Comments on things mean a lot: The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

I'm really looking forward to this one! It's on m...

2009-10-18T17:42:11.942+01:00

I'm really looking forward to this one! It's on my tiny TBR wishlist, just waiting for the day when I can buy random stuff again.

Oh goodness--I had completely forgotten that this ...

2009-10-18T03:28:30.555+01:00

Oh goodness--I had completely forgotten that this one was written in different perspectives. Even though I didn't like this one as much as The Woman in White you've got me wanting to re-read my copy!

I think there's something to be said about the hows and whys of a mystery. I've noticed that a lot of Victorian sensationalism isn't as much about solving the actual mystery as trying to uncover the motives behind the transgression. Perhaps this has something to do with the Victorian intrigue of these more white collar crimes--it's not just the lower classes who are committing crimes for (sometimes sometimes not) petty reasons but the middle and upper classes are involved in crime. Am I blabbing? Well then... :)

I still have not gotten around to reading The Woma...

2009-10-15T23:51:25.001+01:00

I still have not gotten around to reading The Woman In White (it might fall off my list... I'm in a strange reading mood) but this sounds good for a "someday" read. I love the title, at any rate!

Great review as always Ana. I've got Woman in Whi...

2009-10-15T19:03:32.457+01:00

Great review as always Ana. I've got Woman in White on my shelf and was thinking of picking this one up as well for a challenge I saw on the blogs somewhere. I think I may just do that now.

Excellent review! I am looking forward to reading ...

2009-10-15T16:52:25.220+01:00

Excellent review! I am looking forward to reading this book!

I love this review! I really should go read this b...

2009-10-15T13:21:48.263+01:00

I love this review! I really should go read this book because I loved Woman in White so much.

I too enjoyed how in WinW the book's narration was explained. I agree, we do take "fiction" for granted these days.

This is one of those books that I started and just...

2009-10-15T13:04:10.388+01:00

This is one of those books that I started and just couldn't get into. I put it down after 30 pages. I think I would like Woman in White more (at least from reviews I have read about it).

This just wasn't my cup of tea. I did enjoy your review very much!

ds, you're welcome! Her post really got me thinkin...

2009-10-15T12:32:01.219+01:00

ds, you're welcome! Her post really got me thinking.

Charley, I hope you enjoy The Woman in White!

Jeanne: I confess that I have a slight obsession with the Victorians, but I think I'd have enjoyed this book a lot even if I didn't!

Zibilee, thank you so much! I had no idea about the humour and great characterization either!

Kathy: Drood is next on my list! I need some time to recover before I dare read another chunkster, though :P

She: Mr Collins wishes you were friends too :P

Diane, I really hope you enjoy them!

Jenclair: I really can't decide which one I like best.

Melody, there's really no reason to be afraid! It doesn't read like a chunkster at all :)

Heidenkind: I thought they were more or less the same in terms of accessibility, though the fact that this one has a quicker pace might make it more reader-friendly!

JoAnn: Oh, I can't wait to read your thoughts! And isn't that a pity? I love me some Victorian atmosphere.

Stephanie: I'm sorry to hear it! Hopefully you'll be able to next time. The story does take a bit to pick up - though not as long as The Woman in White.

I tried reading this one a few years ago, but I ju...

2009-10-15T08:54:35.985+01:00

I tried reading this one a few years ago, but I just couldn't get into it. Timing, sometimes, is everything. It's one of those books I know I will like...but it just wasn't the right time to read it. I may dig it off the bookshelf around the holidays. When I have some time to give it it's due!

Great review (as always!)

I'm finally finishing up The Woman in White, but y...

2009-10-15T03:24:22.132+01:00

I'm finally finishing up The Woman in White, but your review makes me want to pick up The Moonstone and read it again...immediately!
I think Rhapsody in Books has it right when she says our modern attention spans have gotten to short for all the' atmospheric guilding.'

Fabulous review, and it sounds like a good book. ...

2009-10-15T02:44:32.292+01:00

Fabulous review, and it sounds like a good book. Much more accessible than The Woman in White.

Great review, Nymeth! I enjoyed reading your opini...

2009-10-15T01:23:15.301+01:00

Great review, Nymeth! I enjoyed reading your opinions on this book, it sounds awesome! I've this book and The Woman in White in my pile. I told myself I'd get to them once I've get over the fear of reading thick books, LOL!

My favorite is The Woman in White, but I liked The...

2009-10-15T00:57:52.937+01:00

My favorite is The Woman in White, but I liked The Moonstone, too!

Fabulous review. I just ordered a few books by thi...

2009-10-14T23:39:58.955+01:00

Fabulous review. I just ordered a few books by this author, based on so many rave reviews...including yours. thanks so much

Oh, Wilkie, how I wish we were friends! It sounds ...

2009-10-14T22:39:23.395+01:00

Oh, Wilkie, how I wish we were friends! It sounds like such a cool concept-- I'm glad you liked it!

I've been wanting to read this ever since I read D...

2009-10-14T21:06:16.483+01:00

I've been wanting to read this ever since I read DROOD since I just loved Collins as the narrator of that book.

Excellent, excellent review! I have this book and ...

2009-10-14T20:49:28.286+01:00

Excellent, excellent review! I have this book and have been thinking of reading it for the past few months, but you make it sound so appealing that I wish I could read it now! I had no idea that it was so humorous and that the characterizations were so three dimensional. I will definitely be moving this one to the top of my list. Thanks for your wonderful thoughts on this book.

All my Victorianist friends love this one, but I d...

2009-10-14T20:21:28.869+01:00

All my Victorianist friends love this one, but I didn't really sit up and take notice until reading that you love it too--if so many different kinds of people are all recommending it, it's time to pay attention! It will go on my must-read list.

Nice review. I read this one a few years book, and...

2009-10-14T19:48:09.115+01:00

Nice review. I read this one a few years book, and I'm hoping to read The Woman in White soon.

Superb review, Nymeth!! Gabriel Betteredge is now ...

2009-10-14T19:22:30.558+01:00

Superb review, Nymeth!! Gabriel Betteredge is now one of my all-time favorite narrative voices, too. I will check out the link to Memory on framing and context. Thank you!

Amanda: Really? How come he didn't like it? I hope...

2009-10-14T19:06:39.150+01:00

Amanda: Really? How come he didn't like it? I hope you do when you get to it!

Meghan: I know! I think they'll stick with me more than the plot itself too - and I loved the plot!

Kim: I didn't know about him either for the longest time! I love that we're seeing so much of him in the blogging world, though.

Sandy: Thank you! And yes, they really are!

Steph: While it's mostly easy to guess, he does keep you wondering whether or not your guess is correct until the very end! And the plot is original enough that there are plenty of surprises other than the identity of the thief!

Jill: It probably helps that we're impatient, yes! We want to jump straight into the story, without "wasting" time with justifications. They can add a lot to the story, though, as they do in this case!

Wendy, I really think you'll like it!

Chris, that was probably when I first heard of him too. And I think either one would be a good place to start!

Iliana: I love that he used that technique again too. It makes both stories so much more interesting and complex!

I just read the Woman in White a month ago and kno...

2009-10-14T18:44:49.350+01:00

I just read the Woman in White a month ago and know I'll be reading more by Wilkie Collins. I loved the different narrators in WIW because I think it helped to create that sense of suspense and who to trust so I'm glad to see he uses different narrators in this book as well. Great review!

First off, fantastic review Ana :) I really need t...

2009-10-14T17:52:12.468+01:00

First off, fantastic review Ana :) I really need to read some Collins!! Truth be told, I hadn't even heard of him before I started blogging and found the first RIP challenge. Thank God for that!! So what do you think I should read first? This one or The Woman in White?

Thank you for your insightful review, Nymeth. I s...

2009-10-14T16:56:54.423+01:00

Thank you for your insightful review, Nymeth. I so love books like this and am looking forward to reading it.

You wrote: "nineteenth century authors seem to pa...

2009-10-14T15:27:35.056+01:00

You wrote: "nineteenth century authors seem to pay a lot more attention to how they frame their narratives than contemporary ones do. Do we take fictionality for granted? Is it because the novel is more established now?"

Very good point. In my opinion, it may not be that we take ficitonality for granted, but our attention spans are too short for all that atmosphere guilding.