I finished it! I finished it!

This book required a lot of patience, but I think it was worth it.

I struggled with Lorna. It had been sitting on my "to read" shelf at home for years. It could have done with several more.

I wrote a review at the time on my blog: https://opheliasear.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/dooned-lorna-doone-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted/

Since then, I've seen it in audio-book format at the library. I contemplated it, but decided to put back at the bottom of the pile.

Gripping and ennobling.

This was the next book club read and when I realised the length of this I was already reluctant to enjoy this book.
When I started reading it, I quickly found the prose much too wordy for my enjoyment and resolved I would listen along instead.
The audiobook was great- it made the text seem manageable and clear in a way that wasn’t when I read it. The plot was intriguing and romantic.
John Ridd was an interesting narrator and despite some of the things he said I found myself warming to him.

Lorna Doone is a book I can't wrap my head around. While it's heavily based on plot and has very underdeveloped characters, I still enjoyed the reading experience of it. It is atmospheric and the plot twists made the story dramatic and eventful. John Ridd as a narrator is endearing one and his love for Lorna is the only strong feeling he has. Lorna, then again, is more like a symbol of pureness and goodness instead of a real character. Writing wise Lorna Doone is very descriptive and dense which makes the book quite a slog to get through. Still I'm glad that I choose to pick this book up because it surely kept me entertained.

I know some will disagree, but I love John Ridd's digressions.

Available at Gutenberg Project:

http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1443745

Not so good as expected.