by Wilkie Collins
ages: adult(ish)
First sentence: “This is the story of what a Woman’s patience can endure, and what a Man’s resolution can achieve.”
First off — and I know it’s bad form to do this — I have to say novels that have been serialized and I have not gotten along in the past. Yes, I stand here and say that I dislike Dickens. Sorry. But, novels like these tend to go on and on and on and round and round and round and take FOREVER to get to the stinking point. Which drives me batty.
That said, I — mostly — liked this one. Yes, it was serialized, but for the most part, Collins handled that serialization quite well. He is a master of the cliffhanger. At one point while reading this book (if you really need a summary go here; it takes way too bloody long to explain, as I discovered the other night when trying to sum it up for my husband…) that if I had been alive in 1859 when this was being serialized, I would have totally lined up to get a copy. Every single day/week/time.
The mostly part is because the middle part is the best. It takes a while to get going — say 150 to 200 pages. But by the time Walter (our hero) is out-of-country (having been Spurned in Love) and Marian and Laura (our two heroines: Marian being strong and sensible and ugly; Laura weak, flighty and beautiful. Guess which one gets the guy…) are in the house of Sir Percival and under the influence of Count Fosco (our villains) and you don’t quite know what everyone is up to… that’s the good part. It’s okay after the first couple of twists, and Walter (who came back) sets about avenging the women, and is on the trail of Sir Percival’s Secret and there are still several twists you don’t quite expect. But the last 120 pages… yawn. I skimmed. I slid. I wished it would go faster… think of it as a really, really good TV show that kept you engaged throughout the entire run, and then completely and totally tanked on the season/series finale. Then you’ve pretty much got how I felt.
That said, I think I’m going to give Moonstone a go, if only because I’ve heard it’s better (that, and it’s on the schedule for my in-person book group…). And because, all my complaining aside, I did enjoy the ride that this book was.
The Book Nut 
Glad you (mostly) liked it. I thoroughly enjoyed it when I read it in December and would very much like to read Moonstone as well.
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I’m having lots of fun rereading this again. Perfect summer reading. 🙂 I’ll be interested to hear what you think of _Moonstone_ since I haven’t read it.
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They were quite wordy back then weren’t they? I enjoyed your review a lot!!
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I am still reading this one. Hopefully I’ll finish it today so i can join the discussion :). I actually am not liking it as much as I thought I would. It is rather longish and I had such great expectations towards it. It is an okay read, I am glad I’m reading it but I most likely will not re-read. However, like you, I will read <>The Moonstone<> mainly because I already own it.
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I have a friend who recently read “The Woman in White” and she enjoyed it. I haven’t read it yet, but I REALLY enjoyed “The Moonstone”. I think that it is a bit of a shame that Collins lives so much in the shadow of Dickens. But then, so does every other Victorian writer.
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I have both Woman in White and Moonstone in my pile of books to read. I’m looking forward to both of them 🙂
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Good points about serialized novels. They can certainly DRAG ON. Seeing as the longer it was the more they got paid, right? I did, however, LOVE “the Woman in White.” Glad you enjoyed it for the most part, too.
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You think if I keep regularly reading your blog your ability to review books promptly will rub off on me? lol
I have this book on my TBR, but haven’t had a chance to get to it yet. Maybe a summer read. 🙂
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LOL, Kailana. I like your reviews the way they are. 🙂 (Especially the letters you’ve been writing to Dewey.) This one would make an excellent summer read.
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Hm… I am intrigued by your review.
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I REALLY liked Moonstone. Maybe better than this one 🙂 I agree about the ending, HOLY COW. Talk about dragging it out!
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I have Woman in Red, Goudge so this title really cracked me up!
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Ever since I read that book about crime fiction, I’ve been interested in Wilkie Collins.
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So it’s past midnight and I should be in bed, but I haven’t been by your book blog in forever (like I don’t know how long you’ve had that cool new banner up, but I love it!), and your review made me chuckle, so you earn a comment from me even though it’s late. 😀
I agree with just about everything you said (except I happen to really enjoy Dickens). I’ve been thinking about why it dragged in some spots (especially the beginning and the end), and I think I’ve got the answer: Walter. I do believe he was wordier than all of them put together (not to mention the most melodramatic of the bunch).
Anyway, I LOVED Moonstone. Much tighter. Maybe a little less gothic atmosphere, and certainly no Count Fosco, but much tighter, more intense, more of a puzzle. I think you’ll really like it. But don’t read it right now. Give yourself a few months. 🙂 Okay. NOW I’m going to bed.
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I don’t like dickens either. I don’t say it very often because it feels like sacrilidge! I do like Collins though, but I’ve always thought the Moonstone is better!
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Heather: I hadn’t thought about it that way, but you’re right! The parts I liked best are the ones where Marian’s the narrator. I do have high hopes for Moonstone, and yes, I am going to give it a few months; I don’t have to read it until October!
Jo: I don’t like admitting my dislike for Dickens, either, because you’re right: it does feel like sacrilege!
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