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0991375408
| 9780991375400
| 0991375408
| 4.72
| 2,716
| Jan 01, 2014
| 2014
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it was amazing
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One of the most inspiring and beautiful books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I love Pope John Paul II and wish I could have known him better w
One of the most inspiring and beautiful books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I love Pope John Paul II and wish I could have known him better while he was still Pope (he passed away in 2005 when I was only 10). This book offered a wonderful insight into the early years of his life (how he lost his family early, how had to study in secret because of the Nazi oppression and later the Communist oppression, and how he found his vocation to priesthood), then focused on each of his five loves (Young People, Human Love, the Holy Virgin Mary, the Eucharist, the Cross, ) while still progressing chronologically. It was very eye-opening and elevating, and it's the kind of book that makes you want to be better. There was something so loveable about Saint John Paul, he came across as so friendly, encouraging and comforting! The book had the same effect. I felt such a sense of peace while reading it, yet it left me with a definite feeling of "Wow! That was amazing!" as soon as it was over. It's a book that makes you want to be better, holier, and love Jesus and Mary as much as he did, pray as much as he did, and be as fervent as he was. It was wonderful and I loved learning more about one my favourite saints, and discovering what a truly gifted man he was (his intelligence was quite something -- he had two doctorates, and there wasn't a subject he didn't seem to have the answer to!). I loved it and strongly recommend it!! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 11, 2016
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Feb 29, 2016
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Feb 11, 2016
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Hardcover
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0985352922
| 9780985352929
| B008R54ZWO
| 4.13
| 2,606
| Jul 31, 2012
| Dec 29, 2013
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really liked it
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Once in a while I just pick something to read that I know I own, but hadn't really thought about reading anytime soon. Sometimes I regret my decision.
Once in a while I just pick something to read that I know I own, but hadn't really thought about reading anytime soon. Sometimes I regret my decision...and sometimes not! Sometimes, I am just pleasantly surprised, and bitterly regret not having immediate access to the rest of the series. The Unveiling was just such a book; I was vaguely aware of the fact that it was sitting on my "historical-romance" shelf doing nothing, and since I’d been in a medieval mood I picked it up on a whim and next thing you know I need the remaining 4 books of the series! I will be honest though, I am no medieval expert, have read little to nothing in that genre save fairytales, so I am not at all a reference for this book and can’t say if it was entirely accurate or not. I think it was, it was certainly well-written and made abundant use of the era’s vocabulary and turns of phrases (which I loved), there were enough details to create a really exciting medieval-castle-and-knights setting, and everyone seemed to act true to the period, if you can overlook the famous young-woman-desguises-herself-as-a-man-and-it-WORKS-she-really-fools-everybody trope. I always have a bit of a hard time swallowing that one (I mean, I know there’s no way I could ever pass for a man, so how come others seem to be able to pull it off so often?), even though I must confess I rather like the idea. I always eagerly await the moment when the hero will finally see the heroine in women’s garments and go something like “Omg, omggggggg, OMGGGGG” in his head. ;) Haha! I thought the romance was really well done in this book, and didn’t really encounter some of the problems mentioned by many reviewers here, like the fact that their attraction was purely physical (it wasn’t – there was a lot of physical tension, I grant you, but in the end they’re certainly not together only because of that), or that the hero was a hypocrite for claiming to be a man of God, yet being perfectly fine with sleeping with harlots and not ladies (it was the way of the time, and that’s what men were taught to do – not saying it’s right, but that’s what they did). If you like the tough warrior type of hero, the really hot kind that is incredibly strong and courageous, and afraid of nothing save love, you will love Lord Wulfrith (I obviously did), and might just fan yourself, you know, a few times here and there over the course of the book (might or might not have done that as well). The Unveiling was exciting, suspenseful, unputdownable and just plain good. The beginning was a bit slow and it took a few chapters to really get the action going, but overall there’s quite a lot going on, and you won’t be bored. The only reasons I’m not bumping the rating up to a full five is because I wasn’t a huge fan of the heroine (hard a really hard time relating to her, and sometimes she was a tad annoying), and although I really loved this book and am dying to read the other books, it wasn’t an ultimatefavourite. Still free on Kindle, for those of you who might be interested :) ...more |
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1
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Feb 03, 2016
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Feb 09, 2016
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Feb 03, 2016
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Kindle Edition
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201201139X
| 9782012011397
| 201201139X
| 3.95
| 2,255
| 1858
| Apr 03, 2006
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it was amazing
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Les Petites Filles Modèles. Another of my childhood favourites that I revisited by way of reading aloud to my nine year old brother, who surprisingly
Les Petites Filles Modèles. Another of my childhood favourites that I revisited by way of reading aloud to my nine year old brother, who surprisingly loved it. I say "surprisingly" because it's a) not as fun as Les Malheurs de Sophie, the first book of the trilogy that featured hilarious antics of disobedience as opposed to goodness and sweetness, and b) a girly-girl book. Like, really girly, with tea parties and dolls and effusions of emotion every two pages. Really girly as in all the characters are female, which struck me as quite odd for the time period upon this re-read. But not to worry, because if a nine year old boy who is all about manly things and disliking all the girls at school found something to like here, I think it's safe to say that this book isn't just for girls. Once again I noticed a bunch of things that had escaped me as a young girl, the importance accorded to women ^^ being the biggest one. The titles characters, Camille and Madeleine de Fleurville, are naturally our protagonists; two sweet, very gentle, very kind, very obedient sisters, who are the delight of their mother and all their friends. They are well-known for their perfect manners and endless virtues, and everybody loves them. Admittedly, they are loveable, if slightly too implausible. My soft spot was always for their feistier friend Marguerite, who stays on at Fleurville with her mother after being rescued from a carriage accident. Marguerite is also a very good little girl, but she's spunky and not afraid to speak her mind, which sometimes gets her into trouble. She's not as perfect as Camille or Madeleine, but she's more fun, and impossibly cute. And with the reappearance on the scene of Sophie (now Sophie Fichini and not Sophie de Réan, as will be explained in more details in the third book, Les vacances) who naturally stirs things up when she comes for a visit, sparks fly between her and Marguerite and arguments and quarrels (and hilarity, let's be honest) ensue. Then, we have two other very strong female characters who, without cross-dressing, fighting for women's rights or anything else extreme, still come across as very independent, authoritative and even pretty kick-ass, which is all very unusual for women of their time and position. The book isn't trying to be feminist or anything, but still manages to present very forceful characters in a completely realistic way. The first is the widowed Mme de Fleurville, mother of Camille and Madeleine, who has decided to live a more retired life in the country since the death of her husband. Throughout the book she remains the primary figure of authority, and represents the "good" way to educate children. Firm, but always just and kind, Mme de Fleurville knows that harsh corporal punishments are less likely to help a child learn than prayer and time to reflect. We especially see the effects of this with Sophie, whose mistreatments inflicted her by her stepmother only render less virtuous, but who greatly benefits from a little Mme de Fleurville discipline when she has done something reproachable. The second is Mme de Rosbourg, Marguerite's mother, who comes to live early on with Mme de Fleurville after she and Marguerite are found in a carriage accident. Both women were loath to part after the former's recovery, and since they are both without husbands or other influential male relatives, they decide to keep house together at Fleurville. Mme de Rosbourg's husband, a sea captain, has been absent for five years and presumed dead after a shipwreck. The anxiety and anguish caused from this circumstance have been hard on Mme de Rosbourg, yet she bears it with the patience of a saint (as mostly seen in the next book), and like Mme de Fleurville she is very gentle, kind, and upright in her Christian principles. Throughout the story she mostly plays the role of guardian angel, her generous soul leading her to help the poor left and right, surprise the girls with unexpected gifts, and come to aid of a poor young girl and her mother who were half-dying in a poor little cottage. She finds them a new house, furnishes it, clothe them, give them food and visits often with the children and Mme de Fleurville. Together, they all live a very simple yet happy life at Fleurville, and although nothing overly exciting happens in this one, it is a very good book, full of little girls' antics, little adventures with animals, and getting lost in the woods. My brother said he'd give it a 4.5 and not a full five, only because "it was a little too emotional", which I completely agree with (it's a book full of females, after all!). The Comtesse loves to have her characters express their deep gratitude and such in overly dramatic sentences, and although I have never really noticed in all my years of quietly reading this book by myself, it quite struck me when reading it aloud! Never failing to make me smile, Les Petites Filles Modèles still holds a very special place in my heart, and will always be one of my top favourite books. I'm so glad my parents got me hooked on reading with the Comtesse's books! :) Book 2 of the Fleurville trilogy, but not necessary to have read the first installment. A few things/circumstances don't make perfect sense anyways, as Sophie's and the Rosbourg's situations are all explained in the last book, Les Vacances. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 02, 2016
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Feb 25, 2016
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Feb 02, 2016
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Paperback
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0764211277
| 9780764211270
| 0764211277
| 4.11
| 2,272
| Jun 24, 2014
| Jul 01, 2014
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it was amazing
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Colorado & New York, 1883 Oh my stars, THIS BOOK. THIS SERIES. THIS AUTHOR. I'm sorry, but I really need to let out a good dose of gushing and babbling Colorado & New York, 1883 Oh my stars, THIS BOOK. THIS SERIES. THIS AUTHOR. I'm sorry, but I really need to let out a good dose of gushing and babbling over this book, because it was just that good. I've been a bit more strict with stars this years, and haven't awarded that many fives, but this one, oh, this one cannot get any less! I loved every single minute I spent reading this novel. I laughed hysterically, shook my head in wonder, sighed soulfully, and generally just had a huge, silly grin on my face the entire time I read. "'I hope you won't take offense at this, Mr. Beckett, but you are, without a shadow of a doubt, an idiot.' To Agatha's surprise, one corner of Zayne's mouth tugged up. 'Since you've suddenly taken to insulting me, Mr. Blackheart, don't you think you should call me Zayne?' Mr. Blackheart nodded. 'Fine. Zayne, then, but you're still an idiot.' 'And?' Zayne prompted. 'And what? I believe calling you an idiot sums everything up nicely.'" The dialogue is like this the whole time, and the whole thing is just completely funny, witty, and charming. It would make such a fun play! I had been eagerly awaiting Agatha's story ever since meeting her in A Change of Fortune, because she's always been my favourite. In truth, all four heroines are very much alike, and Agatha was sometimes hard to differentiate from Eliza, Arabella, or Felicia, but for some reason I've always preferred her and simply couldn't wait to read her story. I was expecting something great, something grand, an amazing finish to this amazing series, and...I got it. A Match of Wits has been everything I hoped for and more, and I enjoyed myself tremendously. AND ZAYNE!! Ohhh, I have been madly in love with Zayne since A Change of Fortune and he was so insanely cute in this book!!! Adorably clueless, naïve, but always so chivalrous and gentlemanly ;) Argh, he was just to die for. I LOVE HIM!!! And to be honest, I often don't understand why I love these books so much, because they are so ridiculous, make no sense, and are sometimes just plain silly. I mean... I mean, let me make a list of all the crazy and unusual elements this book has: *The heroine has a pet pig. A pet PIG, who understands what the word P-I-G is! *She brings said pig everywhere. In shops, in carriages, at the New York Tribune offices, at a gold mine...EVERYWHERE. The heck. *Ladies, as is always the case in a Turano novel, end up in jail after a failed attempt at investigating and/or helping in a dangerous situation. *Agatha is always disguising herself as a man as though transgendering were an everyday occurrence for her (she has trousers and shirts and a box full of fake whiskers and mustaches always on hand!!!). *She flounces to back slums and brothels and the like, usually in above-mentioned disguise. *Her mother has a shotgun and doesn't hesitate to take it out and/or threaten to shoot people with it for mere trifles (did I forget to mention that they live on Fifth Avenue in New York during the Gilded Age? Just...WHAT IS SHE DOING WITH A SHOTGUN AT A BALL???). *Agatha, naturally, possesses a few pistols, always carries them on her person, and is a capital shot (okay, not, she's actually quite a bad shot, but STILL.). *Zayne has a lame leg over the course of the entire novel, and must sometimes travel in this weird-looking and dangerous-sounding cart-thingie invented by Charlotte (remember the heroine from Gentleman of Her Dreams? I was wondering what had happened to her! Well!), which usually results in someone suffering minor injuries. *Agatha has a bodyguard (who was hired by detective extraordinaire Theodore Wilder for the sole purpose to make sure she doesn't *There is a wonderful (but totally implausible) 8-year-old girl named Piper (Zayne's niece) who untangles every major love problem, gives sound relationship advice as though she had a PhD in Understanding Love, and is generally just smarter than everyone else. I loved her insanely, but she made no sense. The plot was incredibly far-fetched, the characters acted way too modernly, and the whole thing was ridiculously crazy, but…it’s Jen Turano, so it worked to perfection. I didn’t care about any of the points I brought above. Nothing bothered me majorly and I was able to overlook a ton of things I usually can’t overlook. The dialogue is just too superb, and the characters way too attaching. ”Theodore sent him a rather pitying look. ‘You’ve lost your mind. Agatha isn’t a lady who can be taken in hand, and marriage certainly won’t keep her out of mischief.’ ‘Of course it will. Married women don’t run amok. They’re content to stay home and mind the children.’ ‘You do remember that Gloria is your mother, don’t you? She still runs amok upon occasion.’ ‘My mother, bless her heart, has always been rather odd.’ ‘And your sister? Even though Arabella is happily married to me, she continues to enjoy a bit of mischief. ‘Oddity runs in the family, at least as pertains to the Beckett women.’ ‘And evidently one man.’” I've been loving these characters to bits and pieces ever since they were introduced in A Change of Fortune, and I simply can’t bear the thought of reading a new book by this author that won’t be featuring them in it (although I’ve no doubt that her new set of characters must be just as delightful!). We NEED, absolutely NEED, a book about Francis and Drusilla (I mean, you can’t just leave them hanging like that, can you? CAN YOU???), a series about all three Murdock brothers (especially Jeffrey – love him!!), and a series about Piper, Lily, and Grace (come on, they would make wonderful heroines, just as crazily loveable as Eliza, Arabella, Felicia and Agatha! We all know it!). Please, it needs to HAPPEN. SOON. A Match of Wits was a completely wonderful and delightful farce that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone. It was hilarious and over-the-top silly, but it also had beautiful, emotional moments that really made you feel for the characters, and overall this entire series won’t fail to make you smile, laugh, and sigh rapturously (well maybe not “rapturously”, but I know I do!). Absolutely loved it, and I’ll be wanting a re-read of the entire series soon!! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 22, 2016
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Aug 2016
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Dec 21, 2013
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Paperback
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076421070X
| 9780764210709
| 076421070X
| 3.67
| 6,634
| Dec 24, 2013
| Jan 07, 2014
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it was amazing
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This is the first book this year to which I give a full five stars. I've had a lot of great reads so far in 2016, lots of 4 stars ratings and a few 4. This is the first book this year to which I give a full five stars. I've had a lot of great reads so far in 2016, lots of 4 stars ratings and a few 4.5 stars that nearly made it to a full 5, but I hadn't yet found a new favourite like I've found with The Dancing Master. I LOVED this book. And it highly surprised me, because it was a very quiet, English-countryside-not-much-happens kind of book (for the most part). I was quite taken aback with the slow pace and the gentleness of the writing when I first started, because the previous two Julie Klassen novels I've read, The Tutor's Daughter and The Silent Governess, were both fast-paced, suspenseful, and slightly "darker" in atmosphere. The Dancing Master is nothing like that. It does have its exciting moments and it's certainly not a boring read, but it is a very "put-downable" book and very different in tone from what I was expecting. Admittedly, I was completely in the wrong because I expected London balls and glamorous soirées with lords and ladies and society gossip (I clearly missed the part on the blurb where it says the story takes place in remote Beaworthy!), but although it was very different from what I thought, it was still amazingly good. Julie Klassen has such a beautiful and compelling writing style that she can make just about anything interesting. In the first half of the book not much happens, but everything is interesting and enjoyable anyways. We meet Julia, who lives in Buckleigh Manor with her commanding mother Lady Amelia, the Allen family of Medlands (they were charming!), the Valcourts who have come to live with their uncle, and a score of other characters. The focus shifts from one set of characters to another in a very smooth way, and we get to know the inhabitants of Beaworthy slowly but surely. We follow Alec Valcourt through his preparations and plans to open a dancing academy in Beaworthy, see glimpses of the strenuous relationship between Julia and Lady Amelia, and through it all we become aware of the deep web of secrets and intrigue that surround the seemingly peaceful and uneventful village. Lady Amelia, the leading lady of the parish, is clearly set against dancing and has been for years, which bodes very ill indeed for Alec, dancing master newly arrived from London who is looking to get back into his profession to support his mother and sister. Lady Amelia seems set against dancing masters themselves as well, and clearly doesn't want Alec and Julia to have anything to do together. So naturally, a romance develops between those two, but surprisingly, it isn't the main focus of the book. Like, not at all. In fact, there didn't seem to be one main focus in this book, but more like many little stories all interwoven that resulted in big village story. I loved that. You don't find authors who can skillfully execute that very often, and it's probably the main reason why I give The Dancing Master five stars. It's a beautiful masterpiece full of fascinating and loveable characters, and I can't help wishing I had a wonderful movie of it to watch afterwards. I really loved Julia, our heroine. I loved that she was flirtatious and spoiled and selfish, and just...different from any other heroine. She's typically the villain, almost, in other Regency romances! You know, the annoying blondie girl who's always flirting and giggling in the background. Well, here, she wasn't annoying at all, and I loved her. I liked the fact that it wasn't so much her romance with Alec that was so important to her, but her quest for a father's love. It was so sweet and heartrending to read about! I liked Alec too, although he wasn't very swoony (I was sort of expecting it from a dancing master, but that honor belonged to someone else :P), and I loved how honest and loyal he was, and how he kept persevering and did his best to support his mother and sister. He was really sweet, and although he wasn't a favourite I quite enjoyed his relationship with Julia and wish it had been more fully developed. Which brings to a few complaints that I do have, for all my gushing, as I was disappointed in a few areas. *This book features one of the best male characters ever created, but he isn't present nearly half enough as he should be. I want more John Desmond. Like, LOTS MORE. Like, I NEED a book just about him. Why wasn't this book all about him in the first place??! I fell for him so hard (and feel super awkward when I think about it because he's 40+ years old, but ehhhh, who cares!!) and was definitely disappointed that there weren't more scenes with him. Especially (view spoiler)[more scenes between him and Lady Amelia!!! I wanted to READ their romance, not just read between the lines to figure it out! The scene where she goes to apologize to him was incredibly heart-melting, but I wanted MORE. And I wanted the CERTAINTY that they will get married. I understand that they won't just pick up where they left off before all the family drama happened, but still. Epilogue is one year later. GIVE ME SOME REASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL GET MARRIED, I NEED IT. They deserved it more than anyone else in the book! Ahhhh! Okay, rant over, sorry. (hide spoiler)]. <--Yeah, we needed LOTS MORE of that. *I also wanted more Lady Amelia. She was awesome, and frankly, although I loved the story, I was way more interested in her past, and wish there had been more flashbacks scenes, or just more scenes involving her, period (in other ways than just the strict matron who disapproves of dancing, see spoiler above and (view spoiler)[ I WANT MORE DESMOND AND LADY AMELIA!! PLEASE WRITE A BOOK JUST ABOUT THEM, DEAREST JULIE!! (hide spoiler)]). *Alec and Julia may not have been my favourite couple in the world, but I was extremely disappointed that (view spoiler)[ there was no final love declaration/proposal scene between them. There wasn't even a final kiss. I personally dislike it when the characters kiss early on, never really think back that much upon it and don't have a follow-up (or have one much later), especially in the Regency era. It just doesn't work well, and it's disappointing. WHERE IS MY LOVE DECLARATION SCENE??! There wasn't even any mention of the word "love" between Julia and Alec. NOT ONCE. We know they'll get married from the epilogue, but...but....THE PROPOSAL. I WANT IT. I know their romance wasn't the main focus of the book, but stiiiiillll. *whines* (hide spoiler)]. Like, very disappointed. *I wanted much, much more dancing. I wanted soulful gazing into each other's faces, and jolts of electricity running through clasped hands, and all manner of that kind of syrupy, overly romantic clichéd dancing scenes à la P&P 05 (you know, like when everyone else disappears and all?). This is one area where I REALLY want the scenes to be more romantic that not. And (view spoiler)[ that last scene, with John Desmond asking Lady Amelia to dance nearly redeemed all, but I still wanted MOOOOOOORRRRREEEEEE!!! (hide spoiler)]. ;) For a book about dancing masters, there just wasn't enough dreamy dancing scenes for my tastes. *And lastly. The relationship between Lady Amelia and Julia, although clearly on the mend by the end, doesn't appear to me to be fully resolved. It's not resolved like I want it to be. (view spoiler)[ Again, I need MORE. I wanted hugs and fond embraces, and real, true, honest-to-goodness reconciliation and assurances of mutual love. (hide spoiler)] For all that though, (and I realize those ^^ are mostly complaints of not having gotten enough of the characters, which is a sign of really liking the book!) The Dancing Master is undoubtedly a favourite read, and it was delightful from start to finish. Unique, wonderful and completely engaging! The spiritual theme came naturally, too, and it was more taken for granted that spelt black-in-white like in so many other Inspirational novels. I really, really loved that. There was no Bible quoting every five pages, or endless wailing that God had abandoned so-and-so or would never forgive such-and-such. I really applaud Ms. Klassen for managing to get her point across and deliver a beautiful message without any excessive "preaching". And now...please I just need a minute to discuss...THAT SCENE. (view spoiler)[ When Lady Amelia publicly apologized and righted Mr. Desmond's character, I melted. But then, when she WENT TO SEE HIM TO APOLOGIZE and they had that incredibly romantic yet melancholy scene, I POSITIVELY SWOONED. And THEN, when he said 'She would never need doubt that I loved her...and neither would her mother.', I DIED. Like, AKRASJHDKJ THERE ARE NO WORDS. See what I mean by wanting more though??? Like, I want the whole book to be like that, not just the ONE scene!!! But oohhhhhhh it was so good. He kept staring at her. She couldn't even breathe. THE TENSION!! Klassen didn't even need to spell it out, it was so palpably there. Ahhh, I just LOVE them <3 <3 (hide spoiler)] Sorry about the serious overuse of CAPS and "likes". I'm not always like that, I promise. But when a good book, a really awesomely good book like this one hits me, then I'm afraid I am! ;) Needless to say I recommend this one wholeheartedly. You will not regret it!! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 13, 2016
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Apr 20, 2016
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Oct 31, 2013
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Paperback
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140221796X
| 9781402217968
| 140221796X
| 3.87
| 5,404
| 1934
| Mar 01, 2009
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it was amazing
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Oh, this was so good! Witty, fun, and completely engaging! Entering Georgette Heyer's magical world of Regency romances was one darn good decision I ma Oh, this was so good! Witty, fun, and completely engaging! Entering Georgette Heyer's magical world of Regency romances was one darn good decision I made, but branching out and trying some of her mysteries is definitely one as well. The characters might not be quite so loveable, the dialogue perhaps not as hilarious, and there might not be as many clothing description and everyday details, but on the other hand there is suspense, secrets, and the wonderful 1930's English country-house atmosphere. Clever dialogue and eccentric characters who all had a motive for hating and murdering the victim are at the heart of this clever mystery. There isn't much action, and it's not spooky like Footsteps in the Dark, but I guarantee it will keep you highly entertained and guessing until the last minute. I had my suspicions, but I was totally unable to guess all the particulars, and I loved the feeling of being held on the edge of my seat until the last chapter. When General Sir Arthur Billington-Smith is found stabbed to death in his study, it raises a lot of suspicion, and a lot of questions. Any number of people could have done the deed, but who actually did it? His meek, tired young wife who’s had enough of being brow-beaten at every turn? Stephen Guest who has been in love with her for years? Geoffrey the disinherited son who seemed to me to be unstable of mind the whole time? La Lola la Diva who drove everybody batty (ok, me)? The very correct butler? Camilla Halliday who only came over to flirt with the General? Her jealous husband Basil? Or could it be someone else from outside? The Unfinished Clue had me wondering “WHO IS IT??!” the entire time, and as soon as I thought maybe I’d found the culprit, something happened to throw my suspicions off, a new track was embarked on by the detective, and I was left guessing once again. I strongly recommend it, it’s splendidly written, and so cleverly conceived! Buddy-read with Christina :D ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 2016
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May 05, 2016
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Aug 02, 2013
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Paperback
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1402238843
| 9781402238840
| 1402238843
| 4.11
| 18,852
| 1958
| May 01, 2011
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it was amazing
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Edit on 22/09/2021: If you'd like to see an embroidery project I made inspired by this lovely book, head on over to my blog here to see it! Hint: blac
Edit on 22/09/2021: If you'd like to see an embroidery project I made inspired by this lovely book, head on over to my blog here to see it! Hint: blackberries ;) P.S. - I love this book as much as ever <3 <3 Yorkshire, 1818 *WARNING! Spoilers, gushing, swooning, quoting and rose-petal strewing ahead! ;) (no orgies though, I promise -- read on safely :P)* O Venetia! Thou hast utterly captured my soul! [image] "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." And a Damerel by any other name would be just as swoon-worthy! [image] "I will be calm. I will be mistress of myself." Because my name is Venetia and I'm one of the most wonderful heroines in all literature. I have lived one of the dreamiest romances possible, and have remained perfectly poised and ladylike through the whole thing, without seeming aloof or uninterested. I am simply awesome, that is all. I am sorry that no one else is ever going to have a romance as breathtakingly beautiful as mine. ;) "I am determined that nothing but the deepest love could ever induce me into matrimony." OK, Anne. I know Venetia has completely addled your brain, but there is no need to start quoting classic literature like some foolish bluestocking. You'll never be able to pull it off as swiftly as Damerel and Venetia. NOTHING COULD EVER COMPARE TO DAMEREL AND VENETIA. [image] (Yes, I know, I know, I use N&S gifs WAY TOO MUCH. But I don't CARE. It's PERFECT here. #sorrynotsorry) Quite simply, this book is exquisitely sublime. No amount of words to describe its peaceful, quiet beauty and entrancing depth would ever be sufficient. This is a masterpiece of the first order. Possibly Heyer's best novel in terms of perfectly blended substance and romanticism. I.Just.Love.It. Everyone had been telling me to read this for ages. I knew I would love it, and was so excited to read it that a part of me did not want to read it too soon because...once you read it for the first time, you'll never read it again for the first time. Sure, re-reads are sometimes even better, but they're not the same. You already know just how swoony Damerel really is when you re-read it ;) "Fair Fatality, you are the most unusual female I have encountered in all my thirty-eight years!" (finally Anne is quoting the right book!) In what is assuredly the most famous “first encounter” scene in all of Heyer’s books, a returning Lord Damerel looking devilishly handsome on his horse stumbles upon Venetia picking blackberries on his estate grounds, and immediately just starts throwing out quotes and kissing her ruthlessly, you know, like any normal landlord would do. And Venetia? She quotes back. I kid you not, this girl may be inexperienced, but she knows what’s up. You want to act like a cad? Well so be it. "'[y]our quotations don’t make your advances a whit more acceptable to me – and they don’t deceive me into thinking you anything but a pestilent complete knave!'" And Damerel is all OH MY GOSH, SHE QUOTES BACK. SHE UNDERSTANDS. SHE’S THE ONE. Thus it begins, my friends. One of the most beautiful romances I’ve ever read, solidly grounded on friendship, mutual understanding, and true love. ”’Or don’t you know how beautiful you are?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Venetia, taking the wind out of his sails. ’Item, two lips, indifferent red – ‘ ‘Oh no, you’re quite out, and have gone to the wrong poet besides! They look like rosebuds filled with snow!’” [image] Aren’t they something??! What I wouldn’t give for such an encounter when I go blackberry-picking! Maybe I should try trespassing on some hot guy’s property? ;) From that first meeting it is obvious that Damerel and Venetia are kindred spirits, and that probably no one else will understand them. Venetia may be “on the shelf”, sheltered in the country, inexperienced and optimistic, but she ain’t dumb. She’s not a chit who can’t tell love apart from attraction, or who is likely to have her head turned just because some swoony hot lord quotes poetry to her and calls her his “dear delight”. No. She falls for Damerel because he’s her soulmate, and she has sense enough to recognize that. Never mind that he’s the rakest rake in England, with a shocking past of wild orgies and seducing married women, or that he’s up to his eyeballs in debts. WHO CARES. VENETIA HAS FOUND A FRIEND. A real friend. And no one understands. No one gets it. They all think Venetia is going to have her heart broken, that she doesn’t understand what Damerel is up to, that she’s too good and innocent to be with him. They warn her and counsel her and beg her to stay away from him, yet they never once ask her what she feels or what she thinks about him. If only they knew how alike they are, and what good jokes they share. “OMG YOU’VE JUST HAD THE MOST DIVERTING THOUGHT??!!?!” Their only ally is Venetia’s hilarious younger brother Aubrey, a smart and sassy scholarly boy who prefers books to people (see? People who prefer books usually understand people better! We know), and who had wonderfully good scenes and witty lines as sharp as rapiers. The first part of the book passes by quietly, with autumn settling in and Damerel and Venetia being wrapped up in each other, being the best of friends and accomplices. Damerel takes to calling Venetia his “dear delight”, his “fair fatality”, “Admir'd Venetia” and other similar heart-melting nicknames, he keeps telling her she is a beautiful, desirable creature, and that he wouldn’t at all mind kissing her again, and well everything is just so sigh-worthy that you never want it to end. ”’[…]he should have taken you in his arms, like this, and not as though he were a bear, bent on hugging you to death. Nor am I in favour of dabbing kisses all over a girl’s face. If you cannot persuade her, by a ruse, to look up, you should make her do so, with a hand under her chin – thus, my dear delight!’” [image] BUT THEN, MRS. SCORRIER ENTERS THE PICTURE AND UTTERLY RUINS EVERYTHING. [image] She meddles, she disturbs everything at Undershaw, she insults Venetia, and she drives everybody batty. I will be honest, the bits about her and her interference in the house were pretty boring, and maybe a bit too long, but mostly, they were infuriating. She was intolerable. But her arrival is also a catalyst that strikes up a series of unforeseen twists and turns, and the second half of the book is definitely more fast-paced and surprising than the first. Having been pushed to her limits by Mrs. S., Venetia declares her intention of setting up house in London, which unwittingly prompts Damerel into a most moving love declaration, although interrupted by Aubrey (Aubrey interruption # 1 of about 5000!!), but that leaves you swooning nonetheless. ”’You call me your friend, but I never called you mine, and never shall! You remained, and always will, a beautiful, desirable creature!’” Ooooh if only Aubrey hadn’t come in at that moment! And if Venetia’s uncle had never come to Yorkshire! How things would have been different! But as it is, the aforementioned people DID meddle, and in one of the most poignant, heart-breaking scenes I’ve ever read in any romance novel, Damerel suddenly decides to act like the noblest of noble knights, and in so doing breaks Venetia’s heart (and mine!) and his own. ”’Well – thus ends a charming autumn idyll, eh?’” [image] I just need to give Venetia a big hug. [image] I was so SHOCKED, so SPEECHLESS when I read that, that I basically dropped my book and sat there gaping for ages. OH DAMEREL YOU INFURIATING DARLING. HOW COULD YOU!!! Poor Venetia goes to London with her heart sunk to the lowest depths of despair, but still she’s no fool, and knows something must have happened to make Damerel suddenly change his mind when she had been so sure of his love. She just doesn’t know what. But oh, when she finds out…oh, when she finds out, Damerel better WATCH IT. Oh, she ain’t gonna let him get away with his darned newfound chilvalry, OH HECK NO! HE BETTER START STREWING THOSE BLASTED ROSE PETALS!! [image] ALL THE WAY TO YORKSHIRE! Venetia: *bursts into Damerel’s dining room while he is quietly intoxicating himself* Damerel: OH GOD, NO!!! (this is the actual line!! :P :P) Venetia : OH GOD, YES!! Why do you have to be drunk just now?? Damerel : ASJFKJLKJLK VENETIA!!! VENETIA, IT’S VENETIA! VEEEEEENEEEEETIIIIIAAAAAAA!!!! *passionate-kissing-fond-embraces-insert-disgusting-sounds-here* Damerel : * reluctantly pulling away* Ohhhhh why did you come back??! Noooo!! I can’t DO THIS!! Venetia : I need money to pay the driver, do you have your purse? Damerel : Venetia, noooo, you weren’t supposed to come back, you can’t – I can’t – ARGH! Venetia : Please, your purse, I really need to pay my driver! Imber : *quietly coming in* Uuuhhhh….miss? You don’t mean to stay here do you? Venetia : Oh hell yes I am staying HERE! I have been anxiously traveling all day long just to get here, and now you think I’d go away? Uh-uh!! Damerel : NOOOOOOO!!! Venetia : YEEESSSSSS! AND I AM STARVING, SO PLEASE GET ME SOME FOOD!! Damerel : Venetia, please no, YOU CAN’T!! Venetia : Oh, I see, you have decided to be idiotish again, is that it??? Damerel : Awww “idiotish” *sniff* I never though I would hear you say that again! Venetia : Oh, I didn’t even notice I said it a lot! Must be quite a number of idiotish people in my life, LOL! Damerel : Lol!! But….you can’t stay here! Venetia : Oh, come on, don’t start again, if you kick me out of your house, I am building me a cabin outside, and will probably die of an inflammation of the lungs, and it will be all your fault! Marston : Heyyy, Venetia!! Good to see you! Venetia : Hey, you too! But Damerel here isn’t happy to see me at all and threatens to kick me out! Marston : No, what a jerk! Here, come upstairs with me. Damerel : NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! *** Damerel : Alright, so, I have an idea, since you refuse to leave, I'LL leave and go to the inn, that way proprieties will be respected, and isn't that nice? I love proprieties :) And I love how you do your hair now! Very pretty! Venetia : (Oooh man, is he ever difficult!) Well thank you! Damerel : A la Sappho it's called right? Venetia : Oh you wretch, do you know the names of all the types of coiffures??! Damerel : Yup, pretty much! So, really now, what brought you here? Venetia : Well duuuhhh, the mail-coach of course!! Damerel : Don't sass me you little vixen! OHHHH WHY DID YOU COME!! Venetia : (Ohhhh boy, here he goes again!) Why don't you just kiss me again and stop acting like such a stoopid??! Damerel : NO! I DO NOT WANT TO KISS YOU! I WAS DRUNK, DARN IT! Venetia : Aahhh never mind! My food has arrived :D :D *** Mr. Hendred : Oh thank goodness I arrived just in time! Venetia! What the heck is this I hear about you wanting Damerel to strew rose petals all over for you? Damerel : Hahahahaha!! At this season??? Venetia : Oh, shut up Damerel! You should've done it a long time ago, so hush! Mr. Hendred : Or maybe she just didn't want you to indulge in such wasteful habits? I mean, who wastes rose petals like that???!!! But anyways that's NOT the point, the point is, I am here to prevent you from ruining yourself, Venetia!! Damerel : Yes!!! I second the motion! Venetia : *major eye roll* HOW ABOUT I TELL Y'ALL WHAT I WANT!! There is no need to overreact! Damerel may be a little older than me, but at least he won't turn out to be my father! ;) Mr. Hendred : WHAT??!!! Damerel : HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA OEDIPUS!!! But it's the other way around honey, YOU won't turn out to be MY mother! Venetia : Oh, same thing! Be quiet! Mr. Hendred : Geeee...I don't understand anything! Venetia, you seem to be living in a - in a, a.... Damerel : Soap-bubble? Mr. Hendred : Yes!! Exactly! A soap-bubble!! Girl, WHAT IS GOING ON?? Venetia : Lol, if you think that I think Damerel is a fairytale hero, don't worry, I know he isn't! Mr. Hendred : Ooooh Venetia, you don't understand! Damerel is a man of the world! He won't be able to reform all his shocking habits just for you! You will be made dreadfully unhappy! Venetia : *eyes glinting* Well, my love? Damerel : *eyes glinting back* Well, my dear delight? Venetia : You'll continue to have orgies? Damerel : What if I do? What will you do? Venetia : Oh, I won't mind! I'll just...head up to bed or something! Damerel : Oh. Wouldn't you want to...participate, maybe? Venetia : Welll....do you think I'd enjoy myself? ;) ;) ;) Damerel : OH YOU SHALL HAVE A SPLENDID ORGY JUST FOR YOU, MY DEAREST OF DEAR DELIGHTS!!! Aubrey : *interrupting for the 5000th time* Heeeyyyy just wanted to ask, but...can we go to Greece for you guys' honeymoon?? Damerel : There won't be a honeymoon, because there won't be a wedding, because there hasn't been a proposal yet, BECAUSE YOU KEEP INTERRUPTING!! Aubrey : Oh. Well, when you finally propose, can we go to Greece? Damerel : In the middle of winter? You mad? Aubrey : Well okay, then it had better be Rome. I would have preferred Greece, but we can go to Rome, and I think Venetia will like it. It's not my honeymoon after all! Damerel : Just. Get. To. Bed. Aubrey : Right! The proposal! Goodnight! Damerel : FINALLY!!! PROPOSAL TIME!! [image] "'O God, I love you to the edge of madness Venetia!'" Yes, I really do love you to the edge of madness, Venetia. This is undoubtedly one of my favourite books of all times. I want to buy a whole cart-full and walk around campus handing a copy to everybody. "Read this, it will make you feel better. Read this, it is simply phenomenal. READ IT, I SAY!!" I could go on and on about this book for ages, but this review is already almost two months late, and no one probably even remembers that I read it. I am so sorry I took ages to write this review (again)! You can blame my addled brain. ;) Buddy-read with Becca!! :D ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jul 30, 2016
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Aug 17, 2016
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Apr 21, 2013
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1402219482
| 9781402219481
| 1402219482
| 3.98
| 7,415
| 1948
| Sep 01, 2009
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it was amazing
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4.75 stars, just short of being a top favourite! Dear friends, readers, and fellow Georgette Heyer lovers, I am really, really surprised at the low popu 4.75 stars, just short of being a top favourite! Dear friends, readers, and fellow Georgette Heyer lovers, I am really, really surprised at the low popularity of The Foundling amongst the Heyerites. I don't recall anybody ever featuring this wonderful gem of a book in their top favourite Heyer reads. In fact, I barely recall anyone even recommending it! Perhaps y'all need to go read it again. "'I am glad you think I have countenance, dear Gilly. I want only to be worthy of you.' 'To be worthy of me!' he said, quite thunderstruck. 'But I am the most commonplace creature! Indeed, I do not know how you can look twice in my direction when you have known my handsome cousin!'" I loved this story to pieces. It was wonderful, fun, different, and just so entertaining. Although very similar in plot to Sprig Muslin and, I believe, Charity Girl (I haven't read that one, so I can't be sure), The Foundling is definitely a unique read, and I suspect, a deeper, more profound story. I remember enjoying Sprig Muslin a lot for the fun screwball comedy it was, but The Foundling is something more. It's above all the coming-of-age story of the young Duke of Sale, and the book is filled with adventures, cat-and-mouse chases and, naturally, hilarious characters and situations. If you're looking for a romance, you might be disappointed. I know I was a bit, and couldn't help wishing that the heroine should have been involved in the main plot. But she's not, and only makes a few appearances at the start and at the ending of the story. Buuuuuuuut.....that means we are left with the hero for the entire thing!! :D :D :D The story is his story, and it is one of the few Heyers told almost exclusively through the hero's point of view. And I'm pretty sure it's the only Heyer of its kind. The hero, at all events, is definitely one-of-a-kind. I typically tend to fall for the rakes and rogues, the tall-dark-and-handsome hero who's been overdone and overdone, but once in a while I get a major crush on a completely different type of hero. And here in The Foundling, I just happened to find my new literary husband. Ladies and gents, the Most Noble Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, Duke of Sale and Marquis of Ormesby; Earl of Sale; Baron Ware of Thame; Baron Ware of Stoven; and Baron Ware of Rufford. I know right. The name is definitely an obstacle at first, but he thankfully goes by Gilly, or, as he likes to call himself, "Mr. Dash of Nowhere in Particular". But I promise you, once you can get over the fact that his first name is Adolphus (no easy task thanks to his cousin Gideon who keeps on insisting in calling him that), you will find yourself growing immensely fond of sweet little Gilly Dash of Nowhere in Particular. Shy, quiet and docile, the young Duke has been forever coddled and pampered on account of his being an orphan, and of his sickly constitution. Neither tall nor particularly handsome, nor a Corinthian, a Pink of the Ton, a debauched rake, a mysterious rogue or even a particularly dashing gentleman, Gilly is probably, at first glance, Heyer's plainest hero yet. But his depths and merits are quickly uncovered as we come to know the gentle, dignified soul that lays beneath his unimpressive exterior, and the more we see of him, the more we love him. Or, I do, at least ;) There was something particularly endearing to me about the plot of a sweet young man setting out to discover whether he was really a man, or only a Duke. The occasion to exert himself and do something dashing comes along when his young cousin Matthew confides that he is about to be sued for breach of promise. Gilly rises to the occasion, declaring that he will find the Mr. Liversedge who is menacing Matthew, make everything right, be done with it, and come safely back to Sale House before his uncle, valet, porter, major-domo, butler, and footmen have had the time to suspect anything. Of course, this is a Georgette Heyer novel, so naturally nothing goes according to plan. Mr. Liversedge proves to be a most exasperating, if utterly entertaining, villain, his “niece” the beautiful Belinda is a complete goose-cap, the boy Tom whom Gilly kindly takes under his wing keeps getting into shocking scrapes, landlord and landladies are uncooperative, and above all, Gilly’s relatives and staff are most definitely not okay with Gilly leaving without a word as to his whereabouts. This story is filled with laughs, witty repartee, entertaining characters, and lots of sweet little moments. I completely loved it, and would have given it a full five had it not been for the few scenes here and there that were a tad too slow, and that often focused on characters I did not overly care about. I mean, I loved everyone, but I wasn’t overly thrilled about having to read about another of Tom’s scrapes, or of Belinda’s escapades. Were I to re-read this book (which I definitely will at some point!), I know I would skip and skim a lot here and there, so that’s usually a sign that I didn’t love absolutely everything about it. Also, I can’t help wishing that there had been a bit more romance. I didn’t mind so much that the story didn’t focus on that, but by the end I want to feel happy and elated for both H/h, I want to feel how in love they are and how much they deserve their happy ending. In this case it’s not that they didn’t deserve it or anything, but since the heroine wasn’t really involved in the story, it felt like they still had a long way before really being in love and having the blissful ending I love my romances to end in. Nevertheless the last scene is completely hilarious, and perfectly signature-Heyer-brilliance! I couldn’t stop laughing! Such a wonderful and heart-warming tale! Heyer never disappoints. ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jan 13, 2016
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Jan 25, 2016
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Apr 21, 2013
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1402219466
| 9781402219467
| 1402219466
| 4.09
| 21,536
| 1949
| Aug 01, 2009
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it was amazing
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What can I say about this wonderful little darling book that hasn't already been said? Arabella is charming. It's a true Regency romance classic, the What can I say about this wonderful little darling book that hasn't already been said? Arabella is charming. It's a true Regency romance classic, the epitome of the perfect comedy of manners set in London, and features all your favourite Regency quirks, mannerisms, glittering balls and shocking crushes. And naturally, there is an enterprising heroine and a dashing hero, who meet quite by chance and fall quite madly in love amidst a set of funny and delightful adventures. Ah, to have a London Season and go shopping in Bond Street, entertain callers all morning and be sought-after by all the gazetted fortune hunters for miles around! Such is the lot of our dear heroine Arabella in this story, but mind you, she brought it all upon herself (because of Mr. Beaumaris, of course), as you will see. Once upon a time, in a sheltered and remote Yorkshire village, there lived the Tallant family, of which Arabella was the eldest and prettiest daughter. The Tallants lived a quiet and peaceful existence until the day Arabella’s godmother, Lady Bridlington, had the brilliant idea (aided with a few not-so-subtle-hints from Mrs. Tallant) to invite her to London for the upcoming social season. Arabella, who had been poring over fashion magazines with her sisters and dazed by the prevailing fashion of satin bodices and diamond fastenings, was naturally delighted and looked upon the season as her Only Hope to form an eligible connection to aid her family and bring her sisters in the way of meeting other eligible young men. If she were to make a splendid match, how beneficial it would be for everyone! After many preparations, most of which included exclaiming over Mama’s old clothes from the old trunk, the making of new gowns by the nearest town’s modiste and shopping for such indispensible accessories as hats, bonnets, gloves, fans and silk stockings, Arabella was finally ready to depart, and after tearful goodbyes, she got into her uncle’s old carriage and left for London. Meanwhile, enjoying a respite from the humdrum of the metropolis and the conniving schemes of unscrupulous females too numerous to number, Mr. Robert Beaumaris was intending to spend a very relaxing evening in his Leicestershire hunting-box with his dear friend Lord Fleetwood (who was definitely hoping for more than good food and wine as his only distractions of the evening). Alas, that his peace should be shattered! Lord Fleetwood: So, Rob, what are we doing tonight? Mr. Beaumaris: I told you. Eat. Drink. Relax. Fleetwood: Yeah, but what else?? Seriously, what are we going to DO? Beaumaris: I just told you. EAT AND DRINK AND RELAX. You will not be disappointed in my cook, let me tell you!! Fleetwood: Look, I realize than anyone else would be happy just being invited to your hunting-box, but I AM NOT ANYONE ELSE. Now seriously Rob, entertainment??! Don’t you have a few pretty women hidden somewhere?? Beaumaris: Yeahhhhhh. Because I just casually have women hiding around in my houses in the hope of pleasing you! Fleetwood: Come on man, I was expecting some wild orgies and drinking wine out of skulls!! (Guys, ^^ that’s actually in the book!) Beaumaris: GTFO Lord Byron! Because IF, and I say IF, I had any, do you imagine I would just show you them and run the risk that they would prefer you to me?! Fleetwood: Oh stop that BS! If there are to be no women - Beaumaris: No clue why you would THINK there would be! Brough enters: Excuse me sir, a couple of women have had a carriage accident right outside your door and are asking if they can wait here until it the damage is fixed? Beaumaris: Meh. Bring them to the salon. Fleetwood: Wait, whoa, waiiiiiit!! Are they young, old, pretty, what?! Brough: Uuuhh…one of them is young and –I think- very pretty! Fleetwood: Then what the hell, Robert?! Bring them here Brough! Ahhh women after all!! Beaumaris: *facepalm* FML. And so it is that the beautiful Miss Tallant and her traveling companion Miss Blackburn are ushered into the presence of the two aforementioned gentlemen. It should also be said, in favour of the gentlemen (Mr. Beaumaris in particular) that they appeared rather to advantage in their state of ease and good-humour, and that Mr. Beaumaris just happened to be charmingly smiling as Miss Tallant entered the room. Naturally, sparks fly and the electricity will remain in the air between them for the rest of the story, even though the majority of them are fuelled by anger and provocation on Arabella’s part. While ascending the stairs, she overhears with dreadful clarity Mr. Beaumaris telling Lord Fleetwood that she has set up the carriage accident on purpose to throw herself at him. Our dear heroine becomes so incensed that she decides then and there to embark on a dangerous game. She will prove to that arrogant, no-doubt-good-for-nothing darling of society that she can have no use at all for his money and position. Behold, the Miss Arabella Tallant, heiress to a vast fortune, and travelling incognito to London! Yay! Brilliant! Of course this is going to work! Except about the part where that snarky Mr. Beaumaris sees right through the charade and decides to play fire with fire… Like, “you want to be an heiress?” OK FINE. HEIRESS IT IS. But don’t come cryin’ to me later! Unfortunately for him, he has no idea what kind of “heiress” he’s just agreed to launch into society. Arabella is, first and foremost, a country clergyman’s daughter bent on helping others in need whether she’s a lady of quality or not. Before long, she has foisted a dirty climbing-boy and an abused mongrel dog onto poor unsuspecting Mr. Beaumaris, and has him completely twisted round her little finger whether he wants to or not. Dang it, she wasn’t supposed to be that charming! And while he tries in vain to capture her attention, he manages to win the complete and utter adoration of a totally unexpected party: the mongrel dog (which he names Ulysses). This book is FAMOUS for the conversations Mr. Beaumaris entertains with his dog. Seriously. It is too good. Ulysses just freakin’ LOOOOVES Mr. Beaumaris and can’t bear to be away from him. [image] And he knows that Mr. Beaumaris knows that Arabella loves him too. [image] Even though his manners leave a lot to be desired (as Beaumaris reminds him continuously). [image] [image] And his eating habits are questionable. [image] Honestly, that dog is just priceless whether Beaumaris agrees or not. It was a really unique element to an otherwise slightly déjà-vu story, and it was really fun. Next, throw in Arabella’s young hothead brother Bertram bent on having a taste of Town and running into one scrape after another, a merry chase about the place with everyone trying to rescue each other, and a very wise Dowager Duchess Highly Advising Matrimony for her favourite grandson, and you have yourself a delightful classic comedy of manners, full of laughs and mishaps. And another one of those hilarious-but-completely-random valet scenes stopping all action at a very crucial point, because we need to know what will happen to Mr. Beaumaris’ clothes while he travels. Beaumaris : Alright Painswick, I need to leave and it’s pretty urgent, so just pack up shirts and neckcloths and, you know, simple sutff, because you’re not coming with me. Painswick : *so shocked he remains speechless for a full minute* Beaumaris : Yeah, and tell them to have the carriage ready for six, and – Painswick : B-but, d-d-did you s-say I wasn’t going with you???? Beaumaris : Yeah I did, I’m going alone, dude HURRY UP, I NEED TO GO! Painswick : But sir! Who is going to dress you? Wait upon you? Take care of you??? YOU NEED ME! Beaumaris : I’ll be fine, I can dress myself! Painswick : But your coat, sir! WHO WILL PRESS YOUR COAT?? Beaumaris : Sigh. I’m sure they can do that at the posting-house! Painswick : NO THEY CAN’T. THEY’LL RUIN IT! Beaumaris : I honestly don’t really care about my coat right now. Painswick : *alright, that settles it, he’s nuts!* SIR. *gulps* Please let me come with you!!! Beaumaris : Ugh, I’ll be fine I tell you! Take a holiday, go have fun! Painswick : Take A HOLIDAY when I know you’ll be all alone having to dress yourself??? Beaumaris : I CAN dress myself!! Painswick : And what about your boots? Will they be nicely polished?? Shirt collars starched enough? WHAT IF YOU GET MUD ON YOUR BREECHES??!?! I NEED TO COME WITH YOU! Beaumaris : I already told you I WILL NOT BE REQUIRING YOUR SERVICES FOR THIS JOURNEY. Painswick : I…I think I’m going to die. *** Funny, witty, charming and wholly entertaining, Arabella is a wonderful Heyer romance you don’t want to miss. I was tempted to lower my rating a bit because at times the story seemed to drag, and I wasn’t that interested in Bertram’s antics which took up quite a lot of the last half of the book, but it’s just such a brilliant classic and so very Heyer that I can’t bring myself to give it less than a 5. I would strongly recommend starting with this one as a first Heyer read, especially as I had the feeling I’d already met a few of the characters in some other of her novels, and that feeling of déjà-vu sometimes slightly spoiled the fun I would otherwise have had meeting them for the first time. Also, I was disappointed that, although Arabella’s family is strongly featured in the first few chapters, we never see them again after she leaves for London. I was really hoping for a reunion scene with them and Mr. Beaumaris! But anyways, those are only slight complaints, I really did love this novel and would definitely read it again. And this is a Heyer Regency romance, so you know that… …they lived happily after after <3 Buddy-read with Lori :D I apologize for the SUPER LATE, COMPLETELY OVERDUE REVIEW!! We read it AGES ago!!! ...more |
Notes are private!
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Mar 29, 2016
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Apr 02, 2016
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Apr 17, 2013
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