book report (and the worst description in the world.)
So far this year, I have read four books. The first one I read was The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, it was a sweet and charming read. If you like Alice Hoffman's style of writing, this is very similar and in the vein of magic realism. One of the characters has a thing where books magically appear whenever she needs them, which is a really great ability, except that it manifests itself by self-help books stalking her.
Then I started the Morland Dynasty series by Cynthia Harrod Eagles, which is an enormously long series following one English family starting in 1434. So far, I've read the first two books, The Founding and The Dark Rose. I really like the idea of the story and also learning more about history and they are not badly written, but there are some things about them that I am starting to dislike.
So The Founding was fine, although there were a few unlikeable moments and characters, but that's to be expected in a historical novel. One can't expect characters in the past to behave with the same values that seem more sensible today.
BUT. In the second book, one of the girls, Nanette, falls in love with her uncle and marries him. And they are kind of temporarily ashamed, but then give in to their feelings because it is Twoo Wuv. And in the third book, which I am in the middle of right now, there are a mother and son who have inappropriate feelings for each other. But then right when they're about to act on their feelings, the mother character dies. Of shame, apparently, there's really not much other reason given.
Seriously, is this going to be a recurring theme for like, 32 novels? I don't think I can stick around if that's the case.
But wait! It's get better! Later on, the incestuous son, John, falls in love with some girl who is thankfully not related to him. Anyway, this girl, Mary, is an only child who has been raised as a son by her doting father and doesn't want to marry and give up her independence. So John courts her for years and years (approximately two chapters)and eventually convinces Mary that he's not going to oppress her or anything. And Mary finally consents to marriage/making out.
Which is described thusly: "He gathered her into his arms, and she was as soft and unresisting as a dead child."
D: WHAT IS THAT? THAT'S NOT HOT, BOOK. NO. That may be the worst description of any make out I've ever read. I don't even know.
I dunno, I'm really creeped out now, but I guess I'll finish the book and see if there's anything else as hillaribly bad as that line.
Then I started the Morland Dynasty series by Cynthia Harrod Eagles, which is an enormously long series following one English family starting in 1434. So far, I've read the first two books, The Founding and The Dark Rose. I really like the idea of the story and also learning more about history and they are not badly written, but there are some things about them that I am starting to dislike.
So The Founding was fine, although there were a few unlikeable moments and characters, but that's to be expected in a historical novel. One can't expect characters in the past to behave with the same values that seem more sensible today.
BUT. In the second book, one of the girls, Nanette, falls in love with her uncle and marries him. And they are kind of temporarily ashamed, but then give in to their feelings because it is Twoo Wuv. And in the third book, which I am in the middle of right now, there are a mother and son who have inappropriate feelings for each other. But then right when they're about to act on their feelings, the mother character dies. Of shame, apparently, there's really not much other reason given.
Seriously, is this going to be a recurring theme for like, 32 novels? I don't think I can stick around if that's the case.
But wait! It's get better! Later on, the incestuous son, John, falls in love with some girl who is thankfully not related to him. Anyway, this girl, Mary, is an only child who has been raised as a son by her doting father and doesn't want to marry and give up her independence. So John courts her for years and years (approximately two chapters)and eventually convinces Mary that he's not going to oppress her or anything. And Mary finally consents to marriage/making out.
Which is described thusly: "He gathered her into his arms, and she was as soft and unresisting as a dead child."
D: WHAT IS THAT? THAT'S NOT HOT, BOOK. NO. That may be the worst description of any make out I've ever read. I don't even know.
I dunno, I'm really creeped out now, but I guess I'll finish the book and see if there's anything else as hillaribly bad as that line.