February and March 2013 Book List

The Favored Child by Philippa Gregory
The Empty House by Rosamunde Pilcher
Arabella by Georgette Heyer

Quick Thoughts:
The Favored Child: Gosh, this was slow-going (could have been my fault for constantly reading the end first though). The subject matter was titillating but not to my taste. The main characters are unlikable. However, she does make a good job of creating believable characters despite the eyebrow-raising plot.

The Empty House: This is a simple story. Some plot elements reminded me of Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook", specifically the disapproving mum and the mislaid calls and letters. However, the plot was a little far-fetched, especially the reason why the heroine decides to get together with the hero, so enjoy this book when you are ready to suspend disbelief (a hot cup of tea and a comforter would not hurt).

Arabella: Oh what a delight this is. Georgette Heyer as usual with a delightful heroine and not as usual (delight of delights) with a not too old hero (how a ten year age gap (I think) is not too old speaks to how I usually view Heyer heroes). The hero this time has a slightly sadistic streak, while the heroine is adorable in a non-cloying way. The chemistry is believable and sparkling. Not quite as electric or fun as The Grand Sophy but a great romp nonetheless.

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

This was highly recommended as one of the best Georgette Heyer romances by the friend who introduced them to me, and I would have to agree.

Sophy is a delightful heroine, one who we'd be inclined to fall in love with even if she had turned out to be a manipulative minx, which, in fact, she did turn out to be. However she mixes it with pure intentions and a shrewd insight into human nature which I suppose elevates her meddlesome manipulative ways into a form of caring. I think Heyer herself realized that her heroine could not get by on the strength of her personality alone, charming as she was, and so wrote a few interludes that illustrated her goodness, particularly in contrast to her more sedate, commonplace and thus boring antagonist. This was essential I suspect because (major spoiler alert) Sophy essentially steals another woman's fiance from under her nose, and no amount of personality could have reprieved that act if Miss Wraxton had not been so particularly mean instead of just plain boring.

I do wonder if Heyer realized this halfway, and so added layers to her characters, or if she had planned from the start to peel back the layers of her characters' personality to reveal the underlying character. In a way this reflects how we meet and get to know people. How often have we extrapolated character traits from personality traits only to later be disappointed? For example, from her confident extroverted nature I would have expected Sophy to be a queen bee if I had met her in real life (my bias is showing here) but clearly that is not what she turns out to be upon close examination.

For me personally this method of character development works. I've always had trouble with the heroines who had charm and the golden heart and always got the man in the end, because it was just so unfair that the loser not only did not get the man, but also did not get the consolation of moral superiority either. Heyer somehow fixes this by so gradually getting us so thoroughly on Sophy's side that she ends up as a life and blood creature, someone who could potentially have really lived, rather than an impossibly glossy perfect heroine. It helps also that she did not just make Miss Wraxton thoroughly unsympathetic (although we may have felt for her and understood her jealousy in the beginning) but also by giving her a humorously appropriate love interest in the end.

Can I also say how refreshing it was to have a Heyer hero who was not a doddering oldie who could very well have been the heroine's father? The fact that Charles Rivenhall was not violent or a womanizer was just the cherry on top of the icing on top of the cake. Apart from allowing his affections to be stolen ,he is really my favorite Heyer hero to date. (I also have a soft spot for the secretary from Federica - was he named Charles too? But sadly he wasn't a major character).

I can recommend The Grand Sophy as a wonderfully light delicious romp with an outrageous and yet charming heroine. Definitely my favorite Georgette Heyer to date.

Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer

I'd read the blurb at the back of the book, which was probably a major mistake. It turns out that it not only included a major spoiler, but a major spoiler that happens late in the book. I kept waiting for the event to happen, so much so that by the time it did happen, I was let down.

I had only been familiar with Georgette Heyer as a writer of regency romances, so this Regency romance- mystery hybrid was somewhat of a novelty for me. I think it was waiting for the event referenced in the spoiler that made it draggy for me, so I would highly recommend not reading the blurb (difficult and unusual advice I know).

Otherwise this book serves up the usual combo of lovably flawed heroine with too much responsibility on her shoulders, the brother whose only use is to lend countenance to her housekeeping and the much older, initially off putting hero. Like other Georgette Heyer Regency romances (I am not familiar with the thrillers) It provides a light amusing read suitable for airports and bedtime.

January 2013 Book List

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise trilogy by Michael Dante DiMartino, Gurihiru 9Artist), Dave Marshall (Editor) and Gene Luen Yang

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures by multiples

Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

December 2012 Book List

None! Although I've been reading, I did not finish a book this month.

November 2012 Book List

The Vanished Child by Sarah Smith
The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
Venetia by Georgetter Heyer
The Judgment by Beverly Lewis
The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer

A friend had recommended Georgette Heyer to me a while ago, and when I saw this book on the shelves at my local library I decided that it was now or never. Besides it promised to be a light and fun read, and the link to http://www.austenfans.com/ on the back cover promised Austenian fun and wit.

Well, that link was misleading. I was severely disappointed from the very first page because Heyer was clearly no Austen. However, once I got over my disappointment, and decided to enjoy the book solely on its own merits, I discovered that this was a light and funny read (laugh out loud in many parts).

I think the main difference for me was that Austen traded more in satire and wit, while Heyer traded more in the absurd/caricature. Horry Winwood was also not a very engaging heroine. Despite her youth (which was often emphasised), she still comes across as a spoilt brat. One wonders why/how she enchanted the Earl of Rule. While the book tries to make a case for her charm lying chiefly in her naive frankness and honesty, it sometimes comes across as a childish lack of maturity. Luckily for Horry then she is quickly married off to a rich (hence negating the need to earn her keep) protective (allowing her her escapades, from which she escapes with nary a hurt except for a couple of anxious moments) older (who will sometimes train her like a child, using laws of reverse psychology and the like) husband.

The Earl of Rule, on the other hand, is painted as an attractive man of the world, happily sowing his wild oats until Horry came along. He is prone to settling arguments with violence or threats of violence. He wouldn't be an attractive man in real life - except of course what woman can resist the charms of the domesticated wild oat sower?

Overall, this book read very quickly, and was laugh out loud funny in many parts. Be prepared for plenty of the absurd, and some wit, and some very interestingly caricatured minor characters. I was later informed that this was not one of Heyer's best. Since I really did enjoy this thoroughly after (1) getting over my annoyance at it not being more like Austen, and (2) indulging in the fantasy that I am Horry and can do what I want and not suffer any consequences, and not have to work, and can buy jewel-encrusted shoes on a whim. This would make awesome airport/airplane reading material.

 ***** for being a jolly good read, despite not being Austen. And the detailed descriptions of clothes and fashion and hair!

An interesting thought: When Austen wrote her books, they were contemporary romances. When Heyer wrote hers, they were historical romances. Makes one wonder who is the Austen of today?