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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
DNF at 10%.
I’m learning that 19th century British literature just isn’t for me.
I’m learning that 19th century British literature just isn’t for me.
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
mysterious
slow-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
100 / A+
[Read in March] YES! YES! YES! Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone is a goddamn masterpiece of mystery, deception, tragedy, romance, humor, science-fiction, and more. Published in 1868, The Moonstone is often considered the first modern detective novel. The tale begins in 1799, when a British colonialist steals a diamond of spiritual importance (the moonstone) from India. A curse follows the moonstone to Britain and upon the original colonizer's death, the diamond is gifted to his niece upon her birthday-- but on the night of the birthday, the moonstone goes missing. What appears to be a simple case of theft becomes more and more complex and intricate as the novel moves along, more clues as to what happened revealed along the way, up until the final pages. Behind the veneer of simple theft lies a family drama, marriage, heartbreak, suicide, murder, class conflict, queer love, queer characters, clairvoyance, mesmerism, opium, colonialism and Orientalism, scientific experimentation, financial ruin, and more. Somehow, Collins' novel distills so much of the world's complexity into these pages, showing us that nothing is ever as it seems, and that even the brightest detective will get things wrong. The Moonstone is a masterwork in exhibiting how reality is full of illusions, how individual incidents are so easily misconstrued, how human miscommunication can be deadly, and the power and danger of holding secrets. It is a novel that is at times dark, at times heartbreaking, at times riveting, at times perplexing, at times full of humor and love. The characters are rich and three-dimensional. The plot is labyrithine. The scenes are gripping and emotional. The mystery is wonderfully opaque. Yes! The Moonstone is as beautiful, intricate, and enigmatic as the titular diamond itself. Think Victorian literature is boring? Think again. The Moonstone is here to show you the light.
.
"You are the victim, and I am the victim, of some monstrous delusion which has worn the mask of truth."
[Read in March] YES! YES! YES! Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone is a goddamn masterpiece of mystery, deception, tragedy, romance, humor, science-fiction, and more. Published in 1868, The Moonstone is often considered the first modern detective novel. The tale begins in 1799, when a British colonialist steals a diamond of spiritual importance (the moonstone) from India. A curse follows the moonstone to Britain and upon the original colonizer's death, the diamond is gifted to his niece upon her birthday-- but on the night of the birthday, the moonstone goes missing. What appears to be a simple case of theft becomes more and more complex and intricate as the novel moves along, more clues as to what happened revealed along the way, up until the final pages. Behind the veneer of simple theft lies a family drama, marriage, heartbreak, suicide, murder, class conflict, queer love, queer characters, clairvoyance, mesmerism, opium, colonialism and Orientalism, scientific experimentation, financial ruin, and more. Somehow, Collins' novel distills so much of the world's complexity into these pages, showing us that nothing is ever as it seems, and that even the brightest detective will get things wrong. The Moonstone is a masterwork in exhibiting how reality is full of illusions, how individual incidents are so easily misconstrued, how human miscommunication can be deadly, and the power and danger of holding secrets. It is a novel that is at times dark, at times heartbreaking, at times riveting, at times perplexing, at times full of humor and love. The characters are rich and three-dimensional. The plot is labyrithine. The scenes are gripping and emotional. The mystery is wonderfully opaque. Yes! The Moonstone is as beautiful, intricate, and enigmatic as the titular diamond itself. Think Victorian literature is boring? Think again. The Moonstone is here to show you the light.
.
"You are the victim, and I am the victim, of some monstrous delusion which has worn the mask of truth."
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Suicide
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
exciting, with plenty of plot twists; written as a narrative
I like the fact that Mr. Collins wrote the books with several point of view from different characters. I read the translated version, so the plot kinda confused me for a bit at first but I managed it the end :D it has a plot twist about who took the moonstone, but really make sense when I think about it. I learned lots of things from this book