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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
No matter how often I read or listen to a Dorothy Sayers mystery, I always enjoy it tremendously. This one and it’s predecessor Gaudy Night are definitely my favorites.
While it's tempting to read about the central relationship and the issues the characters work through - independence versus reliance, financial autonomy, vocation versus relationship and the possibility of happiness between two people of equal intelligence - against the intriguing apparent contrasts of the Trumps and Obamas, who knows what goes on between two people? The mystery in this book is neither here nor there really except in as much as it illuminates all these issues. Time to move on from this comfort reading, though I know I will be back at some point.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Last year, on August the 13th, I finished Gaudy Night (after only two days or so, which was remarkable at the time considering how linguistically challenging it was) and immediately propelled it to be one of the most revolutionary reads ever. Then Busman's Honeymoon started its 1st time try-then-dnf (sorry!) in September, at 50%. Another attempt was made last June this year, but I again dnf at 9% (so sorry!). I had decided to give it up by then, but a rather inexplicably uncanny twist of fate led to me being stood up by my student on, guess what, August the 13th! And this book seemed to be the most likely read for I had previously removed most of other potential ones from my Kindle to make it look less crammed. I didn't know it was a special day for me a quite random reader of this series, until I had some kind of a hunch and looked it up here on GR after vaguely recalling having read Gaudy Night in August. So there I was, restarting Busman's Honeymoon, determined to get through it to honor this beautiful coincidental arrangement.
Of course with the unrivaled Gaudy Night, it was reasonable for one not to expect such an eye-opening experience with Busman's Honeymoon (in fact I've given up holding Gaudy Night as a standard for anything, just my feelings while reading it). I liked this one but didn't love it, not even remotely as I loved its predecessor, including all the setting, the plot, the use of language, the psychological development, everything and anything. But as Strong Poison and Have His Carcase, Sayers's writing is always of such a high quality that you just can't give it less than 4 stars, though I don't understand most of the references, and the French language. Seriously! There were just too many lines I didn't even bother to google translate (on that note I think I might have to, some time later). But that was entirely predictable: his lordship did propose to Harriet in Latin after all! Speaking of which, the ending of Gaudy Night was quite rosy, so I was troubled by all the misgivings she had at the start of this book, and also of their marriage. Everything had beensettled, she had conceded her own feelings, they had been promised to each other under the sunset light (or was it lamplight? I can't remember correctly), then what other qualms could there possibly be? Well, welcome to a post happily-ever-after, Sayers's edition! Which brings me to my most favorite point of Busman's Honeymoon: it was so damn realistic. Married or not, real people, or fictional ones made real, still have a lot to go through, to negotiate, even to compromise. And just like Gaudy Night, the murder mystery was just the façade for our characters' genuine struggles with their own issues, which I'm not going to name because I feel like I've known them all my life and well enough to do such a superfluous thing. The ending of Busman's Honeymoon was so pure and moving it hurt when, instead of the so-called triumph of solving a homicide and putting the culprit behind bars then towards the gallows as portrayed in other numerous detective novels I believe, our sleuth was emotionally devastated, apparently as he had been so many times before. Before having at last a "hiding corner" now that he had her.
Of course with the unrivaled Gaudy Night, it was reasonable for one not to expect such an eye-opening experience with Busman's Honeymoon (in fact I've given up holding Gaudy Night as a standard for anything, just my feelings while reading it). I liked this one but didn't love it, not even remotely as I loved its predecessor, including all the setting, the plot, the use of language, the psychological development, everything and anything. But as Strong Poison and Have His Carcase, Sayers's writing is always of such a high quality that you just can't give it less than 4 stars, though I don't understand most of the references, and the French language. Seriously! There were just too many lines I didn't even bother to google translate (on that note I think I might have to, some time later). But that was entirely predictable: his lordship did propose to Harriet in Latin after all! Speaking of which, the ending of Gaudy Night was quite rosy, so I was troubled by all the misgivings she had at the start of this book, and also of their marriage. Everything had beensettled, she had conceded her own feelings, they had been promised to each other under the sunset light (or was it lamplight? I can't remember correctly), then what other qualms could there possibly be? Well, welcome to a post happily-ever-after, Sayers's edition! Which brings me to my most favorite point of Busman's Honeymoon: it was so damn realistic. Married or not, real people, or fictional ones made real, still have a lot to go through, to negotiate, even to compromise. And just like Gaudy Night, the murder mystery was just the façade for our characters' genuine struggles with their own issues, which I'm not going to name because I feel like I've known them all my life and well enough to do such a superfluous thing. The ending of Busman's Honeymoon was so pure and moving it hurt when, instead of the so-called triumph of solving a homicide and putting the culprit behind bars then towards the gallows as portrayed in other numerous detective novels I believe, our sleuth was emotionally devastated, apparently as he had been so many times before. Before having at last a "hiding corner" now that he had her.
Here, then, at home, by no more storms distress
Folding laborious hands we sit, wings furled...
These will never stand up to a Christie standard but I do enjoy the mingling of private life and detective that we get. Harriet is a good addition. Sadly this is about all we have of these two as a couple
all over the place review incoming
this book is extremely hard for me to rate. It's the last Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane book (also the last Lord Peter Wimsey book ever written), so there is this sense of fanservice and closure in a way? that I quite enjoyed. The mystery is definitely not the focus in this book, so while I enjoy the two main characters, I missed more of a mystery feel to this story (although, to be fair, there is always a lot going on besides mystery in this series).
Also, the snobbery in this book is quite apparent, an issue in previous books, but even more so in this installment. Yes, this series is focused on a literal Lord and written in 1930s England, but still...not the most fun to read about at times. Speaking of snobbery, there were certain parts in this book written in Latin and French that just...didn't have translations?? I have learned that people in 1930s England who were supposed to be in 'certain social circles' or whatever knew Latin and French...besides the issues this presents for making this book more accessible, the fact that there is no translation provided in the book in a much more recent edition definitely took me out of the book a couple times.
Harriet and Peter's relationship were definitely the best part of this story imo, I love how mature and loving they are with each other. There was also a good bit of humor and silliness between them that was very cute and made me chuckle. I also really enjoyed that we got to see the toll solving mysteries has on Peter, especially because in this era it meant that whoever he found guilty of murder was hung. Not something I see discussed a lot in mystery books.
Overall, while I did enjoy parts of this book, unfortunately it was not the slam dunk I had hoped it would be. I reallly have enjoyed previous books in this series, so it's a bit disappointing. That being said, a disappointing installment in this series is honestly still better than a lot of other books.
Rating: somewhere around 4 stars
this book is extremely hard for me to rate. It's the last Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane book (also the last Lord Peter Wimsey book ever written), so there is this sense of fanservice and closure in a way? that I quite enjoyed. The mystery is definitely not the focus in this book, so while I enjoy the two main characters, I missed more of a mystery feel to this story (although, to be fair, there is always a lot going on besides mystery in this series).
Also, the snobbery in this book is quite apparent, an issue in previous books, but even more so in this installment. Yes, this series is focused on a literal Lord and written in 1930s England, but still...not the most fun to read about at times. Speaking of snobbery, there were certain parts in this book written in Latin and French that just...didn't have translations?? I have learned that people in 1930s England who were supposed to be in 'certain social circles' or whatever knew Latin and French...besides the issues this presents for making this book more accessible, the fact that there is no translation provided in the book in a much more recent edition definitely took me out of the book a couple times.
Harriet and Peter's relationship were definitely the best part of this story imo, I love how mature and loving they are with each other. There was also a good bit of humor and silliness between them that was very cute and made me chuckle. I also really enjoyed that we got to see the toll solving mysteries has on Peter, especially because in this era it meant that whoever he found guilty of murder was hung. Not something I see discussed a lot in mystery books.
Overall, while I did enjoy parts of this book, unfortunately it was not the slam dunk I had hoped it would be. I reallly have enjoyed previous books in this series, so it's a bit disappointing. That being said, a disappointing installment in this series is honestly still better than a lot of other books.
Rating: somewhere around 4 stars