Book Log #2
Ugh, I have some sort of death flu that the doctors cannot identify. After this, I think I'm going to stick to rereading for a bit, just so it will matter less when I pass out mid-word.
Mr. Darcy’s Dream by Elizabeth Aston
When I go for chick lit, I go for historical chick lit. I’ve been reading this series over the past few years as it centers around various close and extended members of the Darcy family and I find it enjoyable. Characters from earlier books appear in later ones, but until this installment there was no direct contact with either Mr. Darcy or Elizabeth, and even now it was mostly discussion of what was said in a letter. In fact, there is very little contact with any cannon characters, which I think is the reason this series works successfully. Updated notions may be introduced (women are quite independent in achieving their own goals) without the risk of corrupting existed beloved characters. Mr. Collins has made an appearance, and Georgiana was the mother of this books heroine, but Mr. Collins was hardly beloved and Georgiana’s appearance was very brief in Pride and Prejudice. The one complaint I have is that as the series has gone on, the endings come quite abruptly, as though there were a page allotment for drama, and suddenly the happy ending was upon us.
Legacy by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edgehill
I was excited to see Mercedes Lackey writing YA lit, because it is the genre of my heart and I have great affection for Mercedes lackey from my adolescence. That said, this book just felt like it was trying too hard. Parts of it I liked, such as the balance in friendships and the everyday life at what is frankly a bizarre school, but whenever they started describing something physical: the décor of the school or (constantly) what people were wearing, it felt like the authors were trying to show how hip and with it they were, and it just felt awkward. I’m sure there is a jewel-toned velvet patchwork vest with metallic thread that would make me sigh with envy, but at the time it just made me think of Blossom.
Whiskey and Water by Elizabeth Bear
Sequel to the previously reviewed Blood and Water and about on the same level. Very little emotional depth, but a very interwoven plot. I’ll probably pick up the third novel just for completion’s sake.
Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
This was the silly romance novel I took a break for in the middle of reading the above book. I was having a really terrible week and wanted something fun, and for that I can count on Julia Quinn. Her books, mostly interconnected, are Regency-ish (I haven’t done research, so if there are errors I do not know them) but without the helpless-woman flavor that so long dissuaded me from Romance novels. My heroines are decisive, snarky, and come with quasi-alcoholic interfering grandmamas.
Mr. Darcy’s Dream by Elizabeth Aston
When I go for chick lit, I go for historical chick lit. I’ve been reading this series over the past few years as it centers around various close and extended members of the Darcy family and I find it enjoyable. Characters from earlier books appear in later ones, but until this installment there was no direct contact with either Mr. Darcy or Elizabeth, and even now it was mostly discussion of what was said in a letter. In fact, there is very little contact with any cannon characters, which I think is the reason this series works successfully. Updated notions may be introduced (women are quite independent in achieving their own goals) without the risk of corrupting existed beloved characters. Mr. Collins has made an appearance, and Georgiana was the mother of this books heroine, but Mr. Collins was hardly beloved and Georgiana’s appearance was very brief in Pride and Prejudice. The one complaint I have is that as the series has gone on, the endings come quite abruptly, as though there were a page allotment for drama, and suddenly the happy ending was upon us.
Legacy by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edgehill
I was excited to see Mercedes Lackey writing YA lit, because it is the genre of my heart and I have great affection for Mercedes lackey from my adolescence. That said, this book just felt like it was trying too hard. Parts of it I liked, such as the balance in friendships and the everyday life at what is frankly a bizarre school, but whenever they started describing something physical: the décor of the school or (constantly) what people were wearing, it felt like the authors were trying to show how hip and with it they were, and it just felt awkward. I’m sure there is a jewel-toned velvet patchwork vest with metallic thread that would make me sigh with envy, but at the time it just made me think of Blossom.
Whiskey and Water by Elizabeth Bear
Sequel to the previously reviewed Blood and Water and about on the same level. Very little emotional depth, but a very interwoven plot. I’ll probably pick up the third novel just for completion’s sake.
Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
This was the silly romance novel I took a break for in the middle of reading the above book. I was having a really terrible week and wanted something fun, and for that I can count on Julia Quinn. Her books, mostly interconnected, are Regency-ish (I haven’t done research, so if there are errors I do not know them) but without the helpless-woman flavor that so long dissuaded me from Romance novels. My heroines are decisive, snarky, and come with quasi-alcoholic interfering grandmamas.