Book reviews
It took me the better part of the day, but here I am with reviews for some of the books I've read in the last four months. Here we go!
♦ Lu et commenté en français
♣ Read and commented in English
✓ Un livre qui compte pour mon bingo
#xxxx# A book I've read before
April
♣ 19. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Marie Kondo. I'd heard a lot about this book, and was genuinely curious to see what it all was about. It was a pleasant enough read, but the Konmari method sadly isn't for me. I can't see myself talking to my stuff, and I already know that I don't need so many books around, but very much want them to stay.
-> keywords: house, how-to, self-help book
♣ 20. A Husband for Miss Trent, Anne Gallagher. Quite honestly, I've already forgotten about this one. Let's see *checks on goodreads*. Oh, yes, pretty but impoverished girl, fairy godmother, ball in town, gets married.
-> keywords: cliché, family, friendship, hidden in plain sight, it's a romance!
♦ 21. L'amour joue et gagne, Barbara Cartland. Première chose, je ne m'attendais pas à ça de la part de Mme Cartland, ils n'attendent pas la fin du livre pour s'embrasser! Sinon, une histoire des plus classiques: noble mais pauvre, il voit débarquer une pupille qu'il avait complètement oubliée. Elle se met en tête de faire un mariage d'argent pour redresser les finances de son tuteur, mais évidemment ils tombent amoureux l'un de l'autre. Je ne me souviens plus comment ils parviennent à résoudre la question de l'argent à trouver, mais évidemment, solution il y a.
-> keywords: cliché, decisions[,] decisions, i have a plan, it's a romance!,
♦ 22. La douceur, Christophe Honoré. Quel titre trompeur, il y a tellement peu de douceur dans cette histoire. Une famille, déchirée par le souvenir d'un drame: le plus jeune fils - alors enfant - a commis un acte de barbarie atroce. Son frère, ses parents tentent de comprendre tandis que l'auteur, au fur et à mesure, déroule les faits tels qu'ils se sont produits. Un court roman fort et dérangeant. (Qui attendait autre chose de cet auteur?)
-> keywords: brothers, crime, crossing the line, family, love makes you a fool, manipulation, may contain nuts (or slash), secrets, taboo, this is not pretty, walking with your ghosts
♣ 23. #Black Sheep#, Georgette Heyer. I was in need of a good romance, and it's easier to fall back on one I've already read than to find a new one. I stand by what I said the last time: Miles is unsufferable, and Abigail perfectly enchanting. (I think this book is pretty much the standard against which I rate Regency Romances now)
-> keywords: canon pairings are love, decisions[,] decisions, family, it's a romance!, sisters, smart characters are smart
♣ 24. Dangling Man, Saul Bellow. I started this book three times before I managed to force myself to read on, dammit, and I probably wouldn't have given myself the trouble if it hadn't been assigned reading for a challenge. Basically, this is the story of a man who has stopped working because he's about to be called into the army, waiting for said call. It gives him time to think about himself, and the world, and how it is all so very dissatisfying. Not much happens, and it doesn't make for an uplifting book, let me tell you.
-> keywords: depression, family, pride, walking with your ghosts
♣ 25. Cotillion, Georgette Heyer. So much love for this one! Kitty, our heroine, has the dubious chance of being the ward of and elderly, capricious man. She has no money of her own, but her rich guardian will make her his heir, if and only if she marries one of his nephews. Kitty subsequently receives dispiriting offers from almost each of them - except of course the rakeish one she would have accepted. To spite him, and get to visit London, she has another nephew offer for her hand (duly checking that he has no interest in marrying her): bethroted, it is only natural that she should visit her future in-laws. Nothing quite goes as it was supposed to, of course. Special mention for Freddy's father!
-> keywords: canon pairings are love, family, fools you shall suffer, friendship, i have a plan, it's a romance!, oh mother!, panic attack, secrets, time to change, you stupid!
May
♣ 26. Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer. A young man of the ton meets with a slip of a girl, young relative who lives a Cindirella-like life under the care of her aunt. Little later, the girl flees her home, unaware of the dangers she'll be facing. The hero can't in conscience leave her to fend for herself, and agrees to escort her to her grandfather, but the man is out of town. He then consigns her to the guard of his best friend, a young woman he grew up with, while he goes in search of the grandfather. Entertaining.
-> keywords: blackmail, crossing the line, decisions[,] decisions, fools you shall suffer, friendship, i have a plan, it's a romance!, oh father!, oh mother!
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre d'un auteur que vous aimez beaucoup, livre écrit par une femme, livre avec plusieurs personnes sur la couverture
♣ 31. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, Claire North. I was so ready to love this book, and so disappointed that it didn't lend itself to unconditional love. The plot idea was great: the main character, Harry, is one of the few per century who are born, live their life, and, when they die, start over again, reborn exactly in the same time and place as the first time. At the beginning of the book, a message comes to Harry from the future, passed down from generation to generation: the end of the world is coming faster. Harry begins his investigations, life after life, trying to find out who interferes with the times, and why. However smart, I didn't find Harry quite entirely likeable. The format - the book is supposed to be written by the protagonist - didn't quite work for me, especially when you learn when exactly it is supposed to have been written. And most importantly, I don't feel the ending was quite in character. Enough said. This isn't a bad book, just a disappointing one. (Oh, and I would add a warning for torture - thought you should know).
-> keywords: blackmail, crossing the line, decisions[,] decisions, first person narration, friendship, good guys vs. bad guys, i have a plan, mental illness, mentor/apprentice relationship, secrets, smart characters are smart, the end of the world is upon us, walking with your ghosts
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 21e siècle, science-fiction, livre en rapport avec le temps, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre publié sous un pseudonyme, livre écrit par une femme, livre dont le personnage principal est un enfant, livre dont le personnage principal est un senior, livre avec un nombre dans le titre
♣ 32. Everything I Never Told You, Celeste Ng. I didn't think much of this book at first, but this one I loved. It's the story of a teenage girl who died. She was sixteen, her parents loved her so, so much. But with their love came so many expectations. Lydia's story will crush you, suffocate you, but you'll end up feeling so much for her and her family.
-> keywords: family, hidden in plain sight, inheritance, maskerade, oh father!, oh mother!, secrets, thou shall be a good girl, walking with your ghosts
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 21e siècle, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre écrit par une femme, premier livre écrit par un auteur, livre dont l'action ne se déroule pas sur votre continent
♣ 33. Bething's Folly, Barbara Metzger. Well, no. The writing was correct, but the plot didn't convince me. Above average, but not great. (Marriage of convenience > starting to fall for each other > misunderstanding > not talking it over like grown ups)
-> keywords: friendship, gossip, hidden in plain sight, it's a romance!, let's do nothing about it, prejudice, pride, you stupid!
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre écrit par une femme, premier livre écrit par un auteur
♣ 34. Glimmer of Hope, Sarah M. Eden. If you like your heroines meek, wronged, but ever-loving, sure, that's the book you need. It's well written, but I didn't care much for the characters. Or the plot.
-> keywords: cliché, family, it's a romance!, let's do nothing about it, love her/love her not, mentor/apprentice relationship, oh mother!, secrets, walking with your ghosts
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 21e siècle, romance, livre en rapport avec une maladie, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre donc vous aimez beaucoup la couverture, livre écrit par une femme, livre avec plusieurs personnes sur la couverture
June
♣ 35. The Smile of a Stranger, Joan Aiken. The heroin, a young girl, has been raised by her father in Italy. When a mysterious stranger seems to find her way to them, the father decides that it's time they went back to England, even if it means going through France during the revolution. Once "safely" in England, she keeps meeting with new adventures - and being rescued by a kindly man, friend of the Regent. I liked the girl's resourcefulness, and the unlikely people she meets with.
-> keywords: adventure i seek you, book(s) in the book, canon pairings are love, family, friendship, inheritance, it's a romance!, liar liar pants on fire!, maskerade, oh mother!
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 20e siècle, aventure, romance, livre écrit par une femme
♣ 36. Devil's Cub, Georgette Heyer. A rakish lord, having shot a man in a gaming hell, must flee to France. He asks his would be mistress to come with him, but the girl's sister, thinking of saving her sister's good name, takes her place, believing she'll be back soon enough to avoid any blemish on her reputation. But the man is a hot head, and insists on crossing over with her, realizing too late that she is no hussy, but a gentlewoman. There's nothing for them but to marry. Of course, things can't be that simple. Also featured: a secondary couple, misplaced nobility, the man's parents (who we know from These Old Shades). I liked it.
-> keywords: canon pairings are love, cliché, crossing the line, family, it's a romance!, love makes you a fool, manipulation, oh father!, oh mother!, on the road again, time to change
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre d'un auteur que vous aimez beaucoup, tome d'une série qui n'est pas le premier, livre écrit par une femme, livre avec plusieurs personnes sur la couverture
♣ 37. Madcap Miss, Joan Smith. Grace has lost her place as a governess. Penniless, she dresses up as a child - thanking her petite figure - to save up on coach fare. She meets there Lord Whewett, on his way to visit his late wife's grandma. He means to humour the old lady so that she will leave her fortune to his dauhgter. As the daughter is too shy to meet the dragon-like grandmother, and Grace's plans don't quite work out as they ought, Grace agrees to impersonate Whewett's daughter for a couple of days. Well, how is that for a premise? I did enjoy the story. Thinking back, I would have loved for more characters to be involved - as it is, Grace, Whewett and the grandmother make up the main cast - but this one is still hugely entertaining and well done.
-> keywords: adventure i seek you, canon pairings are love, crossing the line, family, hidden in plain sight, inheritance, it's a romance!, maskerade, strong women, time to change
catégories bingo: littérature canadienne, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre écrit par une femme, livre dont le personnage principal est un enfant, livre dont le personnage principal est un senior
♣ 38. Valerie, Joan Smith. This close to being a parody, and written in a could-be-tricky first person narration, but it worked. Valerie, a tall, strong young woman comes to stay with her aunt who is secretly a novel writer. Her aunt wants her to try various feats she intends to put her next heroin through, priding herself on her "researched facts". But the author's real life proves just as intriguing to Valerie, who isn't one to stand aside doing nothing when there's a mystery to solve. Give this one a try, you'll be glad you did. Also: Welland Sinclair = Benedict Cumberbatch, or so my brain decided.
-> keywords: adventure i seek you, blackmail, book(s) in the book, canon pairings are love, cliché, crossing the line, detective, family, first person narration, fools you shall suffer, hidden in plain sight, it's a romance!, maskerade, secrets, strong women, treasure
catégories bingo: littérature canadienne, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre écrit par une femme,
♣ 39. Strange Bedfellows, Maggie MacKeever. Sorry, but no. The characters are fine enough, but the main couple is already married and blisfully in love, and the secondary couple is bleh - however handsome the man may be, he so lacks character! Plus, when exactly do fathers refuse their consent when the prospective bridgegroom is rich, titled and in love with the girl? Also, there was a mystery but it wasn't quite solved in the end.
-> keywords: blackmail, cliché, decisions[,] decisions, detective, friendship, it's a romance!, oh mother!, treasure
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 20e siècle, policier, romance, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre écrit par une femme
♣ 40. A Good Rogue is Hard to Find, Kelly Bowen. God yes, this was a good one! Complex, well plotted, with strong female characters and some welcome humor. It is written for a conntemporary audience, I don't think the issues discussed by the characters would have occured to them, and there were a couple of vocabulary slips, or so I felt at the time. But I did enjoy myself immensely, and I do have the next one pre-ordered. August can't come too soon!
-> keywords: canon pairings are love, crossing the line, decisions[,] decisions, family, gossip, hidden in plain sight, humor, i have a plan, it's a romance!, manipulation, maskerade, oh mother!, secrets, smart characters are smart, strong women, time to change
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 21e siècle, romance, humour, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, premier tome d'une série, livre écrit par une femme
♣ 43. The Earl's Invention, Diana Campbell. No no no! This was a variation on the 'would you impersonate my ---' theme, with an impoverished governess pretending to be an Earl's long lost niece. Of course they do fall for each other, and I read on to see how the scandalous situation of a man marrying his own niece would be dealt with. Well, it wasn't adressed at all, so there. If you add to that the fact that the Earl (a hardened bachelor) falls in love because she's pretty after her makeover, and that she falls for him because he's handsome and sometimes kind, even if he never ever listens to whatever she says, is uncommonly jealous and likes to order her about, well, thanks but no thanks?
-> keywords: cliché, family, friendship, inheritance, it's a romance!, maskerade, oh mother!, secrets, time to change
catégories bingo: livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille; livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre écrit par une femme
July
♣ 47. The More Deceived, David Roberts. A detective/spy story, and a good one. It is set before World War II. The main character, Lord Edward Corinth, is informaly linked to the Foreign Office. He has a complicated relationship with a Communist journalist, Verity, who is about to go back to Spain to report on the war. Corinth is asked to look into how, why and by whom secret information seems to be leaked to one Winston Churchill, who makes the government look bad in the press. He quickly finds himself investingating murders. I liked this story, the nice guys and the villains, but now I need to read more of the series, because: backstory!
-> keywords: adventure i seek you, canon pairings are love, crime, decisions[,] decisions, detective, friendship, good guys vs. bad guys, secrets, war
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 21e siècle, aventure, espionnage, fiction historique, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, tome d'une série qui n'est pas le premier, livre donc vous aimez beaucoup la couverture, livre avec plusieurs personnes sur la couverture
♦ Lu et commenté en français
♣ Read and commented in English
✓ Un livre qui compte pour mon bingo
#xxxx# A book I've read before
April
♣ 19. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Marie Kondo. I'd heard a lot about this book, and was genuinely curious to see what it all was about. It was a pleasant enough read, but the Konmari method sadly isn't for me. I can't see myself talking to my stuff, and I already know that I don't need so many books around, but very much want them to stay.
-> keywords: house, how-to, self-help book
♣ 20. A Husband for Miss Trent, Anne Gallagher. Quite honestly, I've already forgotten about this one. Let's see *checks on goodreads*. Oh, yes, pretty but impoverished girl, fairy godmother, ball in town, gets married.
-> keywords: cliché, family, friendship, hidden in plain sight, it's a romance!
♦ 21. L'amour joue et gagne, Barbara Cartland. Première chose, je ne m'attendais pas à ça de la part de Mme Cartland, ils n'attendent pas la fin du livre pour s'embrasser! Sinon, une histoire des plus classiques: noble mais pauvre, il voit débarquer une pupille qu'il avait complètement oubliée. Elle se met en tête de faire un mariage d'argent pour redresser les finances de son tuteur, mais évidemment ils tombent amoureux l'un de l'autre. Je ne me souviens plus comment ils parviennent à résoudre la question de l'argent à trouver, mais évidemment, solution il y a.
-> keywords: cliché, decisions[,] decisions, i have a plan, it's a romance!,
♦ 22. La douceur, Christophe Honoré. Quel titre trompeur, il y a tellement peu de douceur dans cette histoire. Une famille, déchirée par le souvenir d'un drame: le plus jeune fils - alors enfant - a commis un acte de barbarie atroce. Son frère, ses parents tentent de comprendre tandis que l'auteur, au fur et à mesure, déroule les faits tels qu'ils se sont produits. Un court roman fort et dérangeant. (Qui attendait autre chose de cet auteur?)
-> keywords: brothers, crime, crossing the line, family, love makes you a fool, manipulation, may contain nuts (or slash), secrets, taboo, this is not pretty, walking with your ghosts
♣ 23. #Black Sheep#, Georgette Heyer. I was in need of a good romance, and it's easier to fall back on one I've already read than to find a new one. I stand by what I said the last time: Miles is unsufferable, and Abigail perfectly enchanting. (I think this book is pretty much the standard against which I rate Regency Romances now)
-> keywords: canon pairings are love, decisions[,] decisions, family, it's a romance!, sisters, smart characters are smart
♣ 24. Dangling Man, Saul Bellow. I started this book three times before I managed to force myself to read on, dammit, and I probably wouldn't have given myself the trouble if it hadn't been assigned reading for a challenge. Basically, this is the story of a man who has stopped working because he's about to be called into the army, waiting for said call. It gives him time to think about himself, and the world, and how it is all so very dissatisfying. Not much happens, and it doesn't make for an uplifting book, let me tell you.
-> keywords: depression, family, pride, walking with your ghosts
♣ 25. Cotillion, Georgette Heyer. So much love for this one! Kitty, our heroine, has the dubious chance of being the ward of and elderly, capricious man. She has no money of her own, but her rich guardian will make her his heir, if and only if she marries one of his nephews. Kitty subsequently receives dispiriting offers from almost each of them - except of course the rakeish one she would have accepted. To spite him, and get to visit London, she has another nephew offer for her hand (duly checking that he has no interest in marrying her): bethroted, it is only natural that she should visit her future in-laws. Nothing quite goes as it was supposed to, of course. Special mention for Freddy's father!
-> keywords: canon pairings are love, family, fools you shall suffer, friendship, i have a plan, it's a romance!, oh mother!, panic attack, secrets, time to change, you stupid!
May
♣ 26. Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer. A young man of the ton meets with a slip of a girl, young relative who lives a Cindirella-like life under the care of her aunt. Little later, the girl flees her home, unaware of the dangers she'll be facing. The hero can't in conscience leave her to fend for herself, and agrees to escort her to her grandfather, but the man is out of town. He then consigns her to the guard of his best friend, a young woman he grew up with, while he goes in search of the grandfather. Entertaining.
-> keywords: blackmail, crossing the line, decisions[,] decisions, fools you shall suffer, friendship, i have a plan, it's a romance!, oh father!, oh mother!
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre d'un auteur que vous aimez beaucoup, livre écrit par une femme, livre avec plusieurs personnes sur la couverture
♣ 31. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, Claire North. I was so ready to love this book, and so disappointed that it didn't lend itself to unconditional love. The plot idea was great: the main character, Harry, is one of the few per century who are born, live their life, and, when they die, start over again, reborn exactly in the same time and place as the first time. At the beginning of the book, a message comes to Harry from the future, passed down from generation to generation: the end of the world is coming faster. Harry begins his investigations, life after life, trying to find out who interferes with the times, and why. However smart, I didn't find Harry quite entirely likeable. The format - the book is supposed to be written by the protagonist - didn't quite work for me, especially when you learn when exactly it is supposed to have been written. And most importantly, I don't feel the ending was quite in character. Enough said. This isn't a bad book, just a disappointing one. (Oh, and I would add a warning for torture - thought you should know).
-> keywords: blackmail, crossing the line, decisions[,] decisions, first person narration, friendship, good guys vs. bad guys, i have a plan, mental illness, mentor/apprentice relationship, secrets, smart characters are smart, the end of the world is upon us, walking with your ghosts
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 21e siècle, science-fiction, livre en rapport avec le temps, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre publié sous un pseudonyme, livre écrit par une femme, livre dont le personnage principal est un enfant, livre dont le personnage principal est un senior, livre avec un nombre dans le titre
♣ 32. Everything I Never Told You, Celeste Ng. I didn't think much of this book at first, but this one I loved. It's the story of a teenage girl who died. She was sixteen, her parents loved her so, so much. But with their love came so many expectations. Lydia's story will crush you, suffocate you, but you'll end up feeling so much for her and her family.
-> keywords: family, hidden in plain sight, inheritance, maskerade, oh father!, oh mother!, secrets, thou shall be a good girl, walking with your ghosts
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 21e siècle, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre écrit par une femme, premier livre écrit par un auteur, livre dont l'action ne se déroule pas sur votre continent
♣ 33. Bething's Folly, Barbara Metzger. Well, no. The writing was correct, but the plot didn't convince me. Above average, but not great. (Marriage of convenience > starting to fall for each other > misunderstanding > not talking it over like grown ups)
-> keywords: friendship, gossip, hidden in plain sight, it's a romance!, let's do nothing about it, prejudice, pride, you stupid!
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre écrit par une femme, premier livre écrit par un auteur
♣ 34. Glimmer of Hope, Sarah M. Eden. If you like your heroines meek, wronged, but ever-loving, sure, that's the book you need. It's well written, but I didn't care much for the characters. Or the plot.
-> keywords: cliché, family, it's a romance!, let's do nothing about it, love her/love her not, mentor/apprentice relationship, oh mother!, secrets, walking with your ghosts
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 21e siècle, romance, livre en rapport avec une maladie, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre donc vous aimez beaucoup la couverture, livre écrit par une femme, livre avec plusieurs personnes sur la couverture
June
♣ 35. The Smile of a Stranger, Joan Aiken. The heroin, a young girl, has been raised by her father in Italy. When a mysterious stranger seems to find her way to them, the father decides that it's time they went back to England, even if it means going through France during the revolution. Once "safely" in England, she keeps meeting with new adventures - and being rescued by a kindly man, friend of the Regent. I liked the girl's resourcefulness, and the unlikely people she meets with.
-> keywords: adventure i seek you, book(s) in the book, canon pairings are love, family, friendship, inheritance, it's a romance!, liar liar pants on fire!, maskerade, oh mother!
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 20e siècle, aventure, romance, livre écrit par une femme
♣ 36. Devil's Cub, Georgette Heyer. A rakish lord, having shot a man in a gaming hell, must flee to France. He asks his would be mistress to come with him, but the girl's sister, thinking of saving her sister's good name, takes her place, believing she'll be back soon enough to avoid any blemish on her reputation. But the man is a hot head, and insists on crossing over with her, realizing too late that she is no hussy, but a gentlewoman. There's nothing for them but to marry. Of course, things can't be that simple. Also featured: a secondary couple, misplaced nobility, the man's parents (who we know from These Old Shades). I liked it.
-> keywords: canon pairings are love, cliché, crossing the line, family, it's a romance!, love makes you a fool, manipulation, oh father!, oh mother!, on the road again, time to change
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre d'un auteur que vous aimez beaucoup, tome d'une série qui n'est pas le premier, livre écrit par une femme, livre avec plusieurs personnes sur la couverture
♣ 37. Madcap Miss, Joan Smith. Grace has lost her place as a governess. Penniless, she dresses up as a child - thanking her petite figure - to save up on coach fare. She meets there Lord Whewett, on his way to visit his late wife's grandma. He means to humour the old lady so that she will leave her fortune to his dauhgter. As the daughter is too shy to meet the dragon-like grandmother, and Grace's plans don't quite work out as they ought, Grace agrees to impersonate Whewett's daughter for a couple of days. Well, how is that for a premise? I did enjoy the story. Thinking back, I would have loved for more characters to be involved - as it is, Grace, Whewett and the grandmother make up the main cast - but this one is still hugely entertaining and well done.
-> keywords: adventure i seek you, canon pairings are love, crossing the line, family, hidden in plain sight, inheritance, it's a romance!, maskerade, strong women, time to change
catégories bingo: littérature canadienne, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre écrit par une femme, livre dont le personnage principal est un enfant, livre dont le personnage principal est un senior
♣ 38. Valerie, Joan Smith. This close to being a parody, and written in a could-be-tricky first person narration, but it worked. Valerie, a tall, strong young woman comes to stay with her aunt who is secretly a novel writer. Her aunt wants her to try various feats she intends to put her next heroin through, priding herself on her "researched facts". But the author's real life proves just as intriguing to Valerie, who isn't one to stand aside doing nothing when there's a mystery to solve. Give this one a try, you'll be glad you did. Also: Welland Sinclair = Benedict Cumberbatch, or so my brain decided.
-> keywords: adventure i seek you, blackmail, book(s) in the book, canon pairings are love, cliché, crossing the line, detective, family, first person narration, fools you shall suffer, hidden in plain sight, it's a romance!, maskerade, secrets, strong women, treasure
catégories bingo: littérature canadienne, livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre écrit par une femme,
♣ 39. Strange Bedfellows, Maggie MacKeever. Sorry, but no. The characters are fine enough, but the main couple is already married and blisfully in love, and the secondary couple is bleh - however handsome the man may be, he so lacks character! Plus, when exactly do fathers refuse their consent when the prospective bridgegroom is rich, titled and in love with the girl? Also, there was a mystery but it wasn't quite solved in the end.
-> keywords: blackmail, cliché, decisions[,] decisions, detective, friendship, it's a romance!, oh mother!, treasure
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 20e siècle, policier, romance, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre écrit par une femme
♣ 40. A Good Rogue is Hard to Find, Kelly Bowen. God yes, this was a good one! Complex, well plotted, with strong female characters and some welcome humor. It is written for a conntemporary audience, I don't think the issues discussed by the characters would have occured to them, and there were a couple of vocabulary slips, or so I felt at the time. But I did enjoy myself immensely, and I do have the next one pre-ordered. August can't come too soon!
-> keywords: canon pairings are love, crossing the line, decisions[,] decisions, family, gossip, hidden in plain sight, humor, i have a plan, it's a romance!, manipulation, maskerade, oh mother!, secrets, smart characters are smart, strong women, time to change
catégories bingo: littérature des Etats-Unis, livre du 21e siècle, romance, humour, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, premier tome d'une série, livre écrit par une femme
♣ 43. The Earl's Invention, Diana Campbell. No no no! This was a variation on the 'would you impersonate my ---' theme, with an impoverished governess pretending to be an Earl's long lost niece. Of course they do fall for each other, and I read on to see how the scandalous situation of a man marrying his own niece would be dealt with. Well, it wasn't adressed at all, so there. If you add to that the fact that the Earl (a hardened bachelor) falls in love because she's pretty after her makeover, and that she falls for him because he's handsome and sometimes kind, even if he never ever listens to whatever she says, is uncommonly jealous and likes to order her about, well, thanks but no thanks?
-> keywords: cliché, family, friendship, inheritance, it's a romance!, maskerade, oh mother!, secrets, time to change
catégories bingo: livre du 20e siècle, romance, livre en rapport avec la famille / une famille; livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, livre écrit par une femme
July
♣ 47. The More Deceived, David Roberts. A detective/spy story, and a good one. It is set before World War II. The main character, Lord Edward Corinth, is informaly linked to the Foreign Office. He has a complicated relationship with a Communist journalist, Verity, who is about to go back to Spain to report on the war. Corinth is asked to look into how, why and by whom secret information seems to be leaked to one Winston Churchill, who makes the government look bad in the press. He quickly finds himself investingating murders. I liked this story, the nice guys and the villains, but now I need to read more of the series, because: backstory!
-> keywords: adventure i seek you, canon pairings are love, crime, decisions[,] decisions, detective, friendship, good guys vs. bad guys, secrets, war
catégories bingo: littérature des îles britanniques, livre du 21e siècle, aventure, espionnage, fiction historique, livre d'un auteur que vous ne connaissez pas du tout, tome d'une série qui n'est pas le premier, livre donc vous aimez beaucoup la couverture, livre avec plusieurs personnes sur la couverture