Fowles, John - The Collector - Informal Buddy Read; Start January 1, 2015

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This topic is open for discussion of The Collector by John Fowles




Book Synopsis:
Withdrawn, uneducated and unloved, Frederick collects butterflies and takes photographs. He is obsessed with a beautiful stranger, the art student Miranda. When he wins the pools he buys a remote Sussex house and calmly abducts Miranda, believing she will grow to love him in time. Alone and desperate, Miranda must struggle to overcome her own prejudices and contempt if she is understand her captor, and so gain her freedom.

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[RachelvlehcaR]

Yay! Can't wait to read this classic.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Oh my goodness. I'm only in the beginning of the book but it's so interesting. He is one obsessed stalker! This is like reading stalker 101.

:O

[Cynthia]

Yes, he's quite creepy. I'm about halfway. The POV has just shifted. (view spoiler)[

I keep wondering if he's telling the truth about what he's done to her so far. Has he raped her? I don't know. His ideas are so warped, that I don't think I can rely upon his storytelling. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting. This book has been referenced so many times in other books and of course on television programs like Criminal Minds. I'm glad it's not graphic. It's bad enough without that.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Wow, this sounds creepy. Unfortunately, I can't get my hands on it so I will just read vicariously through everyone's discussion here. I'm pretty curious about this one!

I don't think I've ever read or heard this book referenced anywhere. Interesting tidbit, Cynthia!

[Cynthia]

The serial killers Lake & Ng (some time in the 1980s) were inspired, or so they claim, this book. They called their horrific endeavors 'Operation Miranda' so perhaps it's true. That's the first time I heard of this book.

The next time I heard of it was in an episode of Criminal Minds called The Fisher King. Probably an early one because Mandy Patankin was still in it.

I'm sure I've heard about it more than that, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Cynthia wrote: "Yes, he's quite creepy. I'm about halfway. The POV has just shifted. "

Yeah I'm happy it isn't that graphic either because it's pretty wild of a book. He is a major creeper. I see why it's been raved about. It has inspired a lot. It's freaky.

[RachelvlehcaR]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Wow, this sounds creepy. Unfortunately, I can't get my hands on it so I will just read vicariously through everyone's discussion here. I'm pretty curious about this one!

I don't think I've ever re..."

It's one of the 1001 book you must read before you die books. If you can't read the book there is an old movie of it. I watched it years ago. Also I found an audio book of it on youtube. I'd give you the link: The Collector. That way you can take part in this.

[Sumit]

Just finished reading it last night, and I do think it is creepy and disturbing. And reading about it, I found it has 'inspired' some real-life killers too.

I felt I was inside Frederick's head in the first part of the book. And that was plain unnerving.

What do you folks think of Miranda's character?

[RachelvlehcaR]

Sumit! You finished it! Not fair. I said that I'd go slow for you. Now I have no choice but to finished it tomorrow. Tonight I'm still going to read my other book.

I too think that it's like reading about his process. He is a major creeper. I know I've been reading about the influences this book has had. It's kind of freaky. I watched the movie many years ago. I think it's a 1960s movie.

[Sumit]

I haven't seen the movie, Rachel. But, the book is gripping. I was up till pretty late last night, reading this. And then, I couldn't sleep.

In some parts, I think he's way ahead of Thomas Harris' Hannibal.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Oh, you couldn't sleep. It's that disturbing? Oh my. You are a sensitive guy. He is a creeper though. Just how he tried to justify how he is doing everything.

I'm still in the beginning.

(view spoiler)[He really has planned a lot. Making the rooms and house be perfect for her abduction. I can see that real life killers would read this book for stalker/killer/abduction 101. (hide spoiler)]

[Sumit]

Once you finish, I'll tell you what I found most disturbing. It's there in my review, but I've hidden it with a spoiler tag. The book makes me think. (nothing nasty though!)

[RachelvlehcaR]

Okay. I'm curious. I'm wondering if I should read your spoiler because I know what happens because I watched the movie. The thing with that is you know how movies change things or leave things out.

I love books that linger and make me think. It's good to know no nasty thoughts, lol.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Thanks for that audio, Rachel! I hadn't thought to look there for audio books. I started listening but I found the guy kind of hard to listen to, so I might look for another version or just try to focus on listening to him when I've got absolutely nothing else distracting me.

[Cynthia]

I'm into the section from Miranda's POV and it just isn't as good as the first part. I'm not stopping, but I do hope it gets better. Well, not better because obviously is awful what's happening. More interesting.

[Sumit]

Cynthia, I agree. Fred's POV was completely insane. Miranda's is a bit like her last name - Grey.

[Cynthia]

Well, I'll muddle through that part for a couple of reasons: it's a short book, it's a classic, and I want the points for both the book and the BR.

I do understand why her POV is like this, because it would make me more sympathetic to him if she were crazy too. She's so boring I can't understand anyone developing an obsession with her. So he must be madder than I believed.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Cynthia wrote: "I'm into the section from Miranda's POV and it just isn't as good as the first part. I'm not stopping, but I do hope it gets better. Well, not better because obviously is awful what's happening. Mo..."

lol. Sorry that was funny.

I love his POV, he is a creeper and I love it. It is more entertaining.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Such the voyeur!

(view spoiler)[ He was very sexually aroused when she was knocked out. Naughty Naughty, stripping her when she was knocked out and taking photos. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Cynthia wrote: "Well, I'll muddle through that part for a couple of reasons: it's a short book, it's a classic, and I want the points for both the book and the BR.

I do understand why her POV is like this, becau..."

To me there is a major divide of the two characters. Major. They come from two very different worlds and it's clear that he doesn't have good social skills. He is very awkward.

(view spoiler)[With her descriptions of him, he is very socially awkward and even dresses that way. Yes her writing is more boring but I like it because it show different views of him. I see why see views him as very simple. She learns of him and observes him. The issue is that if you upset him, he is unpredictable because he has bottled so much of himself up. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Sumit wrote: "Cynthia, I agree. Fred's POV was completely insane. Miranda's is a bit like her last name - Grey."

Sumit, I prefer his writing because I like to read about how bonkers the poor boy is. When I read Miranda's POV I learn more about him and unreliable his POV is. There is a major division of the two. It reminds me of my favorite quote,

“There are two sides to every story—and then there’s the truth”

[Cynthia]

I've finished (view spoiler)[
I wish he had made Miranda more likeable. In my opinion, her POV only made him more sympathetic than he was otherwise. He was easy to despise when reading his POV, and she was easy to dismiss while reading hers.

He had obvious self esteem issues, but the picture she presented of him was pitiable. (hide spoiler)]

I can only give it 3 stars, for I found half the book interminable. His POV was excellent.

[RachelvlehcaR]

I finished the book too. :)

[Ketan]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I finished the book too. :)"

On the surface it's a classic story of boy sees girl, boy stalks girl, boy obsesses over girl, boy kidnaps girl and forces her into a power-bondage relationship. But, it's more complex and perhaps that's why you like it so much.

Miranda and Clegg represents a conflict not only between but within each other, and not only between minds but within a mind. I like Albert Camus a lot and I think the author was clearly influenced by French Existentialism. Clegg fits the pattern of the absurd man established by Camus. That is to say, absurd comes from the confrontation between irrationality and a desperate craving for clarity From this perspective it could be stated that the irrational side in the story is represented by the character of Clegg, whereas Miranda Grey embodies the longing for meaning and clarity, the human quest for understanding.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Oh that is real good Ketan. I liked the parts about Miranda because she is trying to process everything and figure him out. Not only that, you see a very unpredictable side of Frederick. In his POV, he says how together he is but in her eye he gets upset and violent.

I love this book because it's a freaky idea but a psychological process.

[Ketan]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Oh that is real good Ketan. I liked the parts about Miranda because she is trying to process everything and figure him out. Not only that, you see a very unpredictable side of Frederick. In his P..."

In conclusion, The Collector is not only an allegorical representation of the power struggle between the Few and the Many (I can go into that later), but also a practical example of the evil nature of Camus’s absurd man, stemming from his absurd innocence. Clegg, like Meursault, is an isolated (anti)hero who struggles against his passions in an existence of the Absurd

You should have paid more attention in your Philosophy class. See, it would have come in handy. :)

[Cynthia]

As an existentialist work, I would definitely rate it higher than 3 stars. As a psychological thriller, I'm being generous to give it 3 stars.

(view spoiler)[ I like that both of them are trying to define themselves through other people (and failing). By the end of the novel, Clegg is already planning his do over, and Miranda has convinced herself she would do things differently with GP if given the chance (as if her actions would change him).

If Miranda's kidnapping were instead Miranda's marriage, her death before her struggle to live authentically was won would be sad but we wouldn't see Clegg as evil. He would be her grieving husband and we would pity him. (hide spoiler)]