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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
It was a very good story but it was very long winded in certain parts. Some of the narrative could've been eliminated as extraneous and it would've made for a more concise plot line.
Definitely an old school mystery.
There are some really terrific things about this book. The changing narrators in particular. Our first narrator is the beloved lifetime servant of the family who thinks that all of life's answers can be found in Robinson Crusoe which he demonstrates to pretty good effect throughout his narrative. The second narrator is so annoying and self-righteous, I enjoyed just being annoyed by her.
I really liked the story and all the misleading red herrings. It is also nice to see the beginnings of all the mystery trappings we are used to in novels and movies. Very nicely put together. I do think, however, that the book could have used an editor that would have been courageous enough to cut 100 pages. I think a tighter novel would have been preferable.
Also, I listened to this via Librovox free audio recordings of public domain works. So the readers also changed throughout the book--sometimes with the narrators and sometimes not. So the competence of each of the readers varied greatly. You can volunteer to read a book for the site. I suggest that Wendy give it a try.
There are some really terrific things about this book. The changing narrators in particular. Our first narrator is the beloved lifetime servant of the family who thinks that all of life's answers can be found in Robinson Crusoe which he demonstrates to pretty good effect throughout his narrative. The second narrator is so annoying and self-righteous, I enjoyed just being annoyed by her.
I really liked the story and all the misleading red herrings. It is also nice to see the beginnings of all the mystery trappings we are used to in novels and movies. Very nicely put together. I do think, however, that the book could have used an editor that would have been courageous enough to cut 100 pages. I think a tighter novel would have been preferable.
Also, I listened to this via Librovox free audio recordings of public domain works. So the readers also changed throughout the book--sometimes with the narrators and sometimes not. So the competence of each of the readers varied greatly. You can volunteer to read a book for the site. I suggest that Wendy give it a try.
"Moonstone" is a little long in some of the narrative early on, but some of that is due to the structure. It's written as the eyewitness accounts of those with information regarding the theft of the gem. Still, the story took turns I was not expecting, and I literally gasped when it was uncovered who'd done it.
Heralded as the first detective novel, this is worth a read. The epistolary setup is clever, and Collins does a remarkable job of building suspense even as possible suspects provide their version of events.
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disarmingly funny
After about twenty years this book has aged well (I actually forgot whodunnit though I knew that ). It has lot of subtle and in your face irony and hypocrisy from most characters that I noticed less during my first read. I think I like the contributions from and the most because of this. The whole thing about the diamond, for me, was secondary. It was mainly about people's beliefs and their character. The whole story was funny without being hilarious, well-written, and a mystery to be unraveled.
Spoiler
the diamond would end up back in IndiaSpoiler
Ms ClackSpoiler
Ezra Jennings
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A solid mystery, even if some of the sections are rather longwinded. It was really interesting to see the characters we had met in one narrative perspective reappear in another, and to see how the different characters perceived them in wildly different ways.
The mysterious threatening presence of the three Indians as a dangerous Other was problematic, but honestly not the worst portrayal one can meet with in Victorian literature.
The mysterious threatening presence of the three Indians as a dangerous Other was problematic, but honestly not the worst portrayal one can meet with in Victorian literature.
I adored The Woman in White and some said The Moonstone is even better. It's not. It's awful! Lost all interest in what happened or whodunit very early on. Might've worked better as a short story. Extra star for the delightfully named Drusilla Clack though, whose brief appearance and bookish methods of evangelism managed to raise a smile amongst the overhanging dullness.