The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Ritt finds himself in trouble with high water. This puts him in a position to meet the child, Lorna, and she helps him hide from her family or gang members. She tells him it caught, they will be killed. The Doone’s appear to be feared by everyone in the area.

We also meet Tom Faggus, a cousin to Ritt. Tom has also faced ruin by way of a law suit, and has turned to crime. The author shows us a softer side of Tom when he rescues the duck, but also what he does with the gains from his crimes.

1. What do you think about the author’s writing style?

2. Several times the author refers to the ways of women. How do they differ from the ways of men? Is this unique to the time period?

One thing I notice is how the author is showing the good and the bad in the characters. Tom is caring yet a highwayman. Lorna seems to represent the good in the Doones.

Yes it is kind of funny that there are "good" outlaws and "bad" ones. Tom only takes from the rich and doesn't hurt them, apparently, while the Doones are depicted as being cruel.

The statements on how women are annoy me but they are not only of the time, but of the person. The narrator would have had those views. He is looking back on his life which seems to have been lived within a fairly narrow area.

I have been slowing down with reading because of the author’s writing style. After 100 pages I could not see where this was going and if it ever was to become relevant or enticing.

With the Covid lock-down (I am in Denmark), all this takes on a new perspective. I am not as impatient anymore. We have all the time in the world now. And it is wonderful to be transported far away from the news stream and into another time and place.

Life is slowing down more and more, we are reaching a state of zen and can sit and watch Ridd grow - inch by inch. :)

This book is full of lovely descriptions with a slow moving pace at the beginning. The action really picks up to a dramatic ending.

Charlotte wrote: "I have been slowing down with reading because of the author’s writing style. After 100 pages I could not see where this was going and if it ever was to become relevant or enticing.

With the Covid..."

I’m sequestered here at home. I’m in the US, and high risk. I’m over 60 with high blood pressure and asthma. I find the book has fast moving times and slower moving times. The descriptions of the environment, while beautiful, do seem to slow it down.

I am also sequestered here in US under rheumatologist’s orders (immunosuppressed , diabetic with asthma).
It has also given me time to spend more time in the book which is just what I needed to get into it. A lot of the parts seem extraneous but they do serve the purpose of pulling me deeper into Ridd’s world.
Several times throughout this section, I noticed how often Ridd commented not only about women but also the class difference in general of all people, whether it is based on sex, trade, money, birth, etc... He also spoke of how he disliked people who tried to act outside of their class.
He also speaks about how he hates people who say good things about themselves, then he goes on to say but you can ask anybody because his cooking or his looks or whatever is the best. I’m starting to enjoy R.D.B.’s sense of humor.

Ridd is very opinionated, especially in his comments on women, but I like him anyway.

Oh, I love him!! :-). And isn’t this taking place during mid 1600’s? ( don’t have my book right now ). B. Seems to be purposefully saying antagonistic things ( and I feel like I can see him laughing as he is writing, not taking himself Too seriously). I get a Twain feel sometimes, but that is the best I can do because I’m not usually a comedic reader yet that is what I think of at times. Or maybe he is pointing out how silly these things are. I’ll know more when I read more!!

Yes it’s 17th century setting

Ridd and the women... :)

Is he interested in girls? When going to church, they look at him, but he is not curious the other way. He can’t be bothered by the five frilly Snow-maidens either.

However, he can spend an hour admiring his beautiful sister Annie by the evening fire...

Charlotte wrote: "With the Covid lock-down (I am in Denmark), all this takes on a new perspective. I am not as impatient anymore. We have all the time in the world now."

Unfortunately, I'm more impatient because I have a work deadline (I ghostwrite) and am unable to focus, so that means work is piling up.

So I was feeling nit-picky and not enjoying this author's writing style so much. How many times can he use the word "little" in one chapter? No one's lips are actually "bright red" unless they're wearing lipstick. The "woman" statements. And no matter how much detail he puts in to describe the landscape, I have no idea what he's talking about or what it looks like.

However, the story itself is getting more interesting (maybe because I have cookies). I really enjoyed his description of the ducks - those I could picture perfectly. I liked this last bit about the weather, the man on the coast, the probable smuggling, and the noises in the fog. I hope Blackmore is not going to leave us hanging and not tell us what it is (like the author of Jerusalem).

Tom Faggus is also an interesting character. Blackmore clearly intends him as a largely sympathetic character, but he's a robber. And John named him as "the lover of my..." and didn't finish the sentence. My prediction: Sister. John has said the Doones have been known to carry off farmers' daughters. The Doones will carry off Annie in a few years, Tom will go after her, and the Doones will kill him, giving John more reason to want revenge against that family.

The ability to focus right now is extremely difficult.

I know what you mean, Deborah. I have been reading less than usual and knitting more. But I've gotten less fidgety now.

The book really does pick up towards the end.

When I was in university, one of my fellow students in French class was taking an English lit course. They had to do a book report on a novel of their choice(from a list) and she chose Lorna Doone. She said she would not have picked it if she had known how long it was.

Rosemarie wrote: "I know what you mean, Deborah. I have been reading less than usual and knitting more. But I've gotten less fidgety now.

The book really does pick up towards the end.

When I was in university, one..."


Lol. Actually that was my feeling too. I had what must be an abridged copy on my shelf for years so I added to the poll. I was shocked when I saw how long it was. Serves me right for not doing my research.

I'm in several groups of writers and editors on Facebook, and they all say the same thing - unable to focus. It is comforting to know it's not just me (I was beating myself up because I thought I was just being "lazy"). Knowing that even helped me get some work done over the last couple of days, and I just might meet my deadline. After that, I plan to crash for a couple of days and just catch up on books and crochet.

I'm about halfway through the third week's section, and I'm starting to get used to and enjoy the author's (or the narrator's? or both?) subtle humor.

Lori wrote:
Unfortunately, I'm more im..."

So fun to read your predictions! :) Great that you have joined.

Yes, we must hold on to that thought and learn more about the strange noise. I had almost forgot. At first I thought it was only the uncle tied up and groaning on the donkey.

So far I'm not fond of the author's style. At first I thought it was the dialect that slowed me down. But it's not. I don't have trouble with it now and I find I just have trouble visualizing what the author is describing. It's his choice of words and sometimes overly lengthy descriptive sentences that lose me.

But while the descriptions often lose me, as the dialect problems have diminished, now its the dialogue and storyline that interest me. I find the characters to be very intriguing. Outside of an aura in creepiness in how 14 year old Jan views the 8 year old Lorna, I liked the plot developments in this section. Faggus is an interesting character in the tradition of a Robin Hood who just gives less away. If his story doesn't go anywhere in this book, I'll be interested in reading Lori's version.

I love the introduction to Lorna! In the short time we get to know her, one can't help but love her character!

Two people I'm most interested to see if their story progresses is Annie and Faggus. Perhaps I'm reading too deeply into things, but they both sound fated for misfortune. By the end of Chp. 9, John sounds as if he's mourning Annie. I love Lori's theory that Annie is carried off by the Doone's and Faggus goes after her! But I also wonder if Faggus will survive the end of the book.

Though not much is said about her, Eliza's character makes me laugh!!! In one of the chapters John exclaims how nobody knows what's going to come out of her mouth. Wish the author would have given an example - sounds like she would be hilarious (despite him suggesting that her wit isn't that developed).

Hannah wrote: "I love the introduction to Lorna! In the short time we get to know her, one can't help but love her character!

Two people I'm most interested to see if their story progresses is Annie and Faggus. ..."

I’m hoping we see more of Eliza in the upcoming chapters