"After killing the red-haired man, I took myself off to Quinn's for an oyster supper."
With an opening line like that, I felt The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox would make a good choice as my final book for the RIP V Challenge. That and Michael Cox's association with ghost stories. As an added bonus, it would count as my seventh book in the Typically British Challenge. So, uncertain of what I was really getting in to, I set off on a 700 page journey into Victorian England.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the varied blurbs on the cover. Cox's writing is compared to Dickens, Austen, Trollope, Wilkie Collins and the Brontes. The story itself is described as spooky, thrilling, haunting, stunning, and fascinating.
Turn out it's an easy and quite enjoyable book to read. Written in the form of a "confession", it is edited by a fictitious Cambridge professor who provides a number of informative footnotes.... some of which blurred the line between fact and fiction in keeping with the storyline. Throughout the novel we follow the life and obsessions of the narrator, Edward Glyver. And obsessions they most assuredly are: love, hate, wealth, revenge. We encounter murder, deception, mystery, and decadence.
Despite the length of this book and being a slow reader, I never once lost interest in the plot. Cox writes in a way that totally drew me in and kept me there. It was one of those rare books that kept me thinking about the characters when I had to leave their world for my own.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the varied blurbs on the cover. Cox's writing is compared to Dickens, Austen, Trollope, Wilkie Collins and the Brontes. The story itself is described as spooky, thrilling, haunting, stunning, and fascinating.
Turn out it's an easy and quite enjoyable book to read. Written in the form of a "confession", it is edited by a fictitious Cambridge professor who provides a number of informative footnotes.... some of which blurred the line between fact and fiction in keeping with the storyline. Throughout the novel we follow the life and obsessions of the narrator, Edward Glyver. And obsessions they most assuredly are: love, hate, wealth, revenge. We encounter murder, deception, mystery, and decadence.
Despite the length of this book and being a slow reader, I never once lost interest in the plot. Cox writes in a way that totally drew me in and kept me there. It was one of those rare books that kept me thinking about the characters when I had to leave their world for my own.
14 comments:
I love books that has characters that I want to know more about once the book is finito! Those characters that I feel so connected to that I find myself thinking about and making up my own little tidbits about thier lives beyond the pages.
Sounds like an absorbing read!
You know, if you haven't already read his work I think you would enjoy the books by Caleb Carr.
It sounds pretty good. I'm deep into 'trash mode' reading Kitty Kelly's juicy biography of Oprah. It's illuminating to say the least. So far, I'm deeply disappointed at how much Oprah lied about her childhood...for ratings! Like that should surpirse me, right?!
We had a blast at the Revel today, but Lord, did it get hot! Ugh! And I'm too pooped to pucker. I hope you've had a good weekend. Blessings!
That is one heck of an opening line! It seemed like this book could have been torture .. I'm so glad it wasn't!
Pam- I read and enjoyed Carr's "The Alienist" when it came out. I haven't read any of his others, though.
Marion - well, I've never been an Oprah fan to start with. I thought about you today at the Revel.
Jenners - I think that's why I waited over a year (or two) to read this. I'm really glad it ended up being so good.
I have not heard of that.
Sounds like a good one. I definitely am going to add it to my "to-read" list.
Happy Sunday, Kelly, and thanks so much for your lovely comments!
It really means a lot!!
Big hugs!
B xx
I am in the middle of this book right now and like you, it keeps my interest! I am glad to hear it will continue ! I will most likely try another book by Cox after this.
Both looks (I love the cover) and sounds like my type of book even if the author comparison To Dickens does put me off a bit. Thanks for the recommendation Kelly, I'll be certain to look this one up.
Betty - I certainly recommend it.
DesLily - I'm planning to read his follow-up book, "The Glass of Time". It's looks really good, too.
Tracy - I think the comparison to Dickens is mostly in time period and location, so don't let that deter you. I think you'd like it.
I have just read about the importance of catching your readers´ attention in the first sentence, and I must say Michael Cox is good at it. I am not sure one *should* kill a red-headed man in the first sentence in a cosy mystery :D
This book was on my radar when it first came out, but as time went by I sort of forgot about it. I must give it a try at some point.
Dorte - If an opening sentence doesn't engage me, I won't buy a book. Definitely important!
Kailana - I can't believe how long I let it sit on my shelf before reading it. These challenges have been good for making me pull out books I've had for awhile!
I'm reading this slowly before bed at the moment. I'm not far in to it, but I'm really enjoying it too. Glad to see you liked it! I think there's a sequel which I'm planning to get after I finish this one.
Chasingbawa - I've got the sequel on my shelf now, just waiting until I have time for it. This one doesn't leave you hanging, so I may wait until after the first of the year to get to his second.
Post a Comment