I enjoyed this more than the first book, The mesmerist. It was interesting to read about New York, the enterprise, the confidence of the people and theI enjoyed this more than the first book, The mesmerist. It was interesting to read about New York, the enterprise, the confidence of the people and the underworld....more
A story based on the real life project by Charles Dickens and Miss Coutts (of the wealthy banking family) to set up a home to reform ‘fallen’ youn3.5*
A story based on the real life project by Charles Dickens and Miss Coutts (of the wealthy banking family) to set up a home to reform ‘fallen’ young women.
I would have given 4* but I found the first half of the book rather slow. The second half was very good indeed.
It was interesting to read about th3.5*
I would have given 4* but I found the first half of the book rather slow. The second half was very good indeed.
It was interesting to read about the practise of Mesmerism in Victorian times. It, together with Spiritualism, was very popular and even the great Charles Dickens practiced mesmerism on one of his (lady) friends.
The story of a rivalry between two successful mediums in Victorian London, the one a well respected, estaA great romp, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The story of a rivalry between two successful mediums in Victorian London, the one a well respected, established figure with an excellent reputation and a solid client base, and the other a talented and ambitious newcomer.
It was fascinating to read about how popular seances were in the 19C; it seems extraordinary now to think how people wanted to believe in this stuff.
I listened to the audiobook , which was excellent.
This was a wonderful story, part myth part everyday Victorian life in London and asks the question WI listened to the audiobook , which was excellent.
This was a wonderful story, part myth part everyday Victorian life in London and asks the question What exactly is a monster? And if you can find the answer to that, can a monster become not a monster, and what about humans who are not technically monsters, can they become more monstrous than the supposed ‘monster’? And what about redemption?
The characters were memorable and though the story verged on the slightly longwinded i would really recommend it....more
Quite hard to stomach the inherent sexism of this novel. Women are weak, irrational, emotional, precipitate and act without**spoiler alert** SPOILERS*
Quite hard to stomach the inherent sexism of this novel. Women are weak, irrational, emotional, precipitate and act without thought; and if not outright foolish they are venal and spiteful (Lady Lundie, Mrs Glenarm). They are unable (according to men) to take the hard reality of life (Blanche) and must be protected from the facts by strong, rational men. I could go on but enough said.
In slight mitigation to all this is the fact that Wilkie Collins is deliberately exposing the injustice of marriage laws as they affect women; this is quite a big deal in the time he was writing. Once women marry they are the possessions of their husbands and this is clearly shown in the awful marriage of Anne and Geoffrey where no law will protect her from abuse or even murder.
The book was ok but far too long. The intended tension in the first half of the book was the (possible) accidental marriage of Anne and Arnold. This may have had the attention of Victorian readers but in this day and age it seems ridiculous and overblown. It’s clearly not a marriage so stop stressing!!
Also: quite amusing how they believed that excessive physical training can i) turn you into an uncivilised brute, and ii) will probably kill you prematurely ...more
Excellent. Fascinating book about Dickens’s (probable) mistress. So much evidence was destroyed to protect the reputations of both Dickens and Nelly TExcellent. Fascinating book about Dickens’s (probable) mistress. So much evidence was destroyed to protect the reputations of both Dickens and Nelly Ternan, but the author has done a brilliant bit of detective work and pieced together sufficient evidence to create an extremely interesting account of D’s last years. Nelly’s story is equally interesting post Dickens.
I don’t really know what to say about this book other than Dickens is truly marvellous and deserving of his reputation as one of the world’s best writI don’t really know what to say about this book other than Dickens is truly marvellous and deserving of his reputation as one of the world’s best writers. And if I’m not mistaken (I may be, would have to check) this was only his second book, written when he was a very young man. Amazing.
Some bits of the book were a bit too sentimental for my liking and there were rather too many ‘fortunate coincidences’ but there was also a pretty scathing social commentary going on at the same time. Dickens may constantly have referred to Fagin as ‘the Jew’ by which I think he wanted to make sure that we thought Fagin was VERY evil ( I hated this blatant anti-semitism) but frankly I think we can all agree that the British Establishment were the real evil ba****s in the way they consigned the poorest members of society to the human rubbish bin of the orphanage or the Poor House. Dreadful.
Anyway, a very thought provoking story and much more interesting than the much abridged Musical version!...more
I found this book quite annoying overall, although as a piece of literature it is very good. I found it difficult to accept the social mores of the timI found this book quite annoying overall, although as a piece of literature it is very good. I found it difficult to accept the social mores of the time; and the qualities that made the heroine Molly so admirable in her day are to the modern mind extremely irritating. So much submission to the loving dictatorship of her father, and so much patience towards her ghastly, shallow Stepmother..
I listened on Audible and the narration by Prunella Scales probably made it even worse for me; those ludicrous clipped English Queenlike tones was a further irritant. ...more
**spoiler alert** I normally love Trollope but I found this book very irritating. Any mention of the ghastly Katie had me grinding my teeth and the stu**spoiler alert** I normally love Trollope but I found this book very irritating. Any mention of the ghastly Katie had me grinding my teeth and the stupidity of young Charlie was annoying too.
Also, what is wrong with the useless mother?? She ignores the fact that her daughters’ suitors are making moves on her girls and then when it all goes pear shaped she finally intervenes and tells them to bear it silently and passively. She prefers to let her youngest’s health suffer to the point of almost death while still preventing Charlie from visiting the wretched girl. What an ignorant woman.
So overall, not for me.
However, all the rest of Trollope’s novels are pretty fantastic, especially as audiobooks (they are all rather long…)...more
I found this quite entertaining and an easy read. It wasn’t really a whodunnit as we were regularly told who the criminals were and neither was it parI found this quite entertaining and an easy read. It wasn’t really a whodunnit as we were regularly told who the criminals were and neither was it particularly thrilling as I didn’t really believe that there wouldn’t be a happy outcome - hence the 3 stars.
But not bad. This is the first in a series so they may get better....more
**spoiler alert** Since there are already so many great reviews of this novel I won’t add one of my own.
I give it 5* because of the beautiful writing,**spoiler alert** Since there are already so many great reviews of this novel I won’t add one of my own.
I give it 5* because of the beautiful writing, the memorable characters and because I enjoyed it so much.
I love Dickens because, despite the presence of great sadness and suffering in his books, he also sees past that to redemption and hope. One of my favourite passages is describing the death of Nell.
“They saw the vault covered and the stone fixed down. Then, when the dusk of evening had come on, and not a sound disturbed the sacred stillness of the place - when the moon poured in her light on tomb and monument, on pillar, wall and arch, and most of all (it seemed to them) upon her quiet grave - on that calm time, when all outward things and inner thoughts teem with immortality, and worldly hopes and fears are humbled in the dust before them - then, with tranquil and submissive hearts they turned away, and left the child with God. Oh! It is hard to take to heart the lesson that such deaths will teach, but let no man reject it, for it is one that all must learn, and is a mighty universal Truth. When death strikes down the innocent and young, for every fragile form from which he lets the panting spirit free, a hundred virtues rise, in shapes of mercy, charity and love, to walk the world, and bless it. Of every tear that sorrowing mortals shed on earth on such green graves, some good is born, some gentler nature comes. In the Destroyer’s steps there spring up bright creations that defy his power, and his dark path becomes a way of light to Heaven.”
This material world is a passing thing; the reality of a loving God and Heaven is our hope....more
I listened to this on Audible, brilliantly performed by Juliet Stevenson. Her rendering of the characters and their way of speaking was masterful.
ThiI listened to this on Audible, brilliantly performed by Juliet Stevenson. Her rendering of the characters and their way of speaking was masterful.
This was a deeply moving account of the conditions of the working classes in 1800’s Manchester, their resilience in the face of great suffering and their deep faith in God which gave them such strength to endure. I found myself weeping copiously at times.
This is such a short book and so well written that I have to give it 5*
Anyone interested in John Ruskin/Victorian life/mindfulness/care of our preciouThis is such a short book and so well written that I have to give it 5*
Anyone interested in John Ruskin/Victorian life/mindfulness/care of our precious environment will benefit from reading this little book.
Ruskin was way ahead of his time. Today we think of Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough as drawing our attention to the danger our planet is in; John Ruskin was saying all of this (and more) 200 years ago!!!
Well done to Suzanne Fagence Cooper for giving us yet another timely reminder of the need to care for the earth, and with it, our souls....more
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