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The Elephant Man
John Merrick had lived for more than twenty years imprisoned in a body that condemned him to a miserable life in the workhouse and to humiliation as a circus sideshow freak.
But beneath that tragic exterior, within that enormous and deformed head, thrived the soul of a poet, the heart of a dreamer, the longings of a man. Merrick was doomed to suffer forever—until the kind Dr. Treves gave him the first real home in the London Hospital and the town's most beautiful and esteemed actress made possible Merrick's cherished dream of human contact—and love.
But beneath that tragic exterior, within that enormous and deformed head, thrived the soul of a poet, the heart of a dreamer, the longings of a man. Merrick was doomed to suffer forever—until the kind Dr. Treves gave him the first real home in the London Hospital and the town's most beautiful and esteemed actress made possible Merrick's cherished dream of human contact—and love.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
September 21, 2015
I recall buying this book right after seeing David Lynch’s film of the same name back in the early 1980’s. The Elephant Man tells the moving and largely true story of Joseph* Merrick, (1862-1890) born in Leicester, England who suffered from an extremely severe case of neurofibromatosis and/or the result of a disease known as Proteus syndrome. His mother died when he was 11 and when his father remarried a year later, he left school to roll cigars in a factory but had to quit in a couple years because his right hand became too deformed to do the required tasks. He tried peddling wares for his father but by then his deformities were so severe and his speech so impaired, people were either afraid of him or unable to understand him. He went from workhouse to freak show, to eventually being rescued and helped by members of the London Hospital, especially Dr. Frederick Treves.
I wondered when I picked up The Elephant Man again after 35 years if it would still move me like it did the first time. Actually I think I felt it more this time. is a short documentary about Joseph Merrick. Based on this info, the Sparks� book and Lynch film are mostly accurate.
My 1980 trade paperback edition is still in pretty good shape, which will come in handy for the next read.
*Mistakenly called John in the movie and book due to Dr. Treves desire to protect his identity.
I wondered when I picked up The Elephant Man again after 35 years if it would still move me like it did the first time. Actually I think I felt it more this time. is a short documentary about Joseph Merrick. Based on this info, the Sparks� book and Lynch film are mostly accurate.
My 1980 trade paperback edition is still in pretty good shape, which will come in handy for the next read.
*Mistakenly called John in the movie and book due to Dr. Treves desire to protect his identity.
August 3, 2017
3.5 stars.
Review to come
Review to come
November 16, 2013
I can't explain why I love this novel, It's so heartbreaking and depressing. but it will always be one of my most favorite books! <3
November 7, 2022
A tough one. I just read it was based on the movie rather than the other way around?
November 17, 2016
lise 1'deyken, 10 saat ingilizce görüyorduk, anadolu liseliler bilir. işte bunun 4 saatinde farklı hoca giriyordu, bize penguin books'un eğitim amaçlı sadeleştirme yaptığı bi serisi var, person education, 3. seviye olan pre-intermediate, bazen de 4. seviye intermediate, onları aldırırdı. bu kitap onlardan biri.
tabi benim ingilizcem o zamanlar şahane falan değil. kitabı okumak gibi değil de daha çok audio-book gibi değerlendirsek daha güzel olur :D:D:D:D:D
neyse genelde hoca okudu, arada biz böyle okuduk bu kitabı, sonra filmini seyrettik: The Elephant Man, 1980, dir. David Lynch (Lynch hazretlerini ilk izleyişim ve aşık oluşum ayrıca, ama ben bunu sonradan fark ettim. ayrıca Anthony Hopkins'in henüz ponçik yüzüyle 43 yaşında olduğu yıllar :D) okumasanız da izleyin.
ve bu gerçek bir hayat öyküsü. ve 27 yaşında ölümü ise manidar değil de nedir?
kitabı hatırlamıyorum pek haliyle, daha çok filmi var aklımda. yani hikayeyi hatırlıyorum ama dilini falan bilemiyorum zaten dediğim gibi ya 3. ya 4. seviyedeydi kitap. sonuçta parçalanmamak elde değil bu hikayede. benim için hayatımın öteki etiketini ve saflığın içinde yüzen birinin ölümün kıyısına nasıl geldiğini kendi iliklerimde hissettiğim birkaç hikayeden biri. nasıl kullanıldığının, itildiğinin, reddedildiğinin, ve artık son raddesine gelen yitmişlikte, bile isteye ölüme gidiş. muhtemelen anlamadınız ne demek istedim ama spoiler vermek istemiyorum çünkü sizi çarpan yeri orası. Joseph Merrick'in ölümü. tabi bu benim için geçerli, belki şimdi okusam daha farklı özümseyebilirim. lakin filmin etkisinin daha büyük olduğunu düşünüyorum. ya bi de, ben duygusal insanım yani bana çok da şey yapmayın :D
tabi benim ingilizcem o zamanlar şahane falan değil. kitabı okumak gibi değil de daha çok audio-book gibi değerlendirsek daha güzel olur :D:D:D:D:D
neyse genelde hoca okudu, arada biz böyle okuduk bu kitabı, sonra filmini seyrettik: The Elephant Man, 1980, dir. David Lynch (Lynch hazretlerini ilk izleyişim ve aşık oluşum ayrıca, ama ben bunu sonradan fark ettim. ayrıca Anthony Hopkins'in henüz ponçik yüzüyle 43 yaşında olduğu yıllar :D) okumasanız da izleyin.
ve bu gerçek bir hayat öyküsü. ve 27 yaşında ölümü ise manidar değil de nedir?
kitabı hatırlamıyorum pek haliyle, daha çok filmi var aklımda. yani hikayeyi hatırlıyorum ama dilini falan bilemiyorum zaten dediğim gibi ya 3. ya 4. seviyedeydi kitap. sonuçta parçalanmamak elde değil bu hikayede. benim için hayatımın öteki etiketini ve saflığın içinde yüzen birinin ölümün kıyısına nasıl geldiğini kendi iliklerimde hissettiğim birkaç hikayeden biri. nasıl kullanıldığının, itildiğinin, reddedildiğinin, ve artık son raddesine gelen yitmişlikte, bile isteye ölüme gidiş. muhtemelen anlamadınız ne demek istedim ama spoiler vermek istemiyorum çünkü sizi çarpan yeri orası. Joseph Merrick'in ölümü. tabi bu benim için geçerli, belki şimdi okusam daha farklı özümseyebilirim. lakin filmin etkisinin daha büyük olduğunu düşünüyorum. ya bi de, ben duygusal insanım yani bana çok da şey yapmayın :D
bir kez olsun yatarak uyumak
xoxo
iko
May 18, 2010
I believe this is one of the first books I’ve read that is based on the movie, rather than vice versa. At times it crosses the line into sentimentality, but romantics will take heart and a handful of tissues. Both the movie and the book condensed and misrepresented the real history of the real Elephant Man for dramatic effect. They also got his name wrong; it was Joseph and not John, but this is a common mistake attributed to his doctor’s memoir. However, what Christine Sparks captures is the humanity of a man who was barely accepted as human, who in turn inspired others to view their own lives and the things we easily take for granted through his eyes. The earnestness of Merrick and his pure joy at the simple pleasures in life, like hearing the happy laughter of the nurses on the ward, remind the reader of how easy it to be distracted from enjoying life.
May 27, 2024
Bruh no words again😭😭😭 I knew I had to get this book because the elephant man is one of my favorite movies and now this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. The ending is incredibly moving and so poetic, I’m literally sobbing just like I did with the movie😭 I 10/10 recommend
November 24, 2024
My first english book. Read it in 5th grade and I loved the Story. It was very fascinating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2022
Today I ended reading book titled Elephant Man by Christine Sparks. I enjoyed this novel event though it was short. The longer I think about it the more peculiar it seems.
Whole plot is simple, but gripping and mysterious. I feel like there were a lot of secrets, that are hidden from the reader. I’m not sure if this book had a metaphorical meaning, that I didn’t understand, but if I have to be honest, it made me think. Why did author chose such an ending? What happened to the Dr Treves? What does he feel? How people reacted to the Joseph’s Merrick’s death? What happened next? This book left me with a feeling of numbness but with curiosity.
Dr Treves- the narrator of the novel in whole story shows, how much he cares about Joseph Merrick, but in the last chapter, I feel like it changes. We don’t get to know his feelings. We have no idea, what happened. Did he stopped caring after Merrick become famous? What changed?
In my opinion author did great at describing Joseph’s appearance, because I could see image of his elephant-like head with a focused expression reading the Bible. It great experience.
This novel left tears in my eyes. The ending was extremally depressing, because when we finally get to see happy Merrick, he dies in a symbolic way of “trying to be like a normal person� and it’s heartbreaking. For the whole book I felt sorry for this character and then he “left me� in such a way�
I see this novel as something special and recommend it to everyone, because of the feeling after reading it. It is incredible.
Whole plot is simple, but gripping and mysterious. I feel like there were a lot of secrets, that are hidden from the reader. I’m not sure if this book had a metaphorical meaning, that I didn’t understand, but if I have to be honest, it made me think. Why did author chose such an ending? What happened to the Dr Treves? What does he feel? How people reacted to the Joseph’s Merrick’s death? What happened next? This book left me with a feeling of numbness but with curiosity.
Dr Treves- the narrator of the novel in whole story shows, how much he cares about Joseph Merrick, but in the last chapter, I feel like it changes. We don’t get to know his feelings. We have no idea, what happened. Did he stopped caring after Merrick become famous? What changed?
In my opinion author did great at describing Joseph’s appearance, because I could see image of his elephant-like head with a focused expression reading the Bible. It great experience.
This novel left tears in my eyes. The ending was extremally depressing, because when we finally get to see happy Merrick, he dies in a symbolic way of “trying to be like a normal person� and it’s heartbreaking. For the whole book I felt sorry for this character and then he “left me� in such a way�
I see this novel as something special and recommend it to everyone, because of the feeling after reading it. It is incredible.
March 18, 2018
Books that are based on a film are always difficult to craft, especially when most of your audience know what's coming, but Sparks' ability to accurately convey the poignancy that encapsulated the entirety of Joseph* Merrick's life was more than enough to overcome this obstacle.
When reading, you have to actively engage with the words in order to absorb them, hence why the evocation of emotion is so much more potent in this scenario as opposed to the film, which simply requires you to sit back and passively watch. Both will inevitably make you teary-eyed, but my point is that through the medium of books you feel as if you are there with him, suffering as much as he through the incidents that we see occur.
Merrick was a man who, because of a slew of severe facial deformities (which were later conjectured to be ), lived a very isolated lifestyle due to his fear of being ridiculed and tormented. These worries were justified, however, as he spent his late adolescence through to his mid-twenties as a part of a freak-show. It was here that he was dubbed a freak for the first time, aggressively manhandled and beaten, whilst also being fed a bare minimum in his decrepit domain within the show's grounds. Alone, cold and scared; can you imagine the terrors he must have endured throughout his short, turbulent life?
Sparks' writing gracefully flows from page to page, allowing you to become lost within the world she so expertly describes. As a result, you feel the angst, the dread, as well as the sheer terror that Merrick has to endure; it's rare to read a book that can evoke so much emotion. Perhaps it's because Merrick was a real person who truly faced these abhorrent incidents that we feel so deeply saddened by reading it.
When reading, you have to actively engage with the words in order to absorb them, hence why the evocation of emotion is so much more potent in this scenario as opposed to the film, which simply requires you to sit back and passively watch. Both will inevitably make you teary-eyed, but my point is that through the medium of books you feel as if you are there with him, suffering as much as he through the incidents that we see occur.
Merrick was a man who, because of a slew of severe facial deformities (which were later conjectured to be ), lived a very isolated lifestyle due to his fear of being ridiculed and tormented. These worries were justified, however, as he spent his late adolescence through to his mid-twenties as a part of a freak-show. It was here that he was dubbed a freak for the first time, aggressively manhandled and beaten, whilst also being fed a bare minimum in his decrepit domain within the show's grounds. Alone, cold and scared; can you imagine the terrors he must have endured throughout his short, turbulent life?
Sparks' writing gracefully flows from page to page, allowing you to become lost within the world she so expertly describes. As a result, you feel the angst, the dread, as well as the sheer terror that Merrick has to endure; it's rare to read a book that can evoke so much emotion. Perhaps it's because Merrick was a real person who truly faced these abhorrent incidents that we feel so deeply saddened by reading it.
January 4, 2018
My general experience is that the book is often better than the film and is why I normally read the book first. Not in this case, though. I have only just come across this book, but saw the film years ago. It's definitely better this way round as you already have a picture of the main characters in your mind. But the film is so brilliant that it would be almost impossible to match it for drama and suspense. An average 3* book, a brilliant 5* film. In both cases, though, it's hard to imagine that the Elephant Man, Joseph (John) Merrick, was a real person and both the author and film director, David Lynch, showed great respect and sympathy for him.
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May 2, 2008مرد فیل نما فیلمی است به کارگردانی دیوید لینچ� که در سال ۱۹۸۰ ساخته شده است. فیلم سعی در روایت زندگی تلخ جوزف مریک (در فیلم جان مریک) معلول از فرم افتاده انگلیسی در قرن ۱۹ دارد. فیلم در زمان خود نامزد دریافت هشت جایزه اسکار از جمله بهترین فیلم شد که موفق به دریافت هیچکدا� نشد. این فیلم سیاه و سفید فیلمبرداری شده است و فیلمنامه آن هم اقتباسی از داستان«مرد فیل نما و خاطرات دیگر» نوشته سِر فردریک ترِوِس بود
لينك اين فيلم را در پايين ميگذار�
لينك اين فيلم را در پايين ميگذار�
January 25, 2018
It may be that it was more the content than the writing, but this story was able to illicit moments of
emotional turmoil within. We as humans often forget to be compassionate and supportive as we live our everyday lives. Reading a story such as this is a kindly reminder to stretch ourselves beyond our senses and to accept people for who they are, not their outer shell.
emotional turmoil within. We as humans often forget to be compassionate and supportive as we live our everyday lives. Reading a story such as this is a kindly reminder to stretch ourselves beyond our senses and to accept people for who they are, not their outer shell.
December 4, 2013
The most heart felt book I have ever read. It will capture your heart the first chapter.
May 19, 2020
Une belle histoire qui fait vivre toute une gamme d'émotions.
July 20, 2015
This was another book that I only read excerpts from back in high school. To repeat myself, I most likely would not have appreciated it back then as much as I did right now.
Based on the 1980 black & white film directed by David Lynch (yes, the book is actually based on the movie this time around), I was conflicted if I should watch the movie first or actually just take the time into reading it. Reading it was the right choice, I believe. The book starts off slow and only begins to become a whole lot more interesting right around the time when John Merrick begins to speak and engage with the rest of the cast of characters. If you can make it to that part, the rest is a breeze.
The pages are laced with sentimentality and drama. But it never drifts into the soap opera feel. My emotions were being tugged at multiple scenes in the story. This is a tragedy at heart and the scenarios are unbelievably devastating. It makes me question people and their motives and how we truly treat one another.
This could have been a 5 star book, but it's a disappointment to know that most of the events are fictional and didn't even occur. Our Elephant Man's name was also changed. John was actually a Joseph. The torture that occurred to him before and after his hospital admittance didn't even happen. His stay was short and uneventful. I can't imagine how his childhood was or where the line was drawn between fact and fiction. But the truth is that most of the dramatizations of conflict in the book, never occurred. That's not to say that Joseph Merrick didn't live a tortured life. It just wasn't what we read.
For what it was, this was a great historical fiction based on true people. Looking past the minor setbacks, this is an enjoyable recollection that really make you think and look at how we act with one another. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. In this instance, it really does just matter on what is on the inside.
4/5 - Great - Highly Recommended
Based on the 1980 black & white film directed by David Lynch (yes, the book is actually based on the movie this time around), I was conflicted if I should watch the movie first or actually just take the time into reading it. Reading it was the right choice, I believe. The book starts off slow and only begins to become a whole lot more interesting right around the time when John Merrick begins to speak and engage with the rest of the cast of characters. If you can make it to that part, the rest is a breeze.
The pages are laced with sentimentality and drama. But it never drifts into the soap opera feel. My emotions were being tugged at multiple scenes in the story. This is a tragedy at heart and the scenarios are unbelievably devastating. It makes me question people and their motives and how we truly treat one another.
This could have been a 5 star book, but it's a disappointment to know that most of the events are fictional and didn't even occur. Our Elephant Man's name was also changed. John was actually a Joseph. The torture that occurred to him before and after his hospital admittance didn't even happen. His stay was short and uneventful. I can't imagine how his childhood was or where the line was drawn between fact and fiction. But the truth is that most of the dramatizations of conflict in the book, never occurred. That's not to say that Joseph Merrick didn't live a tortured life. It just wasn't what we read.
For what it was, this was a great historical fiction based on true people. Looking past the minor setbacks, this is an enjoyable recollection that really make you think and look at how we act with one another. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. In this instance, it really does just matter on what is on the inside.
4/5 - Great - Highly Recommended
February 17, 2012
What a sad life experience. I'm glad Mr. Merrick good some light, love and peace in his life. It was beautiful, better than I expected with the book being based on a movie (though based on real life) and the emotions and experiences of Mr. Merrick and the doctor were well expressed. It made me feel sad, brought tears to my eyes during the horrible moments and i felt with Mr. Merrick - his terror, sadness and fear but also the small, or for him, big joys he got - his books, portraits, everyday things. I felt so happy with his experience at the theatre, how he was hooked and so into the play he watched and how happy he was.
A beautiful tale of friendship and how we should enjoy the life to its fullest, even those things that seems so small and unimportant.
A beautiful tale of friendship and how we should enjoy the life to its fullest, even those things that seems so small and unimportant.
July 30, 2010
As someone who has never watched the movie of the elephant man, I have to say that this is a beautiful, beautiful book. It really touched my heart and I fell so sorry for John Merrick (a.k.a. Joseph Merrick). The characters really touched my heart with their kindness and patience. This is book that I bought in hardcover and have now borrowed it to a friend to read. I fell in love with this book and even though it reminded me a little of Phantom by Susan Kay, the main difference was that the elephant man had a good, sweet heart that you cannot help but care for. I highly recommend reading this book, it is so worth it.
August 28, 2010
I was surprised to enjoy this book. It is disturbing and the elephant man reminds me of Frankenstein the monster. You end up rooting for him to create a better life.
September 22, 2012
رواية حزينة جداً
قرأتها في طريق سفر
أول رواية قرأتها بالإنجليزية المبسطة
استمتعت بقرائتها
قرأتها في طريق سفر
أول رواية قرأتها بالإنجليزية المبسطة
استمتعت بقرائتها
December 12, 2024
Disturbing & introspective.
Based on a true story, this book gave an embellished tale of John Merrick, the Elephant Man who earned his name due to the deformities on his body from a condition.
The mistreatment Merrick constantly faced from others and other details in the book were disturbing. The interactions and perceptions between the Elephant Man and the people around him raised questions of human nature as well as the role of medicine.
So much of our connections with others comes is influenced by appearance whether we would like it to or not. Merrick, an intelligent and poetic man with a non typical exterior, was victim of the consequences of this. Yet despite receiving sparse kindness from others, he expressed joy and gratitude to Dr. Treves and his other caretakers.
Medicine is commonly ridiculed for how it balances the advancement of science and treatment of patients. At the end of the book, Treves notes how Merrick “saved the man inside the doctor.�
Upon meeting Merrick, Treves treated him as a means to grow his career. Throughout the book, he begins to recognize that Merrick is human- a patient not just a subject. I appreciated the transparency of Treves as a character to recognize this ongoing struggle.
Based on a true story, this book gave an embellished tale of John Merrick, the Elephant Man who earned his name due to the deformities on his body from a condition.
The mistreatment Merrick constantly faced from others and other details in the book were disturbing. The interactions and perceptions between the Elephant Man and the people around him raised questions of human nature as well as the role of medicine.
So much of our connections with others comes is influenced by appearance whether we would like it to or not. Merrick, an intelligent and poetic man with a non typical exterior, was victim of the consequences of this. Yet despite receiving sparse kindness from others, he expressed joy and gratitude to Dr. Treves and his other caretakers.
Medicine is commonly ridiculed for how it balances the advancement of science and treatment of patients. At the end of the book, Treves notes how Merrick “saved the man inside the doctor.�
Upon meeting Merrick, Treves treated him as a means to grow his career. Throughout the book, he begins to recognize that Merrick is human- a patient not just a subject. I appreciated the transparency of Treves as a character to recognize this ongoing struggle.
December 17, 2021
For some reason, I failed to see the part about this being a true story until I finished it, and I'm almost glad for that. This story was heart breaking enough as fiction, I don't know whether I could have taken it fully as a true story.
My favourite thing about this read has to be the constant introspection from Dr Treves. Every step of the way, I felt his hesitation, his doubt. I was right there with him when he realised he was a terrible person deep down, and I was right there with him throughout his journey with the Elephant Man.
This does make me curious about Mr Merrick, though, so I'll probably go find more literature about him. But I love that this told his story as more than just a medical mystery. Spoke of him as a person with a past and a future, with hopes and dreams and the innate desires to love and be loved and experience beauty.
But with such stories I always wonder about the person's real character. Was Merrick really the saint this makes him out to be? Was Treves' opinion of him coloured by all he knew about him? Would Merrick have been considered deserving of care and help if he had turned out to be rude or mean or anything less than a beautiful soul?
My favourite thing about this read has to be the constant introspection from Dr Treves. Every step of the way, I felt his hesitation, his doubt. I was right there with him when he realised he was a terrible person deep down, and I was right there with him throughout his journey with the Elephant Man.
This does make me curious about Mr Merrick, though, so I'll probably go find more literature about him. But I love that this told his story as more than just a medical mystery. Spoke of him as a person with a past and a future, with hopes and dreams and the innate desires to love and be loved and experience beauty.
But with such stories I always wonder about the person's real character. Was Merrick really the saint this makes him out to be? Was Treves' opinion of him coloured by all he knew about him? Would Merrick have been considered deserving of care and help if he had turned out to be rude or mean or anything less than a beautiful soul?
September 10, 2019
I enjoyed this book. The theme seems a bit trite, but the writing made the protagonist's, John Merrick's, pain real and believable. The depth of the evil in some characgers and the goodness in other characters were also made real by the author:
From the back of the book:
John Merrick had lived for more than twenty years imprisoned in a body that condemned him to a miserable life in the workhouse and to humiliation as a circus sideshow freak.
But beneath that tragic exterior, within that enormous head, thrived the soul of a poet, the heart of a dreamer, the longings of a man. Merrick was doomed to suffer forever-until the kind Dr. Treves gave him his first real home in the London Hospital and the town's most beautiful and esteemed actress made possible Merrick's charished dream of human contact-and love.
From the back of the book:
John Merrick had lived for more than twenty years imprisoned in a body that condemned him to a miserable life in the workhouse and to humiliation as a circus sideshow freak.
But beneath that tragic exterior, within that enormous head, thrived the soul of a poet, the heart of a dreamer, the longings of a man. Merrick was doomed to suffer forever-until the kind Dr. Treves gave him his first real home in the London Hospital and the town's most beautiful and esteemed actress made possible Merrick's charished dream of human contact-and love.
July 19, 2017
This is actually a book recommend by my Grandma. She is very good at knowing what I'd like.
The Elephant Man is based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (not sure why he's called John in this novel.) I'm also not sure how much of this book is fabricated, so it has inspired me to research more into the life of Merrick. You know it's a good book if you read it and still want to know more.
It's truly a moving and heartbreaking story. Even more so by the fact it isn't fictional. It shows the greatness and evil of human beings. John is such a kind loving person. People are quick to judge him due to his appearance but he constatly proves that there is more to us than our exterior.
A truly great read. Inspirational and fascinating.
The Elephant Man is based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (not sure why he's called John in this novel.) I'm also not sure how much of this book is fabricated, so it has inspired me to research more into the life of Merrick. You know it's a good book if you read it and still want to know more.
It's truly a moving and heartbreaking story. Even more so by the fact it isn't fictional. It shows the greatness and evil of human beings. John is such a kind loving person. People are quick to judge him due to his appearance but he constatly proves that there is more to us than our exterior.
A truly great read. Inspirational and fascinating.
December 31, 2022
I think the book is an excellent job of a tricky situation, which is why it received three stars. Christine Sparks deserves some kudos for weaving the facts of the case in with the novelization of the movie. I don't like most Hollywood productions, though.
That situation is, in fact, novelization. For some reason I was looking for a play in three acts, which did not exactly occur. Timing that makes sense in a movie might not in a book. It is difficult in my opinion to capture which character interactions are the most relevant and accurate. I wanted the good doctor to be able to ward off the forces of evil a little more quickly not to mention cure the actual disease.
Tragedy.
That situation is, in fact, novelization. For some reason I was looking for a play in three acts, which did not exactly occur. Timing that makes sense in a movie might not in a book. It is difficult in my opinion to capture which character interactions are the most relevant and accurate. I wanted the good doctor to be able to ward off the forces of evil a little more quickly not to mention cure the actual disease.
Tragedy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2025
The 1980 film "The Elephant Man" directed by David Lynch is one of my favorite films. With Lynch's recent death, and finding a copy of this novel in a neighborhood free little library, it was time to read this book. This version follows the movie very closely, and Sparks adds internal thought of characters which seemed quite appropriate, likely because there was a novel written by Merrick's (The Elephant Man's) doctor from which to reference. This novel was published the same year the film came out, seems like it was written from the movie or screenplay, and it did a very good job of doing so.
May 30, 2025
la obra comenzó un poco lenta y aunque pudiera sonar como un cliché de historia de superación fue de las cosas más hermosas que pude haber leído sin ti no me he identificado con varios personajes pero sobre todo con el protagonista o el hombre elefante en cuanto aspectos de la forma de ver la vida cómo interpretarla y su reacción ante ello y como a pesar de todo deja la lección de encontrar su libertad y el propio valor sin importar el sufrimiento gran libro en toda su esencia
June 1, 2018
A warm, sometimes brutal tragedy about empathy and perspective can change how we understand ourselves. The only thing I had heard about this story was in relation to the David Lynch film (which I had not seen, only heard about), and expected the genre to be “unsettling suspense.� I was very much surprised to find that it’s a beautiful story of hope and spirit. I love this book.
January 27, 2025
TW: rape, sexual assault, abuse
Don't understand the necessity of the rape and sexual assault scenes in the book. Renshaw was despicable enough without them and they add nothing elucidating to the plot overall.
I did enjoy the book, though; written in a modernized fiction style of the time period.
Don't understand the necessity of the rape and sexual assault scenes in the book. Renshaw was despicable enough without them and they add nothing elucidating to the plot overall.
I did enjoy the book, though; written in a modernized fiction style of the time period.
August 3, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️💛
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