Reading the Chunksters discussion

Here we are with the new read in 2017. New book, new hopes, new expectations.

We are starting with the usual reading pace for our group, 50-60 pages per week, but we can always speed up.

As usual, I will introduce a couple of questions or statements for further discussion, but feel free to post in any form.

1. We are in London and on board the ship in this novel in the first chapters of the novel. Do the initial chapters covey the atmosphere of the nineteenth century? Which of the two descriptions do you find more realistic or more atmospheric?

2. How important is it for a novel to be atmospheric, especially for a crime novel? Do you use it as one of the features of the rating?

3. We are already dealing with some gory scenes in this novel. What purpose do they serve?

4. What are your thoughts on the characters' names - Foole and Shade?

5. How does the double perspective enrich or complicate the novel? Is there a space for another perspective?

6. What are your general impressions so far - language, style, characters?

Post away, friends!

I'm afraid that i returned the book after the starting mix up and I'm back in a queue. Currently there are two people in front of me so I'm not sure when I'll be joining in.

When is every one else starting?

The first chapter was powerful and probably set the mood for the rest of the novel. Pinkerton is both powerful and imposing and a specter haunting dark spaces and back alleys.

I've been wondering about the names Shade and Foole. Foole doesn't seem like a fool but shade is certainly elusive.

After just finishing reading Fingersmith, I can say a double perspective can add a lot to a story. So why not three? More is better, right? It's a little early to tell whose third perspective it should be, but maybe the woman who jumped off the bridge. Shade needs to stay in the shade.

This looks like it's going to be a good one.

Actually I've just received an email from one of my libraries notifying me that they've purchased an electronic copy based on my recommendation that they do so. I've just checked it out so I'll be able to join in right away.

I'm doing this one on audio and I am ready to go so I will start this week. I'm not sure how doing an audio book on a 3 month schedule will work as I usually just listen to one book at a time, so I will likely need to speed up my read of this much quicker than the schedule states.

I'm starting this week too. If we do decide to read faster will there be threads available ahead of time?

Amanda wrote: "I'm starting this week too. If we do decide to read faster will there be threads available ahead of time?"

I think we can read a little bit faster. It is quite a compelling read, but I am not going to re-organize the schedule. I will simply post two threads per week, if it is O'K with you.

Linda wrote: "I'm doing this one on audio and I am ready to go so I will start this week. I'm not sure how doing an audio book on a 3 month schedule will work as I usually just listen to one book at a time, so I..."

I am also doing the audio, but I had to check the book from the library to help me. The narrator does tell you when chapters end and new ones begin, but the narrative is so immersive, I had to stop myself from reading further.

Anyway, when in doubt, please use the spoiler marks :-)

Xan Shadowflutter wrote: "The first chapter was powerful and probably set the mood for the rest of the novel. Pinkerton is both powerful and imposing and a specter haunting dark spaces and back alleys.."

I agree, It is very reminiscent of the dark Victorian novels or postmodern pseudo-Victorian novels. On the other hand, Sally is an interesting African-American, still sassy and original, and someone you would not expect to see in novels with similar setting.

Nicola wrote: "Actually I've just received an email from one of my libraries notifying me that they've purchased an electronic copy based on my recommendation that they do so. I've just checked it out so I'll be ..."

Good news, Nicola

I agree with Xan, this looks like it's going to be a good one!

I thoroughly enjoyed the opening three chapters of this book, the dark gritty atmosphere of London really pulled me into the story and mystery of searching for a "ghost" named Shade. And then I was completely taken by surprise by the gruesome details of the woman's death, I guess if I had read the book synopsis more closely I should have expected that a head would be found in the river (I pretty much jumped on the read when Amanda said she bought the book because she liked the cover. ha ha!). I loved the scene with Pinkerton, the Chief Inspector, and the constable all throwing out ideas about the woman's murder. I couldn't help but laugh at the Inspector's summation of the events after the constable suggested that the woman was asleep when she was killed.

I'm glad you mentioned Sally, Zulfiya. I was a bit jarred out of the setting when she entered the picture. At first I wondered if I had missed a detail and we were actually back in America. It's interesting to be reading a novel in London during the late 1800's, while also getting bits of scenes from America and South Africa.

I had not given much thought to the names of Foole and Shade until the question was posed. I also do not see Foole as a fool, but we are just getting to know these characters so I guess there is room for that yet. We shall see. I wonder if Shade will materialize into an actual person, or if he will remain a "ghost". As for space for another perspective, if we do get another one it would actually be interesting to see it from Shade's perspective - watching the detectives from afar and hidden within the shadows. Although I am quite satisfied with the two perspectives given at the moment.

Linda wrote: "I thoroughly enjoyed the opening three chapters of this book, the dark gritty atmosphere of London really pulled me into the story and mystery of searching for a "ghost" named Shade.."

I am wondering if he is going to be the ever-elusive"ghost" as you said or the one who pulls all the strings and moves the plot forward.
The details of her death are definitely more suitable for the modern procedural novel, but NOT for the piece period or the pseudo piece period novel.

What are your thoughts on Molly, everyone? Is she an "oliver twist" in the feminine garments?

Zulfiya wrote: "The details of her death are definitely more suitable for the modern procedural novel, but NOT for the piece period or the pseudo piece period novel"

Oh yes, you're right about that. I read all of Tana French's books, so I was used to these types of descriptions. I guess I forgot for the moment that we were in Victorian London!

I'm going to hold off on commenting on the Foole-Molly relationship until chapter 4 is in play.

I've never heard of Price, the author, before, and it's a little early, but so far I'm really liking how he tells a story and develops characters and their relationships between each other.

To use quotation marks or not. That's the question. What do you think?

Given that the punctuation rules for quotations defy my common sense -- you could write a pamphlet on the proper punctuation of quotations -- I'm fine with not using them as long as it's clear when someone is speaking and who it is. If you want to see how to get around using quotation marks when there are multiple speakers, read Traveler of the Century. I also recommend it because it's so good.

I just opened the new thread for the next section.

Zulfiya wrote: "What are your thoughts on Molly, everyone? Is she an "oliver twist" in the feminine garments?
"
I had a hard time getting a bead on Molly. How old is she and what is her relationship with Foole?

I think this is off to a really good start and I'm sad I haven't had more time to spend with it yet. With a book this long it's hard to know much in the first 3 chapters so I'm hoping to have some more time to devote to it this week.

Amanda wrote: "I had a hard time getting a bead on Molly. How old is she and what is her relationship with Foole?"

The relationship gets explained after chapter 3 sometime, but if you want to know before then (view spoiler)[Foole basically "bought" her from a workhouse, I believe when she was 6 years old (hide spoiler)]. I'm further along in the book now, and I'm still not quite sure how old Molly currently is (view spoiler)[I'm guessing somewhere around 12? (hide spoiler)].

I believe that the author has set the mood and the stage for the book in these chapters. I looked at the publication date because it read like a "Dickens" story. It is very engaging.

It is like a "Dickens" story. it is as if you get the whiffs of Dickens all the time ...

Sorry for being so slow at reading- it's amazing at how much life gets in the way!

I am really enjoying this book so far. At first I was tempted to put it down, but it's gripped my interest so I'm excited to continue it.

I think the author has done a great job of setting the scene. The name "Shade" fits the character perfectly since he seems to be "imaginary" and no one really knows who he is. Foole was an interesting choice as well- I feel like this character is hard to read right now but he seems as though he is a bit of a Foole or that it is easy to pull the wool over his eyes.

I just have gotten my book from the library- it certainly is popular! I'm loving it so far and I felt like the scene on the ship better conveyed the time period for me. The multiple class sections and the descriptions of those on board really provided the atmosphere to suit the storeyline.

The murder was quite gruesome and I really wasn't expecting such a graphic violent demise. Whoever is the killer, has to be closely associated to her, otherwise why make it such a demeaning death.

I like alternative viewpoints and they can add a lot to a novel. Gone Girl is a perfect example at shifting a storyline completely.

MichelleCH wrote: "The murder was quite gruesome and I really wasn't expecting such a graphic violent demise. Whoever is the killer, has to be closely associated to her, otherwise why make it such a demeaning death.
"

The murder scene was definitely gruesome in its description, but not unheard of in Victorian England. Last year, I read Murder by Candlelight: The Gruesome Slayings Behind Our Romance with the Macabre, a non-fiction account of all the gruesome and famous murder cases in Britain, and one one of them is about the fully dismembered corpse. Even if Price has not read the book, he definitely did his research.

Alternative viewpoints always work very well for me, personally, but I know it might be confusing for some readers. I for one find them enjoyable because they do give us a biased approach, but we do not know whose truth is truer :-)

Alternative viewpoints are good for reminding me to not take the narrative at face value!

Finally getting going on this, hoping to read a section a day, or more likely every other. Apologies in advance for any typos,I am writing on my phone.

As for the questions, I preferred the ship chapter to the London ones. I felt the atmosphere was better captured. With London, I mean, I guess it capped the seedy underworld feel, but I felt like it really could have been any city. and as someone else mentioned, when Sally was introduced, I questioned where all this was taking place and had to remind myself. I liked Sally a lot, though, and was sad that Ben was already dead before we got introduced... I think he sounds like a great character.

The history with this case and our protagonist's father is very interesting. I can't wait to learn more about it, and why he felt the need to investigate further. it seems like he didn't even know how obsessed his father, and Ben by proxy, had been!

The murder was gruesome, but I was ok with it. I know real life things like that happened. had this book been written during that time period, I am sure it wouldn't have been written that way... but these days, there are much worse, so doesn't bother our modem sensibilities :)

As for the names... with names like that I will be annoyed if they don't turn out to be prophetic (or ironic...)

Deana wrote: "The murder was gruesome, but I was ok with it. I know real life things like that happened. had this book been written during that time period, I am sure it wouldn't have been written that way... but these days, there are much worse, so doesn't bother our modem sensibilities :)."

I fully agree - it is a tribute to a modern crime genre with very gruesome scenes, but it also sends a signal that this is a modern novel even though with the pretenses of Victorian fiction.