Feb. 1 -- Feb. 7 Discussion: Chapters I ("A Discovery") through XIX ("An Incident")

[Bionic Jean]

Good to "meet" you John! I'm usually lagging behind with group reads, but this one flows easily and has short chapters for a Victorian novel!

Actually, it is more epistolary than you might think! (Re. what's coming up.) Very like Wilkie Collins in some ways - also in the build-up of tension - and with regard to the place and status of women in Victorian society.

[Ken]

Good to see you're well into the book, John.

[Yvonne]

Thanks for lifting up those snippets of characterization, John. I was more focused on the plot, first time through, and keeping track of who's who; your quoting those passages spotlights the skillful writing.

[John]

Wrapped up the first volume.

Quite the turn after chapter XV.

Huntingdon is evidently a Byronic figure who seems to consume his scenes. He, of course, is raw nature, untameable in the sense Helena seems to believe. She is as naive in these early diary passages as Gilbert was beforehand.

On Gilbert - eh.....usually I will pass off some abrasive behaviour as lending to engaging characters and a driver for plot. But his treatment of Mr Lawrence was just thuggish.

Even the preceding chapters that described him losing control with jealousy - I did not feel I was dealing with a purely love-smitten irrationality. It felt like a madman's descent.
Yet I get the impression we are still meant to be rooting for Gilbert? It's a strange one. Onto volume II!