The Horizontal Man

by Helen Eustis | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 1/30/2005
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3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, January 30, 2005
I loved Eustis' charming fable Mr. Death and the Redheaded Woman, and when I found that she'd written some mystery novels I was curious to know what they were like. Finally found this rather battered '62 paperback, and was pleased to discover that I enjoyed it. It opens in dramatic style, with a terrified man confronting his doom; from there it switches between several characters in a New England women's college as each tries to cope with the murder in their own way - and as the reader gets to figure out the crime. The style is deft and rather cheery, with lots of banter between some of the characters and sniping between others.

One of the characters is a plump, bespectacled, tomboyish student who sounds very much like Velma of "Scooby Doo", and who turns out to be the heroine of the story. I had to admit that I really enjoyed the way she was depicted - smart, funny, sarcastic, and more than able to handle whatever comes her way, including a young tabloid reporter... but I won't spoil it.

The mystery itself seemed fairly obvious, but that was in part because the theme's been used so often since the book was first written in 1946. It's entirely possible that Eustis' treatment of the subject was among the earliest in American lit, though I don't know if she influenced anyone else or if the idea's time had just come. Anyway, while there were a few aspects of the story and of the theory behind the murders that showed their age, I thought the story as a whole was pretty enlightened for its time, and an entertaining read.

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Controlled release:

I'm sending this to BCer FutureCat in New Zealand. Hope you enjoy it!

Journal Entry 3 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Tuesday, February 8, 2005
Arrived home from the meetup tonight to find an exciting parcel waiting for me, full of books (which is the best kind of parcel!)

Thanks, Gory!

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Journal Entry 4 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Like Gory, I guessed the solution to the mystery very early on (basically, as soon as [Spoiler follows, highlight to read] Hungerford mentioned his relationship with his mother - it instantly reminded me of Psycho, and after that everything fell into place. [spoiler ends]) That didn't spoil the story for me though - it was fascinating watching the way the author carefully planted hints and clues, gradually leading the reader towards the conclusion.

It was an interesting glimpse into a different way of life, too. It's amazing to think that only 60 years have passed, yet the difference between the attitudes and norms of 1940s campus life and today's is so vast (I can't imagine the Vice-Chancellor of my university getting away with telling a young female student she shouldn't wear trousers because they're not feminine!)

MrPloppy has kind of started reading this book now. I'll *try* and get him to journal it at some stage, but I can't promise anything...

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Journal Entry 5 by MrPloppy from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Monday, September 25, 2006
Yayy i've started reading this book. Well ... actually it was a few weeks ago now, and FutureCat got her futuristic paws on it, and i've not got back to reading it yet. Apparently it is much better than i thought. Who knows ... i'll get back to it when i've read the tens of books i've got on the go (and no i don't mean i'm sitting on the toilet :-D).

I shall finish it ... watch this space.

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