Our Old Home vs The magic barrel: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Americans, Travel, Social life and customs, Fiction
Our Old Home
Our Old Home, a series of English sketches by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This volume of charming sketches was published in 1863, and (in the words of the author) presents “a few of the external aspects of English scenery and…
vs
The magic barrel
This is Bernard Malamud's first book of short stories. The stories are set in New York and in Italy (where Malamud's alter ego, the struggling New York Jewish Painter Arthur Fidelman, roams amid the ruins of old Europe…
The verdict
- The magic barrel is the quickest read — about 3 hours vs 7 for Our Old Home.
- The magic barrel reaches further in scholarship and criticism — cited 21 times.
- The magic barrel runs the darker storyline; Our Old Home stays the lighter read.
How to choose
Want a one-evening read?
The magic barrel
≈ 3h vs 7h for Our Old Home
New to the genre?
The magic barrel
Moderate vs Challenging for Our Old Home
In the mood for something dark?
The magic barrel
a darker storyline than Our Old Home
Want something lighter?
Our Old Home
an easier tone than The magic barrel
Scores by source
| Our Old Home | The magic barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | — | 3.9 (2897) |
| Hardcover | — | 2.5 (2) |
Reception
| Our Old Home | The magic barrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | — | 2897 |
| Editions | 101 | 66 |
| Citations | 11 | 21 |
| Film adaptations | — | 1 |
| Want to read | — | 3528 |
| Reading it now | — | 133 |
| Written reviews | — | 238 |
| Wikipedia attention | — | 424 |
| Pages | 398 | 214 |