The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

This week’s reading takes us through Book 3, chapter 2

The councilman pays the Ridds a visit and attempts to damage Lorna and john’s relationship by telling them their father’s killed each other. It was disconcerting to me that the councilman is then treated very well and even stays over night. Annie is convinced the borrow Lorna’s necklace for the sake of the cream, only to find the councilman has stolen it. We learn a bit more about the foreign lady in the carriage (from the early chapters of the book), and Lorna’s history. Then we view the “great” battle that is a complete debacle.

Do you think the hospitality shown the councilman is appropriate? Why was he treated so well?

How do you think the attack on the Doones will impact them? The villagers?

Jeremy seemed to imply that the Ridds would be responsible for the value of the necklace. Why would that be? If Lorna’s parents and brothers were dead, wouldn’t the necklace be hers and no one else’s? And even if it didn’t, the Doones were the ones that stole it, twice: first by carrying off Lorna with the necklace, and second by stealing it from the Ridds' home.

It baffles me how they show so much respect for criminals just because they're upper-class.

The necklace may be enough for the counselor and the other Doones, but it won’t be enough for Carver. John insulted him, and Carver will be back. John really should have shot him, especially after hearing what Carver said. Though I think Blackmore did a good job portraying John's dilemma. John is a farmer, and still a very young man. It's not like he's a soldier, or even a man who's been around a while and seen a lot. It's not going to be easy for him to take a life, even if it's justifiable. We know John lived to tell the story, but I'm worried for John's mother and sisters and for Lorna.

Also, is Lorna really the daughter of Ensor Doone’s eldest son? When the events of Jeremy’s story happened, John was 12, meaning Lorna was 6. That means Carver Doone, who is 19 years older than Lorna, was 25, so his father, the counselor, was in his 40s. That means Ensor Doone’s eldest son was also in his 40s at least, but Benita says Lorna’s father was a young man. I also thought Lorna’s parents must have died when she was much younger, since she does not remember them, but the shock of the robbery and the crash may have caused her to block out any earlier memories.

I had wondered who the child was, and whether we’d see him or her again or whether Blackmore only mentioned it to show early on how bad the Doones were. I even wondered at some point whether it was Lorna, but then I didn’t think they’d treat a relative of theirs that way (if she really is one, that is).

I wonder when Tom Faggus saw Lorna. It could be that he also saw her in the carriage with her mother but wouldn’t rob a lady. But Tom’s only about 8 years older than John, right? So he would have been about 20, and probably still a blacksmith. Maybe he saw Lorna when she was visiting her aunt Sabina.

I’m still wondering how they put the fire out that was set when the donnes attacked the house. I’m not sure why John would have to pay for the necklace. Anybody know why that would be the case?

I was struck by the code John seems to have. He didn't shoot the Doones when he could, he wanted to let his prisoners go, he befriended the councillor, he thought it would be unfair to attack the Doones at a particular time, etc.

I was also quite annoyed at John's behavior with Ruth. What a jerk!

Robin wrote: "I was struck by the code John seems to have. He didn't shoot the Doones when he could, he wanted to let his prisoners go, he befriended the councillor, he thought it would be unfair to attack the D..."

Yes his actions with the Doones seems as if he has a good heart, and is a man of principals. I can’t help but think Ruth would be a more practical partner to him. He is certainly clueless about women, and we already know he’s swayed by a pretty face.

Yes, John's "code' results in actions that are often a bit weird, at least by our standards, but I think by anybody's. They all seem to feel obligated to treat the Counsellor well because he's their guest regardless of his previous actions and intent. What would they have done with Carver if he showed up at their door and acted like he just came to visit?John's failure to kill Carver obviously seems like it will come back badly - it always does.
I agree with Robin and, while I find that John's actions annoy me too, so do many of his comments, especially about Lorna. They are so goopy and treacly. I think I would enjoy the book more with a third person narrator rather than John.

When I finish the book, I will watch the movie made in 2000 again. I saw it a long time ago. The casting looks very succesful. But there is one detail that I remember from the film and cannot forget: James McAvoy as Sergeant Bloxham. Such a great actor in such a minor role. Perhaps he wasn’t so big at that time. The character Bloxham is easy to overlook in the novel we are reading.