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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
3 STARS
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
"Paris, 1923 The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even amongst Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather's savannah manor house until gossip subsides. Fairlight is the crumbling, sun-bleached skeleton of a faded African dream, a world where dissolute expats are bolstered by gin and jazz records, cigarettes and safaris. As mistress of this wasted estate, Delilah falls into the decadent pleasures of society. Against the frivolity of her peers, Ryder White stands in sharp contrast. As foreign to Delilah as Africa, Ryder becomes her guide to the complex beauty of this unknown world. Giraffes, buffalo, lions and elephants roam the shores of Lake Wanyama amid swirls of red dust. Here, life is lush and teeming-yet fleeting and often cheap. Amidst the wonders-and dangers-of Africa, Delilah awakes to a land out of all proportion: extremes of heat, darkness, beauty and joy that cut to her very heart. Only when this sacred place is profaned by bloodshed does Delilah discover what is truly worth fighting for-and what she can no longer live without." (From Amazon)
Spear of Summer Grass was a bit of a disappointing read. It seemed that the interesting plot points were rushed and the slower action is played out till becomes a bit dull to read. I don't know if I liked the main character, Delilah and Ryder seems a bit vague and not someone I would pick as a hero. I would say this novel was poorly edited rather than poor written.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
"Paris, 1923 The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even amongst Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather's savannah manor house until gossip subsides. Fairlight is the crumbling, sun-bleached skeleton of a faded African dream, a world where dissolute expats are bolstered by gin and jazz records, cigarettes and safaris. As mistress of this wasted estate, Delilah falls into the decadent pleasures of society. Against the frivolity of her peers, Ryder White stands in sharp contrast. As foreign to Delilah as Africa, Ryder becomes her guide to the complex beauty of this unknown world. Giraffes, buffalo, lions and elephants roam the shores of Lake Wanyama amid swirls of red dust. Here, life is lush and teeming-yet fleeting and often cheap. Amidst the wonders-and dangers-of Africa, Delilah awakes to a land out of all proportion: extremes of heat, darkness, beauty and joy that cut to her very heart. Only when this sacred place is profaned by bloodshed does Delilah discover what is truly worth fighting for-and what she can no longer live without." (From Amazon)
Spear of Summer Grass was a bit of a disappointing read. It seemed that the interesting plot points were rushed and the slower action is played out till becomes a bit dull to read. I don't know if I liked the main character, Delilah and Ryder seems a bit vague and not someone I would pick as a hero. I would say this novel was poorly edited rather than poor written.
This was an absolutely wonderful read. Deanna Raybourn is a very talented author who time after time hooks her readers with superbly developed characters. I have enjoyed the Lady Grey novels and wasn't sure that the time period change would keep me interested, but I was very pleased that I was wrong.
Delilah is a woman who is a competent woman who thumbs her nose at social restrictions and does as she pleases. At first, she comes off as a complete scatter brain who is only interested in her own desires. However, as the story progresses you find her to be haunted, a bit tortured and with an honor system that makes you love her. She is tough and witty. Her notoriety has reached even as far as Kenya, which makes some detest her and others instantly attracted to her.
Ryder storms into the story like a bull in a china shop...you can't miss him and he makes his presence known. He is rough, tortured and a bit crass, but entirely lovable.
Kenya, where the main part of the story takes place, comes alive to you as you read the story. The heat is oppressive, the wild dangerous and frightening, the colonials are a bit desperate, and the natives suppressed. However, despite all of this there the land and all its people have a strength and beauty that shines through and makes you love and root for them.
Delilah is a woman who is a competent woman who thumbs her nose at social restrictions and does as she pleases. At first, she comes off as a complete scatter brain who is only interested in her own desires. However, as the story progresses you find her to be haunted, a bit tortured and with an honor system that makes you love her. She is tough and witty. Her notoriety has reached even as far as Kenya, which makes some detest her and others instantly attracted to her.
Ryder storms into the story like a bull in a china shop...you can't miss him and he makes his presence known. He is rough, tortured and a bit crass, but entirely lovable.
Kenya, where the main part of the story takes place, comes alive to you as you read the story. The heat is oppressive, the wild dangerous and frightening, the colonials are a bit desperate, and the natives suppressed. However, despite all of this there the land and all its people have a strength and beauty that shines through and makes you love and root for them.
The opening lines of A Spear of Summer Grass are enough to entice most readers; they were enough to entice me.
"Don't believe the stories you have heard about me. I have never killed anyone, and I have never stolen another woman's husband. Oh, if I find one lying around unattended, I might climb on, but I never took one that didn't want taking."
Based purely on those opening words the story of Delilah Drummond was begging to be read. Her story is predictable and even a bit cliché in parts but she is a pleasurable character with a very complex past. The problem with this book lies with the supporting characters and the some of the content which other readers may find offensive. There are extreme highs and lows within the story leaving this overall a very average read.
"Don't believe the stories you have heard about me. I have never killed anyone, and I have never stolen another woman's husband. Oh, if I find one lying around unattended, I might climb on, but I never took one that didn't want taking."
Based purely on those opening words the story of Delilah Drummond was begging to be read. Her story is predictable and even a bit cliché in parts but she is a pleasurable character with a very complex past. The problem with this book lies with the supporting characters and the some of the content which other readers may find offensive. There are extreme highs and lows within the story leaving this overall a very average read.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoy Deanna Raybourn's writing. This was not my favorite, however. I think I was wanting a little bit more character development of Dodo and Ryder and a little more fleshing out of the main romance. Overall, an enjoyable read.
LOVED this book! It was like having Phryne Fisher in Out of Africa...Seriously, there were so many things I enjoyed about this book. The characters were fascinating and the author made Africa as real as could be. In fact, she did such a good job making the descriptions so vivid, the continent was like another character. I wasn't familiar with the social issues and the various cultures in Kenya during that time period, so that was interesting, as well. Highly recommended!
This book started strong and now it's right off the rails. I have way too many great books to read to keep going with this.
If you want to read about a bad ass flapper woman read the Phryne Fisher books. Her and Dot are a lot more entertaining than Delilah and Dora
If you want to read about a bad ass flapper woman read the Phryne Fisher books. Her and Dot are a lot more entertaining than Delilah and Dora
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual harassment
loved the scene with cousin Dora....a slightly incontinent lapdog that sadly resembled a spaniel. Didn't want to train a new ladies maid, for the trip to Africa, just in time for them to die of cholera or cobra bite. Dora loved God and gardening...so I had her taught about cutting my hair and asked her to treat it like hedge control.
The twin narrative of Ryder and Delilah and the lion/lioness...treated so well. Not grotesque and not romanticized.
The twin narrative of life in louisiana and Africa (slaves and whites and ag and hard life and hard choices).
The 'this I know' game.
The twin narrative of Ryder and Delilah and the lion/lioness...treated so well. Not grotesque and not romanticized.
The twin narrative of life in louisiana and Africa (slaves and whites and ag and hard life and hard choices).
The 'this I know' game.
Africa - a strange and distant place that Delilah has only heard wonderful and fantastic stories of. When she choses to leave and ride out her most current scandal in Africa, she finds that it really is nothing like what she expected. Finding the need to restore Fairlight to her former glory and manage the numerous social pitfalls she is notorious for finding and jumping into, Delilah settles into life as best she can.
She makes herself at home in safaris and expedidtions which really help bring Africa to life and the country becomes a character all on its own. Delilah and Africa become good friends and fierce enemies with amazment and traged coming hand in hand. She makes friends and enemies among the natives and with her Brit "neighbors". This was a book that you need to curl up with on an evening when you can just lose yourself in with wonderful characters and places. - See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-spear-of-summer-grass-by-deanna.html#sthash.g3bBf6Ww.dpuf
She makes herself at home in safaris and expedidtions which really help bring Africa to life and the country becomes a character all on its own. Delilah and Africa become good friends and fierce enemies with amazment and traged coming hand in hand. She makes friends and enemies among the natives and with her Brit "neighbors". This was a book that you need to curl up with on an evening when you can just lose yourself in with wonderful characters and places. - See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-spear-of-summer-grass-by-deanna.html#sthash.g3bBf6Ww.dpuf
As always, books by this author are a brilliant read. I was a bit dubious about the whole new series but I can definitely state this was just as fantastic as the Julia Grey series.
Wonderful novel! A full review will be posted up on July 12 as part of a book blog tour
Edit: A Spear of Summer Grass is the first novel I've read by Deanna Raybourn and I enjoyed it from start to finish; I couldn't put this book down for long periods of time because I needed to know what was going to happen next for Delilah. I really enjoyed reading and watching Delilah's character journey over the course of the novel; she very much embodies the 1920s culture, fueling the more stubborn and careless aspects of her character. She could have easily turned into a very unlikeable character if not for the surprising depth and past that the character has.
Ryder was also an interesting character, something of a mystery and a myth but magnetic all the same. I wish there was a bit more of a build-up to their relationship but I thought the development overall was pretty natural.
Africa really comes to life in the pages. It was interesting to look at colonial life through Delilah’s story, how the colonials interact with the African communities living in Kenya but also how those different communities interact with each other.
I highly recommend this novel for readers of historical fiction, romance and novels set in the 1920s.
My complete review of the title was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/07/12/review-a-spear-of-summer-grass-giveaway/
Edit: A Spear of Summer Grass is the first novel I've read by Deanna Raybourn and I enjoyed it from start to finish; I couldn't put this book down for long periods of time because I needed to know what was going to happen next for Delilah. I really enjoyed reading and watching Delilah's character journey over the course of the novel; she very much embodies the 1920s culture, fueling the more stubborn and careless aspects of her character. She could have easily turned into a very unlikeable character if not for the surprising depth and past that the character has.
Ryder was also an interesting character, something of a mystery and a myth but magnetic all the same. I wish there was a bit more of a build-up to their relationship but I thought the development overall was pretty natural.
Africa really comes to life in the pages. It was interesting to look at colonial life through Delilah’s story, how the colonials interact with the African communities living in Kenya but also how those different communities interact with each other.
I highly recommend this novel for readers of historical fiction, romance and novels set in the 1920s.
My complete review of the title was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/07/12/review-a-spear-of-summer-grass-giveaway/