Ashley’s Comments (group member since Jun 05, 2020)

Ashley’s comments from the #ClassicsCommunity 2021 Reading Challenge group.

I read this book in jr high and liked it. I was underwhelmed this time. Orient Express was so much more fun. The whodunnit reveal was more satisfying. I was actually bothered by the reveal in this book. The story was going and the authorities were investigating and then it ends. Then we pick up with a random letter that explains things. It’s very jolting and doesn’t flow the way the rest of the book did. Do you agree? Did you like the way it was explained or do you think it could have been worked into the story? This is only my second Christie. Is this a normal book for her? How does it compare?

Can you post which stories are in this one so we can see if they are in any other editions we have? Thanks!

I plan to read both of those books, so let’s discuss!!

How are things going this week?

I don’t love gothic novels, but I read a few this month. I enjoyed the experience and am glad I did. I really liked the mood they set for the holiday, but I wouldn’t read them for fun the rest of the year for the most part.

I was listening and I am not an audio person (trying to refine the skill) so I feel I missed details on this. Was it a lot of the woman (I’m so tired and it’s been a couple weeks since I finished, so names are not easy for me at the moment) trying to decide if what she was seeing was real, protecting the kids from the specters, and trying to decide if the kids could see them too? Was there a lot more depth to it, or was that the basic gist? Thanks for your input to help me decide if and when I need to pick this up to read instead of listen!

I would join a Middlemarch read!

Yes! It was an easy thing to pick up in between both Dickens and Tolstoy actually. But still classic and masterful. I am interested to read more of his writings too, but they sent high on my list....which is never ending!!

I decided I’m in! I started another book instead and am waiting on this one. 6-7 chapters a week sounds perfect to me! We can look at page numbers and throw in an extra chapter on weeks that are shorter.

How is everyone doing? I finished a couple days ago and loved it! Dumas really can weave a story. He didn’t leave any loose ends and let track of all those characters and story lines. Can’t wait to discuss what you took away!

I finished listening to this a few days ago. It is free to Audible members and pretty short. I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it all that much reading it, but the narration was fun. I’m excited to discuss it because I’m not a good listener when it comes to novels and I feel like I must have missed details. It seemed like a lot of protecting the kids and looking for clues (I’m trying to be vague here for those still reading). I will probably visit this again!

I’m trying to finish it before Halloween. I’m not sure if I will as I’ve only read the first chapter, but I’m trying to squeeze a bunch of spooky reads in this month. I will check in with you when you start and see if I’ve gotten through it or not. It is tempting to wait now though 🤔

Oh! I’m excited your loving the writing! It makes a book so much more enjoyable. And what you said about using characters and such- doesn’t that make your expense better? I have a hard time finding people who want to discuss things like that. They have shallow conversations! I want to talk about there characters and themes and the way the author structures his writing or story line! And all the things you brought up. I get excited about it and love seeing the brilliance of a writer as I do this!

I have been keeping up on summaries. I know I’ll want them next time I read this. But it does make it slower. And I haven’t taken the time to type them up yet!

Yes! The whole thing is crazy! And now she’s sick over it, but then get better. It’s always very fascinating to me how authors handled mental illness long ago. She obviously is depressed and it’s leading her to be sick. Once she has people around her, taking care of her, and paying attention to her, she was more distracted and felt better, which lead to her not being ill any longer.

Oh yay! I’ve been meaning to reread this! I haven’t read it since I was in elementary school, so 25 years maybe?

I just compared chapters, and I believe my chapters 9-11 (or was it 8-11? Doesn’t matter too much...) are volume 3, so I just started it. I actually added notes to my book about how I enjoyed the writing at the beginning. The way he handles the war and gets into some philosophy is very interesting and I f I he myself settling in, the same way I do with Dickens and did with Anna K. I have enjoyed the book up to this point, but have not “settled in” to the writing as I call it. It’s hard to explain, so hopefully you fellow readers can understand. Some books are a chore to get through. Some are good, but not as smooth and easy to read. Some are so easy to read and just beautiful and I want to keep reading. The later is what I mean by settling in. But maybe that’s just because of the way I read and what I like about books. I love words and always focus on the way things are written. I could read an entire book just for the prose, even if nothing really happened, because I love good writing.

Yeah! That’s true too! He’s not very good at convincing her he wants to marry her! Haha

I have to agree with Timoir- ugh....it won’t let me spell that right....

It does seem the women are props to set up the male characters, but they also stand on their own. They are strong women, as has been described above. Tolstoy is a master at characters and I trust his depictions. He has a purpose, I believe. Natasha changing her mind is a rather strong move, especially for the time. Most of the female characters are strong. But Natasha has the freedom to make her own choice and commit to what she wants and change her mind when the situation changes. And while I feel bad for Andrew, he didn’t really treat her well. He kept things from her from the beginning, like when he goes to talk to his dad and is gone for weeks without talking to her. He also was very clear she could change her mind, which is nice, but also is not the way to fight for what you want or prove it’s important to you. Her actions don’t seem too strange to me!

Oh yeah! Another thought I keep meaning to bring up. Was it Minnie that said it was disturbing that the woman with him was a slave? We have learned a lot make about her. I read a spoiler on accident, so I don’t think we know exactly who she is just yet, but we’ve had hints that her history is tied up with the Count. He wants her to keep it secret.

We also now see that he loves her and is taking care of her. He tells her she can have freedom, but she chooses to stay. Some would say that is a negative stereotype to portray- the slave who wants to stay with the master, but I see some differences in this. He is really loving her like family and trying to protect her. But I also see that it furthers the stereotype, so I can see some objecting to the way the character is portrayed. Also, I think the slave is important to his image as a count with wealth untold. She is key to a successful revenge plot.

Also, what are your thoughts on Dumas’ style? He doesn’t have long passages catching us up on the story. Each piece of the story is told through dialogue. So we get long stories from Franz and Albert and from Betuccio, for example. The reader learns things this way, even if the characters already know the info. Does this make the novel easier to read? Is it Dumas’ writing style that makes it work?

I’m reading Dickens and Tolstoy too, which are very heavy in description. But there are passages of heavy dialogue. Each way works for each author, maybe because their style is different.

I’m thinking back onto last weeks and Caderrouse’s character. He just went along with the whole plan that started this book. He wasn’t an instigator, but he didn’t stop it. Then, a few weeks back, we read the story of his jewel and killing the jeweler who bought it, as well as HIS OWN WIFE!! It doesn’t seem completely planned. He seems to jump at the chance to double dip in his profits and he sees his wife as standing in the way of that. His character is being revealed as very impulsive and focused on his own gain only.