Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
A little bit slow towards the beginning, but gripping and haunting at the end. Of course there is much to digest from a feminist, globalized, and detective point of view; so it is no wonder it was, and has remained, so popular.
I don’t remember writing this one-star review but here’s what I wrote in 2009: Capitalization is an important part of this next sentence: I think opium is a Romantic drug. Any why didn't we read [b:The Woman in White|5890|The Woman in White|Wilkie Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1295661017l/5890._SY75_.jpg|1303710] instead?
(2.5 stars) I am not a big fan of Victorian literature, so I was pretty hesitant when I started reading this. However, it was better than I expected which I think had a lot to do with it being a male author. (I really can't stand the female Victorian writers!) The story itself is pretty interesting. A famous Indian diamond that has brought trouble to all previous owners is given to a young lady on her birthday and goes missing that same night. The list of possible suspects is pretty limited, but local and London police cannot figure it out. Like all good mysteries, there are twists and turns and a "shocking" ending. That being said, I did struggle at times to get through the prose. Like all good Victorians, there are a ton of extra flourishes and lots of fluff. If you are into that, you'll love it. If you are like me, you'll tolerate it and struggle through because the story itself is good.
Great who done it with an amazing cast of characters. An easy read!!!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
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:
Yes
I think I'm officially a Wilkie Collins fan (the name alone does the trick, really). I loved The Woman in White, and I loved The Moonstone. For me it wasn't as much about the whodunit aspect of it as in your average detective novel, it was about the great writing and well-rounded characters. I have to admit I'm a sucker for Victorian novels, and this is about Victorian as a novel can get.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The novel is interesting, but could have done with some serious editing, as most of Betteredge's and Miss Clack's parts where somewhat unnecessary. Also, I know that it was written in the 19th Century, but is is deeply misogynistic, portraying women as women of "no character or morals".