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jsreads___'s review against another edition
5.0
I loved it so much. Easy to follow and was a good book to get out of a reading slump, I couldn't put it down. I will say that I found Miranda's view a bit repetitive, but it was needed for the story so i didn't mind it too much.
dadinero's review against another edition
5.0
Very disturbing, but in a good way, if that makes sense. Even more so because the book's pages were yellowed and it smelled old. A multi-sensory experience!
novelomatelo47's review against another edition
4.0
Dang. How on earth was the original author not a serial killer? The first half (?) of the book is told from the perspective of our psychopath, and it's the most fascinating and unnerving thing I've read. I've always questioned folks who express interest in serial killers and the like, and never read any of the books on Manson or Bundy, but the perspective of Frederick seems like it could have been written by one of those killers. His detachment, mental gymnastics, and horrible obsession made for fascinating reading that I found difficult to put down.
I began researching the book after roughly 100 pages and of course stumbled onto spoilers online. The spoiler wasn't at all surprising, but I was so drawn into the book I was energized to finish more quickly. I usually lose interest if the Internet spoilers it for me (Red Dead Redemption) but I ended up more energized to finish the book. I needed to see what horrible logic Fowles put into Frederick's head.
Miranda's section of the book wasn't as fascinating. It did a great job fleshing her out as a young woman suffering an unimaginable horror, and helped humanize her, but I found myself skimming a lot. Her gradual physical and mental decline was terribly difficult to imagine, and I found myself in despair as she wasted away.
Brenna's review here goes into the metaphors and deeper meaning of the book, and it was helpful in understanding the "Why" this was written and what it represents. I'm not blessed with that level of understanding, but I closed this book every night feeling affected by the content. It's a tremendous thriller and I'd recommend it. Read it!
I began researching the book after roughly 100 pages and of course stumbled onto spoilers online. The spoiler wasn't at all surprising, but I was so drawn into the book I was energized to finish more quickly. I usually lose interest if the Internet spoilers it for me (Red Dead Redemption) but I ended up more energized to finish the book. I needed to see what horrible logic Fowles put into Frederick's head.
Miranda's section of the book wasn't as fascinating. It did a great job fleshing her out as a young woman suffering an unimaginable horror, and helped humanize her, but I found myself skimming a lot. Her gradual physical and mental decline was terribly difficult to imagine, and I found myself in despair as she wasted away.
Brenna's review here goes into the metaphors and deeper meaning of the book, and it was helpful in understanding the "Why" this was written and what it represents. I'm not blessed with that level of understanding, but I closed this book every night feeling affected by the content. It's a tremendous thriller and I'd recommend it. Read it!
nineteenthly's review against another edition
5.0
Just going to say one thing really: I had to keep going for walks when I was reading this because it's so claustrophobic, and I mean that in a good way!
eloraramirezbooks's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books of all time. I love the dual pov and the way Fowles brings us to an understanding of Clegg, the collector who loves beautiful things as long as they don't talk back.
sarca's review against another edition
4.0
Back when I was in University, a friend of mine suggested I read the Collector and even bought me a copy ( I still have it). I was disturbed by the synopsis and started reading. But, I was easily distracted back then and never finished it...until 10 years later when I picked it up and couldn't put it down.
The Collector is a disturbing story about a guy who collects butterflies...and a woman. Yes, things couldn't be more creepy in this story, yet I do recommend this book. The prose is very british and dated, but I still enjoyed it.
The Collector is a disturbing story about a guy who collects butterflies...and a woman. Yes, things couldn't be more creepy in this story, yet I do recommend this book. The prose is very british and dated, but I still enjoyed it.
grumpalaurus's review against another edition
1.0
I thought this would be a creepy horror novel perfect for the start of October. Instead it was a total slog. It had me in the first 60ish pages and then went completely into snoozeville.
peraglia's review against another edition
4.0
“I hate the uneducated and the ignorant. I hate the pompous and the phoney. I hate the jealous and the resentful. I hate the crabbed and the mean and the petty. I hate all ordinary dull little people who aren’t ashamed of being dull and little.”
“I love honesty and freedom and giving. I love making, I love doing. I love being to the full, I love everything which is not sitting and watching and copying and dead at heart.” [221]
“I love honesty and freedom and giving. I love making, I love doing. I love being to the full, I love everything which is not sitting and watching and copying and dead at heart.” [221]