Can’t talk, must read

Every time I sit down to compose a blog post, I get restless and think that I should be off reading. That’s how much I’m loving No Name. I just can’t stop reading it. It’s become one of those books where I feel like I’m living in that world and that real life is just an annoying thing I must get through in order to go back to 19th century England and the characters that I’d find there. I’ll have a more formal review up when it’s my turn for the classics circuit. One of the things that I’ve loved about this circuit so far is that it has really influenced what I think about while reading. A number of the bloggers so far have commented on Collins’s attitude towards women–does his writing show a pro-women’s rights stance? Or do the chauvinistic comments of some of his male (and even female!) characters condone the treatment of women as underlings? Moored at Sea had a thought provoking post (and comments section) about these questions, and they have definitely been in the back of my mind while reading this book. Or, perhaps at the front of my mind, since the novel’s plot is so concerned with women’s rights, or the lack thereof.

Ok, I’m off to go read more about Magdalen.

Edited to add: Here’s the other post at Book Gazing that talks about Collins and women. So much to think about before I write my circuit post!