Rabbits, writers, and readers get started! Life of Crime book discussion, chapters 1-6, with talk of Wilkie Collins, Poe, Braddon, and a bunch of other names that will swell your TBR
Oh I love that detail about Louisa and Utopian communities. I’m finding myself suddenly VERY interested in her. Can you please tell me which Wilkie we should read, if we only read one? Is one more interesting in terms of craft or trope-a-mania (I.e., a-ha, that’s where all those suspense tropes came from!)
I found my tome!!! It was on one of the bookshelves I “checked” multiple times. Not going to be starring in a detective novel anytime soon. This was like reading the most amazing study guide!!
"Proving that people will do anything to avoid hours of shoveling."- LOL
I'm here to recommend "The Birthday Party," by Laurent Mauvignier, it's French and while it starts slow, it gets very intense. As always, love this newsletter.
Wilkie Collins is like the great unsung hero -- Moonstone is so good, as is Lady in White. I had to read them in some 19th BritLit course in grad school, dreaded it, and then...whatever the 19th-century equivalent of page-turner is... Yep. Also, for anyone wanting to see more of Alcott's wicked side, her send-up of Utopian communities (ie communes) in "Transcendental Wild Oats" is fab. Guess who ends up doing all the work in "utopia"? Clue: it's not the men.
Oh I love that detail about Louisa and Utopian communities. I’m finding myself suddenly VERY interested in her. Can you please tell me which Wilkie we should read, if we only read one? Is one more interesting in terms of craft or trope-a-mania (I.e., a-ha, that’s where all those suspense tropes came from!)
That NYT quote sold me on LMA’s suspense. That’s my key TBR takeaway
I found my tome!!! It was on one of the bookshelves I “checked” multiple times. Not going to be starring in a detective novel anytime soon. This was like reading the most amazing study guide!!
"Proving that people will do anything to avoid hours of shoveling."- LOL
I'm here to recommend "The Birthday Party," by Laurent Mauvignier, it's French and while it starts slow, it gets very intense. As always, love this newsletter.
Wilkie Collins is like the great unsung hero -- Moonstone is so good, as is Lady in White. I had to read them in some 19th BritLit course in grad school, dreaded it, and then...whatever the 19th-century equivalent of page-turner is... Yep. Also, for anyone wanting to see more of Alcott's wicked side, her send-up of Utopian communities (ie communes) in "Transcendental Wild Oats" is fab. Guess who ends up doing all the work in "utopia"? Clue: it's not the men.