Sunday, October 30, 2011


There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart - an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the imagination could torture into aught of the sublime. What was it - I paused to think - what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the House of Usher? It was a mystery all insoluble; nor could I grapple with the shadowy fancies that crowded upon me as I pondered. I was forced to fall back upon the unsatisfactory conclusion, that while, beyond doubt, there are combinations of very simple natural objects which have the power of this affecting us, still the analysis of this power lies among considerations beyond our depth.

Edgar Allen Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher

5 comments:

Toni D. said...

and while I'm trying to ignore the hairs that have risen on my neck... ooooh you're reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! I first read that when I was 12. Love it! :) how're you finding it so far?

Trish said...

EAP is the best for hair-raising creepiness, isn't he?

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a fabulous book! I am absolutely loving it. I wish I had read it when I was young, but, oh well. It's still a lovely story that reminds me of what it was like to be a little girl. All her thoughts and impressions and notions are so familiar to my eleven-year-old self. It's so interesting, also, to see what life was like in the early 1900s. Great book.

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

a little Poe is just right for the season...:)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was the first classic I fell in love with when I was growing up :)

Sam (Tiny Library) said...

I love the picture - do you know who painted it?

Trish said...

Peppermint - yes, I can certainly see why you would fall in love with it as a first book.

Sam - It's lovely, isn't it? I looked for a credit somewhere but found none. It must be one of those vintage prints whose copyright has expired. I always try to source any pictures I post, so if anyone recognizes this one, please let me know so I can properly credit it.