Lorna Doone (Jan-Mar tri-monthly read) Volume II

[RitaSkeeter]

Discussion for Volume II of Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore.

Thoughts on the book so far? Any favourite characters; any hated characters?

[RitaSkeeter]

Anyone reading in this section at the moment?

I'm up to chapter 20 - hadn't realised how deep into section 2 I was.

(view spoiler)[ The book has gotten a bit more exciting since John carried off Lorna (though the way she is written as so weak and delicate is annoying me). I'm concerned for John and his family. I'm a bit surprised the Doone's are taking so long to come and try to take her back.

I'm also unsure why John and Lorna haven't wed yet. Age of consent???

(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Hi RitaSkeeter,

I am on Chapter 38, which would be Chapter 10 in your book. I did not want you to think you were abandoned.

As for your first question: the only character I have been able to relate with is poor Lizzie. She is of a higher intellect than anyone else in her family, including the protagonist of this story. Yet, Lizzie gets treated like a red-headed step-child. Yes, she tends to antagonize her brother, but I think I would too if I had as my only choices as :relying on a complete dolt of a brother to provide for me, or marrying a complete dolt of a farmer out of the very few farmers I am allowed to come across in the small village I am confined to. There has not been enough to ascertain Lorna's character yet except that she is rich and she is also smarter than John. I did feel sympathy for Ruth when she spoke out from being offended. It was one of the rare times I actually agreed with John.

[Karen]

Hello! I have just finished reading Lorna Doone & must say I both loved it & hated it at the same time. I love a good romance but this story seemed to drag on & on for me. I wanted to come on here to comment throughout, as this is my first book read with this group, but I was having such a hard time with it, I hesitated coming here as I thought more info might push me over the edge. Haha. I am really glad I now know the story of Lorna Doone and some of the writing painted truly beautiful pictures for me. I loved reading about the countryside and John Riggs tale of getting stuck looking for loaches was what kept me reading in the first place. Awesome! But I got bogged down with some of the writing (not so much the dialects) just the wordiness....I love words but for some reason I felt like too much was being squeezed out of every sentence to the point where I constantly had to stop reading because it was just too much. I hope this doesn't mean I'm a dullard.

So... Happy to have read it, happier that I am finished. Phew! Now started 'A Town Like Alice'. Sooo refreshing to read a sentence that is clear and I understand. Yay! I know I'm behind but I could not resist this story. Hope to get to know you all in the group over time.
Cheers

[Cordelia]

Karen wrote: "Hello! I have just finished reading Lorna Doone & must say I both loved it & hated it at the same time. I love a good romance but this story seemed to drag on & on for me. I wanted to come on here ..."

Well done, sweetee. You did good.