Victorians! discussion

I am in chapter 4. I find this book strangely written. It seems that the writer by his own admission, goes off on tangents. I wonder if later on, we will find that these tangents actually do mean something to the story. The writing style is engaging. It is sort of conversational. (view spoiler)[I loved the part where the guy got married to his house keeper to save money because this way, he wouldn't have to pay her to do the same thing!(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Joanne wrote: "I am in chapter 4. I find this book strangely written. It seems that the writer by his own admission, goes off on tangents. I wonder if later on, we will find that these tangents actually do mean s..."

Different characters will tell different parts of the story, and the voice of the story will change.

Hi! I don't really know how buddy reads work but, if I may and if I can, I'd like to join in. I got a bit of the way through this, though my different reading devices - Kindle, Tree Book etc. - are all at different parts of the story! I'd prefer not to start right back at the beginning as I have SUCH a backlog of partly read books waiting for me.
Is the book split up into reading threads or is all of the feedback in one place?
Thanks for any help you can give. :)

Hilary wrote: "Hi! I don't really know how buddy reads work but, if I may and if I can, I'd like to join in. I got a bit of the way through this, though my different reading devices - Kindle, Tree Book etc. - are..."

Traditionally buddy reads are rather informal. A book chosen, and read without a formal reading schedule. And the discussion takes place under the buddy reads thread. Hope this helps

Ok, that's great, thanks Deborah! Great idea! :)

Hello Deborah and Hilary,

Yes of course, anyone is allowed on this thread! I request that we figure out a way to do spoilers. We can do it either of 2 ways. We can do it the html way. You can say how far you are in the book and then write the text hidden behind the html format. The other way, if you find that too hard is for example, to go:
**********************up to page 500******************************
*********************Spoiler****************************************

Its just that I would like to stay on one thread but not read spoilers.

Joanne

Hello Deborah and Hilary,

Yes of course, anyone is allowed on this thread! I request that we figure out a way to do spoilers. We can do it either of 2 ways. We can do it the html way. You can say how far you are in the book and then write the text hidden behind the html format. The other way, if you find that too hard is for example, to go:
**********************up to page 500******************************
*********************Spoiler****************************************

Its just that I would like to stay on one thread but not read spoilers.

Joanne

Joanne wrote: "Hello Deborah and Hilary,

Yes of course, anyone is allowed on this thread! I request that we figure out a way to do spoilers. We can do it either of 2 ways. We can do it the html way. You can say ..."

Joanne, I won't be participating. I've read it twice already, I was just helping Hilary with info. I used the term historically because I stopped being a moderator of this group, and wanted the mods to be able to set any guidelines they felt were necessary,

I am on Part 1 chapter VII.
(view spoiler)[So what we have here are some questions.
1. Do you think the Colonel wants to give the diamond to Rachel for malicious reasons or as a form of showing forgiveness?

2. Which suitor will Rachel go for? Fred or Godfrey?

I loved that quote, "she was unlike most other girls of her age, in this she had ideas of her own..." (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Part 1 around page 110 (view spoiler)[
After the second detective comes on the scene. He certainly seems to have it on the ball a lot more than the first one. What I like about him is that he conducts a more subtle investigation. He notices tiny details like a smudge on the wall. He is not rude with the servants by charging into their rooms and going through their things. Instead, he asks their help and they are more than happy to oblige. (hide spoiler)]

Hi Joanne! I'm not at home right now but I'll be back tomorrow evening so I can check what page I'm on. I have had several starts and stops. I also began 'reading' it on audio which is great, though unfortunately the chapters etc. are numbered differently. Anyhow, I'm delighted that you're reading this. I intend to jump on board asap! :)

Yes, I agree about the writing style being really good, but different, Joanne. I read his 'Woman in White' about a year or more ago. I also found it strangely written, in a way. It took me quite some time to decide whether or not I liked it. It all seemed terribly predictable, but then it came good for me. I think that this was just beginning to happen with 'Moonstone' as well, although it is very differently written.

Thanks for the spoiler brackets. Unfortunately I can't read them on my iPhone or tablet. Nor can I set them up. I shall just have to be very careful! Looking forward to this as I have a soft spot for Mr Collins because of his friendship with Dickens.

Hi, Joanne and Hilary! I hope your BuddyRead is going well. At some point, You might be interested in the discussion we had of The Moonstone in January 2016. It is in the 2016 Archive at the bottom of the Vic Homepage. I'm adding a link here, because you might find the background/resources interesting... https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Such a fun book!

Ok sow,now I will be back now people are showing up again.

*******Part 1 Chapter 15********
Spoiler**********************
I feel like the 2nd inspector does a better job than the first. He doesn't ignore small details. Plus, he knows how to get the servants to help him by asking for it instead of making them feel put off.

Read through Part 1: Chapter 18:

I do hope to hear from some of you soon!

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I really don't like the way Seargant Cuff is pursuing Miss Rachel and Roseanna without considering some of the other suspects. What motive could Miss Rachel have for losing her own diamond or pretending it is stolen? Here are some thoughts:

1. She knows that she and Roseanna love the same Franklin and she wants to frame Roseanna in hopes of getting rid of her.

2. There is something evil about Franklin that we don't know about yet and both Roseanna and Miss Rachel do. Think of the reaction Roseanna had when she first saw him. She turned white and acted frightened. Later on after the birthday party, it becomes clear that Franklin and Miss Rachel are having some sort of argument.

What are the other suspects? I think Lady Verinder could have done it. She didn't like her brother and she knows there could be a curse on the diamond.

I am on Part 2 the second Narrative

I thought that Miss Clack's Narrative was hilarious! My husband and I were talking about her character. She reminded us of Saturday Night Live's Character, "The Church Lady." Any of us who have belonged to a church or known fanatically religious people have known them. They are the people who push religion onto other people but do not see their own failings. I just let out a snort when I read about that book she gave to Mrs Verinder with that line about "The Devil on the Sofa." Haha! she doesn't even think about the fact that poor Mrs. Verinder is terminally ill and might need to lay on that sofa! Then later, we see her eavesdropping on Rachel and Godfrey. In some ways, she knows full well that she's doing wrong but doesn't care.

In the second narrative, I get to have some of my questions answered about what happened in the first. I really wondered what the lawyer said to Miss Rachel. I wondered why she suddenly decided to break of the engagement afterward. It makes sense now. It would seem that Godfrey was a god digger as described but I will wait and see.

I wonder about the secret that Rachel described to him in the library. The one where she describes a man who loves a woman that he knows is not worthy of him and he loves her back. I am wondering now if that's about Roseanna and Franklin Blake. Perhaps he was at one time or still lis in love with her. Then Rachel could be framing Roseanna to get her away from him. I still have a strong feeling toward that bent in the plot.

Collins is such a master if the unreliable narrator! I found Gabriel Betteridge much funnier on rereading, but Miss Clack is always hilarious.