(major spoiler alert, don't read if you haven't read the book)
While not a typical "horror" book, The Collector is a haunting, deeply chilling, terrifying account of an abduction, which will stay with you for years to come- and even endevour to change the way you live your life.
The collector is a novel which is told from the point of view of Frederic, a young man who is obsessed with collecting butterflies,photography and stalking Miranda Grey. After winning the lottery he moves to London, persuing her as she studies art at a university there. After some time he buys a house with a basement, and decides he'll abduct and imprison her there.
He prepares by big a big white van, art books he thinks will interest her, clothes that are about her size and decorations for his house. He then follows her on her way home from university, and uses chloroform to subdue her.
Some time passes, Miranda gives him long lists of things she wants in the basement and he complies, desperate that she will one day fall in love with him. Although sex is referred to openly, and is often on the captors mind- nothing of that nature ever occurs in the beginning of the novel. He is not openly perverse, and does not mistreat her in any way (apart from keeping her in the damp basement away from civilization) Above all, he wants to make her happy which is conveyed incredibly well.
She makes several attempts to escape, all of which fail. Around half way through the book, it begins to be told in a series of diary entries from Miranda's perspective. This provides a haunting insight into the realizations she comes to during her captivity, such as the realization that she is in love with G.P., a man who she has been friends with for a very long time (and he said he wanted to marry her at one point)
She comes to terms with all the choices she wants to make with her life, who she wants to be friends with, her religion, her career and her love life. She makes plans for the future, and all the places she wants to visit. These are all shattered when she contracts pneumonia in the basement and dies when Frederic refuses to get a doctor for her.
Overall, this book endevours to make you realize that you should do things that make you happy, and live the life you want to live because you want to-not because it is what is expected of you. One of the best books i've read in a long time.
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Great Expectations is a Victorian novel which provides a clear insight into the British class system in the 19th Century and the startling difference between each class. It is narrated from the point of view of "Pip" who is the son to two deceased parents, and is therefore being raised by his sister, and her husband- Joe.
Although Pip is the main character in his own right, he serves more as a vessel to tell the stories of those surrounding him, and through him we learn from the characters mistakes, just as he learns them. The themes are also clearly conveyed through Pip- As when he comes into his fortune, and his property- he abandons his friends and family as he believes he is meant for better things. When he gets into too much debt, is dying and is left by Herbert (who marries and moves to Cairo) Joe pays off Pip's debts and nurses him back to health. Through this we learn lessons of gratitude, appreciation and humility.
In the beginning of the book, Pip encounters a convict named Abel Magwitch on the marshes near his home who threatens to remove his heart and liver if Pip doesn't return with the tools necessary to remove his shackles. Pip hurries home to steal a file, some brandy and a mince pie. The convict, struck by the boys kindness, decides to dedicate his life to raising Pip to be a gentlemen, although we don't find this out until much later in the novel.
Meanwhile, Pip is invited to Miss Havisham's house to play with her daughter Estella. When he does, she scorns him, calling him "common" and claiming his hands were "course"-Despite this he falls in love with her instantly, as he is totally enchanted by her extraordinary beauty. He continues to return to the house to play with Estella, and on one occasion has a fight with "A pale young gentlemen"-which Estella watches in secret. Pip wins the fight, and departs Satis house. When he returns for the final time, he is bound to be Joe's Apprentice, even though he doesn't want this as he feels as this will make Estella inaccessible to him.
One evening, Mrs. Joe (his sister) is attacked, and hit over the head, which leaves her extremely ill, forcing a young woman named "Biddy" to move in with them in order to take care of her. Although she is pretty, intelligent and like Pip an immense amount, Pip rejects any chance of them being together as he is still in love with Estella. Shortly after this, Pip receives news that he has a Patron, who has sponsored him to become a Gentlemen in London. Seeing this as a chance to reunite himself with his Beloved Estella, he leaves his home behind and travels to London.
While in London he boards with Herbert, who turns out to be the pale young Gentlemen whom he had fought in the courtyard at Satis house, and as they lodge together they gradually find dificulties as they get into debt. Herbert informs Pip of Miss Havishams background story, of how she fell in love with someone and was abandoned at the altar, which is why she lives a life of seclusion and remains shut off from the world. Pip see's that she is teaching Estella to be harsh, and cruel in order to exact her revenge upon all men.
Estella moves to London, and although Pip is faithful, dedicated, and does as Estella says, she decides to marry Bentley Drummle, a bitter man whom Pip dislikes. Pip goes to Satis house to plead with Estella and Miss Havisham, confessing his love for Estella and imploring her to marry someone else, anyone else- as he feels she deserves much better. She rejects his advances, and emphasizes that she feels nothing, and has no heart. Miss Havisham begins to realize the full extent of the damage she has done to Estella, as Estella cannot even begin to comprehend how Pip feels. As a result of this, Miss Havisham later gives pip £900 pounds to invest in Herbert, and he claims nothing for himself- She then sets herself on fire and falls very ill.
(Although Pip returns to his home town many times, he does not visit his family and friends at the forge as he feels that he deserves better company)
Later in the Novel, Abel Magwitch reveals himself as Pips Patron, and Pip feels incredibly bitter, as he had assumed his Patron was Miss Havisham and therefore thought he was meant to be with Estella. Pip later learns to love Magwitch-and tries to help him escape. However, they are caught by the police. During their escape Magwitch becomes injured, and is taken to Hospital. At this point, Pip confesses that he knows that Estella is Magwitches daughter, and as soon as he has said it, Magwitch dies.
After this, Pip becomes overwhelmed with debt, and falls very ill-to the point of death. Joe goes to London in order to help Pip, and Pip realizes that Joe has paid off all of his debts.
As he has no money left, and no friends- he returns to the forge to tell Biddy that he loves her, and has the intention of marrying her, however when he arrives he finds that Biddy is to be married to Joe. Pip realizes all the mistakes he has made in the name of persuing Estella, and goes to Cairo to join Herbert and his wife.
Finally, Pip returns 11 years later to find Estella at Satis house, she tells him how her husband mistreated her, and ended up being killed by a horse. The novel ends on the agreement that they should never part again, however it is ambiguous as to whether they stay friends, or whether they get married.
Although Pip is the main character in his own right, he serves more as a vessel to tell the stories of those surrounding him, and through him we learn from the characters mistakes, just as he learns them. The themes are also clearly conveyed through Pip- As when he comes into his fortune, and his property- he abandons his friends and family as he believes he is meant for better things. When he gets into too much debt, is dying and is left by Herbert (who marries and moves to Cairo) Joe pays off Pip's debts and nurses him back to health. Through this we learn lessons of gratitude, appreciation and humility.
In the beginning of the book, Pip encounters a convict named Abel Magwitch on the marshes near his home who threatens to remove his heart and liver if Pip doesn't return with the tools necessary to remove his shackles. Pip hurries home to steal a file, some brandy and a mince pie. The convict, struck by the boys kindness, decides to dedicate his life to raising Pip to be a gentlemen, although we don't find this out until much later in the novel.
Meanwhile, Pip is invited to Miss Havisham's house to play with her daughter Estella. When he does, she scorns him, calling him "common" and claiming his hands were "course"-Despite this he falls in love with her instantly, as he is totally enchanted by her extraordinary beauty. He continues to return to the house to play with Estella, and on one occasion has a fight with "A pale young gentlemen"-which Estella watches in secret. Pip wins the fight, and departs Satis house. When he returns for the final time, he is bound to be Joe's Apprentice, even though he doesn't want this as he feels as this will make Estella inaccessible to him.
One evening, Mrs. Joe (his sister) is attacked, and hit over the head, which leaves her extremely ill, forcing a young woman named "Biddy" to move in with them in order to take care of her. Although she is pretty, intelligent and like Pip an immense amount, Pip rejects any chance of them being together as he is still in love with Estella. Shortly after this, Pip receives news that he has a Patron, who has sponsored him to become a Gentlemen in London. Seeing this as a chance to reunite himself with his Beloved Estella, he leaves his home behind and travels to London.
While in London he boards with Herbert, who turns out to be the pale young Gentlemen whom he had fought in the courtyard at Satis house, and as they lodge together they gradually find dificulties as they get into debt. Herbert informs Pip of Miss Havishams background story, of how she fell in love with someone and was abandoned at the altar, which is why she lives a life of seclusion and remains shut off from the world. Pip see's that she is teaching Estella to be harsh, and cruel in order to exact her revenge upon all men.
Estella moves to London, and although Pip is faithful, dedicated, and does as Estella says, she decides to marry Bentley Drummle, a bitter man whom Pip dislikes. Pip goes to Satis house to plead with Estella and Miss Havisham, confessing his love for Estella and imploring her to marry someone else, anyone else- as he feels she deserves much better. She rejects his advances, and emphasizes that she feels nothing, and has no heart. Miss Havisham begins to realize the full extent of the damage she has done to Estella, as Estella cannot even begin to comprehend how Pip feels. As a result of this, Miss Havisham later gives pip £900 pounds to invest in Herbert, and he claims nothing for himself- She then sets herself on fire and falls very ill.
(Although Pip returns to his home town many times, he does not visit his family and friends at the forge as he feels that he deserves better company)
Later in the Novel, Abel Magwitch reveals himself as Pips Patron, and Pip feels incredibly bitter, as he had assumed his Patron was Miss Havisham and therefore thought he was meant to be with Estella. Pip later learns to love Magwitch-and tries to help him escape. However, they are caught by the police. During their escape Magwitch becomes injured, and is taken to Hospital. At this point, Pip confesses that he knows that Estella is Magwitches daughter, and as soon as he has said it, Magwitch dies.
After this, Pip becomes overwhelmed with debt, and falls very ill-to the point of death. Joe goes to London in order to help Pip, and Pip realizes that Joe has paid off all of his debts.
As he has no money left, and no friends- he returns to the forge to tell Biddy that he loves her, and has the intention of marrying her, however when he arrives he finds that Biddy is to be married to Joe. Pip realizes all the mistakes he has made in the name of persuing Estella, and goes to Cairo to join Herbert and his wife.
Finally, Pip returns 11 years later to find Estella at Satis house, she tells him how her husband mistreated her, and ended up being killed by a horse. The novel ends on the agreement that they should never part again, however it is ambiguous as to whether they stay friends, or whether they get married.
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