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rdebner's review
4.0
As with [b:Saints and Villains|301259|Saints and Villains (Ballantine Reader's Circle)|Denise Giardina|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173539340s/301259.jpg|292324], the only other book by Giardina I've read, she has written a compelling historical novel.
ehmannky's review
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I think what I wanted from this book was more of a focus on Emily's writing. We get glimpses of what it meant to her, and insights into her rich imaginary worlds, but her sudden jump from a secret writer to published novelist just seemed a bit too jarring. Also, as much as enjoyed reading about radicals working on behalf of the poor in England and striving to create better living conditions, there is so much time focused on men in this book. Like, an unfortunate amount of time spent on men.
The book is mostly focused on an imagined romance between Emily Bronte and a local radical curate, Mr. Weightman. I did really enjoy the discussions of people actively pursuing justice in the world for the working poor. From what I can tell from reading a bit more about Giardina, this is what most of her other books working on. And if the depiction here is anything to go by, I would assume that they're really good. And I liked the fleshing out of Emily, who is often sidelined for Charlotte (who, in turn, is turned into a bit of a one-note character, but she's always been my least favorite of the Bronte writers, so I can live), and it was interesting to see them in the context. I didn't care for the whole long-lost love aspect, mostly because I feel like Emily was too much like her characters. I'm not a monster, a certain someone's death got me teary-eyed. But overall, I thought it was a bit melodramatic for Emily Bronte. I may have been spoiled by "To Walk Invisible," which is so delightful and takes such care to paint all of the people involved as human beings, that I just had too high of an expectation for this.
The book is mostly focused on an imagined romance between Emily Bronte and a local radical curate, Mr. Weightman. I did really enjoy the discussions of people actively pursuing justice in the world for the working poor. From what I can tell from reading a bit more about Giardina, this is what most of her other books working on. And if the depiction here is anything to go by, I would assume that they're really good. And I liked the fleshing out of Emily, who is often sidelined for Charlotte (who, in turn, is turned into a bit of a one-note character, but she's always been my least favorite of the Bronte writers, so I can live), and it was interesting to see them in the context. I didn't care for the whole long-lost love aspect, mostly because I feel like Emily was too much like her characters. I'm not a monster, a certain someone's death got me teary-eyed. But overall, I thought it was a bit melodramatic for Emily Bronte. I may have been spoiled by "To Walk Invisible," which is so delightful and takes such care to paint all of the people involved as human beings, that I just had too high of an expectation for this.
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