2008-07-04 Good Stuff

I first read this novel 14 years ago for educational purposes and absolutely loved it.
Upon rereading the novel I discovered that the intervening years, or perhaps more pertinently, my changed circumstances and world view have somewhat lessened my enjoyment.
I hasten to add my circumstances have not changed so much that I am now Falkland incarnate, but the unremitting misery heaped on Caleb does begin to grate after a while, or rather the constant bemoaning of the social order and those in authority's misuse of its associated power does. Maybe I've just been hardened by life, I don't know!
The other problem I had was the ending which was out of kilter with the previous 200 pages. To say the ending is implausible would be the understatement of the year.
Nonetheless, this is an entertaining read containing elements of the gothic, detective and adventure novel along with its unrelenting social and political message.