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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
gbrewerw's review against another edition
5.0
So, I ordered this book for British Lit not having read it for over 20 years. I remembered very, very little. The books arrived. I held my breath as I led my students through its many hundreds of pages. Guess what, IT'S GREAT! A hit with me and with them. Really terrific mystery where the layers have layers, and the twists have turns.
amybethharrison's review against another edition
I just reread this book for my online bookclub and enjoyed it again. The most fascinating character to me is Marian. She's strong and almost too noble (she never talks about her own wishes, desires, or longings, although as a poor dependent relative she might not have felt allowed to have them). She often talks about wishing to be a man and the main character and her often talk about how she has a man's brain--logical and strong. Her half-sister Laura is very weak in comparison. I felt as if the two half-sisters were two parts of the same person, or between the two cover all the aspects of real feminitity--bravery, emotionality, passivity, intelligence, assertiveness. I would have been much more interested in a heroine who was a combination of all of them.
lynneelue's review against another edition
3.0
This book originally published in a serial periodical, and I read it with marks indicating each weekly installment. This was such a good idea, because I got to see how brilliant of an author Wilkie Collins was at crafting his story to his audience: he kept his readers enthralled waiting for the next installments with his readable writing and his great cliffhangers. The plot was good. I liked the inclusion of insanity to the plot. The denouement I thought just began too early and the wrap up was a little disappointingly easy--the problem about how to deal with Sir Percival ended too easily, the clue of Sir Percival's inheritance and his overall motivation was interesting but not actually important to the mystery, and Count Fosco revealed all, which I thought may have been a little unrealistic (but I'm still undecided on that).
I enjoyed comparing this with Lady Audley's Secret--for the record, I thought Collin's writing style more fun but Braddon's plot less holey.
I enjoyed comparing this with Lady Audley's Secret--for the record, I thought Collin's writing style more fun but Braddon's plot less holey.
nikiekan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
4.0
bamble's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
pradyota's review against another edition
3.0
Well, that took forever! :P. I have been meaning to write the review for over 6 months now. It is kind of sad how I stop reading for a really long period. I have vowed to read atleast one chapter every night, hopefully this resolution will see more reviews and books in my read section.
The book is insanely long and complex and tiring. I am a lover all things old. Give me a book set in the times of carriages, common sense and manners I will fall in love in with it. Sadly, the affair with this book wasnt exactly what I expected.
Although its very well written, and you start to settle down into the slow pace of the book, there are just too many things happening .The book is set in the Victorian era and I understand women are expected to strangle in their corset and feel straitlaced but should they feel metaphorically straitlaced too , I wonder?! Well, screw feminism. I wish the protagonist was more strong. For a book titled the woman in white, this woman in white, Marian Holcombe doesn't really leave a lasting impression. She seems to simply glide through throughout the entire book, maybe she was intended to be that person just to drive the story and maybe hence the title.
If I could burn a fictitious character, I would totally burn Cosco.
Anyways, the book is still an enjoyable read. Give it a try on some lazy boring long afternoon.
The book is insanely long and complex and tiring. I am a lover all things old. Give me a book set in the times of carriages, common sense and manners I will fall in love in with it. Sadly, the affair with this book wasnt exactly what I expected.
Although its very well written, and you start to settle down into the slow pace of the book, there are just too many things happening .The book is set in the Victorian era and I understand women are expected to strangle in their corset and feel straitlaced but should they feel metaphorically straitlaced too , I wonder?! Well, screw feminism. I wish the protagonist was more strong. For a book titled the woman in white, this woman in white, Marian Holcombe doesn't really leave a lasting impression. She seems to simply glide through throughout the entire book, maybe she was intended to be that person just to drive the story and maybe hence the title.
If I could burn a fictitious character, I would totally burn Cosco.
Anyways, the book is still an enjoyable read. Give it a try on some lazy boring long afternoon.
linnymarie's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book so much given all the hype of it being so suspenseful.
I thought the writing was thoughtful and beautiful, but the novel itself fell flat for me. The writing style reminded much of the writing of Sherlock Holmes.
I thought the writing was thoughtful and beautiful, but the novel itself fell flat for me. The writing style reminded much of the writing of Sherlock Holmes.
flowercities's review against another edition
i got tired of all the misogyny i kept hearing im sorry and the stupid uncle made me so outraged i couldnt spend 20 more hours listening to this book
elentarri's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
3.75
'The Woman in White' was originally published serially in 1859/1860. The events described in the novel are set in England and take place from 1849 to 1850. Drawing master Walter Hartright comes across a paranoid woman dressed all in white while on his way to his new employer. He is struck by the remarkable resemblance between the Woman in White and his new student, Laura Fairlie. The story gets tense when it's obvious Sir Percival Glyde has many debts, his new wife very conveniently has a lot of cash, and the odiously devious Count Fosco has plans.
The theme of this novel revolves around the unequal position of married women in law at the time (mid-1800s) and highlights the plight of women left to the inept or devious devices of their male relatives - especially the plight of sane women being incarcerated in "lunatic asylums" for the convenience or financial gain of their immediate families. Additionally, all of a wife's assets passed automatically to her husband - until the passage of the Married Women's Property Act 1882.
The first half of the novel is a slow set up (and sometimes downright tedious and too long - Marian seems to be the only sensible person around!), but the pace and action pick up in the second half. Marian Halcombe and Mr Hartright (once he stops being a love sick puppy) make an effective investigative team, while Count Fosco makes for an entertaining and dangerous nemesis. Mr. Fairlie is an infuriating hypochondriac and it's a wonder no one thought to drop enough clattering dishes in his presence to make his fragile nerves give out and solve that problem! I really liked the use of multiple narrators and multiple mediums (transcripts of interviews, diary entries, letters etc) as a means of telling the tale and solving the mystery. This mystery novel made for compelling reading (once you get past the slow first portion), but I'm a bit disappointed at the ultimate fate of the villains (they deserved worse!). However, despite its faults, this is atmospheric and compelling novel, that highlights a legal and social issue that effect a large portion of the population.
The theme of this novel revolves around the unequal position of married women in law at the time (mid-1800s) and highlights the plight of women left to the inept or devious devices of their male relatives - especially the plight of sane women being incarcerated in "lunatic asylums" for the convenience or financial gain of their immediate families. Additionally, all of a wife's assets passed automatically to her husband - until the passage of the Married Women's Property Act 1882.
The first half of the novel is a slow set up (and sometimes downright tedious and too long - Marian seems to be the only sensible person around!), but the pace and action pick up in the second half. Marian Halcombe and Mr Hartright (once he stops being a love sick puppy) make an effective investigative team, while Count Fosco makes for an entertaining and dangerous nemesis. Mr. Fairlie is an infuriating hypochondriac and it's a wonder no one thought to drop enough clattering dishes in his presence to make his fragile nerves give out and solve that problem! I really liked the use of multiple narrators and multiple mediums (transcripts of interviews, diary entries, letters etc) as a means of telling the tale and solving the mystery. This mystery novel made for compelling reading (once you get past the slow first portion), but I'm a bit disappointed at the ultimate fate of the villains (they deserved worse!). However, despite its faults, this is atmospheric and compelling novel, that highlights a legal and social issue that effect a large portion of the population.