Tara R. (portabellopig) reviewed on 1/1/2013 + 40 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

I feel completely bi-polar when it comes to this book. On the one hand, there are sections that are indeed utterly engrossing and (as one other reader put it) deliciously creepy. The character of Drood starts out as this maybe-zombie, maybe-demon, maybe-man, which was enough to keep me going through the first 400 pages.

After that, however, it felt like a relationship I had with an ex; exciting and thrilling at times, but in between those thrills it was tedious, drawn out and something I knew wouldn't be staying in my heart forever. You can tell Simmons did a huge amount of research into the lives of Dickens and Collins, as well as the 'minor characters' who were parts of their lives, but after a while it definitely felt like a lot of the information was being included just because Simmons did the research and didn't want to go to waste.

While I'm glad I read the entire book, it's a lot easier to enjoy if you know a few things about the narrorator (Wilkie Collins) before reading it, namely that he was a narcissistic, ego-driven jerk (for lack of better word), just like Dickens.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details