Romance Novel Corner

What I Read in April

2006-04-29T05:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, technically April still has two more days to run, but due to my schedule this weekend, I know that I will not be able to squeeze in another book. In terms of quantity, it was not a terribly good month, due to various committments at work, and the length of one of the books read.

1. "A Moment's Madness," by Helen Kirkman. 'B/C-' I reviewed this book in detail in a post on April 07, entitled "Not Enough History, Yet Not History Light." The B rating was for the setting, England in the period of 870 AD, while the C- part of the rating was for the execution. Almost all of the action took place offstage, while we read endless chapters (the book was only 300 pages, so how endless could it be,you might ask, but they seemed endless) about a Danish widow and a Saxon warrior learning to trust each other in order to allow them to love. The sad part for me was that the author obviously knows her subject matter, so why the suffocating setting of the bower, while we head-hopped around about Feelings? It was like being forced to watch Dr. Phil. And Oprah. Together. Well, the cover was cool!

2. "The Da Vinci Code," by Dan Brown. 'C' So, this was what the shouting has been about for the past two years? Ho hum. If I were a very conservative Roman Catholic instead of a liberal Episcopalian I probably would be offended by the picture painted of the Church of Rome. As it was, I was more struck by the lack of quality in the writing -- the characters were cardboard cutouts, the dialogue was stilted, and even though the book took place over a breakneck period of 72(?) hours, no one had to go to the bathroom. Maybe the movie will be better, even with Tom Hanks horrible hair.

3. "Kiss Me, Annabel," by Eloisa James. 'A' Read the review published here earlier this week.

4. "Emma," by Jane Austen. 'A+' I simply adore this classic novel by Jane Austen. It is personally my favorite. IMO it is a much more complex work than "Pride and Prejudice," although many object to a heroine who is not automatically as lovable as Elizabeth Bennet.

5. "His Majesty's Dragon," by Naomi Novik. 'A' for this first novel, a sci-fi/fantasy set in an alternative 19th century that comes complete with adorable dragons. If you like Patrick O'Brian, Jane Austen, and Anne McCaffrey you will be ahead of the game to enjoy the Napoleonic Wars with an air corps. Captain Will Laurence goes from the Royal Navy, with its stuffy traditions of class, to a flyboy in the rough and ready Aerial Corps when he bonds with a newly-hatched dragon captured during a battle with a French frigate. The dragon Temeraire is a wonderful character -- sweet tempered with his Will, intelligent, and brave. Be warned: some passages will require the use of a hanky. The second book in the series, "Throne of Jade," has just been released, and the next, "Black Powder War," is due out in June (all, so far, in mass market paperback).

6. "March," by Geraldine Brooks. 'A-' I love the premise of this book: the principal narrator is Mr March, the mostly absent father from Louisa May Alcott's classic "Little Women." This is not a book for children. Some reviewers indicated a YA audience as well as an adult readership, but I wonder if they made that call due to the association with "Little Women." I have to confess that as I have no YA readers in my family I cannot assess whether that is an appropriate rating or not -- if I were pressed on it, I would think 15 or 16 would be the youngest age I would feature being interested in the book. The book is told in first person narrative with some flashbacks, first from the POV of Mr March, then from the POV of Marmee. There are scenes of violence; themes of war, racial prejudice, sexual desire (both within and outside of marriage); loyalty to one's country, one's principles, and to one's spouse; and the role of women in 19th century America. And the book is entertaining as well as thought-provoking. I have not read Ms Brooks' other novel, "The Year of Wonders," but I think that will soon be joining my TBR pile.

Now I Finally Get It!

2006-04-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

For quite a while I have read all the rave reviews about Eloisa James, including when she "outed" herself as both a romance novelist and a professor at Fordham University. While I was impressed with her academic credentials, her books seemed rather ho-hum to me -- I read the early novels, including "Potent Pleasures," and found them generally to be too long to support a rather slight story involving younger heroines. It wasn't that I didn't recognize, and appreciate, an almost literary writing style, but perhaps the problem was with me, as it was a time when I had almost stopped reading historical romances, which means I was reading damned few romances period. Jaded. Disappointed again. Whatever...

I believe it was in 2004 that the first book in Ms James series on four sisters living in Regency England was published. The sisters were relatively poor -- their only doweries consist of a racehorse apiece, an interesting premise. "Much Ado About You" attracted much positive buzz, so I decided to give Ms James another try. I was attracted to the premise, but, once again, found the execution to be somewhat lacking for me. For one thing, I have a pet peeve about the overusage of the word "grin," and almost everyone in that book spent a lot of time grinning, sometimes when a smile would have been far more appropriate. The characters were appealing, but the major problem for me was that the hero and heroine of the first book were not as interesting as the secondary characters, especially Annabel.

Enter Annabel in her own novel, "Kiss Me, Annabel." The second in the series, "Kiss me, Annabel" was published last year and has languished in my TBR pile for several months. It was only the publication of the third book in the series that prompted me to pick up the second. Now I finally get it! I don't know if I am just in the right mood for this story or what, but now I understand the Eloisa James following. The hero and heroine, Annabel and Ewan, are fresh and lively. Ewan in particular is a hero not often found in today's romance novel -- technically he is a virgin, although not without great interest in, and some experience of, women; he is religious and frankly talks about his feelings to Annabel (who is more like this reader, in that her interest in orthodoxy is limited), but he is not preachy or pious, nor is he an evangelical (this is NOT an "inspirational" romance). Annabel is a character who grows emotionally and ethically during the course of the novel. The novel has strong suggestions of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew," and that play is alluded to during the course of the couple's trip from England to Scotland. I found this to be a delightful part of the novel, and it greatly increased my reading enjoyment, and respect for Ms James writing.

There is an interesting sub-plot with one of Annabel's younger sisters, a widow, and the rake she is trying to seduce in an attempt to forget her grief over the premature death of her husband. The youngest sister is reintroduced, and will, no doubt, be the subject of the final book in the series. The third book, "The Taming of the Duke," has received mixed reviews, primarily due to even stronger references to English literature (especially to "A Midsummer's Night Dream") throughout the book. If often seems to me that the reasons I enjoy a book are the very reasons others come away dissatisfied -- and I think that is due to the fact that, oddly enough, the romance is not the primary reason for me to read a romance novel. I like a good story well told and the romance is secondary. In the case of "Kiss Me, Annabel," I think those with both points of view will come away satisfied.

What I Read in March

2006-04-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

March was actually a good month for reading -- I finished seven books. For those more prolific readers, I know that seven books is not many, but considering that the major part of my reading is accomplished on a commuter bus, I feel like crowing!

What I read:

1. "The Return of the Native," by Thomas Hardy. Good solid 'A' rating for this literary classic. The discussion on the Barnes and Noble University website was hot and heavy -- many of the women participants were outspoken in their dislike of the character of Eustacia Vye, whom apparently in their eyes was the next thing to the Whore of Babylon!

2. "The Innocent," by Posie Graeme-Evans. 'B+' for this first novel, an historical set in the reign of Edward IV. The historical background was carefully recreated, the secondary characters were outstanding, the problem for me was with the heroine. She was almost too naive to be true, and I had a difficult time with her sudden maturity when she was faced with the unexpected answer to the mystery of her birth. The second book in the series ('The Exiled') is already out, but I believe the third book has not yet been published. Fans of Anya Seton, Marsha Canham, and Elizabeth Chadwick would enjoy this book -- but it is not a romance, and the adultery, plus a couple of S & M sex scenes, may bother some readers.

3. "Avalon," by Anya Seton. 'A' Beautiful re-issue of the classic Seton novel of England around the year 1000 AD.

4. "The Mysterious Miss M," by Diane Gaston. 'B' This entertaining Regency romance with a heroine who was really a whore, not a virgin hiding in a brothel, was marred for me by the almost constant presence of the heroine's little girl. In real life, I love children but I rarely care for them in romance novels.

5. "A Lady Raised High," by Laurien Gardner. 'C' Lackluster historical novel that is second in a house series on the six wives of Henry VIII. "Laurien Gardner" is a pen name shared by six authors, each of whom will write one book in the series. The problem with this book was the uninteresting heroine and narrator, a plain-faced country girl who is taken under Anne Bolyn's wing and becomes one of her ladies in waiting. Her romance with a handsome minor noble is improbable.

6. "One Little Sin," by Liz Carlyle. 'A' This Regency had the most engaging hero and heroine I have recently encountered in a romance novel. There was much humor in the book and an unexpected twist at the end of this variation of the secret baby theme. I could even tolerate long passages where the hero played with his toddler daughter without impatiently waiting for the scene to end. First of three novels by Carlyle dealing with a trio of men who have been determined to escape The Parson's Mousetrap.

7. "Green Darkness," by Anya Seton. 'A+' Reissue of the classic historical novel on reincarnation.

What Happened on my Birthday?

2006-04-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

Go to the on-line Wikipedia and put your birthday (month and date only, not the year), then post three things that happened on that date; three people born on that date; and at least one death that happened on that date to your blog. If you don't have a blog, post on mine!

JANUARY 12

EVENTS:

1777 - Mission Santa Clara de Asis founded in what is now Santa Clara, CA. I loved visiting the missions when I lived in California. At one time I lived less than 10 miles from Mission San Gabriel, and it was always a treat to visit there and sit in the garden.

1915 - U.S. House of Representatives rejects proposal to give women the right to vote (boo! hiss!).

1932 - Hattie W. Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate (ah ha!! vengence is mine!).

BIRTHS:

1729 - Edmund Burke - Irish stateman and philosopher

1876 - Jack London - American author

1954 - Howard Stern -- radio personality (yikes! if that isn't bad enough, Rush Limbaugh was born on January 12, 1951).

DEATHS:

2001 - Affirmed - American race horse, foaled in 1975. Won the Tripe Crown in 1978. Those of us who saw Affirmed beat Alydar in the Belmont Stakes will never forget the stretch drive when Affirmed won by a nose!

Not Enough History -- Yet Not History-Lite

2006-04-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

"A Moment's Madness" is my first Helen Kirkman novel. It was published by Harlequin Historicals in 2003, but the later books in the series moved to Harlequin's HQN line. The book satisfied a longing for historical romances set in something other than the Regency period -- the books are set in Wessex prior to the year 1000 AD and involve Vikings (or Danes) and Saxons. This is hardly a well-worn path for a romance author, although Viking romances were at one time very popular -- for the most part they were also not very accurate.

A visit to Ms Kirkman's website indicated that this is an author who has done much research on the period about which she writes. The website is colorful and has wonderful information about the cultures and their histories. I looked forward eagerly to delving into this book, with it's beguiling cover art (okay, I admit it --I am a fan of the so-called decapitation covers, and the couple is shown in all its glory on the back cover as well).

The opening chapter was exciting and full of the promise of conflict and, I thought, of the rich historical details I love -- I think I was expecting Elizabeth Chadwick in 292 pages, which is just not possible! Yes, there were historical details about the conflict between the Danes and the Saxons, brief, but close enough for government work. There was some use of Danish and Saxon words -- not enough to overwhelm those who do not care for that sort of thing, and just enough for those who do. But, basically, deep down, at heart this is a rather traditional character-driven romance novel, centering on the relationship of the heroine and the hero(a young Danish widow and a weary Saxon warrior). Most of the action takes place in the bower, where Sigrid and Liefwin overcome their fears in an attempt to come together as a couple.

For those who like historical romances to be primarily about the couple, with less emphasis on history, but still accurate, this would be considered an excellent book. It is not History-Lite, in that the author knows her subject and is skillful in recreating aspects of the world as it was once in that time and place. It is also well-written, although I have some quarrel with many of the conversations consisting of Liefwin saying,"Sigrid," followed by Sigrid replying, "Liefwin," with long looks and pregnant pauses abounding. But, after all, this is a first novel!

I have all the books in the series, which is current as of March 2006, and I do intend to read them all. I am just hoping the rest of the books get us out of the bower and onto the battlefield a little more often, and that the dialog is not quite as stilted as that in "A Moment's Madness." I give it a B+ for the setting and the research, but only a C for plot and execution.

An Historical Novelist for the Romance Reader

2006-04-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

If the term "fan girl" had been invented back in the 1960s, I would have been the prime candidate to be "honored" with that title due to my undying admiration for the works of Anya Seton. It was one of the major disappointments of my reading life when I found out that 'Green Darkness' was going to be Ms Seton's last work. The author retired, citing reasons of health, and lived on for another 25 years. Her books went out of print several years ago, and are just now being reissued by Chicago Review Press in these lovely trade paperback editions.

'Green Darkness' is Ms Seton's final work, and for many it is her crowning achievement. In the introduction to this edition, Barbara Samuel writes that she can usually tell after a few minutes of conversation whether 'Green Darkness' or 'Katherine' is the favorite book of a Seton fan, as it is usually one or the other. With me, ever the rebel, it is neither: I still, after all these years, cannot make up my mind between 'The Winthrop Woman' and 'Devil Water.' The former will be issued in September of this year, and Chicago Review Press just acquired the rights to the latter. A hint: if you are a fan of Diana Gabaldon, you will probably vote for 'Devil Water.'

What makes Ms Seton's works endure at a time when romantica, or erotica, is taking center stage in the romance novel world? Sex is merely hinted at in her works -- she almost always stops at the bedroom door, and, even when she doesn't, there is nothing that could make a teenager blush (do they still blush?). Historical romances are being dumbed down by editors who want fewer historical details that increase the length of the book and Ms Seton's books are well researched and full of details. I think part of her appeal is that she obviously relishes the history about which she writes and communicates that to the reader -- I know many people who date their love of history to their first readings of Ms Seton.

But, ultimately, I believe it is her gift as a story teller that makes her timeless --she is able to create characters that stay with the reader long after the book is closed. Even her weaker books are a breath of fresh air, free of cliche writing, full of emotion, and true about life. Anyone who has ever loved not wisely but too well will identify with Celia and her obsession with Brother Stephen in 'Green Darkness,' or with 'Avalon's' Merewyn who loves Prince Rumon but ends with a far-different life than she could ever have imagined when dreaming of her future.

I love the covers of the new editions, although I have a couple of small gripes about the cover of 'Green Darkness,' and those are that the portrait is not from the Tudor period, nor does it look like Celia in either of her incarnations. The best cover in my opinion was for 'Katherine,' and I realized I have not downloaded it as I have the other Seton books. I will do so later, as to me it fully captures the woman so vividly portrayed by Ms Seton.

4 MeMe

2006-03-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD
1. Supervisor at a government agency
2. Substitute teacher
3. Retail sales associate
4. Owner of a janitorial service

4 PLACES I HAVE LIVED
1. Fredericksburg, VA
2. Bishop, CA
3. Fayetteville, NC
4. Pasadena, CA

4 MOVIES I COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN
1. "Tombstone"
2. "Glory"
3. "When Harry Met Sally"
4. "Persuasion"

4 TV SHOWS I LIKE TO WATCH
1. "Imas in the Morning"
2. "Wildwest Tech"
3. "Everyday Italian"
4. "Masterpiece Theatre"

4 PLACES I'VE BEEN ON VACATION
1. Williamsburg, VA
2. Yellowstone National Park
3. Jackson Hole, WY
4. The Grand Canyon

4 WEBSITES I VISIT DAILY
1. Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine
2. Romancing the Blog
3. Weight Watchers
4. amazon

4 FAVORITE FOODS
1. Fried chicken
2. Scrambled eggs and bacon
3. Watermelon
4. Tacos

4 PLACES YOU WOULD RATHER BE NOW
1. Bishop, CA., riding a horse
2. Dublin, Republic of Ireland
3. NYC for the St Patrick's Day Parade
4. Paris

4 FRIENDS YOU ARE TAGGING TO RESPOND WITH THEIR OWN 4
1. Erika
2. T. Marie
3. Jenster
4. Anyone who sees this post!

Still Around -- Still Reading -- Still Working

2006-03-16T03:14:00.000-08:00

I am right in the middle of crunch season at the office as well as being involved in a group read of "The Return of the Native," by Thomas Hardy. I have two more group reads coming up shortly, including one of Jane Austen's "Emma." It has been about four years since the last time I read "Emma," and before I read it I have to read the Sinclair Lewis classic "Babbitt." Romance novels will be catch as catch can for the next few weeks, which is a shame because I have so many tempting books in my TBR pile, including a couple of new-to-me authors. One of the new-to-me authors is Margaret Moore, who writes novels set in the early Middle Ages for Harlequin. While other authors of historical novels often mention her as an inspiration for their own writing, Romantic Times Magazine generally only awards her three stars for her efforts. I will be curious to see whose opinion most clearly matches my own!

Happy Reading! I will be checking back on my poor neglected blog this weekend.

Yet More Books Read in February

2006-02-26T07:37:00.000-08:00

My final count for the number of books read in February is nine. In addition to the books listed in previous postings, I read:

"The Duchess's Next Husband," by Terri Brisbane. This was a delightful Regency by an author previously known to me as strictly a writer of books set in the Middle Ages. Ms. Brisbane always seems to have mixed reviews in publications such as "Romantic Times," but I enjoy her books. She captures the feeling of the time periods in which she writes, and in this book created a heroine who went from passive pawn to heroic lady fighting for her man in a believable fashion.

"The Face of a Stranger" is the first in the William Monk mysteries by the great Anne Perry. If you enjoy mysteries that keep the solution until the very end, and an author who faithfully recreates a by-gone era (in this case early Victorian England), you cannot do better than Ms Perry.

"Dragonwyck," a reissue of the beloved Anya Seton classic from 1944. This is truly lovely cover art, is it not? This Gothic novel deals with murder, and includes subtle hints of sexual sadism (but nothing to put you off your feed), drug use, and a cast of characters that includes Edgar Allen Poe.

"The Mystery Kiss," by Judith Landsdowne. A fun Regency mystery with a cast of very appealing characters, including a doormouse! Not my usual cuppa' but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Cover Art -- Again!

2006-02-26T04:02:00.000-08:00

Oh why, oh why, oh why saddle a perfectly delightful book with such a dismal cover? Amanda reviewed this book, "The Mystery Kiss" by Judith Landsdowne, in depth on her Bookwormom blog a few weeks ago, and based upon her review I ordered the book from a secondary seller on amazon. I agree with Amanda's assessment of the book -- it is a well-written and enjoyable romance novel, although normally not the type of book that catches my fancy (a rather lighthearted Regency that includes children, but does have slightly dark undertones, due the fact that the heroine was mistreated by her late husband prior to the opening of the story).

But the cover, ladies! What was the publisher thinking when first someone said, "Let's put gold foil figures on a purple background?" Ick! Romance readers are divided into several camps on cover art: some, and I am one, like covers that depict the characters in some fashion (I enjoy cover art that is a reproduction of a famous work of art, or a photograph that is from the time period of the novel), and if it is a "clinch cover" I like the stepback cover format. Other readers enjoy flowers and fans on their covers, or symbols, such as those that grace Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" books. There are a very few who enjoy the cartoon covers, covers that started out only on chick-lit, but since have migrated to Regencies as well (although with the demise of the Zebra Regency line it is possible we will see fewer cartoon covers on historicals). But I know no one who likes covers with stylized foil characters!!

For one thing, one of the pleasures of reading a romance novel is holding a book with an attractive cover, whether it depicts an embracing couple, a lovely face, a manly chest with plenty of what Amanda referred to as "man titty," or something more generic and abstract. Second, I find that when a book has an attractive "couple cover", I will often pause in my reading and look back at the picture, to get a refresher as to the appearance of the hero and heroine. While sometimes the author and the artist part company on details such as eye and hair color, the best cover art conveys the essence of the story and adds to the emotional aspect of the reading experience. The cover of "The Mystery Kiss" is a big zero -- it does not convey in the slightest the magic of the hero and the heroine, the awakening of the heroine to the idea that she can find love again after her marriage to a wife-beater, nor the charm of a hero with big ears (someone like Clark Gable, is my take).

"The Mystery Kiss" was published about five years ago, and I have to admit I have seen fewer foil covers since that date, with the horrible exception of the latest "Outlander" book, "A Breath of Snow and Ashes." If, indeed, the trend is away from cartoon and foil covers, I applaud that trend and hope that it holds.

Two Frustrating Hours & Still No Links!

2006-02-20T07:29:00.000-08:00

I managed to change my template to what I feel is a more attractive format, but am unable to create embedded links on this site. I spent two hours this morning trying to follow what appeared to be very clear step-by-step instructions from another site, and still am unable to create links to other blogs and websites. Obviously I have no idea what I am doing! If anyone can guide me through the process step-by-step I would appreciate it.

My Worthless Blog!

2006-02-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

Amanda (Bookwormom)posted today that Technorati has a feature which allows you to determine the monetary worth of your blog (her Bookwormom blog, which I never miss, had $0.00 value). If her's was deemed worthless I knew this blog hadn't a prayer!! Sure enough, I went to www.technorati.com and got the bad news, hence the title of this posting.

What makes the difference between a blog that has monetary worth and one that doesn't? I haven't solid clues, but I have some theories. I think the name of the blog may have something to do with it and I know that mine is pretty bland -- I was thinking of changing it to "One Old Broad's Views of Life, Love, and Literature," which is probably closer to the mark than "Romance Novel Corner." I will have to check out whether it is possible to change the name but keep the blog intact (I'm a little website challenged, to say the least). I think the layout may also contribute -- Tara, whose romancereadingmom blog has monetary worth, is much more lively than mine. She also posts photographs of her adorable son -- not fair! My family will not allow me to post snapshots of my grandchildren on the internet, so y'all will have to wait until I get my poodle next year.

I also think that in addition to being dull, the title of my blog is misleading, as I do not confine my reading to romances, and often review other types of literature. And, working full time leaves me little free time to interface with other bloggers, let alone update my blog every day. I was disappointed that several recent posts resulted in 0 comments from readers...that is if anyone even looked at them. Jeeze, I'm starting to whine, and I hate it when I do that!!! I need to rethink this blog, because as much as I enjoy posting on it, I also like the interaction with anyone who takes the time to look at it (although I can do without the merchants selling trusses who like to post as well).

If anyone reads this, please take a couple of minutes to offer feedback: good, bad, ugly. The Old Broad can take it -- after all, I am a survivor of the Political Forum on the Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine website, so you know my hide is tough.

"Unmasked" was Ultimately a Disappointment

2006-02-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

A beautiful cover does not a great, or even good, book make! The problem I had with this book is entirely due to the hero and heroine, as the rest of the book, including a wonderfully drawn Charles II, was excellent. As usual, Ms Henley's research into the historical background of the novel, early Restoration England, was outstanding. History is never just wallpaper in her novels. It was interesting to read of her Charles II, and contrast that strong, dashing figure to the effete fop created by the author of the also newly-released "Lady Anne's Dangerous Man," which was reviewed here as well. Both novels were set in around the same year of Charles II's reign, but from everything I have read about Charles, Ms Henley's Charles seems to be the more accurate of the two.

As to the hero and heroine: Ms Henley kept piling misunderstanding upon misunderstanding upon misunder...well, you get the idea. She had trust issues, he had trust issues...and they never learned from one incident to the next, until suddenly, at the end, "all better!" By the time each decided that the other was trustworthy, I no longer cared. But the cover was an eye-catcher.

Not My Usual Read but...

2006-02-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed this lovely book far more than I anticipated. Kristin Hannah's "Angel Falls" is unusual,in that it is women's fiction, but told almost entirely from the male point of view. The plot is fairly straight forward: woman has accident, goes into coma, husband finds out that woman's first husband was famous movie star, when woman reacts to mention of first husband's name, present husband contacts the exH to see if he can bring wife out of coma. Sounds like a soap opera, but not in the hands of Ms Hannah! The principal male characters are real people who hurt, feel guilt, feel love, perform heroic acts of everyday bravery. The children are real children who want to go to the prom, have trouble seeing their mom in the hospital, write on the walls, and love their parents.

My only issue was with the minor character of the MIL -- I felt that after being a part of the second husband's life for ten years, there would be a closer relationship, as there was no indication that there had ever been bad feeling between the two. I felt it was a rather awkward handling of the fact that the MIL was Mexican-American. She was "this close" to a cliche, with her jumble of English and Spanish, which wasn't realistic considering there was never an indication that she was anything but U.S. born and raised. The character of the second husband was well-drawn and very two dimensional, although he liked to live his life as a cardboard cutout of a "bad boy" movie star. The wife doesn't appear until the last 1/4 of the book, and the remainder of the novel is taken up with "will she or won't she" stay with her current husband, of whom she has no memory.

All in all, every well handled contemporary novel that could have been a tear jerker and nothing more! I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Books I've Read So Far in 2006

2006-02-05T05:59:00.000-08:00

1. "Roselynde," by Roberta Gellis. A- (romance)

2. "Conspiracy of Paper," by David Liss. A- (historical novel)

3. "Lady Anne's Dangerous Man," by Jeane Westin. B+ (romance)

4. "The Magnificent Rogue," by Iris Johansen. C+ (romance)

5. "The Constant Princess," by Phillipa Gregory. B+ (historical novel)

6. "Prince of Fire," by Daniel Silva. A+ (contemporary spy thriller)

7. "The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar," by Robert Alexander. A for originality, quality of writing, and mood. C+ for the rushed ending which tied up loose ends too quickly. All over rating B+ (historical novel)

Current read, as shown in previous post, is a romance, "Unmasked," by Virginia Henley. Tomorrow the new Barnes and Noble University group reads start. I am signed up for a discussion of "The Metamorphoses," by Ovid, and I need to at least read the introduction today (before the Super Bowl). I've read sections of "The Metamorphoses" in the past but as poetry, not prose.

Cover Art Again!

2006-02-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'll confess: I bought this Virginia Henley book due to the cover. I have been a fan of Ms Henley since the 1990s, but for some reason I stopped reading her books a few years ago. It was just recently that I started reading her books again, with "Undone." I started reading "Unmasked" today, and have to say that "so far, so good." I wasn't sure how to deal with a heroine named Velvet, as that seemed a little too precious, as in affected, until I realized the character changed her name from Elizabeth at the age of seven. Think I will have to go back and check out the Henley titles I have missed over the past few years -- yep, I'm a sucker for a good cover!

Must Every Review Be a Fan Letter?

2006-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have reason to believe that my honest review on amazon of Phillipa Gregory's latest novel, "The Constant Princess," is being given "Fan Girl" treatment. The review has received 3 negative votes and 0 positive votes since I posted it earlier this week. I asked Amanda (Bookwormom) to do a sanity check for me, as I wondered if the review was not as balanced, fair, and honest as I believe it to be. Amanda agreed that the review was what I perceived it as being. I respect her opinion, and would have pulled the review if she indicated that it was not fair, balanced, and honest: to me, those are the keys to a helpful review, and is the standard that amazon asks its readers to use. The reviewer should give the reasons for their opinions clearly and intelligently. Being or not being a fan of the author should not be the standard used in reviewing a review! I made both positive and negative comments, gave examples, and rated the book a 4 with reservations, which were clearly spelled out.

It is not impossible that those who disliked the book gave my review a negative rating, but having dealt with some members of Ms Gregory's fan base in another forum (Barnes & Noble University Book Discussion Group), I know that there are some readers who cannot see any flaws in her writing, and take her historical novels to be totally accurate. Ms Gregory herself is a very gracious woman who, from my experience being in two discussion groups with her, is always open to questions from those who disagree with her premises. We had an interesting discussion about "The Virgin's Lover," as I disagreed to the end with her premise that Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley consumated their relationship. She gave her reasons for believing Elizabeth I was not the Virgin Queen and I gave mine for supporting the more traditional view. There were some participants who were outraged with those of us who found the slightest fault with the work, not seeming to understand that her books are works of fiction.

Will this negative trend keep me from posting reviews on amazon? In a word: No. I do not have time to post reviews there on a regular basis -- I can hardly keep up with this blog! -- but if I feel strongly about a book, I will still offer my comments. And it is not the first time that I have had negative votes on my reviews and do not want to appear that I am whining -- I'm an adult and I can take criticism, but for the right reasons.

A Rollicking Good Read!

2006-01-14T05:11:00.000-08:00

Once again I have found myself in the minority regarding a romance novel. I found Jeane Westin's first novel, "Lady Anne's Dangerous Man," so enchanting, and just downright fun, that I read it in two days, which given my work schedule is speed personified. However, the opinion on the Romantic Times message boards, and various blogs, indicated that I was almost alone in my liking for this book, although everyone seemed to agree that the cover was very eye-catching and attractive.

The very things that seemed to be off-putting for those who didn't care for the book were the things that amused me and drew me in: the slightly archaic language, the somewhat improbable plot, and the breakneck speed at which the story accelerated to the, yes, predictable climax (this is a romance novel, after all, so the outcome was a given).

The language used by the author evokes the time period, Restoration England. This is not the first time that readers have encountered these speech patterns, especially if they have read "Forever Amber," or any of the classics such as "Tom Jones" or the plays of Oliver Goldsmith. The danger of trying to recreate the language patterns of a by-gone era are the same as trying to include regional dialects in novels: too many archaic phrases, or the over-use of dialect, can be the kiss of death to a novel. It becomes more like work than pleasure to decode the meaning of the dialogue. I personally felt that Ms Westin did an excellent job in avoiding the pitfalls of archaic language: the narrative sections are written in standard modern English, and it is only in the conversation between characters that she uses phrasing that has a slightly old fashioned feel. The chapter titles ("A Highwayman Hangs, or The Obscene Verse" is just one example) reminds this reader strongly of Fielding or Thackeray, which I believe to be the intent.

In this example, the heroine,Lady Anne Gascoigne, is disguised as a boy and conversing with a member of the town watch, who asks her destination: "I am to London, sir," she answered in her boy's voice..."And who might ye serve, me young cock?"... She said the first name that came to her mind. "Lord Waverby of Burwell Hall, gentleman of the bed chamber to His Majesty, King Charles, being the second of that name, sir." Nothing too difficult about that, is there? And yet it evokes the feeling of the time period far better than "I'm on my way to London, sir," and "Who do you work for?"

The plot is improbable in some ways -- yes, why would a judge put his only daughter under the protection of a man he had just sentenced to death? And, true, they arrive at the gallows only seconds before our hero, John Gilbert, is about to ride into eternity, but that is part of the fun of the book. Think of all the wonderful swashbucklers you have seen on televsion or in the theatre, including Errol Flynn's "Robin Hood," and the movie versions of "Tom Jones," as well as Johnny Depp's pirate. If you enjoyed those movies, then reading a book that evokes those same feelings shouldn't be a stretch.

Was there anything I didn't like about the book? Yes: I would liked to have had fewer TSTL moments from the heroine in the first part of the book; I thought Anne's mourning period for her father ended too soon, considering the circumstances under which he died; and I felt Charles II was presented as too much of a fop. His attractiveness to women was apparently genuine, especially in the early part of his reign, but Westin's word portrait of the Merry Monarch made him sound effeminate and petulant.

One of the things I am always reading on blogs, and on various message boards that deal with romance novels, is that readers want something different, not just the same old/same old. But often when something different comes along, the reaction is negative, which seems to be the case with "Lady Anne's Dangerous Man." Not only am I looking forward to the next book ("Lady Katherine's Wild Ride," due out in August 2006) but I ordered a copy of "Tom Jones" to reread that classic. I would just like to see Ms Westin's work given a fair chance and not just dismissed out of hand because it oh, so slightly, engages in a little envelope pushing.

The First of the "Roselynde Chronicles" Reissued

2006-01-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

The classic Roberta Gellis series set in the Middle Ages of Richard I and his brother John is in the process of being reissued by Harlequin under their Signature Select imprint. "Roselynde," the first in the Roselynde Chronicles, came out in January 2006. It was originally published in 1978, reissued by a different publisher in the mid-1980s (which is when I first read it), and has since become a cult classic among those who love accurate historical romances.

Roselynde is not the name of a character. It is rather the name of the estate inherited by the heroine, Lady Alinor Devaux, named for Queen Alinor, widow of Henry II, mother of Richard and John -- whom we know best under the spelling Eleanor. The book takes place in England and in the Middle East, as Gellis has Alinor accompany Richard's bride, Berengaria, on crusade. The book is gritty and not for gentle readers, nor for those who enjoy "history lite." Ms Gellis knows her subject matter! The battle scenes are realistic (at one point, our hero, Sir Simon Lemangne, laughs as he decapitates the enemy in a rather gory fashion), and Alinor is not above striking her maids across the face with a beringed hand.

Queen Alinor, Richard, and John are as realistically portrayed as one can expect in a novel, while Lady Alinor and Sir Simon are fully realized characters, not cardboard cutouts plunked down in the Middle Ages, with modern sensibilities intact -- in fact, some readers may object to the rather sexist view of women that is present throughout much of the book. Perhaps men did want women to be emotional outlets for their frustration -- to berate and yell at as a means of venting -- but the fact that the female characters found this totally acceptable did grate on this reader's modern nerves from time to time. I had to keep reminding myself that this was probably historically accurate. Ms Gellis was, I believe, one of the first romance novelists to deal with the subject of Richard I's alleged homosexuality. Some 21st century readers may be slightly put off by the fact that Ms Gellis always deals with this issue in a manner consistent with the time period: it is generally refered to as a perversion.

One of the most controversial aspects of the book, however, has to do with the age difference between Alinor and Simon: Simon is 46 and Alinor is 16 when they meet. Alinor never sees the age difference as a barrier to their love, although Simon has grave reservations. Not only is he 30 years her senior, but he has never been in love, never married, and has, by his own confession, sometimes forced women to have sex with him (this is never explained, but I surmise it was in the aftermath of battle). I really don't have a problem with the age difference issue, as we know that marriages between young girls and older men were not unheard of at that period in history, or later, for that matter. What became tiresome after a while was the continual "does he really love me," "is she interested in someone else" byplay that would go on for pages, when a simple honest conversation would have cleared up the matter in a few minutes.

The next book in the series, "Alinor," will be issued later this year. No date was given for the third book in the series; however, the new fourth book, the disappointing "Desiree," was issued last year: it was not up to the standard of the first three books, as a beta hero and a beta heroine just fell flat in my opinion. I highly recommend the first three books in the series, but keep in mind that they are not written with modern views of the relationship between the sexes in mind.

The Year of the Courtesan?

2005-12-29T05:04:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a theme running through my TBR pile and my recent purchases: courtesans, light skirts, ladies of the evening. My current read is "Nell Gwyn: Mistress to a King," by Charles Beauclerk, who is a direct descendant of Nell and Charles II. Anyone interested in the Restoration period of English history should relish this book..fans of "Forever Amber" should be lining up at their bookstore or library for a copy. Beauclerk has done his research on both his ancestress and the time in which she lived: he cites from both primary and secondary sources, gives an intimate look at Restoration theatre life, and although he is never sensational, his prose is not dry. The book includes an insert of famous paintings of the principals. If Nell Gwyn's portraits are accurate, she was a true beauty in that her appeal is evident to 21st century eyes as well as those of the 17th century.

The book whose cover graces this post is "My Lady Scandalous" by Jo Manning, who worked in the publishing industry for several years, and is the author of two Regency romances. This biography is of a late 18th century Georgian courtesan previously unknown to me: Grace Dalrymple Elliot, who had a child whose father may have been the Prince of Wales. The book received mix reviews on amazon and the cover blurbs were strictly by other romance authors, but the book looks to be quite lively and entertaining, as well as lavishly illustrated.

Another courtesan book that I recently purchased is "Perdita: The Literary, Theatrical, Scandalous Life of Mary Robinson," by Paula Byrne. This book, unlike "My Lady Scandalous," received almost uniformly positive reviews, including recommendations by The Sunday Times (London) and the Sunday Telegraph (London). Mary Robinson was another who charmed the Prince of Wales, advanced her theatrical career with patrons, but ended as a distinguished author of her day, if not well-known here in the states.

In my TBR pile are the first two books in Susan Carroll's latest series, the second of which is entitled "Courtesan." I also have books on prostitutes in the Alaskan Gold Rush, as well as another book that gives a superficial but lively examination of "The Life" in the 19th century American West.

I normally do not buy hardcover books, but I received a very generous performance award at work this year, and decided to use some of the money to splurge on these lovely hardcovers, as well as some other books I had been looking at for some time. As I finish these books I will report on them here in this forum.

Have a Wonderful Holiday Season!

2005-12-18T04:55:00.000-08:00

I will not be updating my blog until after Christmas, so I want to wish all three or four of you who regularly visit here a wonderful holiday, and that wish is extended to those who may stumble upon this blog in your wanderings through the internet. May you receive lots and lots of lovely books for Christmas!

A note about my progression through the Barnes and Noble Classics series: I end up the year adding three more books to the list I started earlier: "Persuasion," by Jane Austen; "The Magnificent Ambersons," by Boothe Tarkington (a wonderful, complex work); and "O Pioneers," by Willa Cather (a disappointment, as I am a fan of Ms Cather). I am still reading "Wives and Daughters," by Elizabeth Gaskill, not because it isn't interesting, but because I have so many other books I want to read as well, that I put it aside for several days at a time, then pick it up to read two or three chapters before going on to another book. But it isn't a race! I will need to start Dicken's "Great Expectations" soon, as the Barnes and Noble group read starts the second week in January.

Happy Birthday, Jane Austen

2005-12-16T01:42:00.000-08:00

Jane Austen was born December 16, 1775. Today, Jane Austen societies all over the world will be celebrating the 230th anniversary of her birth (if I am doing the math correctly at 4:30 am before my first cup of coffee). I will expand on this post later today, but for now let it suffice that I raise my glass in a birthday salute to "dear Jane."

I was finally able to take some time to talk more about one of my favorite authors, Jane Austen. After 230 years, why does she still speak to us today, we who live in a time where pierced belly buttons are considered the height of fashion, "talk to the hand" has been raised to an art form, and Mr Collins has gone into politics?

Those of us who read romance novels are not surprised by the continuing popularity of Ms Austen, as on the most basic level she writes a love story, and love stories continue to be popular (romance novels are the best selling adult literature in America, for good or ill). Many of us use romance novels to distract us from the demands of work and family, and as a means of temporary escape from a complex and dangerous world. But Jane Austen's world was not simple and peaceful (we know that Napoleon did not invade England but rather ended up dying in exile, and sometimes forget what a very real threat he was to the peace and stability of Europe).

The world of Jane Austen's novels does not include the laborer nor does it, for the most part, include the very wealthy, so perhaps that is one way in which the reader is drawn in -- we can identify with the status of the protagonists of the majority of Ms Austen's works. Even though sexual permissiveness is not the order of the day in a Jane Austen novel, we can sigh when Elizabeth and Mr Darcy finally declare their love for each other, and we can feel Marianne's pain when the man in whom she has invested so much emotion snubs her in the most public of forums, in the presence of his fiance. We laugh at Mr Collins, who worships at the shrine of a rich and shallow woman instead of ministering to a worthy flock, and roll our eyes when we find that he and Charlotte Lucas have produced an heir (better her than I, we think with relief).

Ms Austen put the R in Regency! Even though publishers have currently ceased publishing the short & "sweet" category Regency novels, the period continues to be the most popular in the longer historical romances, which contain sexual scenes unheard of in the mainstream literature of Ms Austen's time. I personally think we enjoy the contrast between the mannered and formal public life of the period, and the steamy private lives of the lovers in our favorite Regency novels written by contemporary authors. Even though we frequently long for historical romances set in other periods, the Regency romance continues to be cranked out every month. And Jane Austen continues to be popular, and discovered anew by the next generation, as shown by the popularity of the Kira Knightly version of "Pride and Prejudice."

So once again I raise my glass in admiration and appreciation: "To Jane!"

My New Favorite Author

2005-12-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

I find that the novels of Elizabeth Chadwick have become my new obsession! I reviewed a book by the author several weeks ago, and since then have purchased several more of her works. Ms Chadwick writes historical novels set in the Middle Ages of 12th and 13th century England and France. It is a coin-toss as to whether they can be considered romances or straight historicals -- if you are familiar with the works of the late Anya Seton (another favorite) you know that she was historically accurate, had romantic entanglements as part of the plot line, but stoppped at the bedroom door. Ms Chadwick books are similarly accurate, with romantic entanglements; however she opens and goes through the bedroom door. The scenes of lovemaking are emotional, but they are not sex manuals...if detailed "hot" sex is a reading requirement for you, then you need to look elsewhere.

"The Marsh King's Daughter," the cover of which is shown above, deals in a fictional manner with the still-unsolved historical mystery of what happened to the fortune in gold belonging to King John of England, which was lost when a packtrain perished in a boggy marsh, full of quicksand. The characters are appealing, the writing is literary in style, and the scholarship is impressive. There is another author named Elizabeth Chadwick, who writes category romances; this is not the same Ms Chadwick, as the author is quick to point out on her website. She is also very approachable -- I e-mailed her through her website to tell her how much I had enjoyed her novel "The Falcons of Montabard," and she responded promptly. She also indicated that her agent is in negotiations with her publisher to see if U.S. readers can have better access to her books (at present they have to be ordered from secondary U.K. sources). These books are well-worth tracking down through secondary sellers on amazon. Try one and I think you will be hooked!

My Badly Neglected Blog!

2005-11-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

I have been very busy this past month with a new assignment at the office -- I was selected for a temporary promotion (this was not something for which I applied, I was asked, which makes it even more special to me). However, with the temp promtion to a higher level supervisor came more responsiblity (smack on the forehead -- what was my first clue?); in addition I have been very committed to the latest group read on the Barnes and Noble University website ("The Magnificent Ambersons" by Boothe Tarkington). So, my blog has been neglected, and, since I never get many hits here anyway, I have only felt a vague feeling of guilt. I am hoping to resume regular weekly posts after the holidays.

The picture, by an artist named Thomas (cannot find the full name of the artist in my files) is posted due to the book I just finished reading yesterday: "And Not to Yield: A Novel of the Life and Times of Wild Bill Hickok," by Randy Lee Eickhoff. It is an interesting, often lyrical, treatment of the life of this Western icon, but I was a little disappointed that it did not contain more about the time in Deadwood (probably because I am a fan of that HBO series). The painting is of Hickok in Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri, where a branch of my family has lived since the 1840s. I am sure my many-times great grandfathers were familiar with Mr Hickok.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving all! I should be posting here again after the holiday weekend.

Latest in "Outlander Series" A Major Disappointment

2005-10-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

Note: I will try to avoid spoilers whenever possible, but there is no avoiding them altogether.

I have been a fan of the "Outlander Series" by Diana Gabaldon since it was first published in the United States in 1991. In my opinion, the first three books, and perhaps even the fourth book, are among the greatest achievements of the romance and time travel genres. I raved about the first book to my friends and family and convinced my now ex-husband and my son to read the series. I defended the author whenever I saw articles critical of her handling of the details of life in highland Scotland in the 18th century. And like most of the fanbase, I moaned as the length of time between books became longer and longer. No more! While the fifth book, "The Fiery Cross," was not up to the standard of the first four, I thought surely Ms Gabaldon would redeem herself with the long awaited (four years!) sixth book of the series, "A Breath of Snow and Ashes." Alas, this is not the case.

"A Breath of Snow and Ashes" contains many of the problems noted by readers of "The Fiery Cross": both books are very long, episodic in nature, with little of major importance happening in terms of moving the plot forward. Both books, unlike the first four, are basically a series of tales or episodes. Unfortunately, many (most?) of the episodes seem to have little relationship to the whole: not to the book nor to the series. In the opinion of many, we should be further along into the Revoluntionary War by the end of this book, considering that it was only nine years away at the beginning of the fourth book, "The Drums of Autumn." We are, however, meandering along, taking every detour and Indian path off the main road, in trying to get to some resolution as to the fate of Jamie and Claire.

While I do like historical romances with more grit in them, some of the episodes in "ABofS&A" just degenerate into the macabre. I won't go into details, as that is entering spoiler territory, but the faint of heart need a warning. If you had problems with the gruesome death of a slave in "The Drums of Autumn," you will have problems with the many, many ghastly deaths in "ABofS&A." Ms Gabaldon seems to particularly relish relating in detail the deaths of children, one of which is particularly wrenching.

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING -- STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS

What seems to be the most controversial episode of the novel centers on the reaction by Jamie to the rape of Claire by a group of ruffians. Some of what I am about to write was related on the blog "Sum of Me;" I happen to totally agree with the author's assessment of the rape sequence and Jamie's reaction. The entire rape sequence was by turns absurd, lurid, and totally unnecessary to the story. But what is even more absurd, lurid, and totally unnecessary was Jamie's reaction: his major concern seemed to be whether one of the men had impregnated Claire! We all know that the paternity of Bree's son has been in doubt for the last two books (and caused considerable angst for Roger), so this may be the author's justification for Jamie's obsessing over the possibility of a woman in her mid-50's becoming pregnant. The only way that Jamie can think of to handle the rape of said wife, whom he says that he loves more than life itself, is to take her home and immediately pressure her into having sex, on the pretext that it will be good for her (Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" swells in the background). Jamie's train of thought is obvious to the reader: if she is pregnant, neither of us will ever know if another man is the father. Jamie seems far less concerned that his wife was beaten to a pulp and hardly recognizable when she was rescued, and her emotional/psychological state is also of minimal concern, although Gabaldon does pay brief lip service to that issue.

Are there any good points to write about "A Breath of Snow and Ashes"? My answer is a qualified yes. As usual, Gabaldon has shown that her strong suit is creating memorable characters, although there were some characters in this book that I could have done without, such as the girl who boinked idiot twin brothers and had no idea who fathered her child, so she wanted to marry both of them. This girl, raised by an extremely religious and seemingly educated father, couldn't seem to grasp the fact that neither her non-conformist church, or the official church of England, or any civil authority would recognize such a marriage. And the increasingly strange Aunt Jocasta is back: when auntie was first introduced in book number four, I thought she was in her late 70s, but she seems to get younger in every book. Now she seems to be only a few years older than Claire!

For those who care at this point, there is some resolution to the story of Roger and Bree, although I am not sure if the resolution is permanent. The child of Roger and Bree is mildly obnoxious -- he suffers from the same "cute child syndrome" that seems to be an affliction common to children in historical romances -- as his statements, questions, and behavior would be more appropriate to a child several years his senior. At one point Roger and Bree want to tell this tot of four about the time travel aspects of their lives -- remarkably, common sense kicks in and they decide that need to wait a little longer, until they can make him understand that he cannot blabb the secret to one and all.

Although some may disagree, much of the writing is still familiar -- in many places Gabaldon demonstrates an almost "literary" style of expression that is rare in most romance novels. I do frequently feel as though I am walking in an 18th century forest primeval as her descriptions of place are very spot on.

Will I read the rest of the series? The answer is yes. I have invested much time in these books since 1991 and, as stated previously, the first four are among the best of the romance genre, and the first two, IMO, can hold their own among the best of popular mainstream literature. Perhaps since I am in the same age group as Claire Frasier I don't find it tiresome, as "Sum of Me" remarked, to read about the sex lives of almost 60 year olds! And Jamie doesn't even have Viagra, although if necessary I am sure Claire could spend endless pages trying to whip some up in her lab if she ever got wind of such a thing...But if I could talk to Ms Gabaldon directly, I would encourage her to realize that sometimes less is more, and go back to the days when the first "Outlander" so enthralled the romance reading public before book number seven becomes the size of a small encyclopedia.

Want a Change of Pace? Try a Classic!

2005-10-22T04:19:00.000-07:00

As though reading the 998 page "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" wasn't enough to give my biceps a workout, I just started reading Elizabeth Gaskell's "Wives and Daughters," which comes in at a hefty 600 pages. When I was on vacation last week, I finished watching the BBC miniseries version of this novel, first published in the 1860s. A warning: the book was left unfinished due to the sudden & totally unexpected death of the author. However, the book was for all intents and purposes "finished," in that just some loose ends needed to be tied up, and this deed was accomplished neatly in both the print edition and the movie version of the book.

"Wives and Daughters" is the story of Molly Gibson, her father, stepmother, and stepsister who live in a country town in the England of the 1830s. We meet not just the Gibsons but a representative sample of all the various types of people who dwell in "Hollingford," from the titled to the common laborer. This book is surprisingly modern: it deals with the issues of what we would call now a blended family, a mother who has a strained relationship with her only child, a suitor who is a bounder and a cad, a secret family, unrequited love, two brothers, one of whom is the object of affection of both sisters, all told in a story that unfolds slowly and is never melodramatic or sensational. This book, and the miniseries (which is on DVD), is highly recommended. If you enjoy the works of the Brontes, you will savor this novel by the talented Mrs Gaskell.

The Wait, The Wait....

2005-10-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted on my blog recently due to some changes at the office, a mini-vacation, and spending time with my son & grandson at their house. The giant and long awaited "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" finally was released at the end of last month. I have read 130 pages out of 998 pages so far, and while my initial impression is that the book is going to be far better than "The Fiery Cross," it doesn't appear to be another "Outlander."

If you have been, as I have, reading Gabaldon's series since it was first published in the U.S. in 1991, you have developed the patience of the proverbial Job waiting for the appearance of the next book in the series. Rumors abound on the internet, so false sightings of the publication date appeared on various blogs like sightings of Elvis until Gabaldon herself gave us a definitive answer earlier this year. In the 14 years since the first book was published, a new one has appeared on the average of every 2.3 years, although it was four years between number five and number six.

Can there be too much time between books in a series? For me, the answer is a qualified yes. It isn't so much a case of forgetting the plots of the previous stories, or what happened to various characters, because those issues can be easily resolved either by re-reading the entire series (which a couple of people who post on the Romantic Times website are doing) or consulting the author's website. For me, the anticipation of the publishing of the next book in the series can become so great that the book itself is a minor letdown. It reminds me of the Thanksgiving Day when my son was four years old: he had been looking forward to the turkey dinner all day, working himself up into a fever of excitement and bugging everyone about when would the turkey be ready. We sat down to eat, and he promptly fell asleep at the table! I think this is what has happened to me having to wait so long for the last two books in this on-going series. It wasn't helped by the fact that Ms Gabaldon took on other writing assignments (the generally disappointing John Gray series) that apparently cut into her research and writing time for "ABofS&A."

I will always love the "Outlander" series -- I think it is a brilliant achievement and I recommend the books to anyone who loves realistic, gritty historical novels. Jamie and Claire are wonderful characters. There is no way I will not read the concluding books in the series, but I hope that the author doesn't make us wait quite so long between the final books in the series as she did between numbers five and six.

"The Last Heiress" is Worth Your Time

2005-09-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

I will not elaborate and include spoilers, but I am happy to report that "The Last Heiress," by Bertrice Small, is a fine ending to "The Friarsgate Inhertance" quartet. While the first book in the series, "Rosamund," will remain my favorite of the four, "Heiress" is a close second. Elizabeth is a wonderful heroine, who only for a brief couple of chapters displays anything close to TSTL behavior. As I wrote elsewhere, Small's heroines are rarely in the TSTL neighborhood, which is why I was so disappointed by the third book in the series, "Phillipa," as that heroine not only visited the neighborhood, she moved in for most of the book!

The book opens with Elizabeth being sent to court, under her mother's orders, to find a husband in order to produce an heir for Friarsgate. For reasons too complicated to relate here, only an offspring of Elizabeth will be able to inherit Friarsgate. Elizabeth is at heart a country lass, although a rich one, who resists the allure of the court while at the same time becoming friends with Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth meets two handsome, hunky Scotsmen under different circumstances and is strongly attracted to both. Loose ends from previous books are tied up, the interesting secondary characters are allowed to have their brief hour, and my favorite character, Cousin Tom Bolton, again plays "fairy god-father" in furthering the romance of a favorite niece.

The Original Cover of "Cross Stitch" AKA "Outlander"

2005-09-24T03:55:00.000-07:00

"Cross Stitch" is the title of the UK edition of "Outlander," the first book in the series of the same name by Diana Gabaldon. The cover art is far superior to that of the US edition that was pubished in mass market paperback under the title "Outlander" in 1991. I even did a minor rant on this blog about ugly cover art, using the first US edition of "Outlander" as the hedious example. This cover depicts a Claire whom I feel somewhat resembles the character as I have pictured her in my mind's eye for 14 years. She is perhaps more mature appearing (mid-30s than late 20s?)for the first book, but I think this is how the later Claire would look.

"The Last Heiress" Has Arrived

2005-09-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

"The Last Heiress" is the last book in Bertrice Small's mini-series known as The Friarsgate Inheritance. The four books that encompass the series are in my opinion a mixed bag. The first book, "Rosamund," was by far the best of the first three books, which was due to the fact that Rosamund herself was the primary focus of that book. So far she has proven to be a more interesting character than her two eldest daughters: Banon, who has made primarily token appearances, and Phillipa, the oldest child, who skirted dangerously close to TSTL territory. Now at last comes Elizabeth, the youngest girl, who may be prove to be as interesting as her valiant mother.

In a nutshell, The Friarsgate Inheritance is the story of a woman who is determined to keep her hard-won northern England estate within the family. The first book in the series relates the trials and tribulations of Rosamund's life from the age of three into adulthood, as she fights to keep her lands out of the hands of some of the greediest and obnoxious relatives a lady in Tudor England has ever encountered. And by the end of that book, Rosamund has been married three times -- I am not sure if that is a personal best for a Small heroine or not, but I am sure it comes close.

The second book follows Rosamund to a mythical European country where she indulges herself with a much older man who may be the absolute love of her life. Not as complex a novel as the first, "Until You" is still superior to Book Three in the series, which is the story of "Phillipa," the original Friarsgate heiress. Ms Small seems unable to decide if Phillipa is a lightskirt or a prude, and this makes the heroine seem "addlepated," especially when she attempts to impose strict rules about what she and her husband may and may not (mostly may not)do in the bedroom.

The newly arrived fourth book starts out in a promising fashion with the arrival of the most appealing secondary character of the series, Rosamund's cousin Tom Bolton. The fact that Tom is as gay as a party hat seems to have escaped the notice of almost all of the other characters..a couple of the more astute men seem to be hip to the cut of his jib, but the women are clueless! Tom is a wonderful character & I hope that Rosamund's concern about his health is misplaced.

I will update the blog with my assessment of "The Last Heiress" when I have completed the novel. I am trying to clear the decks for the long-awaited release of "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," which is only a few days away!

I Love This Book!

2005-09-17T14:01:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Chadwick is not an entirely new author for me, but it has been years since I read one of her books -- "The Wild Hunt," which I believe was published back in the 1990. She is a British author who writes well-researched historicals set in France and England during the Middle Ages. While her books do have romance elements (the HEA ending), they are more in the genre of historical fiction than historical romance. If plenty of hot sex is a absolute reading requirement of yours, you probably will not be happy with Ms. Chadwick, as she tends to close the bedroom door very early. But, and here she parts company with most writers of romance novels, both men and women have very satisfactory sex with people that they don't love. If you only like history-as-wallpaper books, you may find Ms. Chadwick a tough go, as she brings us the past in all its smelly, dirty, sticky splendor.

"The Champion" takes place in France and England in the late 12th century. It relates the rise, the fall, and the rise again of the fortunes of two families: the de Montrois and the de Cerizys, who travel the tourney circuit, almost like modern-day rodeo riders, jousting for their living. Monday de Cerizay and Alexander de Montroi are the star-crossed lovers, but my favorite character is Alexander's brother, Hervi, who I can see in my mind's eye being played by Russell Crowe.

The only drawback to becoming hooked on Ms Chadwick's novels is that they are difficult to find in the book stores. Most of them are released in the UK, Canada, and in Europe (publisher is Time-Warner, so I don't really understand why they aren't released here as well). You can order them from secondary seller on amazon, but be prepared to pay a little more than you would for a US paperback. Many of the books also are published in the new oversized massmarket format.

When A Favorite Author Retires..

2005-09-14T02:23:00.000-07:00

The rumor going around on several internet romance sites is that Marsha Canham's last book, "My Forever Love," is Marsha Canham's last book! Over the weekend I sent an e-mail to Colleen at "Romantic Times Magazine" to see if she could discover whether the rumor is fact or fiction (last year she verified that writer Anita Mills was alive and well, although retired, when the rumor was circulating that the author had died). Ms. Canham hasn't updated her website since the publication of "The Iron Rose," although she may have more than one site, but I am just not able to locate an alternate site. I will update this post as soon as I hear back from "RT Magazine."

When a favorite author retires, I have very mixed feelings -- I am close to retirement myself, so I understand the urge to leave work behind and strike out in a new direction, but at the same time I feel a real sense of loss. I felt that way back in the 1970s when I heard that Anya Seton was retiring after the publication of "Green Darkness." Ms Seton claimed that she was retiring due to health issues, although she was only in her 60s when she stopped writing -- according to various sources, no one was ever sure exactly what health issues Ms Seton had that percipitated her sudden retirement and she lived into her 90s. I loved the works of Ms Seton from the age of 14, when I first sat down with a tattered used copy of "The Winthrop Woman" (I have lost count of the number of times I have read that account of life in Puritan England and America). Anita Mills was an author to whom I warmed slowly, but ended up being a great admirer of her Regency, and then at the end, western romances.

If Marsha Canham is retiring, it will be a great loss to those of us who want historically accurate romance novels with heroines and heroes whose love stories thrill us with their emotional depth. In my opinion, "Midnight Honor" is one of the great historical romances written in recent memory, but few readers seem to know anything about it -- what I see as the lightweight fluff of Nora Roberts and Catherine Coulter make the best seller lists time after time, but Ms Canham seems to be known to a much smaller core group of fans. If it is true that Ms Canham has retired, we better start buying up her backlist quickly and saving the books in a special corner of our keeper shelves.

Anya Seton's Dragonwyck Re-released

2005-09-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

I just received this lovely edition a few days ago and am saving it for this weekend. "Dragonwyck" is one of the few books by the late Anya Seton that I have not read and I am looking forward to discovering what treasures are hidden within the covers. I know that it takes place in New York State in the early to mid-19th century and is rather dark in tone, more of a Gothic romance than her later works. It seems to me that there was also a movie version made during the 40s with Gene Tierney in the role of the heroine, but I have yet to see it. I think I need something that will take my mind off of the tragedy in the Gulf States for a little while....

Donate to help the Animals in the Gulf Coast

2005-09-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

Time to Stop the Finger Pointing & Pull Together

2005-09-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many Sunday newspapers carried the picture of the 105 year old white woman in a wheelchair being evacuated from danger, holding on to the hand of a five year old black girl, the granddaughter of her nurse, but it should have been on the front page of every paper in this country. It made me weep. I'm taking it to work on Tuesday and taping it to my file cabinet, to remind me of what brings us together -- our humanity.

I don't know if this old song is in the public domain or not, but I assume it is (but just in case it isn't, I took it from the PBS web site on the program "River of Song". I added the final verse because it is one variation we used to add at my old church in California).

"We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday.
Deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome someday.

Black and white together
Black and white together
We shall overcome someday.
Deep in my heart, I do believe
We shall overcome someday."

My Heart is Heavy

2005-09-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

I never got to see New Orleans in person. It was one of those things I was saving until retirement, when I figured I could take a nice trip with Elderhostel and not have to worry about going back to the real world of work when the trip was over. Now, even if the city is rebuilt, it will never be the same. I feel so much for those people waiting for help that seems to be coming so slowly. And then there are the ugly images of idiots looting..not for food, water, diapers, medicine, shoes, underwear, soap, toothpaste, or any of the other things that we deem necessities, but for plasma TVs, microwave ovens, and, ofcourse, guns. Gleefully shooting at helicopters and rescue workers shows how thin the veneer of civilization can be at times like these. I hope these ugly images of criminals are not the ones I carry with me when I think back on this terrible time for our country.

My contributions are made, but I keep feeling I could do more, but what? I work fulltime hundreds of miles away from the site of this disaster, and to be honest I don't have the kind of practical skills that are currently needed. This time money will have to be the medium, but I am going to look for volunteer opportunites close to home, and take that CPR/First Aid class at the Red Cross I've always wanted to take. And although I am not normally a praying type of person, I will pray for the people of the Gulf Coast, even, or especially, for the idiot looters.

Porn in a Pretty Package - a Rant

2005-08-25T15:29:00.000-07:00

I just got though posting a comment on Romancing the Blog, on a thread that had to do with so- called romantica, and especially the novels of Emma Holly. I am fully prepared to get my ass whipped (ha!) because I called so-called romantica cited in the article as nothing but porn wrapped up in a pretty package.

This post is really breaking my own cardinal rule, because I have never read the book "Menage," which was being so highly praised by the author of the blog. "Menage" deals with a three-way that was still extant when the book ended, hence the title. According to the blogger Ms Holly's books deal with such subjects as anal sex, bondage, sex toys, mutual masterbation, and that's the tame stuff! I am sure that if anyone replies to my post consternation will reign when a spade is called a spade. In fact, the statement has already been made that because the book contains a love story, this is not porn. Not porn my Great Aunt Fanny!

The fact that some people find that type of book of interest doesn't shock me. Many people have sex lives (of either the real or fantasy type) that would surprise their neighbors. But call it what it is, for God's sake, and stop trying to hide behind an artificial construct that because it contains a "relationship" that it isn't at least erotica, let alone borderline porn, or outright porn. And stop whining that the public doesn't take romance seriously -- hell, I wouldn't take it seriously either if that was all there was to the genre, or my only exposure was a book such as the one attributed to Ms Holly!

Decided to Do a Sort Out of My TBR Pile!

2005-08-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

I realized my TBR pile was getting totally out of hand again....I broke my promise to not buy any more books this month in a big way! I cancelled the three home reader services book clubs that I had set up with Harlequin Historicals and two other publishers and then forged ahead to reduce the TBR monster.

How did I make the decision as to what got cut to be taken to Goodwill? Nothing scientific, I assure you. If it had been sitting in the pile for months with hardly a glance being given, or if I gave a guilty cringe whenever I looked at the cover, out it went. There were quite a few Zebra Regencies that bit the dust unread! I also gave away books I had read, but which did not meet my own standard of keeper quality. There are eight plastic grocery bags of books waiting to go to the car when it cools off this evening.

Do I feel better? Yes, actually. I have decided to keep my vow for the next month, as I have pre-ordered the long-awaited "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," so naturally that doesn't count!

Working My Way Through the Classics

2005-08-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

I was reading on another blog about the man who decided to read the entire Booker Prize long list in, I believe, 30 days. The Booker is a literary prize awardered in England every year and there is much prestige associated with being nominated, let alone winning. Amanda, on her bookwormmom blog, is trying to decide how she wants to emulate the British reader, whether to read the Booker short list or the Newberry winners for the past few years.

I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to work my way through the Barnes & Noble classics series, and have already read several from their list, plus have several waiting in the wings.....no, no, a new TBR pile...the horror, the horror!!! I have never had a problem reading more than one book in a given time frame -- I usually have one book for the bus and one for the house going at all times, so I will still be able to do my regular reading.

Why did I pick the Barnes & Noble Classics series? For one thing it is a comprehensive selection of the world's great literature in an inexpensive but attractive format: $5.95 - 7.95 for a trade size paperback with nice cover art. Second, each book has a introduction by a scholar in the field, who includes comprehensive footnotes, background material, a list of movie versions of the book, contemporary criticism, and a list of questions suitable for a book club discussion.

Do I expect to finish all the classics on the Barnes & Noble website? The answer is no, for several reasons: first, the list is quite long, well over a hundred titles; second, new books are added all the time; third, I may run into a book that I just can't finish, or one in which I have such minimal interest that I may just decide to skip it. For me, this is something that I have always wanted to do, as even though I consider myself fairly well-read, I am always coming across a classic that I have never read ("The Mill on the Floss" comes to mind, and, frankly, that is one that I probably will put off for a while longer).

My progress so far (all are Barnes & Noble Classics available at B&N stores and through the web site):

"Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Bronte.
"A Tale of Two Cities," by Charles Dickens
"David Copperfield, " by Charles Dickens
"A Room with a View," by E.M. Forster
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," by Mark Twain

Current reading:

"Persuasion," by Jane Austen

Too Hot to Do Anything but Read!

2005-08-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

I have lived in Virginia for 11 years now and have experienced some hot humid summers, but this summer stands with 1995 and 2002 as one I will gladly put behind me. Last summer was memorable because we never had a day above 93 degrees, which meant that one could garden, visit one of the tourist destinations (such as Colonial Williamsburg or Busch Gardens), or even just go to the local book store without danger of heat exhaustion. This year is memorable for hardly having a day below 93 degrees, with temperatures of 97, 98, 99 degrees not uncommon. Factor in the humidity and you have heat indices of up to 120 degrees!

This weekend I watched two movies ("The Upside of Anger," rented from netflix, and "Troy," purchased for half price from Target) and read. I finished an historical mystery ("A Plague on Both Your Houses") which I wanted to like more than I actually did -- the book received a big gold star for re-creating the world of 1348 and the appearance of the Black Death in England, but the plot was so convoluted with a large cast of characters that I was ready to finish it long before I reached the end. I then went to Candice Proctor's "The Bequest," which I highly recommend! Proctor reminds me of Marsha Canham: excellent writing style, believable plot, engaging characters, and much emotion. "The Bequest" is the story of a convent-raised young woman who inherits a bordello in post-Civil War Colorado from the mother she thought had died. A great read!

I am also reading "Jane Austen's Guide to Dating," a book I wish had been available when I actually was dating! If you are married, or single but out of the action, this is really a book to borrow from the library and enjoy more for the literary references (and the quiz at the back) then as an advice book. When I took this quiz I was "Elizabeth Bennet", while I showed up as "Eleanor" on the quiz T. Marie posted on her blog.

Well, it is now time for me to start getting ready for work. Being up at zero dark 30 is not my real style, and is not something I will miss when I retire next year. Y'all stay cool, you hear!?

"A Little Respect..."

2005-08-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

Once again on the Romancing the Blog web site someone has written another venting article on the lack of respect that the public (including readers of the genre) and writers have for romance novels. My response was that the non-romance reading public is stuck about 25 years in the past regarding the genre: they still are thinking of the purple prose bodice ripper that revitalized the genre but also (IMO) gave it a reputation that is hard to live down to this day.

But to be totally frank, I think that the increased emphasis on more and more explicit sex (the erotica/romantica movement) is not helping the case. IMO it just reinforces the public view that we are nothing but "horney housewives of the desperate kind". I know all the justifications for the "romantica" genre: more women are demanding it; it's not about sex, it's about the relationships (huhuh..); those who object or don't read it are a bunch of dried-up prudes; it's mostly married women who read it, not singles, and on and on.

Do I think it should be discontinued? No! I don't believe in censorship. But I also think that in most cases perception is everything, so if the trend for more and more explicit sex and heretofore taboo variations (including three-ways and bondage) continues, no one should be surprised if the genre is still suffering from lack of respect ten years from now.

Where do You Want to Live When You Grow Up?

2005-07-31T04:29:00.000-07:00

I found a new-to-me web site called www.findyourspot.com. The website administers a quiz that results in a list of 24 cities that match your answers. I took the quiz twice, first asking for cities from all over the U.S., then asking for regional results from the mid-Atlantic states, including Virginia. I should not be living in Virginia! There was not a single match for VA, but within the region both Charlestown WV and Frederick MD were named, and I agree with those selections. Providence RI and many cities in Oregon were named on both lists. It is interesting that when I was transferred back in 1994 I had stated that Virginia or Oregon were equally acceptable to me.

Oregon is a much more liberal state than is Virginia, and probably would have been a better match for me. But since my family is in Virginia, that is where my heart is as well. Which is not a bad place to be stuck, although I hate the hot, humid summers. The town where I live is poor and has a boarded up city center, two small libraries, and a lack of cultural activities. I live in what was once the exclusive part of the town, which has nice homes and quiet neighbors. It is also 45 minutes away from the capital of the state, so I have the best of both worlds, in a sense. Just wish there were more used book stores!

Current reading: "Earthly Joys," by Philippa Gregory. Touchstone Book (Simon and Schuster) 2005. ISBN 0-7432-7252-8

What Do Women Want?

2005-07-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

Recently on the Reader's Roundtable Board on the "Romantic Times" web site, someone posted looking for "politically incorrect romances" that were about weak and fearful women dominated by an alpha male. Well, gag me! I thought that type of book was totally on the way out...the bodice ripper, purple prose romance that gave the entire genre a bad name, a black eye, whatever you want to call it, back in the '70s and 80s. And to add insult to injury, someone suggested that Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series was in this category because of the second most infamous scene in the first book, when Jamie takes a strap to Claire. I would say, however, that those of us who were appalled at that scene did come to understand why Jamie felt the strapping was necessary -- and it was congruent with the time period of the book. Plus, "Mrs. Jamie" is hardly a weak and fearful wimp.

Why WOULD anyone want to read a story about a weak and fearful woman dominated by an alpha male, unless at the end of the book the female "worm" suddenly turned and went for his balls, so to speak (and not in a way he would enjoy!)? This must be one female fantasy that I have totally by-passed , or if I ever had it, it must have been so long ago that I have forgotten it(say, maybe when I was 15 or 16). I want stories about strong women, women who know their own mind, have a sense of self that doesn't depend on a man to validate it, who may have suffered but who don't let it turn them to jelly. I gave the example of Jane Eyre, who is on my mind due to the group read on the Barnes and Noble University web site, as a heroine whom many see as a waif, but who is the farthest thing from a victim as one can imagine. From the time she is a small girl, Jane holds her own. She tells the Reverend Brocklehurst that she intends to avoid hell by not getting sick and dying. She has the strength to leave her true love, seemingly forever, because she will not compromise her beliefs, and turns down another proposal of marriage which she knows would kill her soul.

Maybe someone can enlighten me as to the appeal of a passive, weak heroine. Is it a longing to be dominated, but within the safety of a book? Is it a backlash against feminism in general? Or is this just something I will never understand?

ROMANCE READING SLUMP

2005-07-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

I admit it, I am in a slump when it comes to reading romances! A couple of weeks ago I reported that I was going to tame the TBR pile by reading only from that mountain of books and not making any further purchases until I made a dent in the pile. It has been easy to keep the second promise of not purchasing any more romances, but actually cracking one open has seemed like a chore this month. The only true romance I have read so far is the disappointing "Blood Moon over Bengal," which I reviewed on July 9th (see post below).

I was also disappointed in Diane Chamberlain's "Kiss River," which is a book that could either be considered a romance or a member of the more mainstream category of women's fiction. I loved the first book in the series, "Keeper of the Light," and have read it several times over the years, but "Kiss River" just never rang true for me. One reason was that much of the book was in the form of a "diary" written in 1942 by a 14 year old girl, and Ms Chamberlain never caught the voice of a teenage girl. The "diary" sounded as though it was written by an adult woman recollecting memories of 60 years ago, which I am sure was not the intent of the author. The second reason I found the book disappointing was that the male and female protagonists were strangers at the beginning of the novel (which took place over about a 5 week period) and were madly in love and getting married by the end. The hero was a recent widower whose marriage had been less than perfect, but even then the declaration of love and the plans to be married were too quick for my taste.

The group read of "Jane Eyre" on the Barnes & Noble University website has been a great experience. We have been discussing feminism at length, as the instructor specializes in that subject area, and has written books on feminism in the 19th century British novel. I've also been reading the first book in the Harry Potter series, and while I found it to be more of a children's book than I anticipated, my understanding is that the rest of the series is aimed as much at adults as at children. Eventually, I intend to read the entire series. As we enter the dog days of summer, the thought that it is only two more months until Diana Gabaldon's "Breath of Snow and Ashes" is keeping me going -- I only hope that it keeps up the promise of the earlier books in the series!

Current reading: "Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Bronte.
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerers's Stone," by J.K. Rowling.

Projected reading: "Beyond Temption," by Mary Reed McCall.
"Howards End," by E.M. Forster.

"I WANTED TO LOVE THIS BOOK, BUT....."

2005-07-09T06:11:00.000-07:00

"I wanted to love this book, but...." How many times have you said or thought that about a book, one you had just purchased or one that had been sitting in your TBR pile since God knows when? I found myself in that position this week, when I set aside "Blood Moon Over Bengal," by Morag McKendrick Pippin. I purchased this book through amazon.com at the end of June, based upon several positive reviews posted on that web site and others. One woman had even stated it was her "favorite book of all time!" Even discounting that bit of hyperbole, I decided to order the book as it had a setting that has long fascinated me: India in the last days of the British Raj.

Set in 1932, "Blood Moon Over Bengal" is the story of newly-wealthy Englishwoman Elizabeth Mainwarring and Major Nigel Covington-Singh, half-Indian, half-English prince, who used his father's influence to obtain a commission in the regular British army. It is also the first published novel by Ms Pippin, and thereby lies the main reason I set the book aside: I found it typical of some first romance novels, awkwardly written, with short choppy chapters (2-4 pages in length), and cliche characters. In my mind's eye I could see the "movie version," with C. Aubrey Smith as Colonel Mainwarring, Tyrone Power as Covington-Singh, David Nevin as his friend Harry Wordford, and so on...

I read half the book before setting it aside. The characters never came alive for me, the dialogue was stilted, and Covington-Singh apparently had a perpetual erection straining the fly on his uniform pants from the first moment he beheld the beautiful Ms Mainwarring. That he was still able to carry on is a tribute to good old British pluck! I have a problem with novels where the hero instantly pictures the heroine writhing on his bed -- it is not that I discount the male libido, but it is such a cliche that I moan (and not with passion) when I read those passages. On the positive side, I do believe that Ms Pippin has talent, especially with building up suspense (the story involves serial murders of native and English women), and it is possible that I may go back to "Blood Moon Over Bengal" at sometime in the future to see "who done it."

Anyone want to share any similiar experiences with "I wanted to love this book, but" situations?

Write What You Know?

2005-07-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

A few days ago a post appeared on the Historical Message Board at the Romantic Times website requesting information on writing a "Medieval/Regency"! It was apparent from her posts that the writer had no idea of time periods involved, and admitted as much when I responded (I gave her a down-and-dirty briefing on the dates of the Georgian, Regency, and Victorian periods). I also (gently, I hope) suggested that if she truly knew nothing of the period(s) that she might want to consider a different setting, unless she was willing to spend months researching, especially as readers of Regency romances are generally quite knowledgeable about the period.

The thought that kept running through my mind was why would someone want to write about a period of history without having at least some basic knowledge on which to draw, including the dates? Obviously, if an author is writing an historical novel they are not writing about events that they have experienced or witnessed, so "write what you know" would be confined to the inner life of the character (what it feels like to fall in love, for example, or miss one's family, or to grieve over the loss of a loved one), and would translate well to a contemporary setting, involving much less research. And the Regency period is such a well-trodden pasture for romance writers that finding a fresh spot of grass would be difficult even for someone who was well-versed in that era.

One of my big quarrels with Julie Garwood's historicals, for example, is that they smack of superficial reseach. It is possible that I am doing Ms Garwood an injustice, but I read her books on the Middle Ages and leave with the impression of a clean, neat, sanitary Medieval period with ditsy heroines doing cutsey things (actually I don't read her any longer, but when I did...etc). Is that the result of an inadequate knowledge of the period, or a desire to write a certain type of book, or both? Whatever else you might think of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series (and some Scottish readers have big issues) she has researched, even if she modifies history for the sake of the storyline. In addition, one can almost smell the streets of Paris, Jamie when he has done a hard day's work, and the baby spitup on Briannna. Marsha Canham is another author who extensively researches the historical background of her books.

So my question is, was my advice to the poster who wanted to write a "Medieval Regency" spot on, or should I just have minded my own business? What do you think of "writing what you know?" Overrated or ???

TAMING THE TBR PILE

2005-07-02T15:24:00.000-07:00

The TBR pile of books that we just couldn't resist but never seem to read is a favorite topic of conversation on blogs and other websites. I wonder if this is primarily a problem of women readers? My son, who is a great reader, has a modest TBR pile, which is regularly supplimented by books I think he might enjoy but would not necessarily buy for himself -- such as James Hilton's "Lost Horizon." My son keeps ALL of his books, and has turned the bonus room of his home into a real library. He says he tries to keep less than ten unread books available at a time, and often re-reads his favorite books, such as the Patrick O'Brian series. My grandson is also starting to collect books as well -- Harry Potter, Star Wars, and the Redwall books. He has a very modest TBR pile consisting of the unread books in the Redwall series.

Unlike my son, I don't keep all of my books. I give away many romance novels to co-workers, and many more to the local Goodwill Store. As I no longer live near a good UBS, I can't recycle the books for credit. I do keep non-fiction, hardcovers, the classics, some favorite mainstream and women's fiction, as well as the works of my favorite romance authors. But my TBR pile has turned into a mountain! I finally decided at the end of last month that I need to put the breaks on the spending, as I think it has gotten out of hand. I have given myself a much-reduced set dollar amount to spend on books each month. I am determined to stick with it. It would be easier if my local library had a better selection of books, but the city budget is so limited that the library is lucky to have any new acquisitions. Mainstream and women's fiction gets short shrift, and most of the money goes to the computer lab and books for children and young adults.

The TBR pledge on the Romantic Times website has helped somewhat in taming the TBR pile, but one of my problems, as indicated in an earlier posting, is that I find it difficult to read more than 8-10 books a month. And new purchases just go straight to the TBR pile!

Well, wish me luck! I will keep you posted on my progress. Let me know how you are doing as well if you are also trying to curb spending and reduce the TRB pile.

Currently reading: "A Room with a View," by E.M. Forster.
Next books: "Blood Moon over Bengal," by Morag McKendrick Pippin & "Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Bronte, for the July group read at the Barnes & Noble website.

Group Read of "Jane Eyre"

2005-06-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

I realize that everyone has different committments, especially those who have children who are home on summer vacation, but please consider joining a group read of "Jane Eyre" on the Barnes and Noble University website. There is no charge, and if you already have the book you won't have to spend a cent! The group reads are moderated, with discussion topics posted by the leader, and responses can be posted 27/7 -- it is not a chat room situation. The "Jane Eyre" discussion starts on July 5th and runs through August 11th. If dear Miss Eyre doesn't appeal, there are many other group reads going on at the same time.

If you are interested, go the the B&N web site, click on B&N University, and follow the prompts to register. I have found that even if you are unable to participate on a daily basis, the experience is beneficial, as you can go back and read previous postings in order to catch up. I enjoyed the group read of "David Copperfield," and even got into a spririted exchange on the subject of Dora Copperfield, David's infantile first wife (you can see my opinion of Mrs Copperfield in that one sentence!). Another benefit is that you do not have to be an "expert" in the field to participate -- and everyone's opinion is treated with respect.

Not Enough Hours in the Day!

2005-06-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

Recently on one of the Romantic Times message boards, a poster asked how some ladies are able to read more than ten books a month. I found the answers interesting, as I haven't hit ten books a month for years.

In the first place, it seems that many women who frequent the RT boards do not work outside the home, and they are the ones who tend to read the most books. Some women are stay-at-home-moms, but many are retired, or are ladies who have health issues that do not permit outside employment. I was a stay-at-home-mom for only about three years, and what I remember of those days is usually being too tired to get in much reading, other than what I read to my son at bedtime! So my hat is off to stay-at-home-moms who are able to read more than a book a week -- I don't know how you do it, especially if you have more than one child, or your child/children are still at home.

Second, I would be willing to bet that the women who read 15 or more books a month are primarily reading short, category romances, which I rarely read. One poster, who also works outside the home, claims that she reads a book a day! I am sure these must be category romances, but even then we're talking 200-220 pages! Maybe she is a speed reader...

I tend to like longer books, although I have started reading the Zebra Regency books, which are in the 200-220 page category. Harlequin Historicals tend to be shorter as well, although that is not a hard and fast rule. Generally, Zebra Regencies and Harlequin Historicals tend to be light reads, although there are exceptions: I have Marianne Willman's brilliant "Pieces of Sky" in my TRB pile (TBR again pile, actually) -- it is a wonderful western set in Arizona territory in the 1870s and well worth a search on-line or in a UBS. When I am also reading for the Barnes & Noble University on-line group reads the books tend to be longer (200 pages to go in "David Copperfield"), so I go to a shorter book for my secondary reading material.

I read on the commuter bus, 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes in the afternoon. I try to squeeze in another 30 minutes in the evening right at bedtime. Weekend reading is hit-and-miss, depending upon my other activites. Yesterday, for example, I read about 45 minutes total, as I spent the morning and most of the afternoon with my DS and DGS, then went grocery shopping. By the time I got home, unpacked the groceries, cleaned out the frige, did some laundry, set out fresh water and seeds in the backyard for the birds, and washed dishes, I was so tired that I just watched a rented movie ("Iris," so sad, but wonderful performances by Kate Winslet and Judi Dench).

Okay ladies! How do you all get in your reading time? How do you make more time for reading?

Current reading: "David Copperfield, " by Charles Dickens.
"Carnal Gift," by Pamela Clare.

Romance Novel as Chocolate Truffle

2005-06-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

There have been several spirited discussions on Romancing the Blog within the past two weeks, mainly dealing with the public image of romance novels, including the restrictions of the genre, the "clinch" book covers, and the future of romance fiction. Of the people who enjoy seriously discussing romance novels, there seem to be two schools of thought: those who want to bring romance more into the fiction mainsteam, and those who can't understand why that should be a concern.

I have to say, and this shouldn't come as a surprise, I am one of those who would like to see romance become more mainstream, but I am not sure how that can come about, given the restrictions of the genre. Maili made a good point the other day that even within the restrictions there is great variation depending upon the author and the plot, so that the readers who stick only to romances do have a variety of reading experiences. However, the characters in a romance novel are based upon archetypes (the hero, the virgin, the villian, the temptress, and so on) and the structure of the romance follows a set pattern, so the interaction between h/h is predictable and the ending is a done deal. This is not the case with mainstream and classic fiction, which seems to be dismissed by many romance readers as "depressing."

For me, what draws me to a particular romance author is how she is able to come up with something fresh and new, given the limitations placed upon her by the nature of the genre. What is ironic to me is that the most popular romance authors (the "big guns") are, with a few exceptions, the least innovative romance authors. That indicates to me that those of us who want more mainstreaming of romance novels are probably in the minority of readers of romance, while those who are more traditional are the support base for the Nora Roberts-type of author, who writes seemingly dozens of books a year, all virtually interchangeable one with the other. The more innovative mid-list authors are publishing one or two books a year at most. Sigh...maybe erotica/romantica will be the wave of the future that sweeps some of the same-old, same-old away.

Okay, so what does this have to do with chocolate truffles? Well, one of the remarks I made the other day was that there was only so much romance I could read without feeling the need to go to mainstream fiction, historical novels, mysteries, non-fiction, or the classics for a while. So maybe for me, romance novels are like chocolate truffles -- I love them, but I know that a steady diet of them would be a disaster of major proportions (proportions being a key word here!) for me. I love knowing that they are there, so that when I need a HEA ending, I can pick up a book by my favorite author, or look for one that has been highly recommended to me, and savor the sweetness.

Social Responsiblity in Romance Novels

2005-06-10T04:48:00.000-07:00

This morning on "Romancing the Blog" the topic under discussion dealt in part with the idealization of the Regency period. As Wendy wrote on RTB, some readers tend to ignore the ills that were present during that period, but shrink in horror from books set in Victorian England due to the exploitation of child workers, industrial pollution, and other social issues. My remark was in part that if you carried that thought to it's logical conclusion, we would stop reading novels all together because you cannot find a period in history, including our own, where someone is not being exploited or mistreated.

In my article on the 100 best movies, I wrote that "Gone with the Wind" treats slavery as though all the horrors of that institution were the result of hiring evil Yankee overseers. There have been recent discussions on various blogs and websites about the American Civil War period being ignored in romance novels due to the whole issue of slavery: how does an author deal with this issue if the book is set in the south and has a southerner for a hero or heroine. Some stated they saw no problem with ignoring the whole issue of slavery and concentrating on the romance, while others felt that was dishonest. My feeling is that if you can't deal with the issue of slavery then set your book in another time period, which seems to be what authors are doing, because there is a dirth of CW romance novels. Another possible solution is to make your h/h northerners, but this seems to be out of the question for most romance authors -- I think this goes back to Shelby Foote's comment in Ken Burn's series on the CW, which was that somehow a myth that Union troop were not brave and committed to their cause has taken root in our popular culture. As Foote said, nothing could be further from the truth. As the direct descendant of three men who fought for the Union side in the CW, I personally find the myth disturbing. One branch of my family had to move out of Missouri for their own safety during that period, and in another case a ggg-GF was murdered (bushwacked) on an isolated road by southern sympathizers. But who tells their stories in a romance novel? When it is dealt with at all it is all about the south and the lost cause of the Confederacy!

My point, and I do have one, is how much should a romance novel deal with social issues? I don't want to read didatic literature, but on the other hand, books that totally ignore the reality of the time period are IMO dishonest. As I remarked on RTB, even Jane Austen dealt with the idle, careless Regency rakes by having them lose out to the more solid and steady type of hero that so many romance readers find boring ("just love those bad boy alpha heroes," is what we read over and over again). Any ideas?

If You Were Oprah, What Would Your "Bookclub" Recommend?

2005-06-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

Oprah is recommending William Faulkner for summer reading this year. Now, I already stated on the Romantic Times message board that I think Faulkner will be a tough go for most people, although I am not surprised that Oprah would recommend a "difficult" author, since she seems to want to be known as an "intellectual." Faulkner was one of those authors whom I never "got" when I was at university -- I read the books, but never related to them. Maybe I should join Oprah's club and give them another go -- she couldn't make me like Toni Morrison, but maybe she can help me gain a better appreciation of old W.F.

Now, if I were Oprah, my reading for the summer would be Jane Austen. Not "Pride & Prejudice," not "Mansfield Park," but rather I would start with "Northanger Abbey," then to "Emma," and end the summer with "Persuasion," which has an autumnal feel. Since there are movie versions of all three books available, I would also "require" the readers to view them as well -- although the only version of "Northanger Abbey" is not very impressive.

What does your Book Club recommend?

Nice E-Mails from Alexis Harrington & Steven Saylor

2005-05-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

After posting articles on the blog that featured the works of both Ms Harrington and Mr Saylor, I sent them e-mails advising them of the comments. Both of them visited the site and thanked me via e-mail for the articles.

It never ceases to amaze me how open authors are to corresponding with their fans! I think it is wonderful that we readers can interact on the internet with these talented people. This is generally not the case with many people in the public eye -- I once sent a fan e-mail to the artist of the comic strip "9 Chickweed Lane," and I was frankly disappointed that he never responded, but I also realize that these people do have many demands on their time. When I send a fan letter, I always make it brief and to the point, thanking the person for the many hours of enjoyment their books have have provided. I do not confuse a response with an invitation for regular correspondence, but if I enjoy their next work I do send a follow up e-mail at the appropriate time.

Time Magazine's List of 100 Best Movies - Pooh!

2005-05-24T04:41:00.000-07:00

Time Magazine's List of 100 Best Movies excludes two of my favorites that normally appear on any list of classic movies: "Gone with the Wind" and "High Noon." The fact that another favorite of mine (although not one of T. Marie's!), "Tombstone," failed to appear is not a surprise. There is so much to be said about both "GWTW" and "High Noon" that I don't know where to start!

The outstanding performances of Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, and Olivia deHavilland alone should have put "GWTW" on anyone's list of 100 best movies. The movie, as well as the book, depicts a mythical south that never existed in reality, the south that Mark Twain deplored as being under the influence of Sir Walter Scott and his romances....the preface of the movie makes this clear in the statement about gallant knights and their ladies who inhabited a lost world that will never come again. The horrors of slavery are pushed to the background and made to appear to be the result of hiring evil Yankee overseers. I personally think that this faux history is what makes "GWTW" so worthwhile viewing: 21st century audiences can see a perfect example of the myth of the old south, which is still alive and well in some quarters. But putting that aside, who can ever forget the burning of Atlanta, the famous long shot of the train yard with the wounded and dying soldiers spread out as far as the eye can see, Melanie shooting the Yankee looter, Rhett carrying Scarlett up the staircase....

"High Noon" is an almost perfect movie as far as I am concerned. And it is another movie that can almost be seen as pure myth: the gallant knight defending the weak, with the outcome not quite sure. "High Noon" IMO is a form of film noir, although it doesn't seem to be on the surface, particularly since it is a very "gray" film, with none of the visual darkness or the feeling of helpless despair at the end that is often characteristic of noir at its best. However, what it says about people is in many ways rather cynical: sometimes selfishness/self-interest trumps honor. Had it not been for Cain, so wonderfully played by Gary Cooper, darkness would have come back to the small mid-western town and settled in for a long stay. I don't remember how many times I have seen this movie, and it never seems stale. Shame on the critics that ignored this classic!

As to "Tombstone," well, it is an acquired taste. It has a cult following that includes yours truly, who marvel at the historical accuracy of costumes, sets, gun play, and grit. Val Kilmer was robbed of an Oscar for his outstanding portrayal of "Doc" Holliday -- from what I have read Kilmer's performance was probably the closest depiction of the real Holliday to ever make the screen.

I do not think that great movies are only a product of the United States, but almost half of the movies on the 100 Best Movie List were obscure foreign films that I personally have never seen, but were favorites of the critics who composed the list. They even admitted that their selections were subjective -- if a movie "spoke" to them it was included, if not, it was omitted, hence the disappearance of "GWTW," which neither man liked. Some selections were made by the flip of a coin. So, in my final analysis, I do not intend to take this list very seriously, since it is really just the opinion of two critics who seem to be biased toward the more obscure/artistic films.

What Is Your Idea of a Fluff Book?

2005-05-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago on the Republic of Pemberley boards, some of us started mixing it up (in the very genteel manner allowed on that web site) regarding what constitutes a "fluff book." The book that started the disagreement was "Little Women," which was dismissed by some as "nothing but fluff literature": it had no serious or worthy message, it was sentimental, easily forgotten, and the list went on. Many of us were appalled at this cavalier dismissal of a favorite book!

My contention was, and is, that "Little Women" has stood the test of time, and does not deserve to be called "fluff." I think that the book deals in a positive manner with finding one's vocation and way in the world, with friendship, with loyalty, with death, and with sacrifice. Hardly my idea of fluff -- I think of the word picture of loss that Alcott painted for us when Jo returns from New York to find Beth so frail and weak. Jo enters the parlor and sees the grief her parents are experiencing at the anticipatated death of their third daughter, and she joins them in their silent sorrow. At the end of the book, the surviving sisters find that they have each achieved a satisfying variation of the life they thought they wanted as young teenage girls.

What is your idea of a fluff book?

"Little Women, " by Louisa May Alcott, Modern Library Paperback Edition (Random House), 2000. ISBN 0-375-75672-8

FAVORITE HISTORICAL MYSTERY SERIES?

2005-05-13T07:17:00.000-07:00

My favorite historical mystery series is not a romance series, rather it is a series written by Steven Saylor, and set in Ancient Rome. Saylor has created a wonderful character named Gordianus the Finder, who is almost like a modern-day skiptracer at the beginning of the series, but who over the course of several books becomes a skilled investigator.

The first book in the series ("Roman Blood") is set in 80 B.C., and involves a young Gordianus helping an equally young Cicero with a murder investigation. We meet our hero's Egyptian mistress, Bethesda, who is also his slave. Although Bethesda is uneducated and superstitious, she is not ignorant, and the reader knows before Gordianus that he is actually in love with her. This series is a little unusual in that whole decades are skipped between one book and the next, until the author reaches the time of the Roman Civil War (c.49 B.C.) and Julius Caesar, when there may only be months between the setting of one book and the next.

Be warned: this series is not for those who want history-lite, or demand a great deal of humor in their historical mysteries, although Gordianus is certainly not without a keen sense of humor, most of it being in the nature of dry, ironic wit. I love the stories of Lindsey Davis, who sets her Falco series in ancient Rome, but Saylor's series is much darker...sometimes almost too dark! The ending of "Roman Blood" disturbed me for several days, but did not deter me from reading the rest of the series (which is still a work in progress). I have also enjoyed the developing relationship between Gordianus and Bethesda, Gordianus and his two adopted sons, and the touching but prickly relationship he has with his biological daughter (his reaction to his brilliant teenage daughter's marriage to a muscle-bound "stud" is priceless!).

The Saylor novels are books to savor, and are not quick reads. The author gives the historical background in either a forward or afterword, but I do recommend a quick read of the on-line Wikipedia, or another historical web page, for additional information that may make some of the references less obscure.

What are your favorite historical mysteries?

First book in the series: "Roman Blood," by Steven Saylor. Published by St. Martin's Paperback, February 2000 (the original publishing date for the Ballantine Books editon is 1992).
ISBN: 0-312-97296-2

Real People in Historical Novels - a Problem?

2005-05-12T04:28:00.000-07:00

On one of Romantic Times Magazine's message boards I recently engaged in an exchange with another reader of historical romances who doesn't believe that authors should include real people in their novels IF they have them interacting with the fictional characters. If I understand this woman's position, authors who include historical persons as characters are distorting history because these events "never happened!"

I think this is carrying the impulse for realistic historical romances too far. I think that most of us can distinguish between a work of fiction and a straight history or biography. There are wonderful fictionalized "biographies" out there, including the works of Gore Vidal, Diane Haeger, Anya Seton, and Irving Stone, as well as romance novels and historical mysteries that contain real people, which indicates to me that this can work and work well! Most authors include a disclaimer as well, indicating something along the line that while George Washington was a real person, the book is a work of fiction.

Thoughts, any one?

ULTIMATELY, A DISAPPOINTMENT

2005-05-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished Loretta Chase's "Mr. Impossible," and realized that it had been a struggle on my part to get to page 312. The book had received wonderful reviews, and was a great favorite on the Romantic Times reader's message boards. I had started it with high hopes, due primarily to the setting (Egypt, during the early 1820s), the heroine (a scholar), and the hero, who appeared to be a dashing rake in the tradition of those portrayed by Errol Flynn or Stewart Granger. The cover art and the back cover blurbs didn't hurt either. Miss Chase obviously researched the historical background, the plot seemed fresh, if slightly too convolunted, the dialogue was realistic, the romance was..romantic.....so what was the matter with me?

I thought about this last night and this morning as well, and came to at least one conclusion: the h/h were in many respects interchangeable with the h/h of Miss Chase's last novel, "Miss Wonderful." Both women were beautiful scholars who lead reclusive lives; felt they had to hide their intellect;one had a dotty father, and the other had a brother who was not the brains of the family; one was messy and the other hid her charms in widow's weeds (when she wasn't dressing as a Middle Eastern male); and both were determined to stay single (Daphne Pembroke in "Mr Impossible" was a widow, but at age 29 she had decided not to repeat the unhappy martial experience). Both heroes were rakes...but not really. These brothers were raised by parents who have mantipulated them into marriage by threatening to punish them economically if they don't mend their ways. Both heroes are introspective; have no interest in marrying "suitable" women; and are instantly attracted to the "unsuitable" heroines (there is a twist at the end of both books regarding the "suitability" of the two women, which I won't reveal). Since it is clear at the end of "Mr Impossible" there are two more brothers to go (Benedict and Darius) , I hope that in the next two books we readers get more of a twist to the characters than we have been given in the first two books.

Okay, am I too picky? I am willing to suspend disbelief and accept that the "magical" mongoose Marigold somehow got on board the "Isis" in her search for Daphne's brother (a man who had given her a fish to eat in the hours before he was captured by the baddies), but I can't accept two almost identical sets of h/h..how logical is that? The book was far from a total loss, however. I did enjoy the setting and plot, even if the book as a whole seemed derivative of the Amelia Peabody mysteries. Daphne's inner conflicts regarding her feelings toward marriage and her attraction to Rupert were appropriate, although I did get tired of her wanting to be loved only for her brain, and thinking she could never find someone who could "love her for herself alone and not her yellow hair"...my apology to William Butler Yeats!

"Mr Impossible, by Loretta Chase. Berkeley Sensation (Berkeley Publishing Group), March 2005. ISBN: 0-425-20150-3

Researching and Reading

2005-05-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

Do you like to do additional research after reading an especially interesting historical romance or novel? I find that I frequently will turn to an on-line encyclopedia or go to the library looking for reference materials on some aspect of history that caught my fancy. To me, that is one of the great things about reading accurate historicals -- the author may pique your interest into doing further research.

I especially enjoy the classes from The Teaching Company, a Virginia-based company that sells college level courses taught by outstanding professors. The professors are nominated by students and former students, "auditioned" by the company, and, if they pass, ultimately produce a lecture series on their academic specialty. The classes are available on DVD, VHS, CD, and audio tape. My two favorite classes are a 36- lecture series on Victorian England, and a 24 -lecture series on Classical Mythology.

There are so many worthwhile resources that I can only name a few in this post. Please feel free to add your own favorites.

Jane Austen and her world www.pemberley.org

On-line encyclopedias: www.wikipedia.org and www.britannica.com

The Teaching Company at www.teach12.com

Tudor History at www.tudorhistory.org

Victorian Era at www.victorianresearch.org and www.victorianweb.org

What Book or Author is a "Comfort Read" for You?

2005-05-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

Actually I should have written "books" or "authors," as I have several. From childhood on, "Little Women" has been my number one comfort read. I love the interaction among the sisters (as an only child I have little true understanding of the bond between siblings), the fact that the book is true about life, and about making one's way in the world to try to achieve your heart's desire, and that there is loss as well as love along the journey.

My other comfort reads are also not romances, but rather contemporary women's fiction and one non-fiction. I love to read the earlier works of Nancy Thayer ("Nell," "Three Women at the Water's Edge," and "Bodies and Souls"), because I can always find someone with whom to identify in her works. In "Three Women at the Water's Edge," I have, as I have grown older, stopped identifying so much with the two daughters, and now identify with the mother, who in her 50's reinvented herself. Because the books are not romances, the endings are not predictable, but they are always appropriate.

My non-fiction comfort read is the classic "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." Rabbi Harold Kusherner makes so much sense that I want to give copies of the book to all my friends!

Any thoughts to share?

Favorite "Mid-List" Authors

2005-04-28T01:40:00.000-07:00

One of my authors is Alexis Harrington. Her debut novel was "Homeward Hearts," published under the old Topaz imprint back in the early 1990s. Her books are set primarily in the Old West, particularly the Pacific Northwest, in the late 1800s. "Homeward Hearts" had an unusual heroine, a beautiful young woman who was practically a recluse, living on her own in a mining town that was fast becoming a ghost town. Most of Harrington's early books favor unusual settings and plots that are not run-of-the-mill. I wish that Ms Harrington wrote faster, because it seems there is always several years between books (or maybe it just seems like several years when you are waiting). Most of her early works can be located in the UBS or on amazon, through their independent book dealers. She also has a web site at alexisharrington.com.

A much lesser-known author is CiJi Ware. Years ago, Iwatched CiJi Ware do human interest stories for the local news on a Los Angeles television station. Her first book was published in the late 1980s, to excellent reviews. She is still writing, but her books are few and far between now, and she has switched to contemporaries, no longer writing the richly detailed historicals that I love so much.

"Island of the Swans" was Ware's debut novel. It was based upon the life of Jane Maxwell, who was married to the 4th Duke of Gordon, but who had a life-long passion for Thomas Frasier of Struy. The story covers almost a 40 year period, from 1760 to 1797. The book was later revised and reissued in a "history lite" edition, missing most of the historical details that had made the original so fascinating to history buffs. Her second book was "Wicked Company," set in Scotland in 1761, and relating the story of Sophie McGann, a female playwrite and actress. "Wicked Company" only seems to have a cast of thousands, but the list of real and fictional characters does go on for six pages! Sophie herself is one of the fictional characters, but inspired by real women who defied convention and wrote for the stage. It is a fascinating study of 18th century Scotland and England.

So, who are your favorite mid-list authors of the romance world?

Recommend reading:

"A Light for My Love," by Alexis Harrington. Topaz (Penguin Books). 1995. ISBN 0-451-40501-3.
"Homeward Hearts, " by Alexis Harrington. Topaz (Penguin Books). 1994. ISBN 0-451-40497-1

"Island of the Swans," by CiJi Ware. Bantam Books. 1989. ISBN 0-553-27598-4
"Wicked Company," by CiJi Ware. Bantam Books. 1992. ISBN 0-553-29518-7

Cover Art - The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

2005-04-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

This is one of those times when I wished I were more computer literate and could post actual covers on the blog to illustrate my points. I think I will approach the subject then from this direction: how much does the cover influence you to purchase a particular book? And do you ever feel totally comfortable with a cover that you find unattractive?

My favorite example of bad cover art is the original stepback cover to the 1991 American paperback version of "Outlander," by Diana Gabaldon. Had I gone just by the cover art, the book would have remained on the shelf at Waldens: there was a broken clock, a terrified horse, and an even more terrified Claire Randall Frasier, looking wild-eyed and singularly unattractive. If I remember correctly, the author disliked the cover so much that she decided that future books in the series would not include any depictions of the characters on the cover. So far her publisher has complied. As soon as the most recent uniform edition of the Outlander series was published, I replaced all of my older editions. I simply couldn't stand looking at that horrible painting of Claire, one of my all-time favorite romance novel heroines!

My favorite covers are those that are reproductions of paintings, drawings, or photographs, similiar to the Modern American Library Classics series published by Random House. I also think that the stepback covers on Marsha Canham's works are quite attractive. I was disappointed that her latest book, "My Forever Love," was not a stepback. Mary Balogh has had some recent books issued with cover art from the time period in which the book is set, and the result was quite appealing.

So, what do you all think? Any really memorable bad cover art that you can recall? And what type of cover art do you find really makes you want to reach for your credit card?

Innocence Vs. Experience

2005-04-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

Which type of heroine to you prefer in an historical novel: sexually innocent or experienced? The majority of ladies who post on the Romantic Times message boards seem to prefer virginal heroines over sexually experienced ones, and reserve a special circle in hell for authors who give their heroines multiple partners. Over and over I read posts castigating Virginia Henley and Bertrice Small, in particular, as their heroines frequently have more than one "great love" in their lifetime, and have been know to have more than one partner per book.

T. Marie, on her blog, Romance Reading Mom, asked why it is that if a heroine has been previously married that her dead, estranged, or missing husband is always a cad? My additional comment was that if she truly loved the first husband, it was always made clear that their sexual relationship was less than satisfactory.

Small's heroines, especially Skye O'Malley, can have several great loves, and it is not unknown for Henley's heroines to fall in love more than once. What do so many readers have against this type of story? Is it that so many women truly believe that there is only one person out of all the millions and millions in the world that is meant for just them, and that to suggest otherwise is to tamper with the order of the universe? Our own experience, or the experience of others, tells us that many people find true love and sexual fullfillment more than once in a lifetime, so why be upset if an author acknowledges that truth?

Recommendation: Bertrice Small's latest series, "The Friarsgate Inheritance," has the heroine Rosamund Bolton happily married to, or involved with, three different men by Book 3 of the series (and I'm not including her much older grandfatherly first husband in the count, because he never intended to consumate their marriage). The series isn't over yet, so I suppose Ms. Small could even bring on another husband or lover for Rosamund!

More Confessions...

2005-04-21T01:30:00.000-07:00

While I'm at it, I might as well confess that I have never read that beloved classic of romance, "Whitney, My Love." Right now, I can't even think of the author, but I want to say McNaught (coffee is still about two minutes away). I have read about this book for years, but have no idea of the plot, the characters (except that someone is named Whitney), and have only a vague idea as to the setting (which I think is Regency). Is this a book that would be worthwhile tracking down, or is it something I can forgo without guilt?

And I've never finished the Skye O'Malley series either!

Confession Time

2005-04-20T03:10:00.000-07:00

I have never read the novels of Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwiss -- there, I've announced in an open forum that I have never read the novels of the "mothers," so to speak, of the current romance genre. I think this is in the same category as an English major stating they have never read the novels of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, or Mark Twain (I intend to post about all of those authors eventually, as they are favorites).

How much have I missed by not reading Ms. Rogers and Ms. Woodiwiss? I remember when they first started publishing, as I was working in a Waldens. The clerk in charge of the romance section dismissed the entire genre as "crap," although she never expressed that opinion openly to the customers (this is why I have no trouble believing posts where readers write about being insulted by book store employees). Should I go back and read a sample of these authors? or just forget it? I do have a copy of "The Wolf and the Dove" in my TBR pile, so it is a given that I will eventually read it. But what about Ms. Rogers: any suggestions? And is there anyone else out there who has not read an author who is considered to be a classic of the romance genre?

Details, Details

2005-04-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

Several times in the past few months I have read and/or participated in on-line discussions regarding "history as wallpaper" vs. history as "another character" in an historical novel or romance. I think I made my position fairly clear in my "mission statement" when I wrote that I tend to ignore the history-as-wallpaper romance authors. I will agree that in some cases an author can overwhelm a reader with details -- I am thinking in particular of the novels of Patrick O'Brian, which have guides and crib sheets for those who are unfamiliar with the details of the age of fighting sail. My dear son assures me that none of those guides would be necessary if I would just to go with the flow of the novel as a reading experience, and let the details take care of themselves.

Putting Patrick O'Brian aside, in this post I am just musing on the idea that someone would read historical romances but have little or no interest in the details of how people of that time period dressed, ate, bathed (if they bathed at all) , traveled, or worshiped, just to name a few activities. To me, at the very least, an historical romance should include descriptions of clothing, food, housing, and transportation, as well as the current social mores and conventions. But I have read posts on message boards that indicate a complete lack of interest in any of those items, let alone a discussion of the events of the day, or the details of a military campaign.

So my question is, why read an historical romance if you have no real interest in the time period, or, as I have read elsewhere, even find history boring?

A FEW AUTHOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE WHO LIKE DETAILS (these are personal favorites):

Marsha Canham,Sara Donati, Diana Gabaldon, Patricia Gaffney, Virginia Henley, Madeline Hunter (the series set in the Middle Ages), Anya Seton, Bertrice Small, CeJe Ware ("Island of the Swans"), and Joan Wolf (the prehistoric series & the series set in the Dark Ages).

GOOD NEWS FOR ANYA SETON FANS!

2005-04-18T03:28:00.000-07:00

Last year Chicago Review Press reissued Anya Seton's classic novel of the Middle Ages, "Katherine," in an attractive trade paperback format. At the time, I wondered if this new edition of "Katherine" was a sign that other works of Ms. Seton, so long out of print, would be reissued as well. Apparently, the answer is "Yes," because Seton's beloved novel "Green Darkness" was just released by the same publisher on April 1, 2005.

I will briefly summarize the plot for those unfamiliar with "Green Darkness": as the author stated in the original introduction, the theme of the novel is reincarnation. It opens in the England of 1968, with Richard Marsdon bringing his new American bride, Celia, to his ancestral home, Medfield Place. Ever since their marriage, Richard has been cool and distant to Celia, much to her bewilderment. During a weekend house party, Celia and Richard have an angry confrontation, and Celia loses consciousness, then apparently goes into a catatonic state. While her body is in a 20th century hospital, her mind has gone back to the year 1552, where she was Celia Bohen, an orphan girl of minor family, and Richard was a monk. Their forbidden love for each other in the past must be dealt with before Celia can have any hope of recovery in the present.

This novel is popular historical fiction of the highest quality. Those who are familiar with her works know that she always researched the historical background of her novels thoroughly, and "Green Darkness" was no exception. One of Ms. Seton's many gifts was the ability to give the reader the sights, smells, and sounds of past times, so that the reader feels transported into that period of long ago. "Green Darkness" was the author's last novel, as she stopped writing shortly after it was published. There is conflicting information as to the exact state of her health at that time, but Ms. Seton claimed that she was too ill to continue with her career. She died several years later.

I contacted Chicago Review Press via e-mail to find out if the company was planning on reissuing other books by Ms. Seton. According to the publisher's spokesperson one of Ms. Seton's earliest books, "Dragonwyck," will be published in September 2005. No decisions have been made as yet about which of her other novels, if any, will be reissued in subsequent years.

Publisher information: "Green Darkeness," by Anya Seton. Chicago Review Press, April 1, 2005. ISBN: 1556525761. $14.95. Publisher's toll-free number for orders: 1-800-888-4741

Introducing Myself

2005-04-17T06:04:00.000-07:00

My name is Anne E. and I am a compulsive reader! I am a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, where I have made my home for the past ten years. I have a B.A. and M.A. in American Studies, with an emphasis in American literature. My reading tastes are very eclectic, but I have decided to devote this blog to romance novels, and, within that genre, to historical romance novels.

I firmly believe that romance novels should be held to a higher literary standard than is common among most reviewers, who are primarily interested in whether the hero and heroine have a Happily Ever After Ending (usually a given) within the conventions of the genre. I freely admit to a bias against "history as wallpaper" historicals -- novels that could be set in any period of history, including the present, because the historical background is sketchy and frequently inaccurate. I will, however, try my best to control my bias, as I realize many readers truly enjoy historical romances, but want them to be "history-lite."

I also must confess to a certain amount of computer illiteracy. This will probably not be the prettiest blog on the block, but I hope to learn as I go. I hope we can all have a little fun here, and I promise to never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings regarding their choice of reading materials.