GDT Book Club—The Woman in White

[honeybzzzs]

Welcome everyone! I’m looking forward to our discussion. So let’s get started!

It has been mentioned that the length of this book could be a bit intimidating. My copy is 609 pages long.

Was the length of this book a factor for you in whether to read it or not?
Are you accustomed to reading long books? Is it a new adventure that was acquired recently or were long books part of your childhood reading also?

[bernelli]

YES, the length of this book kept me away until this bookclub choice, even though I suspected I would love the story based on how much I enjoyed The Moonstone.

I've been a reader from the time I was really young. I've read very long books, and that's not really an issue. Some examples are the Diana Gabaldon books, The Stand, The Ken Follett Kingsbridge & Century series, Ayn Rand... etc.

The thing about this particular long read was the old timey speech patterns and the extreme wordiness. I would not have been able to read quickly or skim to really soak this one in. That was more of a challenge for me, and I'm glad I was able to take my time and absorb this one.

[lee058]

Hi everybody. I used to read long books all the time, and especially liked ones written many years ago (so I'm weird). However, now I find it harder to concentrate. I will pick up a book, read for awhile, then mark my place with a bookmark. If I don't stop at a natural stopping place in the story (like at the end of a chapter or section), I find it harder to remember what was going on with the characters. I also find it difficult to sit still for the hours necessary to read a really long book; this never used to be a problem.

I rather like, and always have liked, the "old timey speech patterns and the extreme wordiness." They give me a feeling of being in a different world. They also give me a chance to contemplate the characters and wonder what's going to happen to them over the book's story/length.

So you see I feel conflicted. The very things that I like are those that can make it hard to stick with a book. Oh well. Classics are like that.

I'll check back later if I have a chance. If not today, then tomorrow. Lee

[sal]

I've always read a mix of book lengths, so that wasn't too much of an issue. I wanted audio for this, though, because it's my busy quarter at work and long print books right now aren't the best plan. And of course my library didn't have audio.

Enter podcasts. Specifically, Phoebe Reads a Mystery. And thank God she does.

[honeybzzzs]

Quickly getting on here before my electricity goes out AGAIN! Wet heavy mountain snow is tough on the power lines!

I asked this question because my DH is an avid reader. However, he has trouble wrapping his mind around reading a book that has more then 300 pages. That was a curiosity to me as I grew up reading long books and “You just start at the beginning and read till the end. It’s not a race”.
So when others mentioned the length of books it just made me wonder.

My parents and all my siblings are avid readers. Learning from a young age. Mom was a Charles Dickens fan, so the old time wordiness was introduced to us early.
lee058 I’m there with you. I love the phrasing and poetry type writing of the old classics. And, like you, it seems that lately it has been difficult for me to commit to ANY reading! I have a long commute to work so audiobooks are my go-to for now.

I better get outside and start shoveling my driveway!

[torontogirl]

I did not mind the length of the book because, like Lee, I enjoyed the wordiness; it helped me imagine the period the book represented. I savoured the words and turns of phrases. It helped that I liked the characters and the plot.

[juliajones54]

The only time the length bothers me is when it's a library book that I can't renew or I have a deadline. It was an issue with this book because I had a lot going on and didn't have time to sit and read, so I listened to the audio version. Which I think was the best way - the readers were excellent and caught my attention in those long, wordy paragraphs where I might have skimmed or tuned out.

[honeybzzzs]

Day Two

Let’s explore your favorite quotes from the story. Maybe it was just a sentence or two, or perhaps a paragraph or more that caught your attention. I have many, and I seem to add a new one each time I re-read this book.

I’ll start with one that made me smile today.
It is in the section were Count Fosco has written his confession. He has surprised himself with the fact that Ann Catherick had died a day earlier then ‘planned’.

Count Fosco “I was stunned. Meditate on that. Fosco stunned!”

I can just visualize him saying that with surprise and disbelief in his voice!

What caught your attention? Please share.

[sal]

I listened, so this is harder. But the uncle. OMG. I was laughing the entire time, while wanting to smack him.

[honeybzzzs]

OMG Sal. I LOVED the Uncle. Laugh out loud moments. And the person that read his narrative was spot on!
I’ll go back and find the quote about the Creaky Shoes. It was classic Uncle Fairly!

[honeybzzzs]

“Let Lady Glyde’s maid come in Louis. Stop!
Do her shoes creak?
I was obliged to ask the question. Creaking shoes invariably upset me for the day. I was resigned to see the Young Person, but NOT resigned to let the Young Person’s shoes upset me. There is a limit even to my endurance”

[bumblebuzz21]

I guys, sorry to be late to the party. I don't mind reading long books as long as I know how long they are. I've picked up a couple of books on my kindle not realizing they were quite so long (looking at your Priory of the Orange Tree) and then getting irritated that I didn't seem to make any progress. At least with a paper book you can see where your bookmark lies.

I loved when the uncle wondered if her (the maid) eyes were perspiring or if it was tears.

[bernelli]

I really liked this:

The best men are not consistent in good--why should the worst men be consistent in evil?

While I think Fosco was using that to manipulate, I do think there's some wisdom and truth to that statement.

[lee058]

One quote I found interesting wass by Marian to Laura, about how women acquiesce to men (p. 186). It's a paragraph long so I didn't quote it, but the gist of it is that Marian is telling Laura that she needs to be more independent and not submit to any man. Rather surprising in a book written back then, I thought.

[honeybzzzs]

One more quote from me. I always liked this one. It speaks to so many.

Sir Percival—“But I happen to be an encumbrance in the way of another man. She was in love with him before she married me— she’s in love with him now—an infernal vagabond of a drawing-master named Hartright”
Count Fasco—“My dear friend! What is there extraordinary in that? They are all in love with some other man. Who gets the first of a woman’s heart? In all my experience I have never yet met with the man who was Number One. Number Two, sometimes, Number Three, Four, Five, often. Number One, never! He exists, of course—but I have not met him”

[honeybzzzs]

DAY THREE

How did you feel about the narrative of this book? Do you like books that are told by each character individually? Does it add to the suspense of the story?

[lee058]

I've always enjoyed books that are written from more than one perspective. I like getting different views of events from the various characters; it's interesting to see/hear what is included and what (also important) is left out because of the individual's viewpoints. It's like picking up clues here and there; seeing what matches in descriptions and what differs.

As for specifics re this book: I guess it does add to the suspense of the story. I was thinking more of it adding to the richness of the story and the way the differing viewpoints force the reader to THINK. Maybe that's what's wrong with most modern novels; everything is slammed together in a big mush, and that is why I don't like them.

Have a great day, Lee

[bernelli]

I LOVED the narration of this story. At times, I'd read something and think to myself, wonder if I'll get to see what so-and-so thinks of that.

This was just done so well, and with the change of narration, I even felt that the delivery was from the character (I guess that was the point and how it was supposed to be). That's one of my favorite things about this story.

As for other stories, I do like this method of delivery overall. I especially love seeing the same event described by the different viewpoints -- I just read Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty and she used this narration very well in that story, too.

[bumblebuzz21]

I really enjoy the multiple narrators and it definitely lends itself to this genre. Loved it with Moonstone too.

[torontogirl]

Oh yes! I loved the way this book is narrated, nice and clear, each person’s story, perspective, experience, interpretation. 
And I’ll just say again, the turn of phrases and the vocabulary are so beautiful, I savoured them, I enjoyed rereading certain paragraphs…like poetry. 
And lee058, will you marry me? 

[juliajones54]

I do like books narrated from different perspectives and think it can be very effective. It takes a lot of skill to write so that the story flows smoothly and logically, and keeps the central thread of the mystery at the core without dropping important pieces. The author also has to have a good width and depth of knowledge about human behavior. And, how many character perspectives are important? Wilkie Collins was really an expert in all of this.

[honeybzzzs]

DAY FOUR

Ok! It’s time to talk about the Characters!!!
Who did you like? Who did you loath? Who did you admire? Etc Etc.
Don’t hold back—let’s hear it for the Characters!!!!

[bumblebuzz21]

So I have to admit that I read the first 50%, left my library book in our rental cabin so couldn't read it on the way home and then read the Count's letter and the last little summary so there may have been a glow up that I missed. I didn't totally like anyone, which is kind of why I struggled a little bit on this one. Marian was obviously meant to be liked the most, but she was just a little too "oh women are the worst" for me. The countess was super confusing to me. Did he beat her? Why was her personality so weird? Laura was too delicate for me and the uncle was so spineless. I guess I liked the lawyer.

[bernelli]

I reallllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy disliked Uncle Fairlie. I didn't understand him at all, and after seeing previous comments about him, perhaps I missed the comedic role he was meant to play in the story. I just found him to be worthless, and the opposite of helpful toward his niece. So it was really interesting to read how others found him to be funny.

I really liked Walter, and I liked what little we got to know about his family.

Laura was kind of a wimp, and I didn't understand how Walter could have fallen in love with her instead of Marian.

I grew to really like Marian. She was by far the strongest character with the "get shit done" attitude.

Fosco was a love/hate for me... I thought it was cool how much in love with Marian he was, but he was ultimately a snake.

The fiance... he was a turd. I didn't like him at all.

[lee058]

I think I liked Marian the best, although I wanted to kick her sometimes. Her attitude towards women was too changeable.

I felt sorry for Hartright, to some degree. Social position and money were so important back then.