The Rajah’s Diamond
by Robert Louis Stevenson
A British General receives a large diamond for services performed for a Rajah during a foreign war. The diamond tempts everyone who comes into contact with it, ruining their lives. The general, his wife, her secretary, a clergyman, a landlord, a bank clerk, and finally a prince all own the diamond for a short time. Their destinies are intertwined; their lives forever changed.
I liked how this story is told from the many different perspectives of the various people who come across the diamond. Their POVs are separated into different chapters, telling their individual adventures. The plot is really crazy with wild coincidences and strange accidents. The writing style is hilarious, bringing a comedic element into the adventure even when the scene is actually serious. It’s really funny and entertaining!
Providence and the Guitar
by Robert Louis Stevenson
A travelling actor/singer comes to a new town with his wife, hoping to make some money with a musical show. They have trouble getting the proper permits from the Commissary, and they do not make much money from their show. The hotel where they are staying locks them out, leaving them out on the street for the whole night. But they find shelter in the home of a fellow artist, a painter who is having an argument with his wife. They are debating whether is it better to be a poor artist but able to follow your artistic dreams, or whether it would be better to take a boring job as a clerk but have financial security. The actor encourages them to put creativity first and be true to their artistic vision.
This story doesn’t really have a satisfactory ending. They just kind of go their separate ways, miserable and poor and struggling. I guess the moral is that they are living their artistic dream, so it’s a happy ending?
I did not care for this story. The characters are really stupid and make dumb decisions. The plot meanders around. The writing is supposed to be funny, but I guess it is just not my brand of humor.
Luminous Libro 