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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
400 Seiten ödes Drama, auch die paar lustigen Stellen waren nur lustig auf eine langweilige "Haha Kindermund"-Art.
A young girl flees from an offer of marriage from an arrogant duke, who she has cast as the villain of her novel.
Another charming Heyer, this time with a hero and heroine who meet not-cute and exasperate each other constantly, which can get wearying after a while but is a nice change from too much bashfulness. The heroine has written a romance and cast Sylvester as the main villain, based largely on a misapprehension of his character. But what are the odds the novel will become popular and he'll read it and recognize himself, after all? (Hint: this is a Regency romance). The book plays with romantic adventure tropes (wicked uncles, kidnappings) but always with a deflating awareness of the ridiculous that undermines any melodrama.
Character, character, character. Every single personality in this book WAS a personality, good or bad, and popped right out of the page. This book reminded me a great deal of Pride & Prejudice -- there were similarities everywhere, from the reasons they initially disliked each other to how the heroine had nothing much to recommend her except for a pair of speaking gray eyes. Sylvester is like that most famous book if Jane Austen had penned rollicking moments of crazy daring, and was a little less reserved in making fun of her society caricatures. Nugent Fotherby certainly wasn't intended to please the audience, but the fact that he was by far the character I enjoyed reading most speaks scads about Heyer's talent.
I think every book could benefit from the addition of a Nugent Fotherby character.
I think every book could benefit from the addition of a Nugent Fotherby character.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sometimes you read books to expand your mind, take you to unknown places, impossible places, put you in the shoes of people who seem nothing like you only to discover you are connected to them in some way. And sometimes you read books because, goddamnit, life is hard and you're tired of learning; this is that latter book. This book exists dead center of a spectrum of period romances that have Jane Austen at one end and the Brontes at the other. Trust that you can fully embrace the drama, the tragedy, the humor here without the least worry of it leading you down a depressing path to a sad but honest ending. Because it's not real! This is fantasy! It's escapism at its finest, because there are no dragons or feats of magic to tip you off to the utter and absolute impossibility of this being real, just two humans acting in ways no actual humans ever would given the same circumstances. So just settle in and enjoy the feels and the quality writing and the ridiculous, endearing and unattainable fiction of this luscious novel. It's been a rough year and you deserve a break.
This is my January read from the Dead Writer's Society.
I have never read Georgette Heyer before but I am going to have to add this author to my must read list for 2016 I think. I don't have much free book time these days it feels like.
This book was snappy, funny, and the hero and heroine were wonderfully perfect for one another. I was surprised to see how much I liked Sylvester and adored the character of Phoebe.
I was worried at first I wouldn't be very interested in it since the first chapter I found to be a bit slow. However, after the first chapter I found the book flow much easier. At first Sylvester seems distant and cold. I thought Ms. Heyer doing a very nice job showing the layers of Sylvester. And I did feel badly for him once you realize besides his anger at Phoebe of being rejected from a proposal he wasn't going to give, his feelings are also hurt. In his mind, what girl doesn't want to marry a duke.
But the discovery of Phoebe had decided he was not at all the sort of man she wished to marry had made Sylvester furious. While he believed her to be eloping with her true love he bore her no ill-will; but the case was now altered, and the more the thought of it the more did the wound to his self-esteem smart.
I initially felt that Phoebe was foolish and way too stubborn. However, once again Ms. Heyer was able to show the layers to this character. You feel for Phoebe being brought up by a woman she despises and who dislikes her just as much.
This book reminded me a bit of Catherine Coulter's Midsummer Magic with the two leads disliking each other at first sight. And in that case the heroine was also a great horsewoman who cared more for them than men.
Some people may be a bit put off by the writing. This reminded me of a lot of regency romance reads that my mother used to have hidden on her side of the bed. I actually prefer this writing and dialogue compared to many romances taking place in regency days and having the hero and heroine use modern slang. It drives me up the wall when they do.
The other characters in this book are quite well rounded and totally made me crack up at their pushing and pulling to get these two people together.
I was very happy to have read this book and definitely will check out more from this author in the future.
I have never read Georgette Heyer before but I am going to have to add this author to my must read list for 2016 I think. I don't have much free book time these days it feels like.
This book was snappy, funny, and the hero and heroine were wonderfully perfect for one another. I was surprised to see how much I liked Sylvester and adored the character of Phoebe.
I was worried at first I wouldn't be very interested in it since the first chapter I found to be a bit slow. However, after the first chapter I found the book flow much easier. At first Sylvester seems distant and cold. I thought Ms. Heyer doing a very nice job showing the layers of Sylvester. And I did feel badly for him once you realize besides his anger at Phoebe of being rejected from a proposal he wasn't going to give, his feelings are also hurt. In his mind, what girl doesn't want to marry a duke.
But the discovery of Phoebe had decided he was not at all the sort of man she wished to marry had made Sylvester furious. While he believed her to be eloping with her true love he bore her no ill-will; but the case was now altered, and the more the thought of it the more did the wound to his self-esteem smart.
I initially felt that Phoebe was foolish and way too stubborn. However, once again Ms. Heyer was able to show the layers to this character. You feel for Phoebe being brought up by a woman she despises and who dislikes her just as much.
This book reminded me a bit of Catherine Coulter's Midsummer Magic with the two leads disliking each other at first sight. And in that case the heroine was also a great horsewoman who cared more for them than men.
Some people may be a bit put off by the writing. This reminded me of a lot of regency romance reads that my mother used to have hidden on her side of the bed. I actually prefer this writing and dialogue compared to many romances taking place in regency days and having the hero and heroine use modern slang. It drives me up the wall when they do.
The other characters in this book are quite well rounded and totally made me crack up at their pushing and pulling to get these two people together.
I was very happy to have read this book and definitely will check out more from this author in the future.
Another terrific story from GH at the top of her form! One of her plain heroines, Phoebe is quiet & insipid around her wicked stepmother, so when Sylvester visits her home to maybe make her an offer, Phoebe not only says next to nothing she runs away with her like-a-brother neighbor to get away from Sylvester the proud Duke. Adventures ensue, with P and S getting to know one another. Then the book Phoebe wrote with Sylvester as the villain comes out...