The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (Pink & Myst, others welcome to join)

[Pink]

Thought I'd set the thread up for us to discuss The Moonstone. I just started this today. Not very far in yet, just reading chapter 2, The Story, First Period, The Loss of the Diamond (events related by Gabriel Betteredge)

Myst, I know you're already further ahead, whereabouts in the story are you?

[Chris]

Thanks, Pink. I've wanted to read it, but I'll have to try to catch up a little later this month. I'm a few books behind what I've already promised.

[Pink]

Chris, no problem, join in whenever you get time. So far I'm enjoying the writing and I'm really intrigued by how the story is constructed from multiple points of view. Think this might be a slow read for me, but it's one I've been meaning to get to for quite a while.

[Chris]

Good! I'm looking forward to it.

[Leslie]

Pink wrote: "Chris, no problem, join in whenever you get time. So far I'm enjoying the writing and I'm really intrigued by how the story is constructed from multiple points of view. Think this might be a slow r..."

That style of multiple points of view is one Collins used a lot -- in fact, I think of that as a trademark of his style though he did write books which didn't have that feature.

[Myst]

I'm at about 35%. Got 5% read yesterday while waiting on someone.

I have a *very* small hope of getting anything read for a day or 2 as I've got a day trip planned tomorrow and need to get dishes done tonight (10pm currently).

I've got a mini calendar on a piece of paper taped in my kindle case to track my progress which I found helps one get through certain books in a more timely fashion. Even though the Moonstone isn't tedious, I want to make sure I stay on track as I've got a few books going on at the same time.

[Pink]

Leslie, I read The Woman in White which used multiple point of view and I know this is his other main novel that does the same. I'm not sure which of his other books also do this.

Myst, you're definitely further ahead than me, so you can take a breather while I catch up. Does your kindle edition have the same chapter breakdowns, after the first three chapters there are eight different narratives, then an epilogue. Have you reached the narratives yet? I'm still on the second chapter I mentioned above, but it's nearly 200 pages and by far the longest chapter of the book.

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: "Pink wrote: "Chris, no problem, join in whenever you get time. So far I'm enjoying the writing and I'm really intrigued by how the story is constructed from multiple points of view. Think this migh..."

I love this book, also because of that. Collins used it a lot, but I thinkbit was quite common in Victorian literature: think of Dracula. It was a way to say that truth was not one, but coukd have multiple aspect...

[Myst]

I'm currently 43% done. Location 3844/8819 or chapter 2 of some religious zealot lady's section whose name I can't recall atm. A cousin or something of Rachel's who was at the dinner party.

I'm trying to do a daily quota while I work on other books. Right now I'm about to read:
Blood Debt
Blood Bank
Undead and Unfinished
Undead and Undermined
Dragon Harper

I really hope to get 3-4 of those done this week.

[Pink]

I have about 20 pages left of The Loss of the Diamond. Then I'm onto the narratives. Myst, I think you must be on the first narrative of Miss Clack, as it's the only one by a woman. I'm interested in what you thought of Gabriel Betteredge in the preceding chapter and the events that unfolded. As I say, I haven't finished yet, so I'll post my thoughts later today once I've completed this part. For now I'll just say that I really liked Gabriel, not that he's a likeable character! I especially enjoyed it when he became seized by the 'detective fever' despite his intentions to resist Sergeant Cuff.

Surprisingly I haven't been reading any other books alongside this yet. It looks like you have lots of others on the go!

[Pink]

LauraT wrote: "I love this book, also because of that. Collins used it a lot, but I thinkbit was quite common in Victorian literature: think of Dracula. It was a way to say that truth was not one, but coukd have multiple aspect... "

I think I'm more used to reading multiple narratives in epistolary novels, but don't come across it very often in other books. I know it was more of a device in Victorian literature though.

Laura, I'm interested to know if you have a preference for The Woman in White or The Moonstone? At the moment this one might just have the edge, though I've got quite a long way to go yet.

[LauraT]

Pink wrote: "LauraT wrote: "I love this book, also because of that. Collins used it a lot, but I thinkbit was quite common in Victorian literature: think of Dracula. It was a way to say that truth was not one, ..."

I love them both; I definitly think they're Colin's best works. Probably I slightly prefere The Woman in White, but only slightly!!!!

[Pink]

I really liked The Woman in White too, I rated it 4 stars as I couldn't say that I completely loved it, but the story has definitely stayed with me since.

[Myst]

Last night I fell asleep super early. I think it was the weather playing with my head. Only got 1/5 of the blood books read, didn't touch the moonstone.

Today is a rainy day so a project I need/want to work on isn't really do-able as I need better light, so I may just read all day.

[Pink]

Sounds like a fun day! I've finished the first chapter now (view spoiler)[and I'm completely clueless as to what has happened to the diamond and why. Though I'm assuming Sergeant Cuff is right that Rachel Verinder has for some reason stolen it herself. I cannot work out what's been going on with poor Rosanna and Franklin Blake. Was she just in love with him, or is there more to the story? Also, if Rachel Verinder has stolen the diamond herself to pay off debts, why did she need to steal it if it was hers to sell? (hide spoiler)]

[Myst]

Pink, where I am in the book, those questions still haven't been resolved.

There's theories, but I doubt we'll know much for sure for awhile yet.

[Pink]

I haven't read any more of this for a few days. I took a break after the long first chapter, but plan on picking it up again tomorrow. Think this will be a slow book to finish for me this month, as I'm now reading other things around it too!

[Myst]

I almost fell behind as it's been a busy 2ish weeks. I need to make 280ish locations a day to stay on target, so tonight I got 330ish.

I've got 8ish other books to try and finish this month (I had time with only 5 scheduled before 3 books had their holds come in early and another was acquired by the library quicker than other PNR books have this year when the catalog stated 'on order'...those books were 'on order' for 3-6 weeks!)

So I'll probably be juggling books for the rest of the month.

I'm just glad I finished DQ before I had a zillion and 8 holds come in early.

[LauraT]

I've just finished Basil and about to start The Law and the Lady by Collins. The first is a sort of Mystery - his first book, not as good as the one you're reading. The second I don't know; I'll tell you as soon as I'm inside it!
Are you at the quicksands already?

[Pink]

Laura where I am (view spoiler)[ Rosanna has killed herself in the quicksand, Rachel Verinder and her Mother have left town and Sergeant Cuff has told his theories of what he thinks will happen next. Now I have to start reading the other character's accounts (hide spoiler)]

Let us know what you think of the other story you're reading.

[LauraT]

I've read it is a mystery as well. At the moment is nice: I like his way of unravelling things bits by bits ...

[Pink]

I've now finished the first narrative of Miss Clack, but I'm none the wiser about any of the preceding events or the mystery of the Moonstone. I enjoyed this part of the story, as Miss Clack was quite a character. A religious fanatic who thought herself a martyr when in actual fact she just interfered and caused more problems. She had some quite comical lines, especially when she was behind the curtain, listening in to the conversation.

Onto Mr Bruff, the solicitor's narrative now, which is quite a bit shorter at 23 pages.

[LauraT]

One of things I liked best was that the narrating voices were so different from each other and sometimes so whimsical! No so trustfully narrators at all -even if in the end the story comes out all right!

[Myst]

I couldn't stand Miss Clack. 1 christian tract wasn't enough to try to save people, she had to drop every single publication she owned all over the house...if I was the recipient of such a 'gift', I'd toss them. 1 tract at a time should be more than suitable. (And less pushy.)

And then she didn't get the hint when the tracts were returned to her, so she had to go and push them on the recipients again!

And what little we heard of the contents of those tracts...ugh, talk about living in the 1400's.

I didn't meet my quota last night. So I'm falling behind slightly, but I'm further ahead of you. I'm on the heir who was in the far east just reading the letter that his father had died. 61% or something.

[Myst]

I'm now at 72% and just finished reading about a new suspect in the theft.

We also get more insight into Rosanna and Rachel.

[Pink]

LauraT wrote: "One of things I liked best was that the narrating voices were so different from each other and sometimes so whimsical! No so trustfully narrators at all -even if in the end the story comes out all ..."

Yes I like the different narrators too, it's good to find out the story in this way and also see how everyone has their own motives and story that they want to tell.

Myst, I'm not surprised you couldn't stand Miss Clack. I thought she was a fabulously annoying character, very well written and I found her religious antics hilarious.

I still haven't read about Mr Bruff yet, but will try to read that today, then I'll be onto Franklin Blake's narrative. Glad to know we'll be finding out more about Rosanna and Rachel again.

[LauraT]

I loved his love for Robinson Crosue!

[Pink]

Haha, yes! How he always turned to it for answers, but on that one occasion even Crusoe couldn't help him. Can't say I agree, as I wouldn't ever want to read Robinson Crusoe again!

[Pink]

I finished this today. Have to say I was a bit disappointed by the reveal of what happened to the moonstone, although I liked that the story continued a little afterwards. There weren't any real surprises about who was guilty or innocent, but I enjoyed reading all the different narratives.

[Myst]

Finished. The ending was a bit slower of pace than the beginning, but overall a good story.