I commend Charles Osborne for his work on the play The Unexpected Guest, because I can imagine it must be a daunting task to turn the play which entirI commend Charles Osborne for his work on the play The Unexpected Guest, because I can imagine it must be a daunting task to turn the play which entirely occurs in one setting - a study room- into an Agatha Christie novel, who is a master of her work. The book, though understandably rushed, manages to capture all the mystery and surprise which, I’m guessing, the Dame wanted the attendees of the play to experience. Her craftiness was clearly shown in the clever setting and as always she managed to thwart my thought-process quite elaborately....more
It becomes a little difficult to follow your detective protagonist if the author doesn't let you inside his head.
That is what was happening to me for It becomes a little difficult to follow your detective protagonist if the author doesn't let you inside his head.
That is what was happening to me for the first half of the book. The other half, though, was a thrill. As the layers of lies started to peel off the plot, the story became exciting.
Often, in detective fiction, the focus stays on the story and on what happens next, and not much attention is paid to the characters individually. It was not so in this book. Here, the author, while executing the plot, also gave emphasis on how the characters (though not so many) appear out to be. It was commendable (which shouldn't be surprising, as the book is a classic).
A good piece of fiction and a good enough writing style kept me interested enough to finish the book as soon as possible....more
The best thing about a classic book is that the author dissects out, and lays before you bare, all the thoughts and feelings of the characters. This nThe best thing about a classic book is that the author dissects out, and lays before you bare, all the thoughts and feelings of the characters. This not only helps you understand the story better, but it lets you make a bond with the characters; all irrespective of whether the genre of the story is crime or drama or romance. If you'll read The Moonstone, you'll come across how the author describes the French, German and Italian aspects of an important character's personality, this in itself goes to show that the author has a very acute understanding of the human nature.
Wilkie Collins was a gifted author, indeed! The way of writing, in the form of narratives of different persons, is really captivating. The Moonstone became a little slow in the middle, but overall the pace was quite satisfactory.
Some people call this book the first detective fiction to be written, though I don't know whether there is any truth in this, but The Moonstone is definitely one of the best detective books of the pre-Conan era....more
Whatever can be said about Pride and Prejudice has already been said. So I'll not use too many words in this review. Apart from strong and intelligent Whatever can be said about Pride and Prejudice has already been said. So I'll not use too many words in this review. Apart from strong and intelligent protagonists, what makes the story beautiful is its minor characters. The sweetness of Jane Bennet, the wisdom of the Gardiners, the vanity of Lady Catherine, the stupidity of Mr Collins, the silliness of Mrs. Bennet and a bunch of other superbly created characters do for the book at least as much as the elegant Victorian English does....more
"This is the story of what a Woman's patience can endure, and what a Man's resolution can achieve."
This stoThe first sentence of the book says it all.
"This is the story of what a Woman's patience can endure, and what a Man's resolution can achieve."
This story is written in the sequence of witnesses stating their pieces of evidence to a judge or jury. The first POV is of an art teacher. It's written in a beautiful Victorian English, with dark elements as they were in the 19th century. The teacher, Mr. Walter Hartright, is a kind and loving gentleman, who wins over the heart of anyone he meets. The poor guy falls in love with a special pupil he teaches in terms of a contract. He is forced to leave because the pupil is engaged. And there is the woman in white.
The characters, interesting enough to perfectly picture a 19th century England, were consistent in their basic propriety even though the roller coster of the events took them to their breaking points. Miss Halcombe, Count Fosco, Percival Glyde, Mrs. Catherick are characters worth remembering in the history of Literature.
A most interesting way of narration, with all the subtleties provided by English, this is one of those books for which you indulge in a habit of reading. I would give it more stars if I could....more
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