"Peter Quint - you devil!"

Over the weekend I finished my second choice - The Turn of the Screw by Henry James - of the 2007 Winter Classics Challenge hosted by A Reader's Journal - this post provides all the details of the challenge.

The Turn of the Screw is "widely recognised as one of literature's most gripping ghost stories", unfortunately I am obviously missing a literature gene as despite trying my darndest, I utterly failed to be gripped by this short gothic novella. It contains all the ingredients which usually captivate me; a bucolic English country estate, sinister supernatural spirits and unexplained occurrences along with the need to fully utilise your own imagination. But, something was missing for me, I hope you have more luck.

"What I had said to Mrs Grose was true enough: there were in the matter I had put before her depths and possibilities that I lacked resolution to sound; so that when we met once more in the wonder of it we were of a common mind about the duty of resistance to extravagant fancies." (James, 1991:33)

"Carbon, Betteredge! Mere carbon, my good friend, after all!"

In January 2006 I read my first ever Wilkie Collins, the magnificent The Woman in White, and now in January 2007 I have finished my second Wilkie Collins and my first choice for the 2007 Winter Classics Challenge sponsored by A Reader's Journal - The Moonstone.



An exquisite jewel, mysterious Hindoo curses and spies, morally and financially bankrupt gentlemen, exotic locales, opium eaters, bumbling cops and shrewd detectives, the Shivering Sand, scientific experiments, an overly pious and venomous spinster, philosophy courtesy of Robinson Crusoe and detective fever.

All this awaits your discovery in The Moonstone.




"Very good, sir. I'll just rest my eyes, and then I'll go on again. In the meantime, Mr Franklin - I don't want to hurry you - but would you mind telling me, in one word, whether you see your way out of this dreadful mess yet?" (Collins, 1999:298-99.)

2007 Winter Classics Challenge:

I am accepting the challenge to read 5 classics during the months of January and February.

My list of 5 classics:
The Moonstone - Wilkie Collins

Turn of the Screw - Henry James

Gothic Tales - Elizabeth Gaskell

The Jewel of Seven Stars - Bram Stoker

Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift

My list for extra credit:

Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray (Already read this in January, before I knew about this challenge!)

Romeo and Juliet / Macbeth - William Shakespeare (Re-reads and quite short - hence 2)

Plague, Mummies & Ancient Civilisations:

Cambridge, England, 1348. The Black Plague is on its way and physician Matthew Bartholomew must distinguish friend from foe while attempting to solve the inexplicable death of the Master of Michaelhouse.

"Tell Edith I am fine. But I do not understand what is happening at Michaelhouse. The Bishop is due to arrive today and will take matters in hand." (Gregory, 2005:108)

Peabody, Emerson and Ramses are once again embroiled in murder, mystery and ancient Egyptian artefacts. This time, however, the action occurs in the foggy streets of London."This period of history is often known by the name of the sovereign; and although no one respects the Crown more than Amelia Peabody Emerson, honesty compels me to note that her gracious Majesty's ignorant remarks about the sex she adorned did nothing to raise it from the low esteem in which it was held." (Peters, 2000:1)

The action shifts to the unknown deserts of Nubia (Sudan) and the Emersons are unable to resist a cryptic map - drawn on papyrus - and make one of their most startling, and perilous, discoveries yet. "From the sandy wastes of the cemeteries of Memphis to the rocky cliffs of the Theban necropolis, we had wandered hand in hand (figuratively speaking), in terrain almost as inhospitable as the desert that presently surrounded us. Never before, however, had we been more than a few miles from the Nile and its life-giving water. It lay far behind us now, and there was not a pyramid or a broken wall to be seen, much less a tree or a sign of habitation." (Peters, 2002:4-5)

(All images from Amazon Japan.)

The Washerwoman of Finchley Common:

"There is a great quantity of eating and drinking, making love and jilting, laughing and the contrary, smoking, cheating, fighting, dancing, and fiddling: there are bullies pushing about, bucks ogling the women...yokels looking up at the tinselled dancers and poor old rouged tumblers, while the light-fingered folk are operating upon their pockets behind. Yes, this is VANITY FAIR; not a moral place certainly; nor a merry one, though very noisy..."

(Thackeray 1994:ix)

(Image from Amazon UK)

It may not be moral nor merry, but it is a highly entertaining place to while away an afternoon or three and it's infinitely more reader friendly (way less pages!) than that other classic Napoleonic novel - War and Peace. Although our protagonists do feature in the Battle of Waterloo the main focus is on the social trials and tribulations involved in attempting to make it in suitable society.

For me, the scheming and manipulative Becky Sharp is a more interesting and memorable character than the insipid and dull Amelia Sedley...but I'm often drawn to dark characters! Who do you prefer and why?

I Spy, with my little eye, something beginning with...R:

As promised,
here are my responses to Carolyn's
assigned letter of:


(The letter R is brought to you from Scribblaphy )

Now, the rules state that you must list 10 words starting with your assigned letter and explain why those words have meaning to you. But come on people, when have I ever followed the meme rules?! (Oh yeah, I did once!) Which moves me nicely into the first word:

1. Rebel: I've never been one to follow the well-worn path for the mere sake of toeing the line. In fact, I've always tended to question rules and the status quo. Note that I question because I wish to understand and improve, not because I'm an anarchist...there's a subtle difference between the two. So what started me on this relentless questioning?! Well, that would be the 2nd word:


(This ravishing reading beauty is brought to you from a Google Images search)

2. Reading: I live to read. I could quite happily live without TV, movies and music as long as I had books. As a child, my punishment for naughtiness would always involve the removal of reading privileges. In school, I used to read during classes - I'd conceal the book under my desk while my teacher wasn't looking. As far as I'm concerned, books are the gateway to new worlds, adventures and ideas and I'm forever grateful that I have the ability to read. My final "R" words are different but related:


(This roly-poly rabbit is brought to you from Boomersint)

3. Rabbits: What do rabbits have to do with reading, I hear you mutter... Well I'm about to use a lot of "R" words so stick with me! Growing up I was more into vampire novels (Anne Rice) than Fabio-style bodice-rippers, however I was always partial to "quality" romantic tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet. With such memorable lines as:

"Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!

For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

(Act 1 Scene 5)

How could a girl not swoon? But I never would have guessed that my very own Romeo would turn out to be a Japanese usagi (rabbit)! Uh-huh, my better half was born in the Year of the Rabbit, so the letter "R" has become very significant to me, as has our final word:

(These radiant roses are brought to you from my camera!)

4. Romance: True romance is not just about roses and rings (both of which I have, by the way!). To me, it is more rhapsodic and redolent than the fleeting nature of petals. It is tangible and reviving and it reveals itself in numerous ways - the gorgeous bouquet above, is just one! It makes reality delightful.

If you wish to join the alphabetic fun, I'll leave you to choose your own letter. Just leave a comment, so I can visit your scribblings!

Thanks for reading my ramblings.