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Fun read, but really predictable. The whole plot could have been resolved if one character had bothered to give another character one important piece of information.
I enjoyed this read. There was mystery, scandal, and romance, all of which made a delightful historical drama.
Llegué a esta novela por la serie del mismo nombre que se encuentra en HBO. No sabía mucho de esta producción pero, como la fanática de la historia que soy, me atrajo cuando leí los nombres de Wellington y Napoleón. No llevaba ni 10 minutos cuando caí en la cuenta que la serie estaba basada en un libro y que autor del libro era Julian Fellowes, productor y guionista de Downton Abbey, una de mis series favoritas.
Entonces, como buena bibliófila, postergué la serie y encargué el libro.
¿Qué tal me fue? Me encontré con una novela romántica de época, con una trama entretenida pero sencilla y en su mayoría predecible. Me gustó el desarrollo que se le da a los personajes (notables Lady Brockenhurst y Anne Trenchard) y la presentación de algunos temas culturales de la época como el nacimiento del tea time y la brecha no solo entre las clases sociales o entre patrones y servicio, sino también entre los mismos sirvientes.
Creo que mis expectativas eran más altas porque pensé que sería una novela histórica, dado que la fiesta celebrada en Bruselas es un hecho real, pero a pesar de esto, te recomiendo este libro si te gustan las intrigas familiares rodeadas de celos, mentiras y romances imposibles. Ideal para las vacaciones. Mientras tanto, yo veré la serie.
Entonces, como buena bibliófila, postergué la serie y encargué el libro.
¿Qué tal me fue? Me encontré con una novela romántica de época, con una trama entretenida pero sencilla y en su mayoría predecible. Me gustó el desarrollo que se le da a los personajes (notables Lady Brockenhurst y Anne Trenchard) y la presentación de algunos temas culturales de la época como el nacimiento del tea time y la brecha no solo entre las clases sociales o entre patrones y servicio, sino también entre los mismos sirvientes.
Creo que mis expectativas eran más altas porque pensé que sería una novela histórica, dado que la fiesta celebrada en Bruselas es un hecho real, pero a pesar de esto, te recomiendo este libro si te gustan las intrigas familiares rodeadas de celos, mentiras y romances imposibles. Ideal para las vacaciones. Mientras tanto, yo veré la serie.
Missing your Lady Violet fix? Well, I have a book for you...
If there's one thing where Julian Fellowes excels at, it's writing sassy old grannies. I love a book where the two protagonists are smart, funny, tenacious grammas.
It reads like it was made for Netflix. Characters are well developed, it's richly detailed and easy to read. The plot is completely predictable, but this is what you're reading it for, isn't it? Very comedy of errors, alls well that ends well, that very English snobbery exposed and soundly punished with the hard working rewarded. It was light and satisfying and exactly what i needed on a warm summer evening by the campfire.
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Julian Fellowes is the writer behind Downton Abbey. He is also married to the daughter of an Earl. As she has no brothers the title - still in the 21st century - will pass to some distant male cousin. This iniquity appeared in Downton and is a central device in this enjoyable story.
The book tells the tale of two families - one that made millions in “trade” and one that had millions in land - in the 1840s who are drawn together by an illicit love affair between a son and a daughter. The ambition of the Trenchards and the snobbishness of the Brockenhursts is perfectly put across. The twists and turns are fun and the story pushes itself along in a very readable way.
The book tells the tale of two families - one that made millions in “trade” and one that had millions in land - in the 1840s who are drawn together by an illicit love affair between a son and a daughter. The ambition of the Trenchards and the snobbishness of the Brockenhursts is perfectly put across. The twists and turns are fun and the story pushes itself along in a very readable way.
This was an enjoyable novel. It has a little bit of everything, romance, history, mystery, tragedy, etc. Once I started, I found it difficult to put down.
It was ok. I think the general storytelling as in, the description of places and what happens was OK, but character development was lacking. There is also too much repetition: we don't need to be told yet again that someone is jealous of someone else, we get it.
As I said before, this story is more suited to be a TV show. I could even picture actors from Downton Abbey playing certain characters, so I'm glad that this is happening https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/julian-fellowes-reveals-he-s-set-to-turn-novel-belgravia-into-fourpart-television-series-a3578801.html
I'm trash for period shows/movies, and I enjoyed Downton Abbey, even though the quality dropped big time after season 1.
As I said before, this story is more suited to be a TV show. I could even picture actors from Downton Abbey playing certain characters, so I'm glad that this is happening https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/julian-fellowes-reveals-he-s-set-to-turn-novel-belgravia-into-fourpart-television-series-a3578801.html
I'm trash for period shows/movies, and I enjoyed Downton Abbey, even though the quality dropped big time after season 1.
The plot was extremely predictable and it often seems like the author has absolutely no faith that his readers will be able to understand the slightest development without him spelling it out for us. I do feel like the historical setting seems genuine and the characters have some nuance and credibility. But I'm quite bored with the fact that the main plot is the only story. It might have added some colour if there had maybe been a few sideplots, background stories on some of the many characters, household dramas etc. - the variation, perfectionism and nuance that made Downton Abbey special and the reason I decided to give the book a chance in the first place.
But it's an easy and fairly enjoyable read, if you're looking for something not too challenging for a rainy weekend.
But it's an easy and fairly enjoyable read, if you're looking for something not too challenging for a rainy weekend.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes