The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

This is considered by many to be the first detective novel.  I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. 

The moonstone was a large yellow diamond that had been stolen during the storming of Seringapatam (India) in 1799. Through a complicated series of events, the moonstone is given to Rachel Verinder for her 18th birthday in 1848, and it disappears the next morning. The story is told by many different narrators, beginning with Mr. Betteredge, house steward for Rachel's mother, the Lady Verinder. This sounds like it would be difficult to follow, but it actually worked really well. 

This is my 19th century classic for the 2015 Back to the Classics challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed it and rate it 5 out of 5.

Packed and Ready

I'm leaving for Greece in the morning! I can hardly believe it; I'm meeting up with Jane LaFazio and several other artists for Art Walk. I'll be sure to post pictures when I can.

Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson

This was a delightful story! Miss Buncle's income is reduced to the point that she must find a way to supplement it, so she decides to write a book. She writes about her small town and all the people who live there, using the pen name of "John Smith." When the book is published, the people in her small town are outraged, and try every way they can to determine who "John Smith" is. There were many humorous incidents and passages; here is one I found quite funny:

". . . she pointed out that the book was a disgusting book, it had ridiculed her, she wanted an abject apology and large damages. She explained, somewhat incoherently, that the character of Mrs. Horsley Downs was a horrible character and not in the least like her, but that it was obviously intended for her, because it was exactly like her, and that therefore it was a libel and as such ought to be punished to the utmost rigor of the law."

 I read this for my humorous or satirical classic, and I rate it 4 out of 5.