Classics for Beginners discussion

Discussion for Volume I (chapters 1-28) of Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore.

From the Penguin blurb:
The words 'Lorna Doone' are familiar to all readers of English literature. In 1869 Richard Doddridge Blackmore published his romance of Exmoor and saw it become one of the most beloved stories of the century.

In 'Lorna Doone' Blackmore invented a unique narrative voice in the homely John Ridd, a dramatic love story with the mysterious Lorna of the outlaw Doone's, and a magnificent setting in the descriptions of Devon and Somerset.


The road to being published (from Wiki):
Blackmore experienced difficulty in finding a publisher, and the novel was first published anonymously in 1869, in a limited three-volume edition of just 500 copies, of which only 300 sold. The following year it was republished in an inexpensive one-volume edition and became a huge critical and financial success. It has never been out of print.


Dialect in the book
By his own account, Blackmore relied on a "phonologic" style for his characters' speech, emphasising their accents and word formation.[4] He expended great effort, in all of his novels, on his characters' dialogues and dialects, striving to recount realistically not only the ways, but also the tones and accents, in which thoughts and utterances were formed by the various sorts of people who lived in the Exmoor district in the 17th century. (From Wiki)

Wiki page re: 'Lorna Doone' (note: the plot summary contains spoilers): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorna...

Wiki page re: RD Blackmore: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RD_Bl...

Wiki page for Exmoor: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exmoor

Wiki page for Queen Anne (time period the book is set during): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen...

Anyone started reading this?

I've started tonight, and I think it is going to take me awhile. I'm finding the syntax complex so I'm needing to read quite slowly to make sure I'm catching everything.

The dialect hasn't been as much a problem as I expected so far. It looks intimidating when written, but found I easily get the hang of it (well, most of it) if I read it out loud.

I'm planning on starting this today. I have it on Kindle.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "I'm planning on starting this today. I have it on Kindle."

Awesome. Be good to hear your thoughts as you read.

Chapters 4&5 were interesting as we were introduced to the Doones and what preceded them becoming 'outlaws'.

Also interesting to have finally meet Lorna in chapter 8.

I've gotten used to the writing style quickly. I found it challenging and a bit of a slog yesterday, but found it far easier going (and enjoyable!) today.

I just started. This is going to be slow going. I'm having a hard time with some of the regional language. As I don't have the audiobook, I have to make a best guess. Sometimes with an audiobook I can understand local dialects better than when I read them.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "I just started. This is going to be slow going. I'm having a hard time with some of the regional language. As I don't have the audiobook, I have to make a best guess. Sometimes with an audiobook I ..."

Not sure if this is helpful, but I found reading the dialect out loud made it easier to work out what it was. I don't think there is as much dialect after the first few chapters, because I found the reading I did last night much easier.

I have been reading the Project Gutenberg publishing of Lorna Doone. This ebook is not split into three volumes. Do other editions have volumes? Were does each volume end? I plan on reading at least the first 25 chapters for this month, but would like to keep up with everyone here.

Melanie wrote: "I have been reading the Project Gutenberg publishing of Lorna Doone. This ebook is not split into three volumes. Do other editions have volumes? Were does each volume end? I plan on reading at leas..."

Hi Melanie,
Great to have you join the read!

I'm reading this edition Lorna Doone which has three volumes.

The chapter numbering re-sets at the start of each volume, but in my edition Volume 1 has 28 chapters; Volume 2 has 24 chapters; and Volume 3 has 23 chapters.

From my experience in the longer reads, people tend to start and finish at different times, so read at a pace that suits you and there will still be people checking into the thread to discuss :)

How are you finding the book so far?

Hi RitaSkeeter,

Thank you for the number of chapters. My edition just has Chapters 1-75. I just finished Chapter 8. I am not having an issue with the dialect so far, but I find that I don't like John very much. I know he was a character created in a time very different from ours, reflecting the outlook and manners of people living in an even older era, but I can't help disliking his views on women and his attitude in general. I hope there are some redeeming qualities about him later that will help me root for him.

I should also add that I am a little uncomfortable with a fourteen year old boy falling in love with an eight year old girl. That is like having a high school freshman fall in love with a third grader. Just had to point that out.

Melanie wrote: "Hi RitaSkeeter,

Thank you for the number of chapters. My edition just has Chapters 1-75. I just finished Chapter 8. I am not having an issue with the dialect so far, but I find that I don't like J..."

I can't say I'm overly thrilled with John as the protagonist either. I'm not sure I would say I dislike him, I just find him a bit bland. I guess perhaps Blackmore deliberately wrote him as a strong, loyal (and a bit boring) type so he was a direct contrast to the Doones.

I wasn't comfortable with the John/Lorna thing either. I didn't like the bit where he kissed her - felt a bit ick.

How are you both going with the book Melanie and Kirsten?

Anyone else reading along?

RitaSkeeter wrote: "How are you both going with the book Melanie and Kirsten?

Anyone else reading along?"

I just finished Chapter 21, where Lorna tells the story of her cousin Alan.

I am still not fond of John Ridd. I am not sure what Blackmore intended with his protagonist. Sometimes, Ridd seems to be belligerent, lacking in intelligence, and sexist. Other times, Ridd seems to embody the idea that simple living is pure living. Is the character supposed to be a humorous example, or an exalted ideal of common living? Perhaps Blackmore meant the character to be both, but Ridd's personality seems more jumbled and confusing, rather than complex and multi-faceted.

I don't know why my reply is also in italics. Sorry.

Just started this last night.

Lesley wrote: "Just started this last night."

Great to have you join in Lesley. How are you finding it so far?

Melanie wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "How are you both going with the book Melanie and Kirsten?

Anyone else reading along?"

I just finished Chapter 21, where Lorna tells the story of her cousin Alan.

I am still..."

Can't say I developed any real fondness for John either. My thought on John was that he was a simple living, honest, stolid, strong archetype of male character. A real contrast to Lorna who was a female archetype of the time - needing a man to protect her, etc etc.

That's where the book fell down for me actually - the characterisation was just too flat.

I feel the same way Rita. Too full of stereotypes and predictable for me. I hope to finish today.