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A review by diana_eveline
Demelza: A Novel of Cornwall, 1788–1790 by Winston Graham
4.0
"What is the hallmark of change? Are we of different flesh, you and I, that death should bring you a golden crown and me a seat in Hell's cockpit?"
This is where the books start to show a difference from the series. I should say it is the other way around but for me is it this way because I watched the series first. Reading this part, I sometimes wished I hadn't. I struggle with the relationship between Dwight and Ross in the books. In the series, they are like brothers. They literally are brothers in arms. In the books, Dwight idolizes Ross to the point where it becomes a bit peculiar and a bit unrealistic. He hasn't done that much for him (yet).
Dwight and Keren is better done in books, two young foolish people who couldn't resist a fling and paid dearly for it. Once I read of Dwight telling Ross of the illness at Trentwith, I knew Julia would die soon and (slightly) prepared for it. I remember crying a lot when she died in the series so I expected the same to happen. But just as she fell ill, Demelza started hallucinating and she was gone. Just like that, gone in what felt like a single page, a sentence even. I was a bit baffled by it at first but as the loss became clear in Ross and Demelza, I understood that this is how it must have been for them. Julia was ripped away, no drawn out illness or deathbed but she left them so suddenly and quickly. Very well done, I would then say... I felt it that way too.
The books are still such a joy to read. I get emerged in 18th century Cornwall as soon as I dive in for a chapter. The characters are so real, so ugly and messy in their ways. I love it.
This is where the books start to show a difference from the series. I should say it is the other way around but for me is it this way because I watched the series first. Reading this part, I sometimes wished I hadn't. I struggle with the relationship between Dwight and Ross in the books. In the series, they are like brothers. They literally are brothers in arms. In the books, Dwight idolizes Ross to the point where it becomes a bit peculiar and a bit unrealistic. He hasn't done that much for him (yet).
Dwight and Keren is better done in books, two young foolish people who couldn't resist a fling and paid dearly for it. Once I read of Dwight telling Ross of the illness at Trentwith, I knew Julia would die soon and (slightly) prepared for it. I remember crying a lot when she died in the series so I expected the same to happen. But just as she fell ill, Demelza started hallucinating and she was gone. Just like that, gone in what felt like a single page, a sentence even. I was a bit baffled by it at first but as the loss became clear in Ross and Demelza, I understood that this is how it must have been for them. Julia was ripped away, no drawn out illness or deathbed but she left them so suddenly and quickly. Very well done, I would then say... I felt it that way too.
The books are still such a joy to read. I get emerged in 18th century Cornwall as soon as I dive in for a chapter. The characters are so real, so ugly and messy in their ways. I love it.