The trials and tribulations of Book Worm (From Swindon Advertiser)

The trials and tribulations of Book Worm

5:04pm Tuesday 9th December 2008

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AFTER a small distraction in the shape of Black Dogs, I finally decided that it was time to grab Moll by her corset strings and discover whether she lives happily ever after or if she rotted in Newgate prison.

And, after many years of unsuccessful attempts to find out her fate I've done it. I'm feeling very smug.

I'm still not sure why I struggled so much to get to the last page. It isn't a particularly challenging book to read as some 18th century novels can be, and the subject matter - which takes in adultery, incest, illegitimate children, theft and technical bigamy should be enough to keep even the fussiest reader enthralled.

But I will admit it. It struggled. From start to finish it took me four weeks to read (and that's not including the holiday I took from her). It was more the Trials and Tribulations of the persistant Book Worm than the Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders.

There is no denying it is a good story, and in it's day I'm sure it sent shockwaves through high-society and 'right thinking people' called for it to be burnt.

I just can't help but think that if it had been penned a centruy later, I wouldn't have had the same longevity as it has.

For me it was a bit repetitive, Moll flirts with man, marries him, he finds out she's not rich, he leaves, she finds out she's pregnant, repeat with another gentleman of upstanding values.

To be honest, I would have like more from Defoe in his descriptions. More about the stench of Newgate when she finds herself thrown behind bars, to know how fast her heart was beating as she held her breath and prayed not be arrested and more about her feelings after finding out about her mother.

Having said all that, I am glad I read it and, if you are of a determined nature and can be stubborn like me, I would recommend reading it.

But if you're just looking for a way of getting into fiction from the 1700s or Daniel Defoe, try Treaure Island instead.