The book is Georgette Heyer's "The Reluctant Widow". Despite its generic cover, it's quite good. A bit of a send-up of Gothic novels (always fun), a bit of an intrigue, a lot of a likeable heroine valiently making the best of the bizarre situation she finds herself in . . . as this review points out, Heyer's so good that even her implausible novels are a lot of fun.
And good and fun is exactly what I'm in the mood for right now. I'm busy tearing apart my own fiction down to the raw materials and building it back up again, and I've found the task leaves me in no mood for any novels except old favorites. Heyer, Bujold, Lewis . . . that's about all I want right now: just the really, really, really good stuff. I'm so annoyed at my own faults, I've no patience left for anyone else's.
That sounds terrible, but I guess what it is is that when I read for fun I want to read something that doesn't ring my Editor Alarms at all. And when I read the people like Heyer . . . I can just relax. There's nothing in Heyer's books - or Bujold's, or Lewis' - that I would even think about wishing I could change. I open up one of their books, read the first paragraph, and let out a sigh and feel my shoulders slump in sweet relaxation. Perfect. In the hands of a master. BLISS.
What's doing it for you in the literary world these days?
More yarn-and-book-ish goodness can be found here, at Ginny's blog, Small Things.
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
7 comments:
lovely blanket!!
Beautiful! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Amen. I have that very Heyer book in my on-call bag, so that whenever I'm at the hospital waiting for a delivery, I can pull it out and read a page (or 10) and not stress while I'm waiting. But now I have Arabella AND Frederica on my kindle, so I'm kinda set in the peaceful, funny, perfect reading department. Which is good, because my writing is neither peaceful or perfect right now.
I don't like that particular novel (even if it IS Heyer!) but I know what you mean about breathing a sigh of relief when "in the hands of the masters". I went back to Bujold last night after a day of caring for sick kiddos (while not feeling well myself) and it was a breath of fresh air.
i am in awe of your mad knitting skillz!
I like that relaxing kind of book. Once I recommended a series to someone and they never got past the first book. Too slow, not enough action...exactly why I enjoyed them! Great knitting. Looked back at your star trek dress. So awesome!! Knit on!!
Georgette Heyer is the bomb. Lately when I read her I find myself focusing on how she pulls you into the story: she nails the characters with just a few lines of dialogue. Truly amazing stuff.
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