4. Julia Quinn Minx.
This the second book of hers I have read. If you like the Regency era Bridget Jones and Mills and Boon, then this is a sure winner for you. The third part of a trilogy, it begins with a notable rake, Dunster, being challenged by his friend Belle, recently married, that he will be leg-shackled within the year too. He scoffs of course! Then, suddenly, he is made aware that he is heir to an estate in Cornwall. However, in addition, he later finds out that he is also guardian to a young adult, Henrietta, unconventional, head-strong, organised and boyish, someone who dresses in boy's breeches. He goes to visit the estate, where a hilarious series of incidents ensure where Henry ("Everyone calls me that") desperately tries to convince him to leave the estate to her and get lost back to London. However, they become attracted to each other gradually and give into their feelings. However Dunster is dismayed to find out then, that he is to be her guardian and feels he must turn her into a lady and present her to London. Instantly, a success, knowing their feelings for each other and constrained by a sense of doing right thing and then a terrible misunderstanding, a continual series of incidents and difficulties befall them along the path to true love.
This book was funny, I enjoyed the characters and the plot. The pace moves fast and there is excitement and intrigue. The only thing is, I like Regency romances such as Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer for their innocence in not portraying the intimacies of relationships, so that part marred it a little for me, not really interested other people's intimacies, but otherwise, an excellent book, well worth reading.
5. Julia Quinn Dancing at midnight.
Confusingly, this is the prequel to Minx but I read that one first. Another regency romance, the aforementioned Belle is unmarried and staying with her cousin Emma in the country. She's considered a bit of a blue-stocking (too clever) by some society mothers and she has spurned a dozen proposals during her London season, so in the country, completing her endeavour to read all of Shakespeare's plays, she doesn't expect to be intrigued, annoyed and seriously attracted by a mysterious neighbour John Blackwood. He is an ex-soldier, seventh son, haunted by terrible memories of events in Spain, which have set a deep-rooted loathing of himself inside and bearing the legacy of being an unloved, unimportant child. Their acquaintance grows as do their feelings and acting on those feelings. When finally they are in London, brought together by a variety of means, as it seems they might be happy, disaster strikes as an old enemy turns up igniting those deep-rooted fears, causing mischief and threatening their relationship!
I liked the tension in this one about the enemy, it was an intriguing tale with some brilliantly witty characters and funny parts! Again, I'd say my reservation is like the previous one but all in all, an excellent, easy read.
6. Evelyn Waugh Brideshead revisited
CBC has talked about this book for ages and I am pleased to have already tackled 3 modern classics this year including this. It is told from the point of view of Charles, a painter. He begins the story arriving with his WW2 batallion to a location unknown in England. To his amazement, it is Brideshead, a place he knows well.
We flashback to his youth, where you the reader, delight in the wonderfully evocative description of his University days in Oxford, where he meets Sebastian Flyte, a young eccentric, part of the family who live at Brideshead. He soon develops an infatuated friendship with Sebastian, who seems to have issues connected to his family. As a series of events happen, we encounter the whole family at Brideshead, all equally idiosyncratic in their ways. Charles' connection with the family continues, particularly as Sebastian begins to become more and more disconnected with the world at large, trying to escape his Catholic upbringing and yet staying devoted to it in some ways. The character development is intriguing and as the book continues, Charles path seperates from Sebastian and becomes interwoven with his sister Julia.
The book ends back in the present and ends on a lighter note.
I cannot extoll the virtues of the description enough here. It is such a wonderful book in such a unique way. I wont say anymore, but read it!
Go on then- who's read any of them. Would you after my highly waffly summaries?
Thanks to http://www.amazon.co.uk/ for the images, where you buy them if I've tempted you enough!
