One of his best

I thought nothing could compare with The Moonstone,
but each of his novels seems sublime.
Beautifully preformed and a story which will stay with me.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Not his best but interesting

This is really for the aficionados - the story is rather strange and pivots on Swedenborgianism and the belief in twin souls. The plot is a bit silly. However, it's an interesting book as it gives an insight into Collin's thinking and placed in the context of 19th investigations into the occult and the supernatural the book is perhaps not quite so bizarre as modern readers might think it. I recommend it to anybody who is interested in Collins or in the more outré novels of the mid 19th century. It is quite unlike his two famous books The Moonstone and The Woman in White but you can certainly feel an echo of those two great works. Samuel West rivals his father as a superb reader and despite the rather weak story line, I was never board.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Uneven story, really well read

I love Wilkie Collins's stories. They plunge you into a whole different world and keep you wanting to know what happens next. At the same time, I have to admit this is not one of his best (there's an excellent version of the Moonstone read by Peter Jeffrey on Audible). There's still a lot to enjoy and Samuel West does a great job of keeping you going through the bits that are not so good. I'm left with a few very vivid portrayals and descriptions of places and a rather uneasy feeling towards the protagonist.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

Quaint Love Story

Hopelessly romantic if a little overly dramatic at times. A lovely tale of destiny and beautifully narrated.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sam West Saves the Day!

Wilkie Collins was a prolific writer and like Dickens, Collins wrote about the social issues of the day.
He writes in the style that was popular at the time. In the present time a reader may find the writing stilted and the story rather flowery and sentimental and this overrides the anomalies of the plot. And even allowing for the style of the day and being a period piece it is more of an exercise in deus ex machina.
Not wishing ti reveal or spoil for anyone the plot I shall not go into it further.

Sam West's performance is well...perfection. And elevates this into something to be enjoyed just by listening to his performance. His reading of the story draws the listener into this tale.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Very typical of one of my favourite authors.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Collins creates a very convoluted plot which maintains interest and a desire to see a conclusion. He writes so elegantly and with passion and his characters described in detail making them credible. I’m always sorry when his novels come to an end.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Difficult to believe

I very much enjoy the author's work but this story was unbelievable. The story was written with Collin's useful flair and it is wonderfully narrated.
The coincidental ghostly visions were clumsy. Mary's "love", and even with society's rules of the time, refusal to marry her "love" came across as mercenary, that is until she discovers the momento from their childhood. How come neither asked about their early life? If they had of course it would be a much shortened story. Mary's child was untypical of the times and precocious.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Wilkie Collins. A man of his time.

If there was only one curious observation I could aim; it would be that Mr. Collins has a propensity for descring the ladies in his stories which sadly eludes him of the male characters.
Apart from Falco in 'The woman in white', descriptions of men are very limited.
Other than that; I so enjoy the manifold twists and surprises within his narratives.
Mr. Collins' observations of the human psyche are interesting.
The excellent narration is a bonus.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Holy smoke, it’s long winded!

Samuel West is a great narrator and I can listen him reading almost anything.
However, this book drove me mad. Even in Victorian times, the ‘heroine’ must have been maddeningly indecisive. I can’t understand how George tolerated her feeble behaviour. Mind you, he was a bit of a damp sock himself.
Samuel must have been pulling his hair out with this one. But he pulled it off. I still wanted to get to the end, and I could have ditched it. Five stars for Samuel!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A splendid listen to a 19th Century mystery story.

The Two Destinies covers just about every aspect of humanity. Wilkie Collins and and death, love and lust, poverty and riches, kindness and cruelty all stirred up with a hint of mystery and mesmerism as well as medical pomposity and curiosity. All brought to life by Samuel West’s beautiful performance.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!