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| THE COLLECTOR | JOHN FOWLES | RANDOM HOUSE | 1963 |
Hailed as the first modern psychological thriller, The Collector is the internationally bestselling novel that catapulted John Fowles into the front rank of contemporary novelists. This tale of obsessive love -- the story of a lonely clerk who collects butterflies and of the beautiful young artist who is his ultimate quarry -- remains unparalleled in its power to startle and mesmerize.
As a fan of all things horror, I knew that I had to read The Collector at some point. It's thought to be the first psychological thriller novel and I love an exploration of the human psyche. Unfortunately, The Collector didn't quite live up to the hype. While it was a good read, the story wasn't quite as exciting as I was hoping for it to be. The book dragged on, following a plot structure that has become quite well-known in contemporary stories.
It did provide a thorough character study, which is what leads me to give the book three stars. Not only does the reader learn a lot about the psychopath, but also about his victim. Fowles forces us to decide if they really are so different from one another and to consider whether they are a product of their own will or have been shaped from outside influences.
If you're a fan of thrillers, the book is unsettling at times. Just imagining yourself in Miranda's situation is enough to creep you out. But don't expect a roller coaster ride with this book. It's quite predictable, especially if you're familiar with the thriller and mystery genres. Still, it's a classic for this type of writing and worth a read if you want to learn more about the genre's origins.
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"He is solid; immovable, iron-willed. He showed me one day his killing bottle. I'm imprisoned in it. Fluttering against the glass. Because I can see through it I still think I can escape. I have hope. But it's all an illusion. A thick round wall of glass."
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