the writing style being of a previous era. But it gives a new and interesting perspective to read the original texts that have spawned so many echoes through to the modern day.This book is a good place to start if you're wanting to start dipping into the classics. The older style might take some getting used to, but it's short. It would be easy enough to read the whole thing in a single quiet afternoon, but if read in smaller doses, still wouldn't take a terribly long time to get through.As with other classic works I've read, such as Frankenstein, the nuances and details were not quite what I expected. It has a much deeper reflection on human nature, for one.This is well worth reading, if only to see how the tale was originally portrayed.

[borrows0n0wants · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I love the story. However, since nearly 98% of the population is familiar with this story, it is kind of a drag to read this since you know how everything unfolds. I also didn't find the way in which the story was told very captivating. It is such a thin book, and I had a terrible time getting through it. I actually skipped parts in this book because they were so dreadfully boring.

[bettesbooks · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I was expecting more. Why? Because everyone knows the tale, I just assumed the writing would be better.

[ffortuna_6 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Small but incredibly effective. Like, I know Jekyll and Hyde are the same person. Everyone knows that. I still felt actually horrified at the reveal of that fact, because Stevenson did such a good job drawing the main characters and the people surrounding them. Like The Picture of Dorian Gray, (Wilde was an admirer of the book), it explores inner and outer natures by dividing them, showing what people might do if it would never be found out and never physically affect them, and it's all the more compelling because their flaws start out so small and relatable. Jekyll didn't suffer from a deep dark secret at first, he just didn't want anyone to know about his small flaws. Excellent for the Halloween season, and especially good read in company with Dorian Gray, because both are so complete, so layered, and so subtle where it counts.

[dlow_54 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I originally selected this book because I have it on my bookshelf and I have never had the time to read it. I pulled it off the shelf and placed it by my bed with hopes to finish it before my reading class was over. As it turned out I just never found the time to crack open the cover. Therefore, I searched for the audio version. To my surprised I found it right away at a reseaonable price and by a narrartor with which I was familiar. I have listen to Dick Hill narrate several novels I have read by Sanda Brown. I listened to the book in one night. I was was intrigued by the story but also confused. I had a hard time following the narration. A few times I glanced through the book while i was listening to Dick read the pages. I was surprised with how difficult this book is to read. I didn't think it would be so complicated. I had never thought of this as a text for children, and now I really don't think that it is. I think the text is too difficult for many students, and students in the classes I teach would need a lot of background information taught before a story like this could be even be looked at. I do not forsee reading this book to my class, or for my class. I am glad I read the story and I feel it was important, but I think the text would be better suited for a college level course where students were able to talk about the characters in greater detail and with greater insight. I do recommend this book for adults. The text is a classic and it should still be read because it did explain what I knew about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

[something_-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I fantom I would have liked this book a lot more if I didn't already know from the start who was Hyde. Nevertheless, it was actually very interesting once the "action" picked up. Although I found Utterson somewhat boring at times, the ending of the book made it worth it to see it through. The most interesting part was definitely the explanation of Dr Jekyll himself at the end, which I read eagerly. Overall, it was a nice book.

[marthaearly · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

So short, but so powerful. This is one of those stories where you think you know how it goes, but upon reading you find that it has been re-interpreted for so many years in so many forms that it feels completely different. Well, not completely. But still, the decades of alterations made this novella feel fresh and rich. I would have liked it to be longer, since I was so drawn in by the world of dark clouds and sinister encounters, and the novella ends on an abrupt note. However, it was pleasingly eerie and direct while it lasted.

[clancy.coonradt · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Great piece of literature. Really interesting way of keeping the reader blind to very key pieces of information that would allow for easier identification of potential threats and climaxes. Really enjoy RLS and look forward to reading more of his work.

[robert.zimmermann · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I wasn't sure what to really expect with this one. Yes, it's a classic that "everyone knows about," but I didn't really know what it was about going into reading it. I knew there was a Doctor who turns himself into Mr. Hyde (pure evil). I didn't really know the specifics or anything about other characters or story line in general.

I have a somewhat ignorance with a good amount of classic books. I know them, I know enough to want to read them, but I don't peruse them further until I read them. This helps give me a fresh reaction to the story.

So my reaction to this story was great overall. Like many classics I actually listened to the audiobook version (librivox.org is GREAT for this and my budget) because it helps me read them at a good pace and makes it easier for me to pay attention. I just can't read some of the writing sometimes no matter how beautiful. Ok, back to the review, haha. It was a great story with a mystery and a great moral dilemma about good and evil. I won't really get into much more though. I know it's short and I'm not saying really anything at all. But I really like Stevenson's writing and the horror added into the mystery of what's going on. I've read Treasure Island only from him, so this is number 2 I've read. I'll have to now go and read more of him since I'm enjoying it.

[dmu-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I liked this book a lot. It's a short book but it still has lots of mystery and exciting parts within it. It's about a man named Mr. Utterson who tries to learn about the mysterious Mr. Hyde who is Dr. Jekyll's evil side.In the book, the setting is based in England. Dr. Jekyll finds a way to make a compound that allows him to transform into a separate personality, Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde is a younger and pure evil being. I personally like Mr. Hyde's name a lot. His name sounds like the word "hide" and Mr. Hyde's personality reflects his name. He tries to be discreet and tries to not talk to anyone unless he has to. Throughout the book, Mr. Utterson tries to learn about this mysterious Mr. Hyde. Almost nobody knows about him. Finally, after many mysterious encounters with Dr. Jekyll and one murder, he learns who Mr. Hyde truly is when he reads a letter that was left for him. I also liked this book a lot because the story isn't just told from the point of view of one person. It's mainly told from the point of view from one person, but it's also told from the point of view of two other people.This book is very good! It makes you feel multiple emotions as you read it. It makes you excited, scared, surprised, and curious. I would recommend it to many people.

[rajivc_18 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I had read this book many years back, and read it again. It is indeed one of the more fascinating books that I have read. It's been a while since I read some of the old classics ( I started with Bertie Wooster!), and it took one or two pages before I got back into the swing of it allThe concept is incredible, and does indeed hark to the present when we are trying all sorts of brain and other experiments. It does teach us the dangers of meddling too much with biology, and playing God. Beautiful book, Needs to be widely read again

[mesmericrevelation · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I could not put this book down. I love it and I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I will definitely be re-reading this one next month and every October from now on.It is such an incredible story. Like me, you may know it from movies but, as always, the book is so much better. I cannot say enough good stuff about this it.Since it is so good and such a fast read, I will be making everyone I know read this. If you haven't read it yet, go read it right now. You wont regret it. Seriously, go! Right now!

[shaunesay · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This is the first time I've ever read the original Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I'll admit I had no idea it was written by the same author as Treasure Island, which I also have not read yet. I would not have put those two ideas to the same author, so it's been enlightening all around! It's also amazing to me what a short story this really was, only 94 pages, to have inspired so many adaptations and interpretations, movies, etc.

It was an interesting dark fantasy tale with an important lesson about giving in to our baser natures. The more we indulge them, the more it becomes who we are until we're no longer able to hide or control those tendencies.

[a.berry · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

"He was wild when he was young; a long while ago to be sure; but in the law of God there is no statute of limitations." - Utterson, Esq.The best thing about old books is the detail in the writing. It makes more obvious the complacency of mind found in the generation of television and wifi.Henry Jekyll recognized that man has two persons living inside them - both good and evil. He was bored with being the "good doctor" and wanted to indulge in mischief without being held accountable for his actions, so he freed his murderous, unscrupulous self in the form of Edward Hyde. At first, had it not been for his evil other's indifference toward him, Jekyll would have been tempted to remain the depraved Mr. Hyde, but eventually they came to resent one another and Hyde became Jekyll's ruin as happens when one chooses their evil self.I'm glad I read this book. I was expecting Mr. Hyde to be as big and ugly as he is in movies, but he was actually a petite man who had an appetite for very bad coupled with a malevolent countenance and a look of deformity that no one could put their finger on.Goodread!

[bryndahlquis · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I wish people still wrote this way. Or at least, still wrote this way WELL.Just the first sentence is great. Stevenson really has a great way of describing people, both physically and characteristically.One of the most interesting things about this story is all the possibilities and underlying meanings you can get from it. The way Jekyll refers to both of his personalities in third person, his underlying thirst for and pleasure in evil, his addiction to Hyde, etc. It's actually pretty dark, and I'm sure we can all agree that Jekyll is a bit on the crazy side.But there's definitely a reason that Jekyll and Hyde have become household names and inspiration to countless stories and characters.

[jaygheiser · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Great story. I was very surprised that the chronology was reversed. It starts at the end and works its way forward, a device that none of the knock-off versions of this tale use. A master story teller.

[ohernaes · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

The classic story of the good, but boring Dr Jekyll who transforms himself into the vital and evil Mr Hyde. Jekyll comes to loath him, but has become addicted.

[amydross · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Strangely affecting, considering that obviously I (like everyone else, pretty much) started it already knowing the "secret" at its core. Even though I knew Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde would ultimately turn out to be the same man, the story kept me turning pages, in equal parts horrified and fascinated to find out the details of the transformation. A masterwork of suspense.It's weird how there are no women, really, in the whole story. Were there really so many bachelors wandering around London during this era, and did anyone comment on it, or is this just an artifact of fiction?

[steadfastreader · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This books was surprisingly fun. It has a slow start for the first few pages, but after that it takes off.

A quick fun little read, definitely worth the time.

[sjmccreary · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

The famous and classic story about a doctor who has discovered the way to divide the good and evil natures of himself into two different persons.My first surprise was how short this story is. My second was that we never actually meet Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde, except in passing. My third was that I have no greater understanding of how to interpret the book now than I did before, and perhaps even less. I'm glad I've read it at last. It is, as I said, short. The language, while stilted, isn't that difficult. It is thought provoking - the whole issue of the natures of good and evil and which is dominate in man - but maybe not as provocative now as it was when first published in 1886. I think its greatest value now is as a cultural icon, rather than a great story. But that is still terribly important.

[multifaceted_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This book isn't bad; it's a short read, and doesn't go too much in depth. But I think the fact that, reading it today as one of the classics in literature that EVERYONE knows the story of, even though most of us haven't really read it, has really and truly spoiled it for me. I tried to transport myself back to Victorian England. I tried to think of the times where "penny dreadful" suspense and horror novels were rampant, and books like "The String of Pearls" (about and characters like Sweeney Todd) could be bought, or, later real life characters like "Jack the Ripper" could be read about in the sensationalistic newspapers. I tried to keep in mind the sentiments and misconceptions of the time about death and character. But for all of that, the suspense of this novel was ruined by my having been inundated with various versions of the story since I was a kid. I imagine it really could have been something, though, at the time it was published. After all, I do appreciate the author's picking out the calm, objective character (Utterson) to tell the story, in order to make the suspense build up that much more and make the other characters in it come across that much more fantastical. Having read a good bit of "Gothic fiction" again lately, I find this fits nicely in with fantastical, almost campfire-story-like books such as Dracula, Frankenstein and even the aforementioned String of Pearls. But overall it's not so strange and transporting as stories like The Monk, The Castle of Otranto, or even Faust. But then again, who knows? Perhaps if I had never heard of Jekyll or Hyde before this, I would put this book in with the latter group, too. Although I tend to think that in order to do that, Stevenson would have had to elaborate a little more on the differences between Jekyll and Hyde, and would have had to go into the psychological aspect quite a bit farther (and really, he only touched the tip of the iceberg here).

[clurb · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Stevenson paints a very dark and bleak picture of London. His language makes the story very claustrophobic and although I came at this book already knowing the plot, I found that the understated writing style made it all just a touch more scary than I'd expected. Best read alone on a rainy night, under a blanket.

[gonzalo8046 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Nice short read. Even though you know the ending ten pages in, I still enjoyed it.