The Moonstone- let's talk about Rachel's men!

[Tuckins1]

I don't want to say too much about anything yet, as I don't know how far everyone is. Based on what you know about her two guys (Godfrey Ablewhite and Franklin Blake), who do you think she should go with? Who would you choose? Personally, I think it's soooo creepy to read about romance between first cousins, but this IS a long time ago....

 

[elrohwen]

I'm honestly not a fan of either! I think Ablewhite kind of a womanizing cad (who ends up being a total wuss) and Blake is wishy-washy. Though I'm not far enough to know if either of them end up having any real merits (only on chapter 14 or so). I don't really trust either of them, but then Rachel seems a bit nutty at times too.

 

[AGBF]

Hi, ladies-

I wrote a long response here last night and it was eaten by the computer. I have not had the heart to try to write again. Instead I resumed my reading of The Moonstone and decided to try to remember to save what I wrote before I hit, "submit" the next time! Basically what I said here was that I am not sure whether I read or saw a film or television series of "The Moonstone" in the past; therefore any "intuition" I have about the men may actually be recollection!

I am not really ready to comment again, but I am now at the point where Sergeant Cuff appears to be following Rosanna Spearman.

Deb/AGBF

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Hmmm . . . I think I'm with Elro. I don't like either of them very much! But, if I had to pick one of them for her, I think it would have to be Franklin Blake. (And ditto on the weird first cousin thing, too! Ewwww!)

 

[April20]

I'm totally skeeved out by the first cousin thing as well. I get that it was a different time, but still ewwwwww.

I'm just a little past the point that both have been introduced. I'm not sure how I feel- though I'm not a fan of either. I need to read a little more to develop my opinion.

I wanna know what's going on with that housemaid!!

 

[AGBF]

I don't think that there is a universal ban on marriage between first cousins even now, whether or not there should be one on their having children together. If one looks at royalty in Europe, one will see it (the marriages between first cousins, that is). I think Queen Victoria caused a lot of somewhat incestuous family relationships by having so many children at a time when royals were expected to marry other royals.

Marriages between second cousins are allowed in all 50 of the United States and marriages between first cousins are allowed in some of them, including my home state, Connecticut. I just looked it up!

Deb/AGBF

 

[April20]

I actually know of a couple of first cousins that are married to each other. What freaks me out more than anything else is that they have the same grandparents.

I don't care if it's legal. It's weird.

 

[AGBF]

I actually know of a couple of first cousins that are married to each other. What freaks me out more than anything else is that they have the same grandparents.

I don't care if it's legal. It's weird.

Well...they would have one set of grandparents in common.

Deb

 

[elrohwen]

It honestly doesn't seem weird to me, considering the time period. Back then, you would want to know that somebody was trust worthy, and you wouldn't want your family money to go to just anybody. It would be hard to just meet random people out and about and if you're supposed to meet a new guy and marry him within a few months, that seems even weirder than marrying someone you've known and liked a long time. I'd rather marry some guy I've always been friends with and has to stay in the good graces of my family over some guy I don't really know. Thinking of it that way, it makes a lot of sense to me.

In modern day terms, it grosses me out too, of course.

 

[Tuckins1]

I'm totally skeeved out by the first cousin thing as well. I get that it was a different time, but still ewwwwww.

I'm just a little past the point that both have been introduced. I'm not sure how I feel- though I'm not a fan of either. I need to read a little more to develop my opinion.

I wanna know what's going on with that housemaid!!

Yep, this story gets JUICY!!! I won't say anything yet...

 

[AGBF]

Yep, this story gets JUICY!!! I won't say anything yet...

Well...since I have heard Limping Lucy's opinion of Franklin Blake, I can no longer unring that bell.

Deb

 

[rainwood]

I wasn't able to get much of a handle on Rachel's cousin during his visit to the house, but he did seem like a less than worthy choice. But then I'm not Rachel's biggest fan so maybe they're perfect for each other.

As to Franklin Blake, I'm only through Chapter 14, and I have this nagging suspicion that he isn't who he says he is. I have the print version and there's a looooong introduction and somewhere in there it says that all the clues are contained in the first 100 pages. So, of course, I'm now trying to outsleuth the Captain and deduce everything because I'm supposed to have all the necessary info. I have a feeling I'm not going to be successful.

 

[Blackpaw]

I agree, neither of the two leading men in the novel strikes me as particularly attractive characters...though Franklin did grow on me.

Ablewhite struck me from the get-go as a cad and i wasnt disproved there!

As for Franklin, his character (i think) might be better viewed in the context of the period in which Collins wrote, in which case his portrayal is rather a sympathetic character and really a good match for Rachel. Betteredge speaks of the idleness of the better classes and them having the unenviable task of having to amuse themselves with something - well Franklin amuses himself nobly with his 'international' education and artistic pursuits - pursuits he then shares with an enthralled Rachel. Perfect pastimes for ladies and gentleman of leisure as it were!

And on another note (completely superficial!), im always sincerely disappointed when a writer describes their leading man as having a beard - they're not my thing and i find it hard to reconcile 'the hero' with the man with a beard so i have to imagine him clean shaven to enjoy the romance at all

 

[elrohwen]

Blackpaw, I totally overlooked the beard part and have been imagining him clean shaven all along. lol

 

[Blackpaw]

Better that way!!

 

[Tuckins1]

I also agree that Ablewhite always seemed a bit "off" to me... But WOW I was not expecting THAT! (I started to suspect things once we found out about Ablewhite senior looking into wills/trusts.....)

 

[elrohwen]

I also agree that Ablewhite always seemed a bit "off" to me... But WOW I was not expecting THAT! (I started to suspect things once we found out about Ablewhite senior looking into wills/trusts.....)

Gah, now I want to know what you're talking about! I'll just have to keep reading.

 

[Tuckins1]

I also agree that Ablewhite always seemed a bit "off" to me... But WOW I was not expecting THAT! (I started to suspect things once we found out about Ablewhite senior looking into wills/trusts.....)

Gah, now I want to know what you're talking about! I'll just have to keep reading.

Where are you in the book? Who is narrating? You won't get into this until Miss Clack or after...

 

[dragonfly411]

I don't like Ablewhite... I don't like him one bit.

I think Franklin is the better choice, but I think I'd feel bad for him. Rachel comes off as a spoiled brat so far, with a hideous temper.

After reading The Other Boleyn Girl recently..... the first cousin thing isn't bothering me at all haha!

 

[AGBF]

I don't want to say too much about anything yet, as I don't know how far everyone is. Based on what you know about her two guys (Godfrey Ablewhite and Franklin Blake), who do you think she should go with?

I agree that from the very start, Godfrey Ablewhite fills one with revulsion. If one hadn't felt it before, and I think one was supposed to loathe him, surely one was supposed to feel it when one saw that he was on terms of intimacy with Miss Clack. The false notes that she rang, always managing to to see the rules and never the heart or love or kindness or decency in religion, made her a detestable character. And Ablewhite could be judged by the company he kept.

Deb/AGBF

 

[elrohwen]

I also agree that Ablewhite always seemed a bit "off" to me... But WOW I was not expecting THAT! (I started to suspect things once we found out about Ablewhite senior looking into wills/trusts.....)

Gah, now I want to know what you're talking about! I'll just have to keep reading.

Where are you in the book? Who is narrating? You won't get into this until Miss Clack or after...

I just finished Miss Clack's part last night. So much drama in her narrative!

 

[elrohwen]

I don't want to say too much about anything yet, as I don't know how far everyone is. Based on what you know about her two guys (Godfrey Ablewhite and Franklin Blake), who do you think she should go with?

I agree that from the very start, Godfrey Ablewhite fills one with revulsion. If one hadn't felt it before, and I think one was supposed to loathe him, surely one was supposed to feel it when one saw that he was on terms of intimacy with Miss Clack. The false notes that she rang, always managing to to see the rules and never the heart or love or kindness or decency in religion, made her a detestable character. And Ablewhite could be judged by the company he kept.

Deb/AGBF

Well said, Deb!

To quote Jerry Seinfeld - "He's such a phony-baloney!"