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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
I really liked this book; it was very dark, very intense and very bizarre. The characters are very interesting and I do believe that the character of Sydney Atherton to be one of the best written male characters I have ever read in my life.
If you like books in which respectable Victorians inexplicably wake up naked on London streets, this is the novel for you!
3.5 stars
Read for candidacy, not a new personal fave but very glad to have finally read it!
Read for candidacy, not a new personal fave but very glad to have finally read it!
I really got into this book after the first half and then the end was so anti-climatic!
As a grad student studying Victorian literature, I understand that "The Beetle" is a product of its time. The novel is wrought with late-Victorian anxieties about imperialism, race, and gender. However, it translates as unbearably racist and sexist. I was often really annoyed with the book. I also was not a fan of Marsh's writing, which was often too wordy and chatty in my opinion.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had a good time reading this, although I can understand why Dracula has stood the test of time despite being less popular than this on release.
I did find the structure of the book quite interesting - the narrative is more or less linear, but we focus on a different character in each section so get different perspectives on the story too.
I think the first part was the most enjoyable for me, especially for bringing the horror and creepiness, there were a few moments here that had my skin crawling.
Definitely worth checking out, be aware that the handling of gender and race is likely to be uncomfortable for contemporary readers.
I did find the structure of the book quite interesting - the narrative is more or less linear, but we focus on a different character in each section so get different perspectives on the story too.
I think the first part was the most enjoyable for me, especially for bringing the horror and creepiness, there were a few moments here that had my skin crawling.
Definitely worth checking out, be aware that the handling of gender and race is likely to be uncomfortable for contemporary readers.
I had never heard of this book until someone told me it outsold Dracula when first published. What a great story. Deliciously creepy in places and a real adventure. The narrative is fast paced and a real pager turner. I particularly liked the train pursuit at the end. If you live the creepier and more mysterious Sherlock Holmes stories you will love this.
