Book Review #4 – Drood
DROOD
By Dan Simmons
- Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
- Pub. Date: February 2009
- ISBN-13: 9780316007023
- 784pp
From the author’s website: “Drood, in the tradition of The Terror, is a unique mix of history, biography, and dark fantasy, but where The Terror dealt with an actual doomed Arctic expedition in 1848, Drood looks at the lives and secrets of Charles Dickens and his novelist friend Wilkie Collins in the period 1865-1870. History records that Dickens was in the terrible Staplehurst train accident of 1865 and suffered injuries – both physical and psychological — from which he never recovered. He died suddenly on the fifth anniversary of that accident on June 9,1870.
Drood fictionally explores the dark secrets that came to obsess both Dickens and Wilkie Collins during those five years — secrets that not only ended their long friendship but brought each writer to the brink of murder.”
I really looked forward to this novel. The idea sounded so interesting to me. I love Charles Dickens not only for his stories but also because as a person he was so very messed up – just like the characters he wrote about.
Unfortunately, the story got lost in the overabundance of side trips, detours and heavy-handed insertions of factoids and tidbits. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I adore useless bits of knowledge but this was too much for me. I made it through Chapter Five and quit. I just lacked the patience to go on with it right now.
I do thank this novel for introducing me to Wilkie Collins, Dickens’ contemporary and friend. I look forward to reading his stories and maybe at a later time I will revisit Drood.
I think you’ll really like Collins. I just read The Moonstone earlier this year and I enjoyed The Dream Woman last year. He might even be wordier than Dickens, though.
There are times that I don’t mind tangents and wanderings, but I usually like my novels a little clearer. I will have to check out Wilkie Collins though.
You do some interesting reviews. Thanks.
I just love a good book!
Thanks for the review!
And thank you most of all for your constant encouragement.
You are a blessing.
Hey Nessa, this sounds like the book for me.
Thank you for the review. Charles Dickens is
my writing hero, my favorite of his is Bleak
House. Have you read than one. It’s long.
Thank you for the compliment on KP, she is
coming along really great now, such a happy child.
..
Actually, Mark Twain if my favorite but not my hero.
..
great review, too bad about the book though. it does sound interesting.
Thanks for the review!! enJOY your week!!
I don’t have enough time to read books, or maybe it’s a lack of patience sometimes. If the book does not sweep me off my feet from the very beginning, I give up…
Wow, a book has to be pretty bad/dry/unfocused for me to walk away without finishing it. I’ll make sure to skip this one….but I will check out Wilkie Collins!
Sounds like it needs a little more editing to be sharp. But the premise has me intrigued, thanks to you.
Another good, useful review. I’m ashamed to say I never even made it through the original DROOD. Knowing that the story had no ending was a disincentive.
I never knew about Charles Dicken’s life. Often brilliant minds have suffered much!
Ok! I will pass on this book as well.
concept sounds intriguing, but sounds like i need to take a pass on it by your review. love to read, so let m know whats good!
Thanks for that review — it does sound fascinating, and I’m a Dickens fan too. I feel fairly warned however, though I also like historical bits. Maybe I’ll look for it at the library instead of the bookstore.
I love Dickens too, so I think this looks like an intriguing read. I love the way you set up this review with all the pertinent information. Well done.
I didn’t know about Collins, either, and I’d like to know more about Dickens. This does sound interesting. Useful review–thanks:)