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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This was an astonishingly clever book, taken alongside the characteristics of its period. A groundbreaking novel historically, in terms of genre and literary features. But also one permeated with intensely clever, timeless plotting. A genuine page-turner which falls less into the 19th century trap of endless informative passages than one might expect.
Unfortunately, it should however be noted that as a product of its time, the novel suffers from issues of anti-political correctness and discrimination no longer acceptable to the modern reader.
Unfortunately, it should however be noted that as a product of its time, the novel suffers from issues of anti-political correctness and discrimination no longer acceptable to the modern reader.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great story told in pre-photographic style. Various “reporters” are used to view events from many perspectives of the parties involved. This is a creative bent in the narrative. Worth the read, but will need patience through detailed expositions.
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've had this book on my shelf since at least grad school, but more likely since college. Lo these many years later, I finally read it, and it was kick ass!
Yes, it's a Victorian novel. There are slow bits. OH there are slow bits. But as soon as the detective fever gets cracking, it's unstoppable. I stayed up until 2am this morning to finish it, knowing I had to get up at 6:30 for work. That's a darn fine book, with suspense and intrigue and an ending you sort of suspect, but not the right way.
Fantastic, Collins is well loved for good reason.
Yes, it's a Victorian novel. There are slow bits. OH there are slow bits. But as soon as the detective fever gets cracking, it's unstoppable. I stayed up until 2am this morning to finish it, knowing I had to get up at 6:30 for work. That's a darn fine book, with suspense and intrigue and an ending you sort of suspect, but not the right way.
Fantastic, Collins is well loved for good reason.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
I realize that The Moonstone is an early example of the modern detective novel, but this knowledge did little to dispel my expectations.
When it comes to detective fiction, I like it classic. Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, please. While The Moonstone certainly has moments that seem to foreshadow later conventions of the genre, it frequently overturns them in the next moment. Had the book been written later, I would almost suspect it of deliberately rejecting later tropes.
The problems facing our amateur (and not-so-amateur) detectives in this book are less the work of a great criminal mastermind and more the small inconveniences of everyday life. A suspect goes out of town, or refuses to speak, or dies, and so no one can interrogate them. In the face of these setbacks, the plot frequently grinds to a complete halt while the characters scramble to find their way forward.
While this is certainly a more realistic take on a nascent genre, it unfortunately makes for long stretches of rather dull reading. Some narrators add their own zest: for example, Mr. Betteredge’s divining via Robinson Crusoe and Drusilla Clack’s hilarious attempts to hide “improving” tracts around the house of her cousin. But long stretches of the book felt repetitive and tiring.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the novel is less-than-flattering to its Indian characters (almost like an early draft of The Sign of Four); even more, I found it incredibly misogynistic. At first, I thought this might be a quirk of the first narrator, but no, pretty much every man in the book has to add in his two cents at some point about how women are so irrational and emotional. Thank God for sensible men, amiright?
3 stars.
When it comes to detective fiction, I like it classic. Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, please. While The Moonstone certainly has moments that seem to foreshadow later conventions of the genre, it frequently overturns them in the next moment. Had the book been written later, I would almost suspect it of deliberately rejecting later tropes.
The problems facing our amateur (and not-so-amateur) detectives in this book are less the work of a great criminal mastermind and more the small inconveniences of everyday life. A suspect goes out of town, or refuses to speak, or dies, and so no one can interrogate them. In the face of these setbacks, the plot frequently grinds to a complete halt while the characters scramble to find their way forward.
While this is certainly a more realistic take on a nascent genre, it unfortunately makes for long stretches of rather dull reading. Some narrators add their own zest: for example, Mr. Betteredge’s divining via Robinson Crusoe and Drusilla Clack’s hilarious attempts to hide “improving” tracts around the house of her cousin. But long stretches of the book felt repetitive and tiring.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the novel is less-than-flattering to its Indian characters (almost like an early draft of The Sign of Four); even more, I found it incredibly misogynistic. At first, I thought this might be a quirk of the first narrator, but no, pretty much every man in the book has to add in his two cents at some point about how women are so irrational and emotional. Thank God for sensible men, amiright?
3 stars.
Collins like to say that "The reader will know who did it in the first 100 pages. He will continue to read to find out why." I might have paraphrased, but this book holds to that pattern. I had a good idea of who the thief was and really really wanted to know why. A great why did they do it not a who done it. Wonderful read.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
mysterious
slow-paced
Very fun read. I have some general complaints about the way the "mystery" unfolds, but for it being the first detective novel, I'll keep them to myself.