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The Book Collector
Alice Thompson's new novel is a gothic story of book collecting, mutilation and madness. Violet is obsessed with the books of fairy tales her husband acquires, but her growing delusions see her confined in an asylum. As she recovers and is released a terrifying series of events is unleashed.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2015
27 people are currently reading
3866 people want to read
About the author
Alice Thompson
35 books33 followersAlice Thompson is a Scottish novelist.
Thompson was educated at St George's School, Edinburgh, then read English at Oxford and wrote her Ph.D. thesis on Henry James. In the 1980s she played keyboard with rock band The Woodentops.
She has a son and lives in Edinburgh. Her novel Justine was the joint winner of the 1996 James Tait Black Memorial Prize. She has also won a Creative Scotland Award in 2000 and was a Writer in Residence in Shetland.
Thompson was educated at St George's School, Edinburgh, then read English at Oxford and wrote her Ph.D. thesis on Henry James. In the 1980s she played keyboard with rock band The Woodentops.
She has a son and lives in Edinburgh. Her novel Justine was the joint winner of the 1996 James Tait Black Memorial Prize. She has also won a Creative Scotland Award in 2000 and was a Writer in Residence in Shetland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
November 5, 2017
4.25/5.
With echoes of books such as The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, this reads like a creepy fairytale-esque parable about madness and one's man obsession with collecting. Sometimes the writing style felt a little stilted, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!
With echoes of books such as The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, this reads like a creepy fairytale-esque parable about madness and one's man obsession with collecting. Sometimes the writing style felt a little stilted, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!
March 4, 2019
Una pena, un libro con una premisa atractiva y prometedora pero que a mí me resultó bastante decepcionante una vez concluido.
La idea parecía original pero derivó en lo más previsible, me hubiese gustado una historia mejor elaborada para darle credibilidad a lo que cuenta y con unos personajes más reales, la más perfilada es Violet, el personaje principal, el resto como de cartón piedra, ni los conocemos a ellos ni qué les motivan sus acciones, sin profundizar en sus personalidades me quedan planos.
Eso sí, la lectura es ágil, se lee del tirón. Está bien para leer por leerlo y saciar la curiosidad pero no como para habérmelo comprado para tener como libro imprescindible en mi biblioteca.
La idea parecía original pero derivó en lo más previsible, me hubiese gustado una historia mejor elaborada para darle credibilidad a lo que cuenta y con unos personajes más reales, la más perfilada es Violet, el personaje principal, el resto como de cartón piedra, ni los conocemos a ellos ni qué les motivan sus acciones, sin profundizar en sus personalidades me quedan planos.
Eso sí, la lectura es ágil, se lee del tirón. Está bien para leer por leerlo y saciar la curiosidad pero no como para habérmelo comprado para tener como libro imprescindible en mi biblioteca.
August 29, 2018
Mini-review:
This was one of those books that I didn’t do much research into before buying it. I had seen it described as a classic and creepy gothic novel and that’s the only convincing I needed to get it. Unfortunately, this didn’t live up to my expectations. In the end, the cover was what I liked most about it.
Personally, I found this novel was lacking something. There’s no doubt that it has beautiful gothic imagery and themes, and that’s all well and good, but when the story doesn’t flow and leaves you wanting more, the imagery means nothing. To begin with, I was really enjoying this novel and the story of Alice, her mysterious husband, and the book of fairytales. I did feel the chapters were a little all over the place but that was all part of the parcel and I was excited to see where the story was going next.
Unfortunately, after a while, the story became a little bit lacklustre and I found my interest in the book slipping. The story was wide open, clear for you to see what was happening and what was going to happen next. Now I know with gothic novels it’s not about the twist and turns, it’s about the atmosphere, but even that wasn’t doing enough for me to fully enjoy this story. It just felt that with each chapter the story was skipping important parts of the development. In the end, I feel like I read a half-finished novel.
The scenery and characters were well developed but the story left me wanting more.
This was one of those books that I didn’t do much research into before buying it. I had seen it described as a classic and creepy gothic novel and that’s the only convincing I needed to get it. Unfortunately, this didn’t live up to my expectations. In the end, the cover was what I liked most about it.
Personally, I found this novel was lacking something. There’s no doubt that it has beautiful gothic imagery and themes, and that’s all well and good, but when the story doesn’t flow and leaves you wanting more, the imagery means nothing. To begin with, I was really enjoying this novel and the story of Alice, her mysterious husband, and the book of fairytales. I did feel the chapters were a little all over the place but that was all part of the parcel and I was excited to see where the story was going next.
Unfortunately, after a while, the story became a little bit lacklustre and I found my interest in the book slipping. The story was wide open, clear for you to see what was happening and what was going to happen next. Now I know with gothic novels it’s not about the twist and turns, it’s about the atmosphere, but even that wasn’t doing enough for me to fully enjoy this story. It just felt that with each chapter the story was skipping important parts of the development. In the end, I feel like I read a half-finished novel.
The scenery and characters were well developed but the story left me wanting more.
June 23, 2016
This book continuously makes me recall the experiences of The Yellow Wallpaper and Rebecca. I liked that while just telling a very entertaining story, the book also explores some of the darker sides of both sexes. It reaches beyond just the surface and digs into some very serious and deep fears.
I wouldn’t say Thompson has a particularly fantastic writing style but she has quite an imagination when it comes to vivid imagery. Some of the scenes are actually squirm-worthy, which made for an all the more enjoyable read. Because I don’t read a lot of horror, I must admit that this was an exciting read at times.
Nevertheless, I also clearly had some disappointments with the novel. One of which is that while the story held me intrigued for the majority of the novel, when it was teetering on the edge of revealing its secrets, I guessed everything that was going on before the story even reached the climax. So clearly in the suspense department, this novel is blatantly obvious.
Secondly, I also found the author did a poor job of establishing the main character in the beginning. While I can see why Archie’s lack of background adds to the atmosphere, without a solid foundation of Violet’s character, it took a very long time before I could actually care about her. And actually, when I think about it, it’s not even so much as I sympathized with her by the end, more that I think I would’ve sympathized with anyone in a situation like her’s. Some things are easier said then done, I learned.
But I still stand beside my rating that I did quite like this book. It has some very gruesome, dark and delicious moments as well as some very interesting themes. While this book doesn’t have any supernatural elements, it is definitely a horror read.
Trigger warning: the novel does have some scenes of torture on women.
I wouldn’t say Thompson has a particularly fantastic writing style but she has quite an imagination when it comes to vivid imagery. Some of the scenes are actually squirm-worthy, which made for an all the more enjoyable read. Because I don’t read a lot of horror, I must admit that this was an exciting read at times.
Nevertheless, I also clearly had some disappointments with the novel. One of which is that while the story held me intrigued for the majority of the novel, when it was teetering on the edge of revealing its secrets, I guessed everything that was going on before the story even reached the climax. So clearly in the suspense department, this novel is blatantly obvious.
Secondly, I also found the author did a poor job of establishing the main character in the beginning. While I can see why Archie’s lack of background adds to the atmosphere, without a solid foundation of Violet’s character, it took a very long time before I could actually care about her. And actually, when I think about it, it’s not even so much as I sympathized with her by the end, more that I think I would’ve sympathized with anyone in a situation like her’s. Some things are easier said then done, I learned.
But I still stand beside my rating that I did quite like this book. It has some very gruesome, dark and delicious moments as well as some very interesting themes. While this book doesn’t have any supernatural elements, it is definitely a horror read.
Trigger warning: the novel does have some scenes of torture on women.
August 23, 2018
Podría haber sido taaaan bueno y se quedó tan a medias.
Odio el potencial desperdiciado.
-RTC-
Odio el potencial desperdiciado.
-RTC-
February 23, 2022
(Review originally published at Nudge, now NB magazine, March 2016; removed from their site when they switched domains)
From the moment nineteen-year-old orphan Violet meets the urbane Lord Archie Murray outside a London café, she is swept up in a story straight out of a fairytale. The only problem is, as the narrative often reminds us, she doesn't know which fairytale it is...
The tale of The Book Collector is a familiar one, reminiscent of both the aforementioned fairytales and the classics of gothic romance. Violet quickly marries Archie, gives birth to his son Felix, and lives contentedly, if somewhat emptily, as a wife and mother. But her life unravels when she experiences a terrifying hallucination, thinking she sees insects crawling under Felix's skin, and Archie swiftly dispatches her to the local asylum. When she returns, her baby is in the arms of a beautiful nanny named Clara, and her relationship with Archie seems irrevocably altered.
That's not all, though: the narrative is punctuated by sharp and shocking episodes depicting the murder and dismemberment of young women. Slowly but surely, The Book Collector piles mystery on mystery. Who is the woman in the photograph Archie hides in amongst his papers? Why does he keep a book of fairytales (that theme again) locked in his safe? Most of all, how are the fates of the butchered girls tied to Violet's situation?
But The Book Collector is not to be mistaken for one of those controversial, twisted retellings; in fact, it's curious how little it does to subvert the traditional narrative. Violet questions her situation, but rarely thinks of breaking free, and is convinced of Archie's superior intellect and the legitimacy of his power over her. Equally, no reader is likely to be surprised by the identity of the killer. Thompson's modifications are more subtle: a brutal flash of violence here, an anachronistic reference to a 'surrealist painting' there (the story is supposedly set in the Edwardian era). These touches seem deliberately designed to disconcert the reader, making everything about Violet's world seem a little off-kilter.
This is a perfect book to inspire discussion and debate. It instantly calls to mind a plethora of influences and comparisons: the gothic romance of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca; the terrifying fate of the wife in The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman; Angela Carter's feminist updates of fairytales. Personally I found Violet too cold to inspire any sympathy, but Thompson's straightforward, no-frills style feels refreshing - a welcome contrast to the usual ornate lushness of gothic prose. The Book Collector is an elegant reworking of an overworked genre, handled with grace and restraint.
I received an advance review copy of The Book Collector from Nudge. I wasn't paid for this review and I was under no obligation to be anything other than honest about what I thought of the book.
From the moment nineteen-year-old orphan Violet meets the urbane Lord Archie Murray outside a London café, she is swept up in a story straight out of a fairytale. The only problem is, as the narrative often reminds us, she doesn't know which fairytale it is...
The tale of The Book Collector is a familiar one, reminiscent of both the aforementioned fairytales and the classics of gothic romance. Violet quickly marries Archie, gives birth to his son Felix, and lives contentedly, if somewhat emptily, as a wife and mother. But her life unravels when she experiences a terrifying hallucination, thinking she sees insects crawling under Felix's skin, and Archie swiftly dispatches her to the local asylum. When she returns, her baby is in the arms of a beautiful nanny named Clara, and her relationship with Archie seems irrevocably altered.
That's not all, though: the narrative is punctuated by sharp and shocking episodes depicting the murder and dismemberment of young women. Slowly but surely, The Book Collector piles mystery on mystery. Who is the woman in the photograph Archie hides in amongst his papers? Why does he keep a book of fairytales (that theme again) locked in his safe? Most of all, how are the fates of the butchered girls tied to Violet's situation?
But The Book Collector is not to be mistaken for one of those controversial, twisted retellings; in fact, it's curious how little it does to subvert the traditional narrative. Violet questions her situation, but rarely thinks of breaking free, and is convinced of Archie's superior intellect and the legitimacy of his power over her. Equally, no reader is likely to be surprised by the identity of the killer. Thompson's modifications are more subtle: a brutal flash of violence here, an anachronistic reference to a 'surrealist painting' there (the story is supposedly set in the Edwardian era). These touches seem deliberately designed to disconcert the reader, making everything about Violet's world seem a little off-kilter.
This is a perfect book to inspire discussion and debate. It instantly calls to mind a plethora of influences and comparisons: the gothic romance of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca; the terrifying fate of the wife in The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman; Angela Carter's feminist updates of fairytales. Personally I found Violet too cold to inspire any sympathy, but Thompson's straightforward, no-frills style feels refreshing - a welcome contrast to the usual ornate lushness of gothic prose. The Book Collector is an elegant reworking of an overworked genre, handled with grace and restraint.
I received an advance review copy of The Book Collector from Nudge. I wasn't paid for this review and I was under no obligation to be anything other than honest about what I thought of the book.
December 2, 2020
Scottish author, Alice Thompson’s grisly, gothic tale’s set in Edwardian England where penniless Violet meets and marries handsome, wealthy Archie. For Violet her new life and then the birth of her son make her feel like someone whose romantic dreams have come true. But when she discovers an oddly-bound volume of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, hidden away in Archie’s extensive library, cracks in her idyllic existence start to appear. Thompson’s romance quickly reveals itself as closer to a macabre fairy tale, a labyrinth of stories within stories, drawing on the murkier, sinister side of women’s lives in Violet’s era. The novel’s laced, sometimes overladen, with veiled references to Andersen’s work and life, to Freud and Freudian symbolism, sexual repression, hysteria and postpartum psychosis. There are eerie scenes set in a dodgy asylum, and a chain of brutal murders that may or may not track back to Violet’s outwardly adoring husband.
Thompson’s book echoes Angela Carter but without her richly atmospheric approach, early Sarah Waters without her playfulness. It has a stripped-back, minimalist air, reinforced by Thompson’s prose which mimics the fairy tales she’s drawing from. All of those small details that play a major part in establishing time and place are absent. Everything’s presented from Violet’s perspective, whose version of events has a nightmarish, surreal tinge, and here Thompson seems to be channelling James’s Turn of the Screw, casting doubt on Violet’s reliability as sole narrator. This gripped me, despite the numerous awkward, clumsily-written passages. It helped that it’s short and fast-moving. But at the same time, I wasn’t convinced by it. Ultimately a lot of the ideas seemed stale and the ending was too contrived, as well as heavily signposted. I wasn’t happy about the repeated, graphic scenes of violence against women either, not because I’m squeamish or easily shaken, similar images are common across a range of material, and it’s never clear whether these are real or imagined. And to be fair Thompson seems to be making a wider point, not very forcefully, about "male" forms of knowledge and the exploitation of women. But one scene/reference was enough for that. I didn’t see the point of repeating similar scenes, other than for shock, or dubious entertainment, value, and they completely undermined the more explicitly feminist themes.
Thompson’s book echoes Angela Carter but without her richly atmospheric approach, early Sarah Waters without her playfulness. It has a stripped-back, minimalist air, reinforced by Thompson’s prose which mimics the fairy tales she’s drawing from. All of those small details that play a major part in establishing time and place are absent. Everything’s presented from Violet’s perspective, whose version of events has a nightmarish, surreal tinge, and here Thompson seems to be channelling James’s Turn of the Screw, casting doubt on Violet’s reliability as sole narrator. This gripped me, despite the numerous awkward, clumsily-written passages. It helped that it’s short and fast-moving. But at the same time, I wasn’t convinced by it. Ultimately a lot of the ideas seemed stale and the ending was too contrived, as well as heavily signposted. I wasn’t happy about the repeated, graphic scenes of violence against women either, not because I’m squeamish or easily shaken, similar images are common across a range of material, and it’s never clear whether these are real or imagined. And to be fair Thompson seems to be making a wider point, not very forcefully, about "male" forms of knowledge and the exploitation of women. But one scene/reference was enough for that. I didn’t see the point of repeating similar scenes, other than for shock, or dubious entertainment, value, and they completely undermined the more explicitly feminist themes.
October 11, 2017
A delightfully creepy novella that's reminiscent of du Maurier's Rebecca, and which does a terrific job of exploring gender roles in fairy tales. The writing at times is a bit simplistic and the plot rather predictable, but for the gothic and sinister atmosphere I really enjoyed reading this.
July 4, 2018
*****2 stars.*****
Review in my account bookstagram
Este libro inicia con un buen argumento, pero conforme se avanza con la narración todo decae y se pierde el objetivo de todo. No comprendí los motivos del villano para ser tan malo, ni los intereses de la protagonista para terminar con un desenlace totalmente predecible y obvio.
Pienso que el autor tenía un buena idea aquí que no supo ejecutar.
March 25, 2018
I'm honestly surprised to see that no one on Goodreads has rated this book less than three stars, because I thought it was... not good. The writing felt almost amateuristic (surprisingly, because this is by no means Thompsons first novel), the characters were paper-thin and the plot was predictable from start to finish. I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and the fairytale references, but I feel like it could have been so much more in the hands of a different author. I doubt I would have finished the book had it not been so short.
January 27, 2024
Read in a day, The Book Collector had me completely hooked. If you’re keen on gothic delights like ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ for example, well, damn, are you in for a TREAT if you read this!
So dark, so brilliant. Instantly on to my ‘best of 2024’ shelf with this one!
So dark, so brilliant. Instantly on to my ‘best of 2024’ shelf with this one!
October 21, 2018
Although I am not a big reader of gothic/horror fiction I picked up this book because the story sounded interesting. I enjoyed reading it but the genre still isn't quite for me. However, for fans of (weird) fairy tales, or gothic thrillers this is certainly a good choice.
Re-read October 2018: I liked it more the second time around: 3,5*
Re-read October 2018: I liked it more the second time around: 3,5*
Read
September 6, 2016I'll be posting more about this book shortly, but for now, had this book been even slightly more fleshed out, it could have been really, really good in a Victorian/gothic sort of way. The combination of its short length with too many plot elements to cover made the book feel rushed and the story sort of squeezed together. I figured things out way too early and we all know that in my case, that is not a good thing.
On the other hand, I love the ideas behind it, especially the concept of reality as something slippery and often elusive; I can see why some readers have compared it to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper."
But as I said, more soon.
On the other hand, I love the ideas behind it, especially the concept of reality as something slippery and often elusive; I can see why some readers have compared it to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper."
But as I said, more soon.
June 21, 2018
The Book Collector
This is a strange evocative novella with echoes of The Yellow Wallpaper. A tale of a series of fairytale inspired murders. As with Angela Carter however the heroine comes into her own power in a cataclysmic manner
This is a strange evocative novella with echoes of The Yellow Wallpaper. A tale of a series of fairytale inspired murders. As with Angela Carter however the heroine comes into her own power in a cataclysmic manner
February 2, 2017
I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately though, the writing ruined it for me. To be blunt, the writing is cringingly bad.
On top of this I found the characters to be two dimensional and the plot predictable and over simplistic.
My favourite thing about this novel is the cover art.
*Adds it to the growing pile of disappointing Booktube recommendations :/
On top of this I found the characters to be two dimensional and the plot predictable and over simplistic.
My favourite thing about this novel is the cover art.
*Adds it to the growing pile of disappointing Booktube recommendations :/
May 7, 2021
Una historia inquietante, espeluznante a ratos cuando inmersa en la vivencia de la protagonista dudas de que es real y que es una alucinación, sentir su paranoia, eso está muy bien logrado. Aunque en ocasiones predecible es bastante entretenida, pero el final es un poco flaco en comparación a toda la historia previa.
July 23, 2018
Un libro que recuerda mucho a El tapiz amarillo de Charlotte Perkins Gilman y, por lo tanto, muy interesante. Eso sí, olvidaos de los "comentarios" de Stephen King o Ian Rankin, el libro no da miedo.
January 3, 2021
This is off to a good start this year! Although it took me about a month to finish the book, that was mostly to do with my reading slump. I picked it back up yesterday and finished the last half in one go. It was super thrilling and an absolute page turner. It had the perfect Victorian/Edwardian feeling and although I found out the plottwist quite early on, I couldn’t wait to find out how everything would fall into place. I loved how the writing style made you feel confused and dazed as the main characters must have felt. And I love how the book incorporated a narrative of healthy female sexuality as well as a commentary on mental health and the Edwardian way of dealing with it. It definitely had some problems with pacing and revelations. Nevertheless, it was interesting and exciting to read and I would definitely recommend it to anybody who is looking for a short, strong, gloomy and thrilling Edwardian page turner.
November 18, 2024
3.5 stars
October 23, 2019
Disturbing but phenomenal!!!
January 13, 2018
I had never heard of The Book Collector before until the wonderful booksellers at Mr B's Emporium Of Reading Delights recommended it when my sister and I went there for one of their glorious reading spas. Apart from it having the most gorgeous, eye-popping cover art, I knew I had to have it as soon as I heard the words fairy-tale, dark, disturbing and gothic. The Book Collector was all of these things and so much more besides and managed to pack in so much drama, intrigue and delicious murkiness into just 224 pages meaning that I flew through the pages with ease, enjoying every single minute.
Our main female protagonist is Violet whom is nineteen years old and an orphan when we first meet her but within a year she has a whirlwind affair with Lord Archie Murray who she ends up marrying and having a son with called Felix. Archie is a book collector by trade (hence the name of the novel!) and has many beautiful first editions that Violet enjoys looking through but he becomes very possessive and mysterious about a particular book of fairy tales that she is not allowed access to under any circumstance and he keeps under lock and key. Meanwhile, Violet is finding motherhood more difficult than she expected. Her husband is unexpectedly controlling and she begins to suffer hallucinations. Whilst trying to remove what she believes to be insects from her son's body one day she unintentionally harms him and is marched off to an asylum by Archie until her mental health recovers. When she returns, Archie has employed a nanny, beautiful and enigmatic Clara whom she instantly resents.
There are bigger problems however. A number of young women are going missing and then being found in the most brutal of circumstances. Many of these women Violet knows from the institution and she is terrified, both for her sanity and for her own life. Can she find the connections between these vicious deaths? And what part does the intriguing book of fairy-tales have to play in this particular story?
Phew! I told you it packed in a lot right? This wonderful little novel is just as grim and deeply unsettling as the synopsis suggests. As a result, it's probably not going to be for everyone, especially if you're slightly squeamish or queasy as there are some graphic, no holds barred descriptions of some quite nasty stuff in here, therefore a strong stomach required! If you've been following my blog for a little while you might remember I'm a bit of a sucker for the words "fairy-tale" when describing a novel and I adored the way in which these elements were weaved into The Book Collector. It was morbid, a happy ending isn't necessarily guaranteed, there's always an evil "bad guy" to be vanquished but aren't the best kind of fairy tales exactly like this? Occasionally whimsical, haunting and definitely troubling, this small novel is a little gem of literature. It's quick and easy to read but the events you find within has the potential to stay with you many months after you've turned the last page.
For my full review, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
Our main female protagonist is Violet whom is nineteen years old and an orphan when we first meet her but within a year she has a whirlwind affair with Lord Archie Murray who she ends up marrying and having a son with called Felix. Archie is a book collector by trade (hence the name of the novel!) and has many beautiful first editions that Violet enjoys looking through but he becomes very possessive and mysterious about a particular book of fairy tales that she is not allowed access to under any circumstance and he keeps under lock and key. Meanwhile, Violet is finding motherhood more difficult than she expected. Her husband is unexpectedly controlling and she begins to suffer hallucinations. Whilst trying to remove what she believes to be insects from her son's body one day she unintentionally harms him and is marched off to an asylum by Archie until her mental health recovers. When she returns, Archie has employed a nanny, beautiful and enigmatic Clara whom she instantly resents.
There are bigger problems however. A number of young women are going missing and then being found in the most brutal of circumstances. Many of these women Violet knows from the institution and she is terrified, both for her sanity and for her own life. Can she find the connections between these vicious deaths? And what part does the intriguing book of fairy-tales have to play in this particular story?
Phew! I told you it packed in a lot right? This wonderful little novel is just as grim and deeply unsettling as the synopsis suggests. As a result, it's probably not going to be for everyone, especially if you're slightly squeamish or queasy as there are some graphic, no holds barred descriptions of some quite nasty stuff in here, therefore a strong stomach required! If you've been following my blog for a little while you might remember I'm a bit of a sucker for the words "fairy-tale" when describing a novel and I adored the way in which these elements were weaved into The Book Collector. It was morbid, a happy ending isn't necessarily guaranteed, there's always an evil "bad guy" to be vanquished but aren't the best kind of fairy tales exactly like this? Occasionally whimsical, haunting and definitely troubling, this small novel is a little gem of literature. It's quick and easy to read but the events you find within has the potential to stay with you many months after you've turned the last page.
For my full review, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
December 13, 2016
This was book 5 on my list of #20booksofsummer
I have been intrigued by this book ever since I saw it on BookTube so I bought a copy online and as it was only a small book - 224 pages in paperback - it was a perfect read for me today sitting in the June sunshine!
I thought this was a fascinatingly creepy read! Violet was a 19 year old orphan when she is swept off her feet by Lord Archie Murray, and within a year they are married and have a son Felix. Archie has a very controlling personality and seems to be more in love with his book collection than Violet. While she is at home all the time she starts to go through his collection of first edition books, and the mysterious book of fairytales he keeps hidden away starts to become all she can think of. Meanwhile, her grip on reality after motherhood seems to be crumbling around her and at one stage can see creatures crawling under her sons skin which she tries to remove from him. This behaviour sees her locked up in the local Asylum, where she meets other women who seem to be of the same mind as her that there is more to their staying there than meets the eye, and it seems to be what their husbands think best for them.
You are never really sure who is more out of touch with reality in this book as most of the characters seem to be quite fragile mentally! While Violet is in the Asylum, Clara moves into their home to take care of Felix and this proves difficult for Violet to deal with when she is eventually let out.
Some of the women she meets in the Asylum then go missing, so this adds more to the mystery of the book along with the fact that Violet has more disturbing dreams - are they trying to tell her something? What is the link with the fairytales?
Quite disturbing at times but a quick and enthralling read!
I have been intrigued by this book ever since I saw it on BookTube so I bought a copy online and as it was only a small book - 224 pages in paperback - it was a perfect read for me today sitting in the June sunshine!
I thought this was a fascinatingly creepy read! Violet was a 19 year old orphan when she is swept off her feet by Lord Archie Murray, and within a year they are married and have a son Felix. Archie has a very controlling personality and seems to be more in love with his book collection than Violet. While she is at home all the time she starts to go through his collection of first edition books, and the mysterious book of fairytales he keeps hidden away starts to become all she can think of. Meanwhile, her grip on reality after motherhood seems to be crumbling around her and at one stage can see creatures crawling under her sons skin which she tries to remove from him. This behaviour sees her locked up in the local Asylum, where she meets other women who seem to be of the same mind as her that there is more to their staying there than meets the eye, and it seems to be what their husbands think best for them.
You are never really sure who is more out of touch with reality in this book as most of the characters seem to be quite fragile mentally! While Violet is in the Asylum, Clara moves into their home to take care of Felix and this proves difficult for Violet to deal with when she is eventually let out.
Some of the women she meets in the Asylum then go missing, so this adds more to the mystery of the book along with the fact that Violet has more disturbing dreams - are they trying to tell her something? What is the link with the fairytales?
Quite disturbing at times but a quick and enthralling read!
September 30, 2018
Casi no la termino... La tildan de terror gótico... y no la he encontrado ni de terror, y mucho menos, gótico. Y ya no opino nada de las comparaciones con Rebeca, por ejemplo.
Es una novela, narrada en tercera persona, pero que realmente es como una primera persona, centrada en Violet, una joven que se casa con un librero al que acaba de conocer, varios años mayor que él. La autora está totalmente centrada en Violet, solo nos narra lo que le pasa a ella y, por tanto, solo conocemos al resto de personajes a través de ella. Y estos personajes... hay varios secundarios que parece que tengan que tener un importante papel, pero desaparecen de la narración.
La trama, es totalmente intuitiva, ya que no acaba de describir los acontecimientos, ni quién los realiza.
Y la propia Violet, la he encontrado muy poco coherente; hasta el punto que esperaba de un momento a otro se dijera que estaba hechizada; pero no es así.
En resumen, ni terror, ni gótico, ni tan siquiera, intriga!!
Es una novela, narrada en tercera persona, pero que realmente es como una primera persona, centrada en Violet, una joven que se casa con un librero al que acaba de conocer, varios años mayor que él. La autora está totalmente centrada en Violet, solo nos narra lo que le pasa a ella y, por tanto, solo conocemos al resto de personajes a través de ella. Y estos personajes... hay varios secundarios que parece que tengan que tener un importante papel, pero desaparecen de la narración.
La trama, es totalmente intuitiva, ya que no acaba de describir los acontecimientos, ni quién los realiza.
Y la propia Violet, la he encontrado muy poco coherente; hasta el punto que esperaba de un momento a otro se dijera que estaba hechizada; pero no es así.
En resumen, ni terror, ni gótico, ni tan siquiera, intriga!!
February 18, 2022
Mi regreso al terror psicológico no pudo ser mejor, y muy auspicioso además, con esta novela simple, directa y enigmática de Alice Thompson. He encontrado mucho de Barba Azul, Rebecca, El Tapiz amarillo y Jane Eyre aquí.
June 30, 2018
Se trata de un libro tan corto como intenso. Aunque al principio la presentación de los personajes pueda parecer un poco demasiado escueta, pronto entramos en el ritmo de la narración y todo se vuelve frenético, relegando a un segundo plano esa sensación inicial. Creo que precisamente lo reducido de esta obra es uno de sus grandes aciertos, ya que de ello deriva gran parte de su redondez. Más tarde ese mismo carácter cobra un nuevo sentido al relacionarse directamente con las peculiaridades de un cuento de hadas.
La historia es claustrofóbica, espesa y abrumadora. La parcialidad del narrador no hace sino añadir a ese sentimiento de desorientación; nunca estamos del todo seguros de si lo que vemos es real. Las vagas referencias al escenario y la época se suman a su vez al carácter fantástico que, de nuevo, no hace sino reafirmarnos en la convicción de que estamos leyendo un cuento de hadas moderno. Pero no una de esas nuevas versiones edulcoradas, sino más bien uno de los antiguos, de esos en los que lo macabro y lo siniestro no se escondían y en los que ningún protagonista tenía asegurado el éxito final. La intuición bastante temprana de la solución del misterio no le resta interés a la narración.
Reseña completa y mi versión de la portada en https://sidumbledorefueralibrero.com/...
La historia es claustrofóbica, espesa y abrumadora. La parcialidad del narrador no hace sino añadir a ese sentimiento de desorientación; nunca estamos del todo seguros de si lo que vemos es real. Las vagas referencias al escenario y la época se suman a su vez al carácter fantástico que, de nuevo, no hace sino reafirmarnos en la convicción de que estamos leyendo un cuento de hadas moderno. Pero no una de esas nuevas versiones edulcoradas, sino más bien uno de los antiguos, de esos en los que lo macabro y lo siniestro no se escondían y en los que ningún protagonista tenía asegurado el éxito final. La intuición bastante temprana de la solución del misterio no le resta interés a la narración.
Reseña completa y mi versión de la portada en https://sidumbledorefueralibrero.com/...
June 17, 2024
"The Yellow Wallpaper" meets "Sleep" (2023 movie) with a pinch of "Perfume story of a murderer".
"The Book Collector" blends elements of gothic horror and fantasy, though it's primarily set in the gothic Victorian era. The story revolves around Violet, a young woman who, in a bid to escape poverty and secure a stable life, marries a middle-aged man named Archie whom she instantly falls for. She sees Archie as her pillar of strength and clings tightly to him in hopes of a fairy tale ending.
After giving birth to their son Felix, Violet begins to experience unsettling visions. Concerned for her well-being and that of their child, Archie has her committed to a mental institution. When Violet returns home in the second part of the book, she is confronted with an unexpected and shocking reality.
This setup promises a gripping narrative that delves into themes of psychological suspense, familial secrets, and the haunting consequences of Violet's visions.
I love reading about women going mad and constantly getting gaslighted by men and I especially like it when it's because of the patriarchal society we live in.
While I found it binge-worthy, I believe it could have been improved by omitting some subplots and focusing entirely on the main storyline. Some actions and dialogues require further explanation but are brushed over too quickly. Additionally, it may just be me, the writing style feels more modern than the period the book is supposed to be set in.
Overall, I view this book as something to read purely for entertainment, without delving too deeply into the finer details. Let me conclude with some parts that particularly resonated with me;
They rarely spoke – just to be in each other’s presence was enough. Previously, when she had visited cafes on her own, she had become overwhelmed by people’s chatter. But now she was with Archie, what they shared together didn’t need words. Their attraction operated in silence. Why would you need words when you could read each other’s thoughts and desires
All that existed was his desire for her. She felt consumed and overwhelmed. This feeling was new, frightening and unnatural. All she could think about was him. He attended to her every need, and anticipated her wishes as if he could read her mind. It was enchanting.
Material possessions meant a great deal to him. She had learnt during the short time they had been married how much physical things mattered to him. As if things symbolised the emotions he couldn’t have. And this plate would symbolise the most practical and simplest of losses. But she loved him, always struggled with her love for him. For if there was one defining quality about her, it was her loyalty.
Many years later, looking back, she was amazed at the capacity we have for not wanting to confront the truth. How the humdrum of our own lives, the security of habit and comfort, prevent us from questioning the clues and hints that the truth gives us. We can ignore them, make excuses and forget whatever we want.
She managed the household, supervised the staff and looked after Felix. She loved her husband and her family was everything to her. Her way of life here was her whole identity – to question the reality of her life was to question the reality of her being. She had little realisation at the time of what she was doing, no idea that she was turning her back on anything.
This desire not to know the truth. It was an odd kind of self-preservation.
Life seemed evasive. Violet had created an astringent limbo land for herself of reading and watching instead of living, only brought alive by the gaze of others. Her own perception of herself was not strong or certain enough to give herself credence.
Why was it, she wondered, that she disappeared so easily? She was like Tinkerbell who needed applause in order to stay alive.
When she looked down at her body she could see that she was real but how often now did she feel disconnected from her body, having lost herself in the ether of her mind? And her body was her only connection with the material world, the flesh and bone of it.
But she wondered if he was truly unaffected. She wondered if when men appeared to grow calm, they were actually trying to contain attraction for someone.
He would say how proud he was of his family, but why, she thought, didn’t she feel any of his love? She saw the appearance of love. What was missing in him? Or was it what was really missing in her?
Violet looked around the room. Women were eating or staring into space, or looking into the fire or wandering aimlessly around the room. And for an insane moment she thought, this is no different from normality, just women existing and surviving, this is what happens to women who don’t fit into a world created by men.
She longed to return to the unassisted loneliness of her marriage but something in the back of her mind had begun to disturb her. Was there a hidden system to her marriage she hadn’t realised, also? Was she no less manipulated in her marriage than she was here? But she put this to the back of her mind. The only thing wrong with her marriage was herself and her delusions. It was her madness that manipulated her, no one or nothing else.
'What are you in here for?’
‘You make it sounds like we’re criminals.’
‘Isn’t that what we are? Our crime is not to fit in.
She suddenly thought, he’s not interested in this at all. He doesn’t care. And why should he – when women are going missing? She shook herself, as if trying to shake off this image of what she had become, a ghost, a woman covered in cobwebs, a woman who no longer inhabited her own life but trespassed over it
She was now a woman of two halves, half woman, half mother. Two bodies from different times conjoined. But Clara was still whole, of a single time, her body still existing for a single purpose, to give and take pleasure. Her body had not been divided in half by motherhood. It was Clara who had singularity of purpose.
"The Book Collector" blends elements of gothic horror and fantasy, though it's primarily set in the gothic Victorian era. The story revolves around Violet, a young woman who, in a bid to escape poverty and secure a stable life, marries a middle-aged man named Archie whom she instantly falls for. She sees Archie as her pillar of strength and clings tightly to him in hopes of a fairy tale ending.
After giving birth to their son Felix, Violet begins to experience unsettling visions. Concerned for her well-being and that of their child, Archie has her committed to a mental institution. When Violet returns home in the second part of the book, she is confronted with an unexpected and shocking reality.
This setup promises a gripping narrative that delves into themes of psychological suspense, familial secrets, and the haunting consequences of Violet's visions.
I love reading about women going mad and constantly getting gaslighted by men and I especially like it when it's because of the patriarchal society we live in.
While I found it binge-worthy, I believe it could have been improved by omitting some subplots and focusing entirely on the main storyline. Some actions and dialogues require further explanation but are brushed over too quickly. Additionally, it may just be me, the writing style feels more modern than the period the book is supposed to be set in.
Overall, I view this book as something to read purely for entertainment, without delving too deeply into the finer details. Let me conclude with some parts that particularly resonated with me;
They rarely spoke – just to be in each other’s presence was enough. Previously, when she had visited cafes on her own, she had become overwhelmed by people’s chatter. But now she was with Archie, what they shared together didn’t need words. Their attraction operated in silence. Why would you need words when you could read each other’s thoughts and desires
All that existed was his desire for her. She felt consumed and overwhelmed. This feeling was new, frightening and unnatural. All she could think about was him. He attended to her every need, and anticipated her wishes as if he could read her mind. It was enchanting.
Material possessions meant a great deal to him. She had learnt during the short time they had been married how much physical things mattered to him. As if things symbolised the emotions he couldn’t have. And this plate would symbolise the most practical and simplest of losses. But she loved him, always struggled with her love for him. For if there was one defining quality about her, it was her loyalty.
Many years later, looking back, she was amazed at the capacity we have for not wanting to confront the truth. How the humdrum of our own lives, the security of habit and comfort, prevent us from questioning the clues and hints that the truth gives us. We can ignore them, make excuses and forget whatever we want.
She managed the household, supervised the staff and looked after Felix. She loved her husband and her family was everything to her. Her way of life here was her whole identity – to question the reality of her life was to question the reality of her being. She had little realisation at the time of what she was doing, no idea that she was turning her back on anything.
This desire not to know the truth. It was an odd kind of self-preservation.
Life seemed evasive. Violet had created an astringent limbo land for herself of reading and watching instead of living, only brought alive by the gaze of others. Her own perception of herself was not strong or certain enough to give herself credence.
Why was it, she wondered, that she disappeared so easily? She was like Tinkerbell who needed applause in order to stay alive.
When she looked down at her body she could see that she was real but how often now did she feel disconnected from her body, having lost herself in the ether of her mind? And her body was her only connection with the material world, the flesh and bone of it.
But she wondered if he was truly unaffected. She wondered if when men appeared to grow calm, they were actually trying to contain attraction for someone.
He would say how proud he was of his family, but why, she thought, didn’t she feel any of his love? She saw the appearance of love. What was missing in him? Or was it what was really missing in her?
Violet looked around the room. Women were eating or staring into space, or looking into the fire or wandering aimlessly around the room. And for an insane moment she thought, this is no different from normality, just women existing and surviving, this is what happens to women who don’t fit into a world created by men.
She longed to return to the unassisted loneliness of her marriage but something in the back of her mind had begun to disturb her. Was there a hidden system to her marriage she hadn’t realised, also? Was she no less manipulated in her marriage than she was here? But she put this to the back of her mind. The only thing wrong with her marriage was herself and her delusions. It was her madness that manipulated her, no one or nothing else.
'What are you in here for?’
‘You make it sounds like we’re criminals.’
‘Isn’t that what we are? Our crime is not to fit in.
She suddenly thought, he’s not interested in this at all. He doesn’t care. And why should he – when women are going missing? She shook herself, as if trying to shake off this image of what she had become, a ghost, a woman covered in cobwebs, a woman who no longer inhabited her own life but trespassed over it
She was now a woman of two halves, half woman, half mother. Two bodies from different times conjoined. But Clara was still whole, of a single time, her body still existing for a single purpose, to give and take pleasure. Her body had not been divided in half by motherhood. It was Clara who had singularity of purpose.
April 17, 2016
Dobra priča u gotičkom stilu s fino postavljenim zapletom ali predvidivim krajem, šteta. Atmosfera je najjača strana knjige, dok su likovi ostali nedorečeni i bilo je još dosta prostora da se bolje dočaraju. Možda je 170 stranica ipak bilo nedovoljno :( U svakom slučaju preporučila bih je svima kojima se dopala Rebecca, Trinaesta priča, Carmilla....
July 14, 2021
En esta historia tenemos a una mujer en el siglo XX que lleva casada poco tiempo con un hombre viudo recientemente y acaba de tener a su bebé; en este entorno es que Violet descubre un libro de cuentos lujoso y especial dedicado a su exmujer.
La trama que se menciona es interesante pero la forma en que se desarrolla es bastante predecible y simple , lo que más me interesó/frustró/desesperó es la situación de que la protagonista no puede ir en contra o dudar de su esposo, porque en estos tiempos eso equivalía a locura (lo cual si pasó en el libro), tanto es el machismo que existía en la sociedad que ella misma se cuestiona su estabilidad mental por dudar sobre que hace su marido, sus amigas le cuestionan que ¿cómo puede dudar de su esposo siendo este un hombre tan atractivo?, los doctores solo consideran la palabra del esposo sobre cómo proceder para “arreglar” y dar salud a Violet.
A pesar de esto me parece una novela atrayente, es fácil de leer y lo que va pasando es muy entendible, pero aun así creo que hay ciertas cosas que se dejan muy al aire, y son desaprovechadas, como puede ser la inclusión de los cuentos de hadas, los asesinatos o la aparición de ciertos personajes secundarios en relación al protagonista (Clara y el doctor), estos no tienen voz o cualidades.
La trama que se menciona es interesante pero la forma en que se desarrolla es bastante predecible y simple , lo que más me interesó/frustró/desesperó es la situación de que la protagonista no puede ir en contra o dudar de su esposo, porque en estos tiempos eso equivalía a locura (lo cual si pasó en el libro), tanto es el machismo que existía en la sociedad que ella misma se cuestiona su estabilidad mental por dudar sobre que hace su marido, sus amigas le cuestionan que ¿cómo puede dudar de su esposo siendo este un hombre tan atractivo?, los doctores solo consideran la palabra del esposo sobre cómo proceder para “arreglar” y dar salud a Violet.
A pesar de esto me parece una novela atrayente, es fácil de leer y lo que va pasando es muy entendible, pero aun así creo que hay ciertas cosas que se dejan muy al aire, y son desaprovechadas, como puede ser la inclusión de los cuentos de hadas, los asesinatos o la aparición de ciertos personajes secundarios en relación al protagonista (Clara y el doctor), estos no tienen voz o cualidades.
June 12, 2018
He meditado mucho la nota, porque fue un libro que me llamó la atención desde el principio, pero después fue un poquito decepcionante.
Es de lectura fácil, se lee muy rápido y los capítulos son de extensiones variables, lo que hace que avances con mucha rapidez. Hasta ahí, todo bien. Sin embargo, los personajes son otro cantar. De primera mano conocemos a Violet, la protagonista. Se conocen todos sus claroscuros, no así al resto de los personajes: como el marido o la niñera. A medida que transcurre la historia y que pasas páginas te surgen dudas/preguntas que no son contestadas en ningún momento, es más, al no ahondar en ellos no los conoces, no sabes qué motivos tienen para actuar de una determinada manera... Así, mucho más. De ahí, la nota que le doy.
Es de lectura fácil, se lee muy rápido y los capítulos son de extensiones variables, lo que hace que avances con mucha rapidez. Hasta ahí, todo bien. Sin embargo, los personajes son otro cantar. De primera mano conocemos a Violet, la protagonista. Se conocen todos sus claroscuros, no así al resto de los personajes: como el marido o la niñera. A medida que transcurre la historia y que pasas páginas te surgen dudas/preguntas que no son contestadas en ningún momento, es más, al no ahondar en ellos no los conoces, no sabes qué motivos tienen para actuar de una determinada manera... Así, mucho más. De ahí, la nota que le doy.
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