grubstlodger's review against another edition
3.0
The introduction to The Lodger claims that it was one of the first psychological thrillers, whether it was one of the first or not, it is a very interesting look at psychology and rather thrilling.
Turned into a silent film by Hitchcock, the 1913 novel is the story of Mr and Mrs Bunting, a couple who had formally been in service and are now running a boarding house. Things haven’t been going well, they’ve been starving for weeks and reckon it’ll only be a few more before they have to succumb to the not-so-tender mercies of the Workhouse. Then, at just the right moment, a lodger turns up. He’s clearly a gentleman, he pays in gold coins and he wants to hire the top two floors of the house. He’s a little strange, creeping out at night, reading misogynistic passages of the bible to himself and, weirdest of all, being a vegetarian. At least he is not “one of those crazy vegetarians who won’t eat egg or cheese” but he may be the feared serial killer known as The Avenger.
The book is remarkable for its confidential and intimate tone, one that borders on claustrophobic. For most of the novel Mrs Bunting is alone in her suspicions of the lodger, suspicions that neither she, nor the narrator ever put directly into words. The way she and the narrator circle around the suspicions, voicing parts of them but never putting them together is what builds the tensions throughout. As she is alone in her thoughts, she has enormous difficulty hiding them and keeping her emotions in check. What’s more, they are only suspicions, whenever she talks to the lodger directly she mainly feels pity for him or even fear for his sake. Even when she is pretty certain that he is a deranged serial killer, she longs to protect him from the detective who comes to court her step-daughter. She can’t even tell her husband. Interestingly, when the husband has his own suspicions much later in the book, he is also not inclined to tell the police nor even his wife.
Ultimately, I think this is a book about class. The Buntings were formally respected servants, when they left service, they found living without the security of ‘a family’ both psychologically frightening and financially difficult. Their idea of a happy retirement is to work for a nice, rich old lady who fears and respects them. The lodger is a gentleman and they have an almost ingrained respect for him and instinctively take his side against the more working/middle class profession of the police. Mrs Bunting is revealed to have grown up at the Foundling Hospital, where this notion would have been particularly raised into her, and her morals are more about politeness and propriety than right and wrong. As such the mixture of fear and care they feel for the lodger is not too dissimilar to the feelings they had for any of the other eccentric gentle-folk they served. He may (or may not) be a psychopathic murderer, but gentlemen are gentlemen.
The answers to the mysteries were a little disappointing, and the ending came a little too neatly, but up to then this was a tense story with some very interesting things to say about society in 1913.
Turned into a silent film by Hitchcock, the 1913 novel is the story of Mr and Mrs Bunting, a couple who had formally been in service and are now running a boarding house. Things haven’t been going well, they’ve been starving for weeks and reckon it’ll only be a few more before they have to succumb to the not-so-tender mercies of the Workhouse. Then, at just the right moment, a lodger turns up. He’s clearly a gentleman, he pays in gold coins and he wants to hire the top two floors of the house. He’s a little strange, creeping out at night, reading misogynistic passages of the bible to himself and, weirdest of all, being a vegetarian. At least he is not “one of those crazy vegetarians who won’t eat egg or cheese” but he may be the feared serial killer known as The Avenger.
The book is remarkable for its confidential and intimate tone, one that borders on claustrophobic. For most of the novel Mrs Bunting is alone in her suspicions of the lodger, suspicions that neither she, nor the narrator ever put directly into words. The way she and the narrator circle around the suspicions, voicing parts of them but never putting them together is what builds the tensions throughout. As she is alone in her thoughts, she has enormous difficulty hiding them and keeping her emotions in check. What’s more, they are only suspicions, whenever she talks to the lodger directly she mainly feels pity for him or even fear for his sake. Even when she is pretty certain that he is a deranged serial killer, she longs to protect him from the detective who comes to court her step-daughter. She can’t even tell her husband. Interestingly, when the husband has his own suspicions much later in the book, he is also not inclined to tell the police nor even his wife.
Ultimately, I think this is a book about class. The Buntings were formally respected servants, when they left service, they found living without the security of ‘a family’ both psychologically frightening and financially difficult. Their idea of a happy retirement is to work for a nice, rich old lady who fears and respects them. The lodger is a gentleman and they have an almost ingrained respect for him and instinctively take his side against the more working/middle class profession of the police. Mrs Bunting is revealed to have grown up at the Foundling Hospital, where this notion would have been particularly raised into her, and her morals are more about politeness and propriety than right and wrong. As such the mixture of fear and care they feel for the lodger is not too dissimilar to the feelings they had for any of the other eccentric gentle-folk they served. He may (or may not) be a psychopathic murderer, but gentlemen are gentlemen.
The answers to the mysteries were a little disappointing, and the ending came a little too neatly, but up to then this was a tense story with some very interesting things to say about society in 1913.
etakloknok's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
thrakaboom's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
One of the most masterful thrillers I have ever read
livthebooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
Thoughts:
The beginning was quite intriguing, however, the book got really boring and dragged on much too long.
Read for a class
The beginning was quite intriguing, however, the book got really boring and dragged on much too long.
Read for a class
nataliesboooks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This was an interesting psychological thriller (not really a mystery). It's not a story of Jack the Ripper but those events certainly inspired Lowndes with this book.
This story was also a study of human nature. At the beginning, the main characters (Mr and Mrs Bunting) are all but destitute and are very happy when they take in a lodger and get some extra money. They begin to suspect him of being The Avenger, a serial killer stalking their neighborhood, but they don't want to turn him in and lose their rent money.
The story also referenced some events of Jack the Ripper such as the police commissioner resigning in the middle of the investigation. It also pokes fun at the ineptitude of the police since Joe Chandler (a young member of the force) cares more about flirting than crime solving.
It was a little slow moving in spots but I enjoyed it for the most part. The ending was a little abrupt though.
This was an interesting psychological thriller (not really a mystery). It's not a story of Jack the Ripper but those events certainly inspired Lowndes with this book.
This story was also a study of human nature. At the beginning, the main characters (Mr and Mrs Bunting) are all but destitute and are very happy when they take in a lodger and get some extra money. They begin to suspect him of being The Avenger, a serial killer stalking their neighborhood, but they don't want to turn him in and lose their rent money.
The story also referenced some events of Jack the Ripper such as the police commissioner resigning in the middle of the investigation. It also pokes fun at the ineptitude of the police since Joe Chandler (a young member of the force) cares more about flirting than crime solving.
It was a little slow moving in spots but I enjoyed it for the most part. The ending was a little abrupt though.
annib's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
henrygravesprince's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
jlmb's review against another edition
2.0
Read as part of my goal to read more mystery classics. Apparently this book helped pave the way for psychological thrillers. I can see that. The book is basically just a married couple freaking out for 180 pages, thinking their lodger might be a serial killer. Nothing really happens. I found it fairly tedious to read. I kept on reading though, waiting and hoping for some action that never came. Maybe the Hitchcock movie based on this book is better?
Fun fact - the author is the sister of the writer Hilaire Belloc.
Fun fact - the author is the sister of the writer Hilaire Belloc.
meagankc21's review against another edition
2.0
It was a fun read for the most part, but the ending left something to be desired. Spoilers (sort of) in the review. Read my full review here: https://meagankimberly.wordpress.com/2017/07/05/meagan-reads-classic-mystery-the-lodger-by-marie-belloc-lowndes/