Mini-Reviews: Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is kind of my catchall phrase for this post -- the only book that is traditional historical fiction is A Thunderous Whisper. However, all the books take place in different decades than this one, so it's working for me. 

A Thunderous Whisper by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

A Thunderous Whisper is the story of a friendless young girl who becomes wrapped up in the violence of the Spanish Civil War. As she participates in covert operations, she makes friends and realizes that she is not as alone as she had believed.

This book was interesting for me to read because I knew nothing about the Spanish Civil War. It's always nice to read a book in a new setting and a new era. I also loved the message of this book -- it is a message about the power of the individual and the fact that you can find love if you are willing to search for it. My quibble with A Thunderous Whisper is with the writing -- it seemed a little juvenile to me. Granted, this is a middle grade book, but it still left me with somewhat disappointed expectations. I do feel that the writing improves as the book progresses, and the final pages tie the entire story together very nicely.

3 stars

Warnings: Violence

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls

I had high expectations for The Silver Star. The Glass Castle was a phenomenal work and I was very excited to see what Jeannette Walls produced. However, The Silver Star, despite perfectly acceptable writing, was lackluster for me. It read like a machine rather than a story -- I could see the gears working in the author's head to fit everything together. In the end, it did fit together, but the finished project was somewhat bland and beige. Also, it seemed like a watered-down version of Walls' own life story. Her fact so far seems to be more compelling than her fiction.

2.5 stars

Warnings: Non-explicit sensuality, violence, language

The Secret Sense of Wildflower by Susan Gabriel

The Secret Sense of Wildflower is about Louisa May, also known as Wildflower, a girl struggling to cope with her father's tragic death, her mother's absent affection, and the unwanted attention of the town wild hooligan. Oddly enough, this story shares several similarities with The Silver Star (the Southern setting, the pervy creeper situations, the girls with refrigerator mothers), but I found it somewhat more compelling. Gabriel's writing is affecting and tight, and I found Wildflower's voice to be powerful and distinct. The story itself did not completely engage me, but the book was well written.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Violence, sexual assault, some language

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

It's official. I'm a Rainbow Rowell fangirl. And if you are, too, you can see my clever pun on her next title (Fangirl. Pleeeease, NetGalley?). I just looked on her website to see if her Rainbow is her real name, and couldn't find that information, but I did find this fantastic quote: "She has two sons, and if God hears her prayers, they will grow up just as nerdy and true-hearted as the protagonists of her books." Amen, Rainbow. Amen. 

Anyway, Eleanor & Park is about a girl and a boy who sit next to each other on the bus. They are both sort of misfits -- the girl because she is overweight, has flaming red hair, and is extremely poor and the boy because he is one of the only Asian people in his school (but he actually is really well-accepted). At first they coexist because they are forced to, but gradually, through sharing of comic books and mix tapes and hand-holding, they fall in love. And the biggest barrier winds up not being the their outcast status, but Eleanor's horrifically hellish home life. 

I don't know how I can convey to you the adorable-ness of Eleanor & Park's relationship. Rainbow Rowell can, which is why I'm one of her Fangirls. (Ha, ha, ha). But seriously -- this book is able to induce pillow-screaming in equal measures of disgust and swoon. I won't lie -- I wasn't expecting how dark the book can be at times, especially as Rowell's first novel, Attachments, was pretty light-hearted, but it is beautifully balanced by the sweetness of the love story. I realize at this point this "mini-review" is not so "mini," so I'll wrap it up and just tell you to read it. 

4.5 stars

Warnings: Really a LOT of language. More than I usually tolerate before I put a book down. So be warned about that. Also innuendos. 

Unbound Series by Eve Marie Mont

I was very intrigued by the idea of the Unbound series -- a girl finds herself in the midst of a classic tale. However, this series surprised me by bringing a much more satisfying story to the second book.

In the first book, A Breath of Eyre, Emma, an aspiring writer, finds herself transported multiple times into the world of Jane Eyre while facing her own issues with her mother's death, a classic "mean girls" scenario at her boarding school, and a complicated boy situation. 

Sound like a lot? It is, but Eve Marie Mont almost pulls it off. I really enjoyed the critical analysis of Jane Eyre embedded in the text, and the constant drama of Emma's life kept me intrigued. However, the fact that she had to be in a coma to enter the literary world led to several Bella Swan-esque situations of constant injuries and rescues. A Breath of Eyre was colorful and interesting, but could have done with a bit of tight editing.

3 stars

Warnings: Language, thematic material

However, while I felt a little iffy about A Breath of Eyre, A Touch of Scarlet really impressed me. In this case Emma is back at school after a summer of romance, but her dreams have gone away with the warm weather (cheeeeeese) and she finds herself in a compromising situation that results in a cold freeze from her friends. Meanwhile, she is studying The Scarlet Letter in school and finds herself transported into the novel when she runs.

First of all, Emma's literary travels seem more believable to me in A Touch of Scarlet. She isn't getting struck by lightning and landing in comas. Instead, she is running and entering a trance-like state. It's all fantastical, but in a more believable way. Also, the drama in this book is addictive. There is a lot going on, and I was completely absorbed, dying to find out what happened next. Finally, while Emma did learn lessons in A Breath of Eyre, I found the lessons in A Touch of Scarlet to be much more resonant. 

All in all, the series so far is unique and enjoyable, blending classics, contemporary, historical fiction, and fantasy. I am excited to see what A Phantom Enchantment will bring.

4 stars

Warnings: Same as above

Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

Why did I wait so long to read these books? I've had Shanghai Girls on my Kindle for over a year from when it was on sale for only $2.99, but for some reason I worked my way through Lisa See's other books before deciding a few weeks ago, with the Chinese New Year and moving to Los Angeles, that it would fit right in to the setting. In addition, I have family that grew up in Chinatown and still live there, so learning more about the history of it was especially interesting to me. At any rate, both Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy were phenomenal reads and completely surpassed my expectations.

Shanghai Girls is about Pearl and May, sisters who are living the high life in Shanghai, the Paris of Asia. Working as "beautiful girls" for the handsome artist Z.G., they spend their time at parties and clubs, wearing beautiful clothes and eating the delicious, sugared dishes that Shanghai is known for. Until their father announces to them that he has arranged marriages for both of them to Americans in order to pay off his debts. This event changes everything in Pearl's and May's lives, beginning them on a journey where they deal with everything from immigration, war, muddled relationships, and McCarthyism.

Shanghai Girls has an incredible plot. Pearl and May live through multiple significant historical events, and Lisa See poignantly captures the way these events shape and change their lives. Nothing is clear-cut for these sisters -- their relationships with their husbands, each other, and the world around them are complicated and constantly evolving. The mix of a dramatic, powerful plot and rich character development made Shanghai Girls exactly the kind of book I crave. The situations Pearl and May experience are shocking, but even more shocking is their resilience and the way that they carve out meaningful lives from their struggles. I finished the book feeling emotionally exhausted in the best possible way. I should also mention that this is one of the few times in my life where I have set down the first book and immediately dived into the sequel (usually I like a little buffer so I don't get sick of the author's style).

4.5 stars

Warnings: Vivid descriptions of war, sexual assault, non-explicit sexuality

Dreams of Joy picks up right where Shanghai Girls leaves off, with Pearl's daughter Joy running away to communist China to meet her father. On fire with idealistic fervor for the People's Republic of China, Joy expects to find a wonderful new life. However, communism is not quite what she expects it to be, and she is trapped.

I loved Shanghai Girls, but Dreams of Joy blew its predecessor out of the water. Despite the fact that I spent most of the book wanting to beat a little sense into Joy's head, I was fascinated by the world it described and couldn't stop telling my husband all about what I was learning. I knew absolutely nothing about communist China under Mao and was shocked by the horrific oppression I read about. While much of the story was dark, it was also incredible and unlike anything I have ever read before.

5 stars

Warnings: Disturbing images, non-graphic sexuality

A Smattering of Regency Romances

Because it is Valentine's Day, I thought mini-reviews of some of the Regency romances I've read in the last few months would be appropriate.

Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange

A long time ago -- a couple of years or so -- there was a promotion in honor of Jane Austen where there were eight spin-offs of Pride and Prejudice free for Kindle. I snapped them all up and never looked at them again, until recently, shortly after having my baby, I decided I needed something mindless to read, and Mr. Darcy's Diary seemed to fit the bill. And, well, it did. While there was nothing wrong with the writing or the story itself, it just didn't entertain me. It was watered-down Pride and Prejudice without Jane Austen's stunning writing, from a slightly different point of view. I would rather have just reread Pride and Prejudice. 

2 stars

Warnings: None

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James

I saw The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen on NetGalley last year and eagerly snapped it up. I hadn't read anything else by Syrie James, but I'd heard good things about her, and was intrigued by the premise of the story. I hadn't realized that the book would actually contain the full alleged missing manuscript, but it turned out to be my favorite part of the book. To be perfectly honest, the first forty or so pages bothered me, and I was considering DNFing the book, but once the story moved past the frame story and into the missing manuscript itself, I was swept up and really loved it. I think it is ambitious of the author to try and recreate an entire manuscript worthy of Jane Austen (although the manuscript is repeatedly qualified as being an early, unpolished attempt by Austen), but I was pleasantly surprised at how well she accomplished her aim. Despite a rocky beginning, I found The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen to be an entertaining and rewarding read.

3.75 stars

Warnings: Language, mild innuendo

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

My mom brought Edenbrooke with her when she came to help me after I had the baby, and for most of the first week she was urging me to read it. I kept putting it off -- I was in the middle of two other books that I wasn't enjoying that much, but I felt like I needed to finish them. Once I finally settled down to reading Edenbrooke, I was sad that I had waited so long. Set in Regency-era England, Edenbrooke is the story of two sisters and the pursuit of a young and charming heir. The story was absolutely charming. I loved the slowly building romance, which constantly made me giggle with giddiness. I finished the book with a feeling of contentment and a sigh. It is a perfect book for Valentine's Day and will also please those who love Jane Austen for the romance of her novels.

4 stars

Warnings: None

A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar by Suzanne Joinson

Title: A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar
Author: Suzanne Joinson
Genre: Literary fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review

Eva and her sister Lizzie have joined the persuasive Millicent as missionaries to Kashgar, although Eva's actual motives are less than honorable -- she intends to write a book about her experience going through Asia on her bicycle. Kashgar proves to be more perilous than expected, leading to tragedy for all three women, and a new outlook on life for Eva. In a second narrative, Frieda, the daughter of a New Age mystic who deserted her at the age of seven, receives a mysterious call alerting her that a woman named Irene Guy has died and listed Frieda as her next of kin. Pulling with her a displaced immigrant running from the police, Frieda seeks to unravel the mystery of her connection to Irene Guy.

A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar had some interesting elements. However, in the end they did not unite well, and I was ultimately dissatisfied with this read.

For me the book was disjointed; there were too many different elements pulling in different directions and they never seemed to align. There was no cohesive theme or element to pull together the two narratives -- while the connection is revealed by the end of the book, the reason the two stories were told together seemed shaky at best. I felt as if the author was trying too hard to integrate mysterious, unique, and at times grotesque details when a little restraint would have given a stronger impression. When too much is thrown in at once, the story ceases to be believable.

I also felt that the historical narrative's background was obscure enough to warrant a little background. From what I could discern from the narrative, the women were in Kashgar, which is part of China but mainly inhabited by Muslims. In the book there was a great deal of mistrust aimed at the missionaries, as well as rebellions and civil unrest. The author puts these scenes in motion, but I was frustrated by the fact that I didn't know anything about the situation except that there was unrest and that the people seemed offended at the religious pamphlets the missionary women were distributing. I appreciate a book that doesn't lay everything out for the reader, but in this case I think more information would have made the book a more interesting and a more comprehensible story.

I will say that the writing was well-done for the most part, with poetic images and vivid language.  Many of the images were vibrant in my mind, especially scenes with Tayeb, the immigrant who befriends and helps Frieda solve the mystery of Irene Guy's past. However, there were a few instances when the writing was a little overwrought for the dialogue. For example, there is a scene  where Frieda is flashing back to the age of seven, where she says several things that just did not seem natural coming from a seven-year-old. (It is bad form that I haven't quoted it -- while trying to sort the book into my "Read" folder on my Kindle I accidentally deleted the scene I had highlighted). However, for the most part the writing was lush and kept me reading even though the plot was not coming together for me in a satisfying way.

Ultimately, A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar fell flat for me. Beautiful images and well-constructed sentences were not enough to pull the story together.

2 stars

Warnings: Brief strong language, disturbing images, violence, brief scene of sensuality

The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell

Title: The Hand that First Held Mine
Author: Maggie O'Farrell
Genre: Literary fiction, historical fiction, contemporary fiction
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010
Source: Personal copy
Read for: Fun

The Hand that First Held Mine is the twin narrative of Lexie, a girl who just can't please her family and thus escapes to a bohemian life of art, journalism, and true love, and Elina, a brand new mother who struggles through the trials and trauma of taking care of a new baby after an especially traumatic labor and emergency C-section. Their stories intersect in unexpected ways, unveiling a tragic truth.

For obvious reasons, The Hand that First Held Mine was a very emotional read for me. On the brink of motherhood myself, I have often complained about the way people just continually tell me, "It is so hard, you won't even know what hit you" and then walk away, leaving me freaked out but not sure what to do about it. The Hand that First Held Mine was no-holds-barred about exactly why it is hard to have a baby. First of all, Elina had just about the worst labor and delivery experience imaginable, complete with three days of labor and a dramatic post-partum hemorrhage that left her so ill she couldn't even remember having the baby for several days. To follow that, Maggie O'Farrell uses her amazing, descriptive writing to delineate in exact detail the sights, emotions, and smells of new motherhood. We get plenty of descriptions of walking around shirtless trying to get the baby to eat, of blow-outs all over the mother-in-law's white bathroom, of sleepless nights. However, all of these descriptions were comforting to me, rather than disturbing, and here is why: I got a crystal clear description of what was happening, in all its gory detail -- and I also got Maggie O'Farrell's amazing, descriptive writing telling me about how it feels to fall in love with your baby. Here's a passage that sums it all up perfectly -- a little long, but that is how this review is going to be, because I reacted to this book:

Should she mention the nights spent awake, the number of times she must wash her hands in a day, the endless drying and folding of tiny clothes, the packing and unpacking of bags containing clothes, nappies, wipes, the scar across her abdomen, crooked and leering, the utter loneliness of it all, the hours she spends kneeling on the floor, a rattle or a bell or a fabric block in her hands, that she sometimes gets the urge to stop older women in the street and say, how did you do it, how did you live through it? Or she could mention that she had been unprepared for this fierce spring in her, this feeling that isn’t covered by the word ‘love’, which is far too small a word for it, that sometimes she thinks she might faint with the urgency of her feeling for him, that sometimes she desperately misses him even when he is right there, that it’s like a form of madness, of possession, that often she has to creep into the room when he has fallen asleep just to look at him, to check, to whisper to him. But instead, she says ‘Fine. Good, thanks.’

Just reading over that again, I started crying. Pregnancy hormones? Yes, maybe. There's also another aspect of this book that I reacted strongly to, although I don't want to spoil anything. Highlight the following if you are just dying of curiosity. Elina's boyfriend, the father of her child, Ted, loses his mother, and the realization of that is heartbreaking and traumatic to him. My husband lost his mother when he was a teenager, and reading through those emotions for the character made my husband's personal tragedy so painful and close for me. Like I said, this book emotionally wrecked me on so many levels. End of spoiler.

Now that I've given you all this information about my personal, biased reaction to this book, let me give you some objective review material. I mentioned in brief the beauty of Maggie O'Farrell's writing. This above all stands out to me in her books. She describes emotions and events with a fragile, tenuous beauty. She draws out these tense, delicate situations and weaves them like a spider's web, and then shakes the branches from which they are suspended, and we are left gasping as we hope they don't fall to the ground. For me, reading this kind of writing makes any slowness in the plot forgivable, because I just want to keep eating up those words. I've read one other book by O'Farrell (pre-blog), The Disappearing Act of Esme Lennox, and now with this second excellent experience, I am adding O'Farrell's entire back-list to my to-be-read list.

I also love her characters. From my limited experience of reading two books by Maggie O'Farrell, I think it is safe to say that she explores feminist themes in her work. This results in very strong female characters that challenge the expectations of their time periods. In The Hand that First Held Mine, the two narratives focus on a girl in the 50's and a woman living in modern times, and both manage to challenge society's expectations of them, although they are living on completely different levels. At the same time, the brand of feminism they embrace is not caustic or bossy. O'Farrell isn't trying to tell women how to live their lives -- she is simply illustrating that they should be free to live their lives in the way that is most fulfilling to them.

While I will say that I felt most invested in Elina's side of the narrative, it was Lexie's side that resulted in the most underlined passages, the most tears. So even though at times I felt impatient and that the part of the plot that focused on Lexie was moving slowly, in the end it was very rewarding and emotional, and absolutely necessary to the climax, although it takes several pages to establish that.

The Hand that First Held Mine is a book that will stay with me for a long time. I read the book at a time in my life when it had the most ability to impact me emotionally, but I think even if I had read the book at a different time it would still have moved me. It has convinced me that I need to read Maggie O'Farrell's entire backlist. The Hand that First Held Mine is a rare gem that needs more attention in the literary world.

4.5 stars

Warnings: Language, a few non-graphic scenes of sensuality

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Title: Cleopatra's Daughter
Author: Michelle Moran
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Crown, 2009
Source: Borrowed from my sister-in-law
Read for: Fun

Most are familiar with the tragic story of Antony and Cleopatra. However, few have heard the story of their children who survived after Egypt was conquered by Caesar Augustus, Selene and Alexander. Cleopatra's Daughter takes us through their following life in Rome in the home of Antony's previous wife, Octavia.

I'd read two Michelle Moran books before Cleopatra's Daughter. One (Madame Tussaud) I absolutely loved, while the other (Nefertiti) was more of a miss for me. Therefore, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Cleopatra's Daughter. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book about a culture with which I am unfamiliar.

In the Author's Note at the back of the book, Michelle Moran points out that ancient Rome had startling similarities with our own culture, such as women requesting elective C-sections for cosmetic rather than medical reasons. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed reading about this ancient society more than I enjoyed reading about the one presented in Nefertiti. The details Moran illustrates are vivid and poignant, albeit at times disturbing. Rome was a vicious place, with oppressed slaves and almost certain death for anyone who opposed Caesar Augustus (and many who didn't necessarily oppose him were suspect). These stark, painful scenes were contrasted with Selene's memories of her beautiful home in Egypt, creating an interesting counterpoint in the story  as we are presented the narrative in Selene's perspective.

I also enjoyed the characters. I think one of the primary enjoyable aspects of historical fiction is the fact that the author takes a known event and then has the liberty to cast the characters in the colors he or she chooses (to an extent, of course, depending on how much is known about that historical figure's personality). Selene was vulnerable and naive, yet ambitious and intelligent. As the horrors of Rome are slowly unveiled to her, she also discovers many of its opportunities, learning first-hand that nothing is cut and dried as perfectly good or perfectly evil. We also experience the changes in her life through the eyes of an adolescent, one who dreams of romance, someone trying to get along with her peers and trying to determine what she will do with her life.

In addition to Selene, I enjoyed the supporting characters. Selene's twin, Alexander, is constantly with her, her closest companion, but a character with secrets of his own. Julia, Caesar Augustus' daughter, is presented as a complex character who is often spoiled but has her own pains and the ability to be loving and generous. Marcellus, the love interest for basically every female in the novel, is charming and handsome. Juba, one of Augustus' most trusted advisors, is complex and prickly. And Caesar Augustus himself is volatile, generally imposing his will without regard to human life, but occasionally surprising the reader with an act of generosity cloaked in a spoiled tantrum.

Plot-wise, the book moves slowly through Selene's experiences, with many episodes in her life being presented. The common thread that ties these episodes together is the presence of a rebel slave known as The Red Eagle who constantly posts treatises on temple and government building doors, discussing Caesar Augustus' treatment of slaves and his policies. Cleopatra's Daughter is essentially a coming-of-age tale for Selene, showing pivotal events in her adolescence. Despite the slow motion of the plot, I found the events enjoyable, especially the hint of romance that is sneaked in at the end.

My one complaint about Cleopatra's Daughter is in the writing. I have mixed feelings about Michelle Moran's writing. For the most part, I find it readable and descriptive. However, something about her transitions leaves something to be desired for me. I often felt as if I was calmly reading Selene's observations on a normal day, only to suddenly realize I was in a paragraph where some pivotal climactic moment was occurring, which was jarring. Smoother transitions would have improved my reading experience.

However, for the most part Cleopatra's Daughter was a well-executed novel about a historical character I knew nothing about. Fans of historical fiction and ancient Rome will enjoy this refreshing look at a lesser-known historial figure.

4 stars

Warnings: Scenes of violence, disturbing images, some innuendo

House of Serenades by Lina Simoni

Title: The House of Serenades
Author: Lina Simoni
Genre: Historical fiction, multicultural fiction
Publisher: Moonleaf Publishing, 2004
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review

The Berilli family of Genoa, Italy are wealthy and respected, seeming on the surface to live happy lives. However, beneath the surface is the mystery behind the death of only daughter Caterina, good-for-nothing son Raimondo, lonely, cast-off aunt Eugenia, and the patriarch himself, who has retreated into his reading room for two days with no explanation. Soon a series of threats has the entire family in fear -- and wondering what the truth is.

I requested this book from NetGalley because my husband used to live in Northern Italy and I thought it would be fun to read a book about the region. While at times The House of Serenades was a bit dramatic and overwrought, it definitely had a strong Italian flavor and was a fun and enlightening read.

The House of Serenades is pure soap opera drama in print. Every character had a secret, and every character had done something scandalous. From forbidden love to hidden convents in the mountains to black cats hung on doorways with the word "death" scrawled above them in blood and illegal child trafficking, House of Serenades was certainly not short of twists and turns. For the most part, while the plot was over-the-top, I enjoyed the constant drama. However, toward the end of the book there was a segment of time where everyone was immersed in misery and punishment, and I became a little fed up with reading this book about people doing horrible things to each other with no redemption in sight. The book felt somewhat fluffy at first but towards the end became completely weighted down with woe.

Because the plot was so replete with action, the characters were somewhat flat. Their motivations are generally one-dimensional and motivated by money or lust. With the exception of Caterina and Ivano, none of the characters changed their ways or learned from their mistakes. Instead, the focus of the story was just the crazy things that happened to the characters. For me personally, a book with only minimal character development is somewhat unsatisfying.

I think my favorite aspect of the book was the Italian personality and learning more about the culture. It is a historical novel, so of course certain aspects, such as the extreme difference in class, are not as relevant today. However, the dramatic, gossipy relationships are, my husband informs me, still typical of Italian culture. In addition, it was fun to tell my husband the names of the characters as well as certain words that were presented in this book. I really enjoyed being immersed in an Italian story for a few hours.

House of Serenades is, for the most part, a fun read. Towards the end it does become a little weighty and tragic, but it was an interesting journey into turn of the century Italian life.

3.25 stars

Warnings: Violence, detailed description of sexual abuse, innuendo

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Title: Death Comes to Pemberley
Author: P.D. James
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery, spin-off
Publisher: Knopf, 2011
Source: Library
Read for: Fun

It is the evening before the Darcy's annual ball in honor of Mr. Darcy's mother, Anne. Everything is going well, with the Bingleys in the house for a visit and a potential romance in the air for Georgiana -- until someone rides into the estate shouting about gunshots and a wounded man. The main suspect is none other than Darcy's enemy and brother-in-law, Wickham. As the case goes to trial, the question is raised -- who is the murderer, and will the Darcys' reputations forever be besmirched?

I was pretty excited to read Death Comes to Pemberley. Regular readers of this blog know that I really enjoy spin-offs (to an extent -- you won't see a review of 50 Shades of Grey here), as well as Jane Austen. I've actually never read anything that goes beyond the story of Pride and Prejudice -- I've read books with the plot in other settings and time periods, but never any sequels or prequels. I was excited to see what P.D. James would do with the beloved characters created by Jane Austen. However, I found Death Comes to Pemberley to be a weak and slow-paced novel.

The first issue I had was the pacing. The descriptions were interminable and plodding. I enjoy many books that are slowly paced -- I like Jane Austen and the subtleties that exist in the books that she has written. However, the mimicry of her style did not work when not paired with her genius. I think P.D. James did well in imitating the style of Jane Austen, but the content was not up to par, which resulted in a pace that was far too slow.

I also took issue with the characterization. I didn't want to fall into the trap of disliking the story just because the characters were not exactly how I would picture Jane Austen's beloved cast of Pride and Prejudice -- but I must say I didn't think the way they were portrayed was how Jane Austen would have cast them. Elizabeth was mainly in the background, and frankly discusses the fact that Darcy's money was a primary motivation in her marriage to Darcy. She also bemoans the fact that they didn't have a romantic courtship. Really? I appreciate that perhaps P.D. James was trying to do something unique, but I thought these deviations were not in character with the original characters.

I did think the mystery was interesting, although somewhat predictable. I don't read many mysteries, because I think it is hard to find a good balance between a solution that is completely obscure and one that is too predictable, but I think Death Comes to Pemberley did fairly well with this. I also thought that, while some of the characters were not consistent with their inspirations from Pride and Prejudice, Wickham's future was very believable and consistent with his original character. I thought James was insightful into his personality. I also enjoyed the little connections to Jane Austen's other works. I'd never before considered the idea that Austen's characters were contemporaries in different parts of England and that they could have had acquaintances in common.

Overall, while Death Comes to Pemberley had an intriguing premise, the execution was lacking for me. It is clear that P.D. James is a talented writer, but this novel was a miss for me.

2 stars

Warnings: Some violence, talk of affairs

YA Friday: The Academie by Susanne Dunlap

Title: The Academie
Author: Susanne Dunlap
Genre: Historical fiction, YA
Publisher: Bloomsbury 2012
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review, Paris in July

Eliza Monroe, Hortense de Beauhernais, and Caroline Bonaparte all attend the fashionable Academie in Paris. However, their attention is on much more than classes -- they are all wrapped up in worlds of romance and political intrigue. Life begins to get complicated as the girls' lives intersect and they experience generosity, love, and betrayal.

I thought the premise of The Academie sounded fascinating. A school in Paris, full of real characters from history? What more could I ask? However, while The Academie was entertaining, it left something to be desired. The story lacked the meatiness that could have made it a truly compelling read.

I think the first issue was the abundance of central characters. The author switches back and forth from the perspectives of Eliza Monroe, Hortense de Beauhernais, and a mysterious actress named Madeline. All of the characters are interconnected, and all have romantic interests (at times, conflicting ones). While it wasn't difficult to keep the characters' narratives straight, it was difficult to connect with the characters when they were constantly changing perspective. I think if one girl had been chosen as the main focus and the rest of the story had been viewed through the lens of her experience, the story would have been more evocative and powerful. Instead, The Academie was a series of snapshots that gave us many angles on the situation but little depth.

I did enjoy the romantic intrigues -- everyone had a love interest, and some were lucky enough to have two. However, I think the romance would have been more palpable if one character had been emphasized and given the opportunity to really develop her relationships. I loved Armand, for example, with his willingness to jump into an awkward situation and help the girls, but I felt that I didn't really know him well enough to connect with him. Hortense, with her several awkward connections, also would have been more interesting if more developed.

My final issue was that the language was more "telling" rather than "showing." I didn't feel swept up or involved in the story. I was entertained by reading it, but felt it was being narrated to me rather than enfolding me, if that makes sense. The language was a bit simplistic and distant.

However, with all these complaints, I will say that it was an enjoyable. I didn't feel a strong connection to it, but it did hold my interest enough that I wanted to know the result of the book. The Academie definitely tells an interesting story, but left some things to be desired.

3 stars

Warnings: Some mild violence, possibly some brief profanity, allusions to affairs

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Title: Bring Up the Bodies
Author: Hilary Mantel
Series: Wolf Hall #2
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co., 2012
Source: Library
Read for: Sheer unadulterated delight

In Wolf Hall, Thomas Cromwell helped pave the way for Anne Boleyn's rise to power. However, in just a few short months of marriage, Henry VIII has grown disillusioned with the bride for whom he spent seven years fighting. Now his sights are set on the soft-spoken, plain Jane Seymour -- the antithesis of Anne Boleyn -- and the responsibility has fallen to Cromwell to once again fulfill the king's wishes. This change of favor means that Cromwell must ally himself with those who were once his enemies, and he can't help but note that it isn't only womanly favor with the king that is changing.

While immensely different from the first book of the series, Wolf Hall, in which Cromwell builds his own power and fortune with that of Anne Boleyn, Bring Up the Bodies brought me just as much delight as the first installment, albeit in a grittier, more action-packed way. Wolf Hall was at times dense and meandering, filling pages with poignant personal details about Cromwell's life and family. In Bring Up the Bodies, Cromwell's family is gone, present only in the hawks he has named after his dead daughters and wife. There is no mention of a small dog named Bella, no romantic longings after his dead wife's sister. Instead, Cromwell's life is the delicate dance of politics that brought him to power and that now threatens to come crashing down. Cromwell is often villainized. In Wolf Hall, I couldn't really see why -- I saw the family man, self-made man aspects of him. However, in Bring Up the Bodies, Cromwell becomes more ruthless, more hungry for power. He finds himself not only fulfilling the king's errands, but also indulging his own appetite for revenge. He finds himself relating to his brutal, drunken father, a man who almost killed him multiple times before Thomas left home as a young man. While I liked the rising Cromwell much better than Cromwell in power, the transformation is fascinating.

I also noticed a change in my attitude toward the writing. In reading Wolf Hall, reading was tedious. Mantel's style is distinct and at times difficult. The story is told in the third person limited, and whenever Cromwell is referred to it is as "he," which sometimes lead me to think someone else entirely was speaking. I'm not sure if I became more used to the style or if Hilary Mantel heard the complaints of confusion with Wolf Hall, but generally when Cromwell is referred to as "he," it is followed by a semicolon and the clause "he, Cromwell." This made the reading much smoother for me, and I was more able to enjoy Mantel's sharp, at times bizarre imagery (for example, starting the story out with Cromwell's falcons swooping down on him. They are named after his dead wife and daughters, and it takes a moment to understand the bizarre image, but once it becomes clear it is absolutely unforgettable). While Wolf Hall was certainly rewarding despite the difficulty, Bring Up the Bodies was sheer literary pleasure -- I felt as if I was eating a feast with every beautifully formed phrase.

Plot-wise, there is much more action in Bring Up the Bodies than in Wolf Hall. While this made the reading faster, I actually would have liked more introspection and pausing in Bring up the Bodies. At times I felt I was in a race, trying to keep up with all that happened. While Cromwell's character is being built up in Wolf Hall, I missed some of the character development in Bring Up the Bodies. I felt as if I was expected to know them now, but they all were undergoing drastic changes and I would have liked more insight into the characters.

Overall, Bring up the Bodies is a masterpiece, just like its predecessor. I am hungry for the third volume of this trilogy. While Bring up the Bodies had certain aspects that I didn't enjoy as much as Wolf Hall, it also fixed many of the flaws that bothered me in Wolf Hall. Neither book is perfect, but they are both immensely rich and satisfying.

4.5 stars

Warnings: Language, discussion of bedroom activities of the king and queen

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Title: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Author: Lisa See
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Random House, 2006
Source: Borrowed from my mom
Read for: Fun

Lily's family is average, without high prospects or much money. However, Lily's feet are such that they can be bound perfectly, meaning that she will gain higher status than her family has previously been able to attain and that she is destined for a good marriage. Because of this, the matchmaker pairs her with a laotong, or "old-same," a lifelong relationship of friendship and support with a girl whose life and destiny matches with hers. Lily's relationship with her laotong is fulfilling and happy, but as they grow older their lives begin to diverge.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is an interesting story, one that does not fit my normal ideas of narrative. The language is slow and formal, and the plot unfolds slowly and delicately. At times this made Snow Flower and the Secret Fan a difficult read for me, but as a whole I enjoyed the story and the unique look at a culture with which I am less familiar.

I experienced similar roadblocks with the other Lisa See novel I've read, Peony in Love. Something about her style doesn't always mesh well with me. While the words are beautiful and descriptive, giving life to vivid images, the tone is more stiff and formal than what I am used to. However, this isn't always negative; the culture is different, so it makes sense that the style, too, is different. While the difference was at times not as comfortable or enjoyable for me, I don't think that it was always a bad thing. One element of the style that I don't think would work for me regardless of the cultural tone, however, was that See tended to "tell" rather than "show." Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is very introspective, and while I enjoyed it, sometimes I wanted less of Lily's inner commentary and more events displaying what was taking place.

The story itself was beautiful, although also completely foreign to me. Some of the core concepts of Lily and Snow Flower's lives, such as the need for daughters' feet to be bound and the way it signifies a mother's love, does not mesh with my Western ideas. The idea too that women must be utterly at the mercy of their husbands' whims (and those of their mother-in-law), and that a woman would submit to brutal beating because it is her place in the household, was hard for me and I'm sure many other readers as well. I also wondered at the tradition of the sworn sisterhoods and laotongs -- it was strange in my mind to have your friends chosen for you, arranged through your supposed destinies and birth dates. However, while dealing with these concepts so foreign to my life, I also found beauty and symmetry in the layers of duty and commitment to family and loved ones. I found fascination and grace in the various festivals and traditions of the characters. And as for the lives of the characters themselves, I found the convolutions and misunderstandings of Snow Flower and Lily's lives to be heartbreaking and the path they take to forgiveness to be beautiful.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a unique book that illustrates a society that differs greatly from the one I live in. For this reason, at times it was hard for me to understand or relate to the book. However, I found the story to be moving and powerful despite the differences.

3.75 stars

Warnings: Talk of "bed business," detailed nudity

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Title: The Bronze Horseman
Author: Paullina Simons
Series: Tatiana and Alexander #1
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: HarperTorch, 2002
Source: Library
Read for: New Adult Challenge, Chunkster Challenge

Tatiana meets Alexander the day Hitler invades Russia, and both events shape their lives in an unimaginable way. Alexander is a soldier in the Red Army with a hidden past; Tatiana is the lowest member of her family, constantly sacrificing to help everyone but herself. As the war progresses, they fall in love, but the obstacles to their happiness seem unsurmountable.

The Bronze Horseman was unlike any book I have read before. The Russian culture, which is very familiar with me, combined with the absolute misery and hardship endured by the characters, topped by their fierce and at times torturous love, made The Bronze Horseman a difficult but deep and rewarding read.

The most powerful part of the story was, for me, the depth of Tatiana and Alexander's love, a roller-coaster that resulted in emotions that were negative and positive but always strong. Tatiana and Alexander find themselves in many sticky situations with their relationship that seem unescapable. Both Tatiana's family and Alexander's closest "friend" (if friend he can be called) pose strong opposition to their happiness, and in trying to circumvent these difficulties, the two star-crossed lovers tend to make matters even more complicated than before. I had a few shake-the-book-and-yell-at-it moments. However, at the same time, there are many scenes of unbelievable sacrifice and love. I'll try and be vague to avoid a spoiler -- this event does occur later in the story but doesn't reveal any outcomes, so I'll share it. The most powerful scene to me is one in which Alexander has been severely wounded and has lost immense amounts of blood. To save his life, Tatiana attaches herself to him by an IV and drains her arterial blood -- aka the blood that has yet to bring oxygen to her tissues -- straight into his body. That is an image I won't soon forget.

Another element that made The Bronze Horseman a gripping read for me was the absolute poverty and suffering encountered by the characters. I have read many books that discuss tragic situations, but The Bronze Horseman's level of detail left me feeling as if my own body was slowly starving, as if my own limbs were turning blue with cold. When Germany invaded Russia in World War II, they laid a siege on Leningrad and there was virtually no food, no heat, no way of sustaining life. The book describes people falling dead in the streets as they walked to get the small amount of food rationed to them. Not only was I feeling more strongly and more connectedly with a tragedy of history than ever before, it was all new to me; I knew nothing of Russia's suffering in World War II.

In fact, I knew next to nothing about Russia at all. And while I still know very little, it was interesting to be exposed to the culture in The Bronze Horseman. It was fascinating to hear first-hand how a Communist family lived. I also loved and was simultaneously confused by the complex hierarchy of nicknames, the use of which seem to confer certain meanings on different situations. Tatiana had at least four, two of which got her in trouble more than once.

I was a little jarred at times by the writing in The Bronze Horseman. Paullina Simons uses italics frequently, as well as short, blunt little sentences that sound somehow immature. However, at the same time, her imagery was able to inspire powerful emotions and visceral reactions to the tragedies and joys described. I wouldn't say necessarily that I didn't like the writing, but at times it distracted me from the story.

The Bronze Horseman is not a comfortable book to read, but it is still one that I cannot erase from my mind. I am looking forward to the remaining two books in the trilogy.

4 stars

Warnings: There are some graphic sexual scenes that are pretty much clustered together. I just skipped several pages until they were over, but be warned that they were uncomfortable to me to the point of not reading them. There are also instances of soldier profanity and extreme thematic elements (starvation, bodies in the street, war violence).

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

Title: The Dressmaker
Author: Kate Alcott
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Doubleday, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review

Tess has spent most of her life working as a housemaid, but her true passion lies in fashion -- designing and sewing beautiful creations. When chance lands her as a lady's maid on the ship Titanic for Lady Lucile Duff Gordon, a world-famous designer who also built herself up from low circumstances, Tess feels as if she has finally been given a chance. However, when Titanic sinks, rumors begin to leak out about the Duff Gordons and their behavior on the so-called Millionaire's boat, a lifeboat not even at half capacity. Tess is leery of their behavior and not sure she wants to be connected with it. In addition, her heart is conflicted as her attention is sought by a wealthy, charming millionaire and a sailor. Should Tess follow her heart or her only opportunity to achieve her dream?

With the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic last month, my interest was definitely piqued with The Dressmaker. While I don't consider myself to be any kind of Titanic buff, I love the movie with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio (haven't watched the Julian Fellowes miniseries, though. Worth the time?) and was looking forward to this one, especially with its portrayal of some of the aftermath of the sinking of the unsinkable ship. The Dressmaker proved to be an interesting adventure into the Titanic, albeit not one to join the ranks of my favorite books.

I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the scenery of the Titanic and later, the fabulous gowns in Lucile's salon. While at times the writing seemed to meander, I was definitely visually immersed in the world Kate Alcott created. The scenes were vivid in my mind. The unfortunate flip side of this is that occasionally I would feel impatient, as if the plot was not moving forward quickly enough.

I also enjoyed the portrayal of the characters, particularly in their interactions with one another. I felt that the conversations were realistic, the at times heated interchanges between characters believable. At times the characters themselves seemed flat, although their dialogue was dynamic. The most multi-faceted character was probably Lucile, with her selfishness and ambition tied to a sense of sentimentality for her past and real love for her work; however, when the different sides of her personality were presented, I felt as if a card was being flipped over. The transitions were not natural, and so the two sides of her personality never really came together or felt realistic to me. While Tess also undergoes some changes in her life and point of view, while she sacrifices some of her ambitions to follow her heart, she also seemed somehow flat to me. I liked her, but felt as if she was someone I would only be able to make small talk with.

The Dressmaker was an interesting read, but lacked the momentum and character development to make it a truly memorable read for me. However, lovers of Titanic stories will definitely find a story of value here.

3 stars

Warnings: Slight innuendo, but nothing much.

Mariana by Susanna Kearsley

Title: Mariana
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Genre: Historical fiction, fantasy
Publisher: Corgi, 1995
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review

Julia fell in love with the little farmhouse the moment she saw it as a young child. When she encounters it later (and discovers it is for sale), she takes the inheritance money she has been saving and buys it immediately. However, after spending a few days in the house, she realizes it possesses more than charm. The house is haunted by memories and ghosts of the past, and what confuses Julia most is that they seem to be memories she already possesses.

Mariana is a charming tale of love lost and regained set in an idyllic corner of English countryside. Julia Becket, used to her fast-paced life in London, enjoys sinking into her career as an illustrator in a bit more isolation, with the time to go on long walks and enjoy her swiftly made new friends -- Vivian, the friendly barkeeper at the local tavern, Iain, the quietly passionate and perfectionistic gardener, and Geoffrey, the handsome tenant of the large estate on the hill. However, Julia begins to see shadows and ghosts around her home, as well as blacking out for long periods of time, in which she exists as Mariana, an inhabitant of her house from many centuries before.

I loved the premise of Mariana. I found it to be unique and fascinating. While Julia is initially disturbed by her vivid and all-absorbing visions into the past, she becomes emotionally involved with the people she meets, and desperate to know what happens to them. While I've read books with a time-travel aspect to them, I'd never read a book where a character moves between two time periods. I enjoyed going back with Julia and trying to solve the mystery of why the house is haunted by a pervading aura of sorrow and what exactly happened between Mariana and the handsome, roguish man who pursues her against the wishes of Mariana's exacting, heartless uncle, Jabez.

I also enjoyed the romantic aspect of the story. Both Julia and Mariana have love interests, and we as the readers have the opportunity to experience both stories through the women's eyes. Mariana's story has already occurred, and the truths of it are revealed in small bursts of insight as Julia experiences them through her visions of Mariana. That story is tragic and moving, and was for me the most compelling part of Mariana. Julia's story is a bit slower to develop, and to be honest, felt slightly stilted to me throughout the book, until in the last few pages, when crucial information is revealed that makes everything fit together wonderfully.

One aspect of Mariana that made it a less-than-stellar experience for me was the writing. While it wasn't inherently flawed -- everything was correct, as far as I could tell -- it was slightly lackluster, presenting events and emotions dutifully but without any strong vividness or aesthetic. While nothing was essentially wrong, it made what could have been an absolutely gorgeous book into what was simply a light and entertaining read for me.

Mariana has a unique plot and delightful supporting characters. The writing was a bit disappointing for me, but Mariana will still present an enjoyable tale for many readers.

3.5 stars

Warning: Scene of sensuality (no anatomy), some violence

The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley

Title: The Orchid House
Author: Lucinda Riley
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Atria Books, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review

The Orchid House begins with Julia, a concert pianist who has suffered an unimaginable tragedy. In trying to deal with the struggles of her past, she uncovers tragedy of her ancestors and the deep secrets they covered during the second world war. Her travels take her from her home in England to her former home in France to Thailand, and she manages to find romance on the way.

I requested The Orchid House from NetGalley because it sounded just like something out of Downton Abbey, and the mansion was called Wharton House, which reminds me of Edith Wharton, although she is in no way connected to this story. While this book delivered for me in terms of drama and plot, I found it somewhat lacking in depth and strong writing.

I wouldn't say the writing was bad. There were no glaring errors or flaws. There was just a certain superficiality to it. I know that not every book needs to be a work of literary genius, but I would have liked more aesthetics in the writing, especially with the picturesque settings described, from the country garden loveliness of England to the exotic, colorful Thailand.

The story was also very focused on the plot. While the characters must have undergone some serious changes in their thinking and their views on life through the drastic changes that affected them, we only perceive this through the external events of the characters' lives. The only insight we have into their inner selves are shallow mentions of emotion.

However, with that said, the story was entertaining, with many unsuspected twists and turns. While the emotions are not very well explained, there are definitely some deep changes in the lives of the characters. There is definitely tragedy and twisted love and deep sorrow. There is also quite a bit of melodrama, which at times seemed unrealistic to me, but was for the most part entertaining.

Don't get me wrong -- I enjoyed the dramas of The Orchid House. However, I wish that the story had more richness and depth.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Scene of sensuality, some off the page stuff, some language, some violence

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Title: Sarah's Key
Author: Tatiana de Rosnay
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2007
Source: Borrowed from my sister
Read for: Fun

Sarah thinks that she is safe when she sees that it is just a French policeman speaking to her mother. However, in a few moments her entire world is turned upside down as she, her mother, and father are taken to a stadium to be held until later transit to concentration camps. At the last moment, Sarah locks her brother Michel in a small hidden closet in their apartment, hoping to keep him safe from the police. However, as the days in the camp become interminable, Sarah realizes her horrible mistake. Fast forwarding several decades, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living in Paris, is assigned to cover the tragic events that befell Sarah and thousands of other French Jews. Julia is unprepared for the deep impact Sarah's story will have upon her life.

I have a confession -- I saw the movie first. Over Christmas break, my father-in-law rented it and told me he thought I would like it because it had a lot of French in it. I did like it, and I will write about my thoughts in a future post. For now, I will just say that I looked forward to the book because I felt that much of the story was introspective and would be better told in a book where there was more access to the thoughts of the characters.

In some ways, this was true. Julia's story is told in the first person, and I enjoyed getting to the inside of what, in the movie, was reflected only by long silences and facial expressions. Julia's connection to Sarah's story is palpable and powerful, not always directly related but translated into meaning by her own individual experiences. Sarah's story is a catalyst for many of the issues in Julia's life, and the meaning Julia derives from Sarah's story helps her to move on from negative situations to a more fulfilling, if not easier, life. I also enjoyed the deeper insights into Julia's relationship with her daughter, Zoe, her husband, Bertrand, and her in-laws, which represent Julia's experience in France in general. Again, in the movie, I saw it all through silences and meaningful looks -- in the book, I was happy to have a deeper connection to what Julia was experiencing.

Sarah remains an enigma, but this is part of her personality. The book follows Sarah in a third person perspective until the pinnacle of her story -- the moment that left me squirming and hoping against all hope that it would be avoided. Then, her life is left for Julia to discover through old documents and tenuously connected contacts. While there was slightly increased insight into her character, for the most part she was just as mysterious as she was in the movie -- a sad, tortured girl growing into a sad woman, dealing with the consequences of a horrible event.

So thus far, I liked the characterization and the events surrounding the characters. However, I took issue with the writing. It is complicated for me to explain, because it was evocative. The images and emotions were powerfully rendered. However, the structure was distracting and irksome. Tatiana de Rosnay frequently uses fragments in her writing that left me feeling as if I was reading something unfinished and unedited. I think she probably meant her structure to give an effect, but it was not effective for me and detracted from my reading experience.

Overall, Sarah's Key is a touching and unforgettable story. However, the writing distracted from the power of the story for me.

3.75 stars

Warnings: Violence and disturbing scenes, language, off-the-page sensuality

Venetia by Georgette Heyer

Title: Venetia
Author: Georgette Heyer
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Published: 1958
Source: Library
Read for: Fun

Venetia has lived a secluded life with her crippled and sardonic brother, Aubrey. Her beautiful mother died when she was young, and her reclusive father prevented her from being presented to society or meeting anyone. Despite this, she has two devoted suitors, eager to win her hand. However, she is completely thrown overboard when the scandalous rake Lord Damerel returns to his abandoned estate near Venetia's home and takes into his head to woo her.

This is my first Georgette Heyer, and I loved it. While the primary focus of the story was love (and a little bit of scandal), it did not fall victim to fluffiness. Venetia was sharp and witty; despite her reclusive upbringing, she is neither naive nor innocent. She is unwilling to settle just to escape from her circumstances; if she doesn't find love, she declares she will live independently, throwing aside the propriety of her age and following her own desires. She was spunky and did whatever she wanted, and in her rigid, manners-minded context, it was absolutely delightful.

The supporting characters were just as delightful. As this is a Regency romance, it is impossible to avoid a comparison to Jane Austen; just like Austen, Heyer incorporated a strong supporting cast that was hilarious in their social interactions. My favorite character was without a doubt Aubrey, who is sympathetic in that he suffers from his physical handicap, but at the same time cynical and anti-social, constantly insulting people that he doesn't like. The overbearing mother of her sister-in-law was one of those delightfully caricatured characters that is a joy to detest.

The plot was also an enjoyable ride, full of twists and turns. While certain elements were predictable -- I wonder if the rake will feel guilty for romancing the innocent? I wonder if the innocent will listen to his qualms? -- there were also several unexpected twists.

It wasn't an earth-shaking or brilliant story, but it was an extremely pleasant ride with many unexpected plot elements. For a fun romantic read in the style of Jane Austen (but with a little bit of modern independence from our heroine), Venetia is an excellent place to turn.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Vague allusions to Lord Damerel's scandalous past.

Wolf Hall Readalong: Post 3

I finished it!! I am feeling pretty victorious about it, as I was so intimidated at first. I'm not even sure where to start, as far as describing my final feelings.

I guess I'll start with the tumult of the kingdom. This book ends before Henry and Anne fall to pieces, but you can see the evidence of their relationship fraying at the seams. I think Mantel does an excellent job at exposing how very real and confusing situations like that can be, and how well we mask them with our own perceptions of what we think is actually happening.

And then we have Cromwell, who orchestrates everything behind the scenes with complete and total control. He appeases kings and disgruntled dukes, seamlessly weasels his way into being owed a favor by Stephen Gardiner, his chief rival. He is invaluable to Henry and Anne, who look to him to fix every situation. He is seemingly immune to Anne Boleyn's allure, an allure that has captivated almost every man at court, and he is so esteemed by King Henry that he is visited personally in his home by the king when he is ill.

Cromwell's own personal life isn't quite so seamlessly organized; he still misses his deceased wife, Liz, his children and wards make marriages that he doesn't quite approve, he gets sick for what might be the first time in his life. However, he is constantly endearing; he is surprised when people tell him he looks like a murderer (who wouldn't be?); he is pleased with his children's accomplishments (children being a loose term that envelops all the people in his household); he finds himself drawn by the shy, sweet Jane Seymour. I felt as if with every page I loved Cromwell more and more.

And the writing style was so unique, somewhat disjointed and jarring at times, but so powerful and different and evocative. I didn't only know about Cromwell; I felt as if I was with him, I had the feel of him in the room. I haven't felt this close to a character in a long time, and I loved it.

My one complaint with the book was the end -- I felt cheated not to know what role Thomas would play in the dissolution of Anne and Henry's marriage (if he in fact had a role to play); how he would feel to see Jane Seymour courted and married by Henry. I gave in and looked up the Tudors online and learned that Cromwell was actually executed by Henry a few years after the events of Wolf Hall take place. I was sad that this book didn't show it and felt as if Mantel had taken the easy way out.

However, I found out yesterday that she has written a sequel to Wolf Hall called Bring Up the Bodies, to be published in May 2012. I will definitely be on the lookout for that. So now that I know I will have more closure, I have no complaints. Wolf Hall was exquisitely written and executed and I will be recommending it far and wide.

Wolf Hall Readalong Post 2

{Spoilers follow}

This second post for the Wolf Hall Read-along covers parts 3 and 4. Here is what has happened since I last posted: 

Politically: Cardinal Wolsey is more or less deposed and dies. While Wolsey is falling, Cromwell is rising. He never for a moment has a negative word to say about his Cardinal, but while he is away, Cromwell develops uneasy friendships with Anne Boleyn, her sister, Mary, the Duke of Norfolk (the leader of the Boleyn clan, Thomas Howard), and, finally, the King himself. He makes himself more or less indispensable for soothing fluttered feelings and making things happen. He ends up being instrumental in bringing Anne Boleyn to the position of Queen of England. There are also dealings with Thomas More, who replaces the Cardinal as Lord Chancellor of England, and who occupies himself by burning anyone and everyone who supports Tyndale. Tyndale is quite a hero to me, in my limited knowledge of him, so this is a really interesting perspective for me. 

Personally: Cromwell loses more family members and his nephew Richard becomes like a son to him. He also has an affair with Johane, his deceased wife's sister, which is interesting in that it mirrors the King's life to some extent as Katherine was the wife of his dead brother. The relationship doesn't last, making things awkward at home. 

As for me, I am enjoying Wolf Hall more and more all the time. It is definitely slow going; it takes me a few minutes to finish two pages, and this is a beastly old tome so I haven't been doing much reading aside from this. I also occasionally slip up on the use of "he" for Cromwell and will spend a page thinking one man has made a statement when it is really another. 

However, I love the development of Cromwell. I love the way his personality is pervasive, the way his interests are driven by himself and his family, his ability to warp a situation to his needs. I love the way he can go boldly into extremely tense, awkward situations and come out on top. I also love Mantel's unique ways of spinning a phrase, driving its meaning into my mind because of the way the words are strung together, making the images slightly different for me even if I have had them displayed to me before. 

I'm sure I will have much more to say when everything comes together as a whole, so I will just finish by saying that I am loving the richness of this story. It is worth the slow unraveling and at times difficult structure. I am looking forward to seeing how everything plays out in the end, and I am feeling quite grateful that I didn't give in to the temptation to wikipedia Mr. Thomas Cromwell so I could get a grip on what is going on.