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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Thoroughly enjoyable book, if a little long winded at times. Definitely worth the read. Duck over and read Michael Gallagher’s review, I personally could not have put it better than him 😊
I just didn’t care about the characters or the story so it made it hard to persevere through the slow chapters.
I read this book when I was 14. I read it again for a book club. This book has a high drool factor, which means I kept falling asleep. I finished it though, both times.
Published in serial form in 1868 and now considered the first English language detective novel, the Moonstone sets up a closed room crime: the theft of the moonstone, a precious jewel stolen decades earlier from a Hindoo (sic) statue. Although all the clues were there for the reader to use, the solution seemed to me to be a little far-fetched.
Nonetheless, I found The Moonstone to be a witty and entertaining book. If you’re a dedicated mystery fan, you owe it to yourself to read this and appreciate the origins of the genre. 4 stars
Nonetheless, I found The Moonstone to be a witty and entertaining book. If you’re a dedicated mystery fan, you owe it to yourself to read this and appreciate the origins of the genre. 4 stars
[3.5 stars] Speed-read this 540-page monstrosity in a night. It started slowly (written in chronological order, as it is, and the story starts BEFORE the theft of the titular object and goes on for a 100 pages before reaching it) and got really exciting towards the middle, but I was desperate to finish it and speed-read towards the last 150 pages.
It’s an impressive detective story in many ways (I was completely sold on the first narrator’s POV until I realised that there were 300 pages to go after that), some characters are interesting, and the voices of the various narrators are clearly distinct. But - and I guess this what makes / breaks novels for me - that was about it. I think it has to do with personal preference, that beyond the plot I did not have much lingering sentiment to it when it concluded. I did of course feel sad at certain characters (fates!), and how the women in the novel are written..... ..... but I did not like or detest any character very much, except perhaps one. I’m glad that the mystery is over - and mind you, it was an exciting one - but that’s about it. Not to say that it wasn’t good - it was!! - but it didn’t capture me the way I had hoped it might.
It’s an impressive detective story in many ways (I was completely sold on the first narrator’s POV until I realised that there were 300 pages to go after that), some characters are interesting, and the voices of the various narrators are clearly distinct. But - and I guess this what makes / breaks novels for me - that was about it. I think it has to do with personal preference, that beyond the plot I did not have much lingering sentiment to it when it concluded. I did of course feel sad at certain characters (fates!), and how the women in the novel are written..... ..... but I did not like or detest any character very much, except perhaps one. I’m glad that the mystery is over - and mind you, it was an exciting one - but that’s about it. Not to say that it wasn’t good - it was!! - but it didn’t capture me the way I had hoped it might.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A very interesting and engaging story told from the different viewpoints of characters who took part in the event leading up to and following the theft of the "Moonstone." Each narrative reads almost like a repot of or case files of the investigation. It's long but interesting.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No