I Say No - Week 1 - Chapters 1 thru 8

[Deborah, Moderator]

Collins, in these few chapters, has already given us an unexplained murder, strange relationships, and odd characters. The story opens in a girls’ school, Emily and Cecilia are informal leaders of the girls. They have finished their schooling and are about to embark on their adult life, Francine is a new student from the Weat Indies. While of similar age, her education is lacking. Miss Jethro, a teacher who arrived at Easter, is already quietly leaving the school. Strange connections seem to involve Emily’s father, Mr. Brown. Alban Morris is a brusque drawing master. Cecelia helps Emily in finding a post with the Rooks - an elderly household - as a companion. Mr, Rook once owned an inn where 4 years ago a murder took place. The reputation of the inn was destroyed and he went bankrupt. Mrs. Rook, a strange character, is also asking questions about Emily’s father.


What do you think about the characters?

There is a lot of foreshadowing in these chapters. What do you think it means?

All the girls seem to be on the brink of life changes. How do you think the girls will be impacted?

[Rafael]

The characters are indeed odd. I'll reread the second part of the schedule because I couldn't get the story right. Maybe it's just me, but sometimes it is hard to be in the story.

[Frances, Moderator]

I agree, it was sometimes a challenge to keep the girls straight, and there is definitely a sense of no one being who they seem. I've gone into this novel with absolutely no knowledge of the plot or intention-I've enjoyed Collins in the past and so joined the read without reading the various blurbs-so I look forward to seeing how the characters and plot evolve.

Interesting how so many plots revolve around a family or character losing money or status and then needing to change their life trajectory-in this case both Emily and the Rooks-but also perhaps Francine who has left what was presumably a life of privilege and status in the West Indies to arrive as the unknown, poorly educated young woman who is behind her peers both in learning and status.

[Jaylia3]

I was more entertained by these first eight chapters than I expected, even enjoying the melodramatic style, and I'm very curious about where the story is going. I assume it has to do with the death four years ago of Emily's father, but it's not immediately evident to me how the mystery will be solved or how Collins will keep all the interesting people he's introduced us to involved in the story, since Francine, Cecelia, Miss Jethro, and Alban Morris have all gone, or are about to go, their separate ways. I hope they still have some significant roles in the plot, and I hope we meet Emily's Aunt.

I'm also interested to see what Emily's new placement will be like and how it will lead to solving whatever mystery there is to her father's death. It seems likely strange Mrs. Rook will play some role.

I'm not normally a fan of "sensational" writing so I don't know if my interest will stay strong, but so far Collins has me hooked.

[Trev]

Having just finished a Dickens novel I was alerted to the contrasting styles of the two friends’ storytelling. Collins is quite sparse yet exact with his descriptions and his characters all have that razor sharpness that places them precisely within what is already promising to be a convoluted plot.

The quintessentially English Cecelia and the exotic Spanish/English Francine provide Emily with polar opposite examples of wealth and privilege.

’ "An interesting discovery in our garden? What can it be?" "The drawing-master, my dear, is in love with Emily. Perhaps she doesn't care about him. Or, perhaps, I have been an innocent obstacle in the way of an appointment between them." Cecilia had breakfasted to her heart's content on her favorite dish—buttered eggs. She was in such good spirits that she was inclined to be coquettish, even when there was no man present to fascinate. "We are not allowed to talk about love in this school,"

For anyone who was not quite sure what exactly Cecelia’s favourite breakfast was, here is the recipe.

http://www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.c...

Emily herself, at this stage seems to be a paradox. A natural leader who has commanded her realm throughout her school life, is now seemingly satisfied (or at least resigned) with following the instructions of a dowdy old gentleman in the wilderness of a country estate.

Miss Jethro and Alban Morris are interesting because they seem to represent the hypocrisy within the outwardly respectable girls school which has such a glowing reputation. Both are troubled individuals, Miss Jethro trying to hide from her past and Alban Morris wrestling somewhat unsuccessfully with dubious emotions. No doubt that both of them will continue to have roles to play in the plot.

There is obviously some connection between the death of Emily’s father and Mrs. Rook, as the fire at the inn and the death both took place four years previously.

[Lori, Moderator]

I'm worried Emily will be in for a nasty shock regarding her father--the way he died and the way he lived; guessing Miss Jethro was his lover, and maybe Emily has a little sibling somewhere. I've forgotten about the fire; will have to reread some parts.

[Nancy]

This is the fourth novel by Collins that I’ve read, and I’m already hooked. Collins was a master of Victorian mystery as well as of well-drawn characterizations. There are definitely strong hints here that the death of Emily’s father involved some scandalous circumstances. Both Miss Jethro and Mrs. Rook obviously have some connection with him, and then there is that mysterious murder at the inn. I’m intrigued by Alban Morris and his broken heart, and I wonder if his romantic feelings toward Emily will ever be reciprocated.

[Frances, Moderator]

Nancy wrote: " I’m intrigued by Alban Morris and his broken heart, and I wonder if his romantic feelings toward Emily will ever be reciprocated."

I often look for a character in a novel which might be the author's projection of himself or his views-might that be Alban Morris in this one?