The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Ranked #23 on the Guardian 100 Greatest Novels of All Time (2003)

Written in 1859, I’m not sure what I’m getting into.
According to the Wikipedia Entry it is “considered to be amount the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of ‘sensation novels’

Of course, I had to look up what a ‘sensation novel’ was and because I suspect I won’t remember if I don’t write it down (thank you again Wikipedia):

“The sensation novel was a literary genre of fiction popular in Great Britain in the 1860s and 1870s, following on from earlier melodramatic novels and the Newgate novels, which focused on tales woven around criminal biographies, also descend from the gothic and romantic genres of fiction”

“Typically the sensation novel focused on shocking subject matter including adultery, theft, kidnapping, insanity, bigamy, forgery, seduction and murder. It distinguished itself from other contemporary genres, including the Gothic novel, by setting these themes in ordinary, familiar and often domestic settings, thereby undermining the common Victorian-era assumption that sensational events were something foreign and divorced from comfortable middle-class life.”

So, basically what we take for granted on any week night television detective show.

2/25/2013 – Well, I didn’t expect the full blown head cold, but reading has commenced non the less.

Interesting book layout – the story is told through the eyes of multiple participants.  The author actually takes the time to explain that he is presenting this in the manner of how the story would have been presented in court should the matter (of which is not explained at this point) have ever been taken to court.  As such, we will hear the story from different peoples view points.

We start with Walter Hartright who I suspect is being set up to be the “hero” of the story.  A drawing instructor of good reputation who because of a prior good deed has been offered a multiple month position instructing 2 young ladies in watercolors…

3/12/2013 – Running a bit behind in my reading.  HOWEVER, I am moving forward still.

Just finishing the first section, the Hartright section.  There are definite a lot of little mysteries in here, but his section has more of the love lorn feel to it.  However, I am impressed with the way my anticipation is building.  I sort of get the feeling that the overall plot and groundwork was Walters to present.  Then as we move into the next section – we will start to fill out the meat of the story.

I’m enjoying the slow build of the story.  Many of the books I read these days are sort of the “jump right in” and “off and running” type of books.  However, it has tried my patience some because of this as well.  I sometimes get to that “Just get on with it already” exasperated feeling.

I have also struggled somewhat with keeping myself in the time frame of the book.   There is a different pace because of the time it was written and it sometimes pulls me out of the story because it doesn’t fit with my internal sensibilities.

However, I move on.  Until next posting!

10/17/13 – Well, I’ve been sidetracked for quite awhile.  Work mostly.  It has been a busy year.  However, it is time to get back to my musings.  It has been such a long time since I picked up the book that I am probably going to have to start over again… hopefully, once I start in, I will be able to move quickly through the parts I’ve read before.