Invisible Man by H.G. Wells (Group Classics Read Aug/Sept 2016)

[Greg]

Mimi wrote: "Okay, so I've been trying to come up with an object (besides clothes), that would be of practical use when invisible, and I keep coming up blank."

A revolver or bludgeon? Only after he's gone crazy and wants to enact his world domination plan though.

Clothes & shoes I think are the most practical (and indispensable).

[Mimi]

A revolver is a distance weapon, so there wouldn't be much need for it to be invisible (and you would have to make invisible bullets).
If it's used in close quarters, it's main purpose is to scare people into submission, so being invisible would render that mute.

A bludgeon might work indeed.


note: for everyone who thinks I'm crazy by now; I consider this a theoretic thinking excercise, don't worry ;)

[Nefeli]

I started reading this book today and I've reached chapter 13. I really like it so far. The plot is very interesting and I can't wait to find out more details about the invisible man and his experiments.

Does anyone else find the british accent in the dialogues a little annoying? For example how it says "he wi'nart" instead of "he will not". Sometimes I can't quite understand what they are saying.

[Leslie]

Nefeli wrote: "Does anyone else find the british accent in the dialogues a little annoying? For example how it says "he wi'nart" instead of "he will not". Sometimes I can't quite understand what they are saying..."

I listened to the audiobook, so that wasn't a problem for me. But I do often have trouble when authors write dialect so I sympathize with you!

[Greg]

Nefeli wrote: "Does anyone else find the british accent in the dialogues a little annoying? For example how it says "he wi'nart" instead of "he will not". Sometimes I can't quite understand what they are saying. ..."

Generally dialect does trip me up a little Nefeli; so I definitely know what you mean. I could figure out whst they were saying in this book, but deciphering things slowed me down a bit here or there.

Leslie, I find that books with heavy dialect (Their Eyes Were Watching God for instance) do work really well as audiobooks when the dialect makes me stumble too much!

[Nefeli]

I just finished it and I've got to say it really fascinated me. It was even scary at times.

[Leslie]

Greg wrote: "Nefeli wrote: "Does anyone else find the british accent in the dialogues a little annoying? For example how it says "he wi'nart" instead of "he will not". Sometimes I can't quite understand what th..."

I do agree Greg. If I ever reread Dicken's Hard Times I will search out an audiobook edition because the dialect in that made me dislike the whole book!

[Nefeli]

I just thought that if Griffin wanted to spread terror another thing he could do is to make other people and their stuff invisible without them knowing... imagine that.

[Greg]

Nefeli wrote: "I just thought that if Griffin wanted to spread terror another thing he could do is to make other people and their stuff invisible without them knowing... imagine that."

For sure Nefeli! :)

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I started listening to the Audible audiobook! I had forgotten how good this story is.

[Leslie]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I started listening to the Audible audiobook! I had forgotten how good this story is."

Who is doing the narration aPriL? Glad you are enjoying the story!

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

James Adams.

It seems to me Wells finds country folk very amusing - nosy, ignorant, rigidly immovable in acceptable moral beliefs and behavior, judgemental - and perfect foils for his story. Given these characteristics of the townspeople, and the frustration of his failure to fix his problem, I can see why Griffin, already having dared to step beyond social propriety and confident of his intellectual and personal superiority, would find people entirely invested in proper unimaginative mores too maddening to live with. He is very much like the character Rodian Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

"Nietzsche calls for exceptional people to no longer be ashamed of their uniqueness in the face of a supposed morality-for-all, which he deems to be harmful to the flourishing of exceptional people. He cautions, however, that morality, per se, is not bad; it is good for the masses, and should be left to them. Exceptional people, on the other hand, should follow their own "inner law." A favorite motto of Nietzsche, taken from Pindar, reads: "Become what you are.""

from wikipedia.

This 19th century idea, along with a creative explosion of developments in science experimentation, and class warfare, led to a lot of great literary stories!

[Nefeli]

Wow that was very well-thought and so true

[Greg]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "James Adams.

It seems to me Wells finds country folk very amusing - nosy, ignorant, rigidly immovable in acceptable moral beliefs and behavior, judgemental - and perfect foils for his story. Give..."

I agree April - I thought of the Man & Superman thing too when I read it. A much lighter and less weighty treatment but it does toy with a few of the same ideas that are explored in Crime and Punishment.

I like also what you say about the country folk as perfect foils, very true I think.