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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
A truly one-of-a-kind historical fiction piece set in Boston not long before the Revolution; this is a book to be savoured for its play with and use of the English language - it may not be 100% genuine 18th century prose, but reads so near to it as to make no difference. The story itself is enthralling and well-told. Read it. Really.
I know it's well-researched, but ugh. If I had something else to read, I WOULDN'T be reading this.
A way to write a romance novel while still keeping academic creds? Complete with bodice-ripping scenes! I found it really annoying and I'm not sure why. Over-wrought. Just not my cup of tea, I guess.
A way to write a romance novel while still keeping academic creds? Complete with bodice-ripping scenes! I found it really annoying and I'm not sure why. Over-wrought. Just not my cup of tea, I guess.
Started off interesting, then the prose turned embarrassingly lurid and the plot became unbelievable.
for the most part, the story was pretty good and there were plenty of details about America pre-Revolution. loved the main characters, though Alexander would get a bit crazy at points and they would be a bit over-dramatic at times. also, things got a bit more raunchy than i expected. but overall i enjoyed it and loved the historical aspect of it.
7.4/10
For anyone who was ever,like, "I want an impeccably researched historical novel about the 18th century. I want it to be written in a pastiche of 18th century styles--literally as if 'Tristam Shandy' and 'Pamela' were having a meta-conversation. I want it to accurately portray the horrors of being anything other than a white man in Colonial America. Also, I want a murder mystery, some spicy cross dressing romance and an almost bodice ripper-y love story that doesn't ignore tricky questions about sexual orientation and gender politics. Oh, and it needs to be co-written by historian, New Yorker writer and National Treasure, Jill Lepore." Or to put another way, it would be nearly impossible to for an erudite page-turner to be more up my alley unless it also features pirates and French spies. What an absolute treat!
For anyone who was ever,like, "I want an impeccably researched historical novel about the 18th century. I want it to be written in a pastiche of 18th century styles--literally as if 'Tristam Shandy' and 'Pamela' were having a meta-conversation. I want it to accurately portray the horrors of being anything other than a white man in Colonial America. Also, I want a murder mystery, some spicy cross dressing romance and an almost bodice ripper-y love story that doesn't ignore tricky questions about sexual orientation and gender politics. Oh, and it needs to be co-written by historian, New Yorker writer and National Treasure, Jill Lepore." Or to put another way, it would be nearly impossible to for an erudite page-turner to be more up my alley unless it also features pirates and French spies. What an absolute treat!
I enjoyed this book immensely, but did feel that it was too over-sexualized at times - I enjoyed it more before Fanny revealed herself as it seemed to lose it's original identity as a story from whence it came. It was still a very well-written book, and I loved the format it was presented in.
my favorite thing about this book was recognizing all the places in boston that are mentioned in the novel and are still around today. the characters are likable, but the second half of the story dragged - almost like they couldn't decide how to solve their own mystery. also, for a novel that claims to be about passion, the sexytime scenes came off really awkwardly.
I just really liked this book. I listened to it and the readers did a great job. Good fun story and some history.