Poldark Group Read: The Black Moon (May)

Tomorrow is May 1, which means it's time to start reading and discussing book five in the Poldark saga, The Black Moon. After writing the first four Poldark books in the 1940s and '50s, Winston Graham took a 20-year break before continuing with The Black Moon. Are you glad he decided to keep going after the events of Warleggan? Do you think the series changed, for better or worse, because of the long gap between Warleggan and The Black Moon?

>1 christina_reads: am I glad Winston Graham decided to continue the series? YES! YES! A thousand times YES!

I think the success of the original BBC television series was one of the reasons the author was encouraged to continue.

As far as how/if the book series changed in the hiatus, I'm not sure. I'll reread The Black Moon and get back to you!

>2 fuzzi: I agree -- I'm glad there are more books! Warleggan would not have been a satisfying ending to this series...I feel like it wrapped everything up a bit too quickly, and there is definitely a lot more to be told!

I'm up to about Chapter 8 and have a few thoughts (in spoilers):

- Aunt Agatha is still alive! Yay! I do like cantankerous older ladies in fiction. And I think Agatha suspects *something* with the baby, as evidenced by her calling it an "eight-month brat".
- Caroline Penvenen and I agree about children: they are much more interesting at the age of three.
- I find it interesting that my copy of the book really emphasizes the would-be romance between Drake Carne and Morwenna Chynoweth. The conversation quoted on the back cover has already happened.
- Still don't like Unwin Trevaunance.
- With the references to the French Revolution, I really, really need to read A Place of Greater Safety.
- A quote from Harris Pascoe that I found could have modern relevance: "Honesty is not a set of rules, but a standard of ethics. By the first criterion they are honest, by the second not. But -- they exist. And I suspect -- I fear -- that as men like them prosper, more and more such will come to the top."
- The reference to Charles Poldark and his constant belchings gave me a pang of grief for Warren Clarke :(
- I am impressed by Graham's ability to render a totally incomprehensible French accent in print (with M. de Maresi).

>4 rabbitprincess: enjoyed your spoilers!

Have you seen the original BBC series?

There's someone coming along that you'll love to hate, even more than George Warleggan...

>5 fuzzi: Even more than George? That will take some doing!!

His talk about marrying Morwenna off to much older men in hopes of securing an alliance was extremely icky. Saying that sixtysomething widowers appreciate a "fresh young wife"? EW EW EW EW EW.

I was relieved when he decided to abandon his plan to marry her off to that so-called Reverend, but it was a mixed feeling given that he decided she had "compromised" herself with Drake. NEVER MIND THAT THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING. I feel that this sort of attitude, and the not believing women's stories, is still sadly relevant over 300 years after the story is set :(

I haven't seen the original BBC series but do know that the original Poldark was a magistrate in the current series! :)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Morwenna was married to that awful reverend after all?????

UGH. I hope she poisons him! What a vile individual.

>7 rabbitprincess: yep, that's it.

The not-so-reverend, Whitworth I think is his name, makes me spew. He'll make you want to throw knives and other hurtful objects at him. He's lower than pond slime...

The actor in the original series did a great job playing a totally vile person. His name is Christopher Biggins
http://www.radiotimes.com/uploads/images/original/120340.jpg

>6 rabbitprincess: >7 rabbitprincess: >8 fuzzi: Can't look! Don't think I'm there yet.

>9 avatiakh: soon enough!

Then we can all hiss and boo together...

I'm kind of scared to start this book now! But also very intrigued to know what has everyone so riled up! :)

>11 christina_reads: ha! Read, then you can join us in the Peanut Gallery, throwing things at a certain character...

I've only read a couple chapters so far, due to being on the road (and exhausted at night) for the last week, but I'll be catching up, soon! I have the advantage of having seen the original series and having read the book before.

I can't even pretend to like the name Demelza chose for the baby, must be a local Cornish one.

Just finished it and agree with all what's in the spoilers above. Ew. I hate him & poor Aunt Agatha, but I love her revenge

Very annoyed with myself, I went over to goodreads to check off reading The Black Moon and looking at the rest of the series I clicked on Bella Poldark to see what years it covered. Only to see a huge spoiler in the book description about Jeremy (it's from a previous book, but one I've still to get to). I can't save my own disappointment but having librarian status, I edited the description to remove the spoiler for any others.

>15 avatiakh: I am sorry someone spoiled that book for you. Thanks for fixing it so someone else won't be disappointed.

Well, I suppose if I'd watched the tv series I'd have known but still...
Looking forward to The Four Swans.

>17 avatiakh: I've not seen the new series, just the one from the 1970's. It doesn't have the adult Poldark children in it.

Picked up the library's copy of The Black Moon this weekend, so I'll be starting it today. I thought it might not arrive in time! So ready to dive in and then I can read all those spoilers!!

>19 VictoriaPL: it reads fast...sucks you in just like the other books.

>20 fuzzi: I can see that! I devoured Chapter One at lunch. It was delicious, as expected.

I've just started the book, and I'm definitely raising my eyebrows at the fact that Elizabeth and George's son was born "premature"...

>22 christina_reads: I know! Of course there is Elizabeth's fall to take into account.. but still!!

Careful! Don't forget to use spoilers... ;)

I've only a couple chapters to go, I keep falling asleep while reading at night (I've been doing a lot of physically demanding work as well as emotionally taxing duties at work), so it's taken me longer.

Back to the OP question, I don't see much change in how Winston Graham wrote the first four novels, and this one, the fifth, despite the long hiatus.

>24 fuzzi: I haven't noticed much of a difference in style either, but I am noticing some subtle recapping in the early chapters, probably to remind readers of what happened in the first four books!

My goodness gracious, can Graham write a beginning and ending. The middle parts aren't bad, it's just that the man knows how make an entrance and exit! When there is such drama, I figure it's for a purpose - so that the reader does not forget what happens here. Like a signpost. I'm always trying to guess what's on down the road, what does Graham have up his sleeve?
I loved this installment. The birth of Elizabeth's "premature" son has my spidey sense tingling! Morwenna and Drake's hesitant beginnings were lovingly weaved in with bits of Caroline and Dwight, who are both now on the same page (finally!). Aunt Agatha making preparations for her landmark birthday was so endearing. And you can always count on George Warleggan to stir up the pot! Even if you don't see his name on the page for half the book, never count him out! That last scene!! Oh, Agatha!! I'm so glad that Graham expanded the series and that there are 7 books left!

Haha, I finally finished the book and went back and read all the spoilers in this thread! Totally agree about Aunt Agatha, the Reverend What's-his-name, and poor Morwenna. But YAY for Dwight and Caroline! Can't wait to see what happens next, and here's hoping it will involve the terrible reverend coming to a terrible end!

>27 christina_reads: Oh! I forgot to go back and read RP's spoilers! Bwhahaha.

In case anyone missed it, I've started a thread for The Four Swans: http://www.librarything.com/topic/258791.