April 2019 Group Read: The Circular Staircase, by Mary Roberts Rinehart

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Old this book may be, but you have to love a first line like this one:

"This is the story of how a middle-aged spinster lost her mind, deserted her domestic gods in the city, took a furnished house for the summer out of town, and found herself involved in one of those mysterious crimes that keep our newspapers and detective agencies happy and prosperous. "

If you haven't found a copy of the book yet, e-copies are available for free here:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/434

Looking forward to the discussion.

[Bill]

I've just started and enjoying so far.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Bill wrote: "I've just started and enjoying so far."

You're ahead of me!!

[Bill]

Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "I've just started and enjoying so far."

You're ahead of me!!"

I try.. :)

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Started it today!

[Linda]

Almost finished

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I'm devoting part of my day to this book, so I should have something to say shortly. My favorite book of hers is The Album, in which the bodies start piling up quickly. Has anyone read her work before?

[Suzy]

I just ordered this from the library, so plan to join in on this conversation as well as moderate The Hound of the Baskervilles!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Well, I've just finished the first three chapters and I have to say that I'm definitely intrigued to discover what's going to happen next. So far, so good.

[Chris]

Nancy wrote: "Old this book may be, but you have to love a first line like this one:

"This is the story of how a middle-aged spinster lost her mind, deserted her domestic gods in the city, took a furnished hous..."

I requested this from my library. They have to pull it out of storage, so hopefully by the end of the week I'll have it!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Chris wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Old this book may be, but you have to love a first line like this one:

"This is the story of how a middle-aged spinster lost her mind, deserted her domestic gods in the city, took a ..."

I took advantage of the e-book on this one. I don't normally like reading in that format, but sometimes I actually make exceptions.

[Portia]

My copy arrives Thursday!

[Lisa]

I'm about 25% in and enjoying it. I like the author's voice for the main character, staunch and humorous, particularly considering her gender and the time period. Also relevant to the time period, some pretty bracing racist text - yikes.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Lisa wrote: "I'm about 25% in and enjoying it. I like the author's voice for the main character, staunch and humorous, particularly considering her gender and the time period. Also relevant to the time period, ..."

There is that, to be sure.

[Bill]

I'm about 25% of the way in. I've not read anything by Rinehart before. For some reason I'm having difficulty getting the decade in my mind. She hasn't wasted any time getting into the action. There is a creepiness about the setting and a constant menace so far. I like it.

[Lisa]

Bill wrote: "I'm about 25% of the way in. I've not read anything by Rinehart before. For some reason I'm having difficulty getting the decade in my mind. She hasn't wasted any time getting into the action. Ther..."

Yes - we got right into the thick of it; I like that too.

[Suzy]

I was wondering if there was a movie based on this - it sounds familiar. But after looking the movie is The Spiral Staircase based on a different book.

[Jen]

I'm really enjoying this so far!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Suzy wrote: "I was wondering if there was a movie based on this - it sounds familiar. But after looking the movie is The Spiral Staircase based on a different book."

That's a good book, by the way. The movie actually doesn't quite do it justice!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

So now I'm at the 25% mark, and really having fun with this book. There's enough of a muddle to make it interesting but I'm appreciating the questions Rinehart leaves so that we really don't miss any plot points.

I have to abandon the book for today but I'll catch up tomorrow.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Jen wrote: "I'm really enjoying this so far!"

Me too!

[Patty]

I forgot to download the book on my reader! Wait for me!

[Patty]

What an opening paragraph! I also learned a new word: hegira: any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place. Is her taking of a country house going to be her hegira? I think not! Ba-ha-ha-ha-ha!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Patty wrote: "What an opening paragraph! I also learned a new word: hegira: any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place. Is her taking of a country house going to be her hegira? I think not! Ba-..."

I thought it was cool that she used that term. Hegira (hijrah) is the original term describing Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina to avoid persecution. So it is really is a sort of a contradictory usage here.

[Patty]

Ah! But “persecution” can be a subjective thing. In her case, taking on her brother’s kids—at least financially; never seeming to form an emotional bond. The thought of a new beginning in a different/idealized setting. Of course, I’ve only read one page. I’m nearing the end of a book that I’m spending too much time on. I need to get it out of the way. Then I can actually sit back and relax with this one.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

It is unexpectedly humorous!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "It is unexpectedly humorous!"

I know! I was pleasantly surprised, and I'm only a quarter of the way through it. I'll be picking it up again tomorrow.

[Tom]

If anyone would like to listen to a free audio version of this book, it was recorded last year by B.J. Harrison at the Classic Tales Podcast, episodes 594 to 603. Here's the link.
http://classictales.libsyn.com/

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Tom wrote: "If anyone would like to listen to a free audio version of this book, it was recorded last year by B.J. Harrison at the Classic Tales Podcast, episodes 594 to 603. Here's the link.
http://classictal..."

Aren't you sweet!! Thank you, Tom. I'm sure someone will be happy to take you up on it.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

If you've ever wondered about "wrinkle eradicators" (chapter 9)

https://www.cosmeticsandskin.com/aba/...

I seriously laughed when I looked this up.

[Suzy]

This just came in at the library - can't wait to get to it after reading all the comments :)

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Nancy wrote: "If you've ever wondered about "wrinkle eradicators" (chapter 9)

https://www.cosmeticsandskin.com/aba/...

I seriously laughed when I looked this up."

omg.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "Nancy wrote: "If you've ever wondered about "wrinkle eradicators" (chapter 9)

https://www.cosmeticsandskin.com/aba/...

I seriously laughed when I looked this up."

omg."

:)

[Portia]

https://www.capitalskinlaser.com/kybe...

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Actually, my personal favorite on that page was the "Helena Rubenstein Beautilift Masque made from pink silk." I do believe I'd find myself in a different bedroom if I wore that to sleep in. LOL

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Portia wrote: "https://www.capitalskinlaser.com/kybe......"

I'll pass, thanks.
:)

[Lisa]

Patty wrote: "What an opening paragraph! I also learned a new word: hegira: any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place. Is her taking of a country house going to be her hegira? I think not! Ba-..."

I liked it too, and I've found myself using my dictionary a couple of times during this read. Very cool :)

[Bill]

I finished this morning and will add my review to the spoilers thread when I've written it. Enjoyable all around although I did feel at times like there was too much going on. Loved the relationship between Rachel and Liddie. I thought it was great. Lots of humor. I keep trying to picture what Rachel means by tying her skirts up around her head.... Strange images abound..

[Patty]

Up to chapter 9, and must say how refreshing it is to have an intelligent police detective.

[Bill]

Patty wrote: "Up to chapter 9, and must say how refreshing it is to have an intelligent police detective."

I liked him too.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

at the halfway point (through Chapter XV). I don't mind reading this book slowly -- there's a lot to put together in my head every so often. Actually, that's why I don't whiz through books, so I can take time to think about them at every stopping point.

[Patty]

Nancy, from someone who doesn’t whiz through books, you read through a lot of books.

An interesting aspect is the writing of Thomas’ dialogue in dialect (unsure how to label said dialect), and the descriptions of his skittish and superstitious nature. Where others have fear, he has “tokens” of death.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Patty wrote: "Nancy, from someone who doesn’t whiz through books, you read through a lot of books.

An interesting aspect is the writing of Thomas’ dialogue in dialect (unsure how to label said dialect), and th..."

It's due to years of training in reading for content and ideas in crunch-time mode from studying philosophy and history in grad school. Nowadays I've slowed way way down, believe it or not.

[MissLemon]

About half way through and wishing I had more time as I really want to binge read to find out what's going on!

I'm wondering if we have an unreliable narrator here ( but then I nearly always do !)

Thanks for nominating Nancy, really enjoying this 🙂

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Carolyn wrote: "About half way through and wishing I had more time as I really want to binge read to find out what's going on!

I'm wondering if we have an unreliable narrator here ( but then I nearly always do !..."

You're very welcome, Carolyn. I think what I like most about it is that it's a true, old-fashioned mystery, uncluttered with a lot of extraneous stuff.

Binge read -- who has the time? My to do list from yesterday alone kept me busy from like 10 until 4:30! I didn't get back to my other book until bedtime.

[Chris]

Patty wrote: "What an opening paragraph! I also learned a new word: hegira: any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place. Is her taking of a country house going to be her hegira? I think not! Ba-..."

I agree, and Hegira was a new word for me also.

[Chris]

Lisa wrote: "Also relevant to the time period, some pretty bracing racist text - yikes Are you referring to the way the character & dialogue of Thomas is portrayed? (I'm only on chap 4)

[Chris]

I've only just started. But just wondering about the title. Why are so many of us enamored with circular staircases? They are visually appealing to me and fun. Do they evoke something grand? Or in this novel something mysterious?

[Lisa]

Chapter 3. "As for Thomas and his forebodings, it was always my belief that a Negro is one part thief, one part pigment, and the rest superstition." YOW.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Chris wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Also relevant to the time period, some pretty bracing racist text - yikes Are you referring to the way the character & dialogue of Thomas is portrayed? (I'm only on chap 4)"

re racism here: I'm just going to say this. Later, Rachel will only have lovely and kind things to say about Thomas, so maybe it's the case that it was standard usage of the day, not meant in any negative connotations. Feel free to argue, but that's my thought here.