Belinda Kroll
This is a powerful testament to Divakaruni's talent as a poet and prose writer. My theory is because she was a poet first and then turned to prose. You can tell how carefully she picks each word, how she puts them together to get just the effect she's looking for.
Read this book for an example of how to organize your short stories/chapters in a way that is thoughtful and provocative and for heart-breakingly human characters. For those of you writing about Eastern culture, read this book for one author's take on how to introduce Eastern culture to a Western reader in a subtle, sophisticated manner.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2008/03/book-arranged-marriage/
This is my favorite book out of the Pink Carnation series, perhaps because the historical heroine, Letty, isn't a madcap adventurer like Amy, or a self-indulgent younger sister of a great English operative... she's a nobody, a younger sister that no one thinks of despite the fact that she makes sure everything is good for everyone else. Finally, we get to see a little about what other people think of this Pink Carnation character who have no connection with the operative. This romance, despite its hasty beginning, is more organic to me, much more believable, because it seems the characters are actually meant for one another. There are obvious clues that let you think this, whereas the other books...well, the first one was “lust first, love after,” and the second was “childhood friends turned lovers.”
As always, an entertaining series, well-written, a good amount of history and other allusions thrown in, something great if you want a bit of fluff in-between your heavier reading. I look forward to reading the next book, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose. Writers should read this book for a believable burgeoning romance between previously unknown persons.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2008/03/book-the-deception-of-the-emerald-ring/
Contrary to many of the reviews that I read on Amazon.com, I really liked this book precisely because the continued love-hate relationship from the previous book, Silent in the Grave, was in no way resolved, and in a way that was true to the characters. That's genius, if you ask me, because it keeps the true fans of the series panting for more. This book is funny, charming, and portrays High Victorian Society oh so well. The setting is well-written without overtaking the plot, the characters are snappy, and my favorite device is used: giving tertiary characters their own subplots that affect the whole.
Read this book for a sophomore attempt that was as good (if not better) than the first, for a lesson in creating characters that don't fit in their own society and yet seem genuine to the reader, a true puzzle of a crime, a charming and funny narrator, a passionate romance with no real sense of a happy ending (must continue to read the series!), and the only series in a long time that has an alpha romance lead that doesn't make me want to shoot him.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2008/03/book-silent-in-the-sanctuary/
I never thought it possible, but this book supplanted Pride and Prejudice as my favorite romance, reasons being that it brings outside philosophical, political, and economic pressures into the romance. The romance is not just that there are misunderstandings and ruined reputations, but that there are actual lives at stake; entire towns that could fall if the mill workers refuse to work; people could be killed in riots; there is communal strife and an inability to communicate between the social classes.
This is an ambitious work that I am head over heels in love with because the prose is poetic, the themes are strong, and the characters sympathetic. Gaskell gives the secondary and tertiary characters all the love, compassion, and motive that is usually reserved for main characters alone. I could go into a detailed analysis of the writing tricks Gaskell uses to appeal to her audience (the sympathetic Victorian woman), such as describing the illnesses of those around Margaret, the way Margaret's eyes sometimes exhibit a childlike wonder or surprised pain, and the way Margaret shoulders the problems of those around her for that is her role as the daughter in the family (really, this is a brilliant piece of Victorian literature), but I won't.
I will tell you that if you like reading classics (my childhood was defined by classics, and I desperately miss the feeling of losing myself in that world), you must read this book. If your writing tends toward the classical style, this is a great example to take note of. There are moments when Margaret almost reminds me of Jane Eyre in her contemplations of her role as a female in the world, which makes sense because Mrs Gaskell was actually a sort of social friend of Charlotte Bronte's. In fact, Mrs Gaskell wrote the first biography of Charlotte, and helped create the rather mythological story behind the woman who wrote such great works as Jane Eyre and Villette.
P.S. The BBC made a two-part miniseries of this book in 2007, and it is excellent. Things have been changed, obviously, to fit the book into a four-hour showing, but it is a great adaptation and the reason why I read the book in the first place.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2008/02/book-north-and-south/
I actually found this book in my library while looking for Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Marquez's book was out, for the curious, so I picked up this one). I've never read a book by Manners before, but I really enjoyed this. Some characters are flat, but the majority are flush, amusing, and heartening to read. The romance(s) are all interesting, and have a wonderful quality of reality. Manners does little to hide the underside of the Regency, which I love, because it's different from the typical comedy of manners (no pun intended) we usually see in Regency Romance. A lot of themes are tackled in this book: paternal piety, loyalty, love, murder, prisons, etc; altogether, they make an entertaining and thoughtful read that made me feel better for reading it, which is rare these days.
The text has a certain poetry to it, once you get used to its peculiarity. For instance: there are no double-quote marks denoting speech. My third excerpt above is an example of every conversation in the book. That's one of the more straight-forward conversations. The entire book is a sort of rambling narration, disjointed in its timeline and sometimes in its sentence structure. Makes for frustrating reading if you don't have the patience to work through it. An interesting idea, with an interesting execution, I can't decide if I actually liked this book. As the narration is hazy, seen through the drugged mind of a cancer patient, the reader has a distinct level of abstraction so that no real connection is ever made with the characters or, dare I say it, plot.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/11/book-evening/
For you historical fiction writers looking for a first-person narrative, this book is a great example from which to learn. Julia is impetuous, frank, and conflicted, all great character traits for a narrator. For those of you writing in the High Victorian era (i.e. late Victorian era, from 1870's-on), read this book to learn how to drop details about society, class restraints, and aristocratic assumptions without taking away from the story.
Unfortunately for me, I read too much, so many stories start to seem similar and I guess things before I should, like who the killer might be. I did not, however, guess the motive at all and I give Raybourn props for that. An entertaining read, similar in theme to Tasha Alexander's A Poisoned Season. I'm wondering whether I shouldn't switch my 1880's novel to a first-person narrative in which a young woman loses her husband before she really knew him, thus freeing her to walk about Society the way an umarried woman cannot, and solve mysteries in a Nancy Drew sort of way.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/10/book-silent-in-the-grave/
This story is intense, subtle, delicate. Its characters are flawed, obsessively so. The overlying plot is science fiction, but without the hopeful ending we expect from genre fiction. Definitely a literary piece, I'm debating whether I actually liked it. For you writers, however, read this for a good example of a first-person narration where the narrator is sensitive, passive, and suspicious without really knowing why. There is no real oppressor or antagonist, reflecting life. If you liked Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which I did, then you will definitely like this book.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/10/book-never-let-me-go/
This may not be the most unique ideas, that in the future Earth falls to ruin and we send our best out in the universe to find a new Earth, but this is definitely the best-executed idea that I've read in a while. Much of the story rotates around the biology and evolution of people and their environment; much speculation is made about why there is a Planet Blue and a Planet Green, and we never really know if it's the truth, only that this is what the characters have decided must have happened. I loved the science behind it all, mainly because I used to be obsessed with the moon (I kind of still am) and how it affects us daily. The characters react as you expect people to react to something so foreign as two Earth-sized planets on spin-lock around each other.
Latner does a wonderful job of making you feel scientific by the end of the book. She explains without making you feel stupid, and so you know what these highly-scientific characters are doing without getting into unnecessary details. Her use of tension is subtle, but effective: I jumped twice and even yelped once when I was reading and a friend called out to me as he walked past. That hardly ever happens to me (I read so much that I'm almost jaded sometimes). A unique book with a good execution, and even with some romance, this book was entertaining and even informative.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/09/book-hurricane-moon/
If you think perhaps this book has a theme similar to The Sixth Sense, that's what I thought too. Except instead of being a thriller of sorts, this book is insightful and humorous, with a succinct tone that doesn't forgive any character and yet makes you feel for them nonetheless. At its heart, this book is about a woman who loses her husband and waits, against her will, for the day she has to legally declare him dead.
For you writers, read this book to learn how to write about a topic (like death) without depressing the reader. Every character is flush and real, people we can relate to or have had a conversation with. Annie is a great anti-hero, as well; she is flawed, can't seem to hold on to material objects or the people around her, and yet is crying out for someone to ground her from her ethereal calling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and read it in one evening, I couldn't put it down.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/08/book-the-extra-large-medium/
Because it is a love story to readers and writers. This just might be my favorite book if 2007, just as Elantris was my favorite of 2006. I will be hard-pressed, I think, to find another book that immediately enfolded me in its mystery and charm, leaving me dazed in my everyday activities as I contemplated the characters and plot. Every character is tangible and sympathetic, the setting is distinct, and the plot is original (to me, at least). The style is romantic in the classic sense of the word, yet entirely believable given the narrator's (Margaret) deep appreciation of books. We're never given a time period, yet I'm left with the impression that Margaret lives in the 1930s, 40s, or perhaps even 1950s.
Reading this book left me with sensations of DuMarier's Rebecca, Bronte's Wuthering Heights, LeFanu's The Wyvern Mystery, and other such romantic, gothic, books. Read it for the intense characterizations. Read it to know the language of a bibliophile speaking with another bibliophile, describing favorite works. I feel as though The Thirteenth Tale has changed me and so my writing: it's let me believe that there are readers willing to entertain a more romantic and classic style from a modern author, and that is good news indeed.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/05/book-the-thirteenth-tale/
Sutherland is obviously well-read, and any reader can discover this from his effortless allusions to well-known classics to today's popular fiction, to books I've never heard of. (Thankfully, the latter is a small number.) His prose is easy to read despite it being full of asides to his audience. If you don't know much about the publishing industry, this is a great introductory book, as Sutherland goes through the history of the novel, as well as take the novel apart, explaining every facet of the book you hold in your hands.
I will say, however, that about halfway through the book, I started to feel like Sutherland was just ranting about the deprecation of the situation, that people don't spend enough time reading fiction and yet, there isn't anything we can do about it, because there is no way anyone today can possibly read everything that is available. Which is part of his point. A moderately entertaining read, I feel like I wasn't exactly the target audience, given that I knew a lot of what Sutherland said already, but hadn't read it in such an entertaining, so characteristically cynical and British fashion.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/03/book-how-to-read-a-novel/
Sanderson has become one of my new favorite authors. I started this book a little wary, thinking there was no way he would be able to keep my attention for the thickness of this book (496 pgs hardcover). Not only did he keep my attention, I was riveted. Sanderson's characters are the main motivation behind that: these are true heroes we are reading about. People who are certain they don't have the strength to deal with what's been laid before them, and yet, finding themselves facing tragedy, horrors, and more.
Elantris is one of those few books where, as you're reading it, you can see it happening. You believe the magic, the science, and the internal struggle between politics, religion, love, and morality. Yes, there is love in this story, but its presence is something needed between the characters, and a great plot device. If anything, it's natural and takes nothing away from the story. The writing is tight and concise; nothing is lacking and nothing is oversaid. And, though this book is close to 500pgs, it doesn't have a dull moment: beauty and atrocity are tackled with the same deft hand. And get this! A fantasy/sci-fi that isn't volume one of twenty! I find that incredibly refreshing.
Give it a try. Especially if your preferred genre is historical fiction. There is nothing better than reading something outside your comfort zone to bring an edge to your writing. And Brandon Sanderson, you get props and snaps for this. I'm really looking forward to your next book, Mistborn.
This is a book for readers who savor the written word. It is a book for readers who enjoy the classics but have a modern sense of humor. It is a book I hope you don't jump into, but wade. I will say that if you don't have the patience for Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, then this book probably isn't for you.
Sensitivity warning: I wrote this book as a high school child who grew up in a predominantly white, upper middle class, socioeconomic situation with little awareness or sensitivity to my topic. I was uncomfortable with the idea that my family, had we arrived in the 1800s instead of the 1970s, would have been enslaved. As such, I glossed over Nell's enslavement, promoting her to Veronica's friend and confidante, giving her a strong, beautiful presence while never truly engaging the enslavement topic. The opening chapter is perhaps particularly triggering in my childish attempts at motif. I can no longer recommend my book but have been unable to pull it from digital bookshelves. I leave it here for historical purposes and to embrace my journey toward a more sensitive, nuanced understanding of the past.
This was a solid read for me, the characters were well-rounded enough and the mystery was such that I didn't guess what was happening until only just before the characters. I felt the setting was well-done and I got a feel for the time period without it beind shoved down my throat.
In terms of the inspirational aspect, the heroine is very steadfast in her faith and the hero finds himself wishing he had her “simple trust,” which... we never really see him develop this. He kind of goes from “Oh I wish I had that simple faith/trust,” to suddenly he has it. I wanted to see more of his struggles.
The characters appear in the second and third books as well, but we don't get a glimpse of their inner struggles anymore. So it made me wonder why the author even brought up the hero's struggle at all; it fell a little flat for me.
That said, I am reading the entire trilogy, and I'm not a fan of series.
The second of Putney's Bride trilogy was shocking for me. The Wild Child was enchanting and entertaining. This book was surprisingly dark in subject matter and seemed to have lost some of the magic that was inherent to Wild Child. If you've read Deerskin by Robin McKinley, it's along the same lines.
Even though the hero is essentially forced to rape the heroine in order to win her from her captors, he is disgusted with himself and his action. He does it with her permission, and insists they marry once she is freed from her prison. It was fascinating to watch them get past this awful moment in their relationship, which had started so well due to their conversations. I want to read this book again so I can attempt to figure out how Putney was able to make me believe that the hero/heroine were able to get past the rape and have a healthy intellectual/emotional/sexual relationship.
I love Lauren Willig, but I'm starting to feel as if she's getting a little... tired, perhaps? At this point, I'm more interested in the romance between Eloise and Colin, which is progressing very slowly.
This book is a good example of a story that chose third person omniscient, but might have been better with first-person multiple point-of-view. Dunlap wrote her third-person narrative from the views of her characters anyway, so I'm confused why she didn't write it in first-person. I felt completely detached from the entire story. I read it because I liked the young doctor Pierre...he was the only character I liked. (Which means Vonnegut was right: always write at least one character for the reader to like.)
The insipid way Anne reacts to things, the two-dimensional father with a mea culpa reason for his coldness, the way the ending felt thrown together...I admit, I'm disappointed in this book. The last two paragraphs, however, were amazing. And yes, I do read the last page first to decide if I'll like a book. Sometimes it doesn't work out.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/07/book-liszts-kiss/
Entertaining read, but I never got past the first book. Kind of wish this had been a stand-alone, rather than a series.
Once again, another fun read from Candace Camp. I love her stories because her heroines aren't helpless; they tend to be a little older, a little caustic, with lots of spunk. Irene is no exception: she won't get married because she doesn't want to “belong” to a man the way her mother belonged to her abusive father.
The hero in this book is great, too. Gideon doesn't really want to get married, he's doing it because he's expected to. The twist on the familiar trope is that he's marrying so his children, should he have any, will have more legitimacy, being that he has been the lost heir for the last, oh, twenty years. When Gideon meets Irene, of course they argue. He's rich because he worked his way up from being an abandoned child in London. She's rich because she was born to it. Their sensibilities, however, are very similar, even if their modes of expressing them are different.
Read this book for a hero who looks bad but isn't, a heroine who tells herself she won't ever marry, and a little mystery about how the hero came to be the lost heir returned.
This was an adorable sweet romance about a little girl's crush influencing her as an adult to rush to the rescue. Hearing about a plot to sabotage the man who saved her from a bear tap as a child leads us on an adventure reminiscent of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
A great, quick read for moments when you want to escape and feel all warm like a Hallmark special.
If you're leery of supernatural books, the kinds with werewolves and witches practicing black magic, etc, don't let this book fool you. This book is so much more than magical creatures. Why is it that supernatural books are the ones that handle the topic of sexual abuse better than any other genre I've read? Anna is a fragile character, but she survived three years of sexual abuse. Survived, and wants to learn how she can heal some of those wounds in order to try a relationship with Charles, who is head-over-heels in love with her.
I loved the metaphor of Brother Wolf as the survival instinct we all have. When Anna feels threatened, such as the first time she tries to be intimate with Charles, her wolf comes “into ascendance;” essentially, she pulls on a deeper strength in order to swallow the timidity, fear, nausea that comes from anyone touching her. All because she wants it to work with Charles. I also loved that as the Omega wolf, her strength was in bringing out the best in others.
Read this book for an entertaining, gripping story that starts off running and continues at a loping pace. Read it for a tactful treatment of the aftermath of sexual abuse and the wish for a healthy, equal relationship. Another book to check out, if interested in another fascinating treatment of the same topic, is Robin McKinley's Deerskin.
If you've seen the musical Annie, you basically know the plot of this book. However, I like Annie, and I liked this book because of the heroine, Pamela Lockhart. She values her mind before her looks, and in order to obtain a governess position that will secure her future finances, she dresses and wears make-up to look like an old maid.
The banter between Pamela and Devon, the hero, was entertaining and interesting, actually, because for once the hero didn't have looks to distract him. In fact, he forgets the way she looks because she's so engaged his mind! Just my kind of romance. Read this for fun banter, but don't expect a lot from the reasons why these two have trouble coming together. That was the weakest part of the story for me. Still, an enjoyable read.
