I believe in miracles
Where’re you from, you sexy thing, you sexy thang you
I believe in miracles since you came along, you sexy thing
Where did you come from, baby
How did you know, I needed you
How did you know I needed you so badly
How did you know I’d give my heart gladly…
Yes, you’re in the right place. Today, as part of the Classics Circuit, I’m featuring Wilkie Collins.
Hubba hubba.
And while Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” lyrics may not seem the obvious choice for starting off a review of The Woman in White, I promise I’ll tie it all together. Maybe.
And if you’d like a little background music to accompany your review, click on over to Lala and hit play.
I’m not really sure how I got to be 40 years old before hearing about Wilkie Collins, but I swear I’d never heard of him or his books until this year. And then suddenly, he was everywhere. It seemed like a day didn’t go by that I wasn’t reading about The Woman in White. So I signed up for Daily Lit and started reading it. By my complex calculations, at the rate I was getting emails, it was going to take forever and a day (yes, that is an acceptable mathematical result) to finish. Then, Rebecca came up with the idea for the Classics Circuit and I was inspired to actually go buy the book and read it sooner, rather than over the course of forever and a day. And whaddya know, it turned out to be a good story.
One night, while walking back to his apartment flat lodgings, a young painter by the name of Walter Hartright encounters a mysterious woman in white. Intrigued (and maybe a little unnerved) by her sudden appearance and story, he diverts her followers from their pursuit.
Soon thereafter, our young painter finds himself in the country, hired as a painting instructor to two women, half-sisters who live with their hypochondriac ass of an uncle. The first sister, Marian, turns out to be an eminently practical sort. But when Walter meets the frailer, beautiful sister, Laura, he’s gobsmacked… because she looks remarkably like the woman in white. And Marian knows who the woman in white is. (Cue Dragnet theme music.)
Much stuff happens, but I can’t really tell you, because then there would be no suspense. And this book, which was originally printed in serialized form, loves to build the suspense. So I would be a very bad blogger if I gave away its secrets. (And okay, I know that hasn’t stopped me before, but there’s a blog tour going on here, and I’d hate to ruin the book for anyone. If you want to know a little more, go read the wikipedia page…but try not to, because this is one of those stories where it’s best to know next to nothing going in.)
And okay, some of the suspense isn’t all that suspenseful. But some of it is. Because Collins created some wonderful characters, and while their motives may be clear to the reader, the other characters are mostly oblivious. And also, there are some things that are still a little mysterious. As for the main characters… Marian is a delight. She is practical, loyal, steady and full of common sense. Laura is a bit of a twit (why, oh why, did she just not say NO?!?). Frederick Fairlie, the above-mentioned ass, is hilariously asinine (sorry for the repetition, but ass is just the perfect word in this case). And the Foscos practically steal the show. They all came vividly to life. And while Laura and Sir Percival (the fiance) may have been a bit shallow in stereotypical woe is me/villain-type ways, the other characters had surprising depth. I was particularly impressed with his portrayal of Marian, who for most of the book, was a strong heroine (although why did she have to be the plain spinster?).
And okay, at over 600 pages, the book does lag in a few parts, but overall? It was surprisingly good. I never, ever would have guessed that a book written in the mid-1800s by a pasty-faced dude with way too much facial hair would have been so entertaining. It definitely made me rethink my stance on reading the old stuff. Which is why I’m now humming this song…
I believe in miracles
Where’re you from, you sexy thing, you sexy thang you
I believe in miracles since you came along, you sexy thing
Where did you come from, baby
How did you know, I needed you
How did you know I needed you so badly
How did you know I’d give my heart gladly…
And be sure to check out the Classics Circuit for a complete list of tour stops for Wilkie Collins, that sexy thang.
Okay, this is probably the best review of TWIW I’ve ever read. Applause.
I’m glad you liked it. Marian and Count Fosco really made the book for me. I loved how neither of them were shallow and 1-dimensional, as they could have been.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Gregor the Overlander, by Suzanne Collins =-.
Thanks! I loved how Count Fosco could be so sympathetic and charming, yet so evil at the same time.
I’m one who’s not deterred by “spoilers” but I knew aboslutley nothing going in to this one, and I listened to the audio (it took a month) and I LOVED the suspense. I agree that some of it’s not to suspenseful — I kind of assumed what would happen in the end — but it was the journey that was so fun for me!
Thanks for this fun review! And thanks for joining the Circuit!
.-= Rebecca Reid´s last blog ..Aucassin and Nicolette by an Out-of-the-Box Medieval Author =-.
I’ve been known to read the endings because I can’t stand the suspense! But this was just perfect…I was able to resist the lure of the last page.
I’m so glad to see this is good. I’ve been wanting to read one of Wilkie Collins’ books ever since I read Drood.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
I’ve read a lot of good reviews this month, so I doubt you could go wrong with Collins!
I’m right there with you on not knowing who Wilkie Collins was until recently … and can I add that for a while I though he was a she? ~LOL~ This review was HILARIOUS – as usual for the lovely softdrink. Thanks for getting my day started off with a smile.
.-= Heather J.´s last blog ..The Hot Zone =-.
You’re welcome, and thank you!
And I can totally relate on the she’s a he issue!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and I hope it inspires you to read more works written by pasty faced, old, white guys – we tend to knock them down in the spirit of ‘diversity’ but they wrote some awesome stuff. And now I will have that song in my head all day….
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..Movie Review: Idiocracy =-.
Mwa ha ha ha.
I have never heard of Wilkie Collins and am so glad that you read the book. While you didn’t say a whole lot, you said enough for me to be completely intrigued.
.-= Tracie Yule´s last blog ..Those Sighing, Giggling Women =-.
Some books are just better if you know next to nothing going into them.
Hahahaha. I love your review–especially how you managed to tie it in with some Hot Chocolate lyrics!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
It’s not every blogger that can tie the classics to pop music. ;-D
Marian and the Count are marvelous adversaries, aren’t they? And you are right, Frederick Fairlie is definitely and ass. Fun review!
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..Gutenberg =-.
I just wanted to kick him in the butt!
Now I have Sexy Thing in my head and Woman in White moving up and up on my Wishlist. Successful post on your part, clearly!
.-= Aarti´s last blog ..Amazing Book Video =-.
My job here is done.
“I never, ever would have guessed that a book written in the mid-1800s by a pasty-faced dude with way too much facial hair would have been so entertaining.”
lol! You crack me up
This book definitely surprised me too.
.-= Nymeth´s last blog ..Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto =-.
And I’ve seen pictures where his beard is even longer!
Nice review! I am now worried about writing my own, because so many people have reviewed the book! I’m about 50 pages left to finishing. Like you, I had never heard of Collins until this year, and suddenly he’s EVERYWHERE.
.-= mee´s last blog ..In Which I Wish I Had More Time for Challenges =-.
But at 600 plus pages, there’s plenty of undiscussed stuff!
I’m hoping the Wilkieness will have died done enough so I can read this next October. I, too, had never heard of him before blogging. and I’m so proud of you for branching out – you’ve really been adventurous this year, don’t you think?!
.-= Care´s last blog ..Off to Wrap Holiday Gifts and Unplug =-.
I’ve been very adventurous…wait til you hear about the book I finished today!
Loved the book, loved the characters, loved your review!
.-= JoAnn´s last blog ..Short Story Monday: What Language Is That? by Uwem Akpan =-.
I tried to read this one right after Drood and it was the equivalent to putting a bullet through my head. Well, my copy was annotated and I felt obligated to read every annotation and it was such a tedious process that I gave the book back to the person I borrowed it from and called it a day. I will pick it up again. Someday.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Review & Book Tour: Saving Sammy =-.
Perfect review! I really, really need to read it. I believe in miracles, too. LOL!
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..#215 ~ Stardust =-.
It’s all in the opium, Softdrink.
Now you just have to read Drood and you’re set to go on Wilkie Collins!
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? =-.
LOL! And I’d say the song is truly apt. I agree with every single thing you said about the book.
.-= claire´s last blog ..The Woman in White =-.
The book I have just read is about a case that inspired Wilkie Collins!
.-= LindyLouMac´s last blog ..The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale =-.
I heard about Wilkie several years ago, but I have yet to read his stuff. Bad Andi! If I’d known about the Classics Circuit earlier on I probably would’ve jumped on the bandwagon. As it is, I guess I’ll just have to get off my booty and be proactive.
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Engaged! =-.
I’m still reading this book via Daily Lit. I think I’ll finish up in like July of next year which really does seem like forever from now
.-= Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon: I Finally Read ‘Catching Fire’ =-.
Gos! your review is Hilarious, Period. But I am sure I want to read this book after your “gobsmacked” awesome review!
.-= Veens´s last blog ..True Believer By Nicholas Sparks =-.
This was just a classic review — I loved it! You actually made me want to read a book written in the 1800s by a pasty-faced man with excessive facial hair … and that takes some doing!
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..Review: Lit by Mary Karr =-.
I loved “the Woman in White.” Wilkie Collins is extremely entertaining I think. I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
.-= veronica´s last blog ..Music Mix Friday…Mary Chapin Carpenter "I Am a Town" =-.
Also Hot Chocolate makes great music!!
.-= veronica´s last blog ..Music Mix Friday…Mary Chapin Carpenter "I Am a Town" =-.
I really, really, really want to get cracking on a few classics! And this one sounds great. I thought that I would spend this year which is almost over, getting through some of the classics, but no, did I read even one? (yes, in fact I did, but it was a Danish classic). Perhaps 2010 will be better, classic wise?!
.-= Louise´s last blog ..NaBloPoMo # 25: Aftermath by Peter Robinson =-.
I bought this after reading Nymeth’s review. I have the audio — but after having just listened to a 46-hour audio, I think I may switch to reading this one.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Virtual Cookie Swap: 2009 =-.
The one thing I love about Wilkie is that he excels at writing strong female characters. At least he does it in a way that you don’t expect from a man writing in the time that he did. “The Moonstone” is great, and I’m reading “No Name” right now, which is all about a strong female character. She’s not an unattractive spinster either. In fact, she uses her good looks to catch her prey…=)
.-= J.S. Peyton´s last blog ..Thankfully Reading Weekend Wrap-Up =-.