The Two Mrs. Abbotts by D.E. Stevenson

I received a galley of this novel from NetGalley for review. This in no way affected my opinions.

The Two Mrs. Abbotts is the third book in the Miss Buncle series, and while the title suggests it's about the former Miss Buncle and her niece-by-marriage, it is really not.

Of the two, we spend the most time with the younger Mrs. Abbott: Jerry. We see Barbara every now and again, but her story line is nothing substantial. Actually, none of the story lines are. There are just too many characters and too many plots going on that it's hard to keep it all straight.

This is a weird little book, because while it takes place during World War II, it's about nothing at all, really. There are certain characters that we see for a little while, and then they disappear never to be heard from again. And at the end of the book, there are a bunch of characters' stories still hanging there.

Unfortunately, the charm of this series dissipates with each book. If you like books set in the country during this time period, then this is probably your thing, but it just wasn't mine. If you liked the first book Miss Buncle, don't feel the need to continue because the two books after it are just pale imitations, sadly.

The Young Clementina by D.E. Stevenson

I received a galley of this novel from NetGalley for review. This in no way affected my opinions.

The Young Clementina was surprisingly engaging and wonderful. It's the story of Charlotte who, after the man she loves man she loves marries her sister, flees to London for the next 12 years. She returns only to take care of her niece after a divorce and the child's father's death.

She finds the niece an odd child, who she has trouble bonding with. After a bit of time, the two find common ground. Charlotte finds that she is learning more about herself through the care of her niece and her new position as lady of a grand manor.

In many ways, this book was a typical book set in the English countryside, but sometimes it read almost modern. Sometimes, I almost thought it was a modern-written historical fiction book until I would come across a trope used during books written during the time.

I only had a few complaints: one was the treatment of Charlotte's sister Kitty, but that was one of the kind of tropes I was talking about. The other complaint I had was that the ending felt sort of rushed and the story ended abruptly, only left for us wonder how the characters went on after the extraordinary last few pages.

Anyway, I loved Charlotte's voice and am a little disappointed that her story doesn't continue in other books.

The First Violin by Jessie Fothergill

When I decided to partake of a Victorian reading challenge, I decided not to read the same old stuff that everyone else was reading. I was looking towards the more obscure novels, particularly ones written by women authors whose names have been forgotten through history.

I first came across this book on Girlebooks. I liked the sound of it, and promptly downloaded and put it on my nook. It was a bit different than the average Victorian drama: set in Germany, with the heroine involved in the music scene.

The usual obstacles and secrets keeping the hero and heroine apart were there, but in a different setting. Our heroine, May, comes to Germany as a companion to an older, recluse lady. Once there, she starts singing lessons. May stays in Germany, when the lady decides to head back to England, and continues her musical pursuits. I loved reading about a young woman living on her own in 19th Germany perusing her passions. How unique!

The story is told from two perspectives: May, and Helfen, the roommate of the the suffering Eugen, who is the object of May's affections. Through Helfen's view, we can just about guess that Eugen is hiding something. What kind of Victorian hero would he be if he wasn't?

There's lots of German words, and much musical talk, which makes this story unique. It also has a dastardly bad guy, secrets (like I said) and melodrama, which makes it like the average Victorian story.

I enjoyed it. I liked the German setting; it was something different. And anything with a music storyline always grabs my attention. Very recommended – this book needs more love!

Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson

I received a galley of this novel from NetGalley for review. This in no way affected my opinions.

A nice follow-up to Miss Buncle's Book. Not as charming, but still a clever and amusing book.

Barbara, Miss Buncle, is now a married woman. She and her husband move to a new town to get away from all the annoying obligations to their friends. If the newlyweds are expecting peace and relaxation, they are wrong. There is just a whole new group of hijinks to get into in Wandlebury.

While there was a matter of a Will, and Barbara having to keep a secret from everyone, including her husband, I felt the story was missing something that its predecessor had. In Miss Buncle's Book, the hilarity of Barbara's book and the effects it had on her town ensued madness. With the follow-up, it was mostly Barbara getting to know her new neighbors and her insights on them.

Overall, it was a nice book about a town with some interesting occupants. I certainly enjoyed myself while reading, and enjoyed Barbara's voice.

Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson

I received a galley of this novel from NetGalley for review. This in no way affected my opinions.

I'm so glad Sourcebooks decide to reissue Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson. Originally published in 1934, Miss Buncle's Book is such a delightful, funny and witty read.

Miss Buncle is going through some hard times financially, so she decides to raise some funds by writing a book. Unfortunately, Miss Buncle is not blessed with an imagination, so she writes about her town, and all the people in it, with names disguised, of course.

It's not long after the book is published that people in town begin recognizing themselves in the book. Some are amused, but some are outraged, and raise a huge stink about it. There are also some interesting things happening: some folks in town are starting to mirror the actions of their book counterparts.

Miss Buncle watches all in fascination, but also fear, because if they discover that she is the author, the jig is up, and she'll never live in peace again. However, this doesn't stop her writing another book.

The characters and their reactions to the book are absolutely hilarious, and unreal. Some say that the character in the book that is supposed to be them, is not really like them at all, but is somewhat like them. Hysterical. The lengths these people go through to find out the author is so ridiculous that it consumes their lives.

Miss Buncle's Book was a charming and funny book with a unique plot. Lot of shenanigans ensue that will crack you up.

Maurice by E.M. Forster

I wouldn't call this a review post, mainly because I doubt I'd be able to write a suitable one. However, I couldn't just let it pass without writing something about the book that will most likely end up being one of my all time favorites.

Written in the 1910s, but not released until 1971, after the author's death,  Maurice is an Edwardian story about love, class, and finding oneself. The title character is a young man who comes to understand that he is homosexual. We see him through two relationships: first with his schoolmate Clive, who unfortunately goes into the closet and breaks Maurice's heart; second, with Alec, a games keeper who works on Clive's estate.

The novel was just beautifully written. Some chapters, such as Maurice and Clive's breakup, and the cricket match, were masterpieces.

I mean, really, the themes are the same in a lot of romantic-type novels, but of course it's different in this case. The thing that struck me the most was the fact that two gay men could have a happily ever after. That's it. No consequences, no nothing. Just a beautiful, romantic ending. And that was wonderful.

If you plan on reading this, or if you've already read it, I highly suggest watching the 1987 Merchant Ivory film (psst, it's on youtube). I watched it the day after I finished the novel and it just completed the experience for me. Some scenes, such as the ending, became even more beautiful with the visual. And, if I may get superficial for a moment, it's got a very nice-looking, young Rupert Graves. That's a bonus.

East Lynne by Ellen Wood

I'm participating in a Victorian reading challenge this year, and I've decided to use it as an excuse to read some lesser known novels from the era. My first read was The Hidden Hand, and now my second is East Lynne.

East Lynne is a very engaging Victorian sensation novel written in 1861. If you like the works of Wilkie Collins and Mary Elizabeth Braddon, then I also recommend Ellen Wood.

This had everything you'd expect in a Victorian sensation novel, and probably more; murder, infidelity, betrayal, disguises and more.

The story is: Lady Isabel leaves her husband and children on the grounds of her suspecting that her husband is unfaithful. It doesn't help that a cad is helping driving that point home. Isabel runs away with said cad, only to realize she's made a mistake too late.

There's also a murder mystery about. A man is accused and is on the run, but he says another man is the actual murderer, a man by the name of Thorn. Problem is, Thorn is an alias, and no one knows who he is. I pretty much figured out who the villain was from the beginning, but I had a doubt for a quick minute when the author made me think that I was wrong. Sneaky.

I'm not sure if the author wanted us to be sympathetic to Lady Isabel or not, but I definitely was. I felt sorry for her, being the victim of trickery and an overzealous imagination. I'm not a fan of the whole 'unfaithful woman being punished,' but sensation novels from this era seemed to like this theme.

All in all, an underrated classic. A chunkster, definitely, but worth it.

The Hidden Hand by E.D.E.N. Southworth

A very entertaining and almost unknown classic about a kick butt heroine.

Book summary:

The Hidden Hand (1888) is an exuberant action comedy, featuring fearless Capitola Black, a self-styled female Don Quixote, and the prototype of innumerable adventure heroines.
Rescued from life on the streets in New York by a southern plantation owner, with his own reasons for befriending her, Capitola is too active and adventurous to settle for the life of a southern belle. Besides, the neighbourhood is infested with evil-doers—Black Donald, the notorious bandit, and Gabriel Le Noir, the owner of the plantation adjoining—combine to make her life full of excitement and peril.
Serialized three times by popular demand before appearing in book form,The Hidden Hand exudes irresistible high spirits and cheer, and still retains the capacity to surprise and delight that enchanted its first readers.

Cap was totally my type of heroine. She was fearless and headstrong, but also smart and cared about people. It was refreshing reading a Victorian novel with a heroine like Cap. No matter how many heart attacks she almost gave her guardian, Cap was always out on some sort of adventure. With a big imagination, Cap never let her size or gender hold her back. Whether it was trying to capture a bandit or tricking a dastardly villain or challenging someone to a duel, she never thought she couldn't do it.

The Hidden Hand was also hilarious. It had several laugh out loud moments, all of which occurred around the free-spirited Cap. The end of the book happened sort of fast and it had a typical happily ever after, but other than that, I loved it!

Sanditon by Jane Austen

Sanditon is a uncompleted novel by Jane Austen. It consists of only 11 chapters. There are a couple versions out there that were completed by other authors, but I deterred from reading them. I only read Austen's original 11.

The story revolves around the fictional seaside town of Sandition. In the 11 chapters we are introduced to host of interesting characters, both major and minor, and a few already budding storylines. I had to keep telling myself not to get too invested in all this, seeing as how I'd never reach its conclusion, but I failed.

It's disappointing Austen never had a chance to finish this. No doubt it would be another intriguing and beautiful novel to add to her bibliography. I enjoyed it immensely.

I recommend it to other Austen enthusiasts who can't get enough of her words.

Sanditon and Other Stories download.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

A semi-autobiographical tale about a young woman's slow decent into a mental breakdown.

This was a heartbreaking, and at times, disturbing book. We traveled inside the head of a young woman from the start of her mental breakdown while at a magazine internship in New York to the final plunge of her insanity while home in Boston and through the several institutions she finds herself in.

I'm not going to get too personal here, but there were some things in this book I could identify with. And when you read a book of this kind of magnitude and find yourself thinking, "Wow, I've been there," it's not a happy thing to realize. Thankfully, I am well past all this stuff, but it brought a lot back.

The Bell Jar is probably one of the most real books I've ever read. It was painstakingly honest. There was no holding back for Plath.

I'm still digesting it. It will be awhile before I read this again, if I decide to.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

My very first novel by Virginia Woolf. I was terrified to read it and now I'm terrified to write a review, but I shall overcome all that and just do my best.

I took this book to be about nothing in particular. This was a novel of human behavior. We saw how people reacted to what another person said or did, whether that person was a stranger or a familiar face. We saw how people reacted when someone who has always been there is now gone and they must tread the world on their own. We saw how differently the same person reacted as a child to when they're an adult.

I connected the most with Lily and seemed to follow her around more so than the others. Lily is a creative soul, who loves to paint, but is often hounded by Charles Tansey who is constantly telling her that women can neither paint nor write. So, I immediately took a dislike to him. At the end of the book, Lily seemed to come to grips with everything in her life that she had been hanging on to, things that had been keeping her down. She finished a painting, that she started years ago, but more than that, she finally came to terms with who she was.

A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

A great Edwardian romantic comedy exploring the different steps of the social ladder. Taking place, first, in a pension in Italy and later in Surrey, England.

Lucy Honeychurch is on vacation in Florence with her cousin. Staying in an Italian pension, they come across a row of interesting characters. She finds herself drawn to a young man, George Emerson, who is definitely not suited for a girl like her and his father is entirely too odd.

The story is Lucy's fight within herself: does she go against society's convention or does she do what is appropriate to her class and marry a nice, well off, gentleman who she didn't really love?

Intertwined within this convoluted love story are some hilarious scenes with unforgettable characters, such as Lucy's brother Freddy. He had me rolling. Also, as I love a good satire, the characters that were just 'too much' and were very much stereotypes of the snobbery of the upper class were just perfect.

It was nice to read a quick, light Edwardian novel after reading some thick, stuffy Victorian ones. A Room With a View, although, not a long novel, still gave one much to think about.

Shirley by Charlotte Brontë

Not bad. Not bad. In comparison to her other novels, I didn't love it as much as Villette or Jane Eyre, of course, but it was much better than The Professor.

We see most of the book through the eyes of two young women: Caroline Helstone, the shy niece of a Rector, who feels stifled by her life, and Shirley Keelder a wealthy young woman who, by her wealth, is able to live life freer than most women of that time.

There is no romance here. In fact, for a while, there is nothing happening. It is also a while before the book's namesake even shows up.

Due to the constraints of women at the time, Caroline is oppressed. She wants to escape and be a governess, but is discouraged by others, such as by her uncle and also by her friend Shirley, who surely does not understand what it means to not be free to do as you wished.

On another note, I'm not sure, but I wonder if Elizabeth Gaskell was inspired by the factory riots in this novel for her novel North and South? I really should have read Shirley first, but I digress. Both novels have their similarities.

I was a little peeved over the ending. The narrator basically ends the tale by snarkly saying, "Good luck finding a morale here, because there isn't one!" So this is a story with no real point. Everyone lives happily ever after. Yada, yada.

This was my last novel of Charlotte's that I had left to read. I feel so accomplished.

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

When venturing forth on Anne's work, I decided to start with Agnes Grey, rather than her more popular The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Agnes Grey is more autobiographical.

One of the things I noticed that differentiated Anne from her sisters was she was more to the point, more realistic in her writing. There was no taking the long way around, she got you to the point good and fast, yet without missing the sights along the way.

Agnes Grey is the story of a young woman basically forced to become a governess due to her family's financial woes. Her first family is just plain cruel. I wanted to deck those kids. We saw the real treatment of the working class during this period, where they were thought of less than human. The sad thing is that someone like Agnes basically had to put up with the cruel treatment because what else was a young woman to do for work in those days?

The second family she was employed by was a little better, but she was still treated badly, especially by the older girl who saw Agnes as some sort of rival for a gentlemen's admiration. Ah, but that young lady later got what she deserved, the conceited brat.

Anne is just as brilliant as her sisters, but often overlooked. I very much appreciate her way of storytelling and would suggest readers of Charlotte and Emily to not forget about their little sister!

Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell by Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë

When reading a poem for the first time, it's not exactly simple to give your immediate thoughts on it. I feel that you need to read a poem a few times over until you can give you honest impressions. That said, it is impossible to give an accurate review of this entire book of poetry by the sisters Brontë only reading it one time through. This is, however, a collection that I will often come back to.

Except maybe Charlotte's.

Charlotte is no great poet. I didn't want to skip over her poetry or even skim it, so I read it in full, but I read it a little bit at a faster pace than I usually would read poetry. I didn't connect with it. It wasn't great.

Emily and Anne's poetry was breathtaking, however. I had yet to read anything by Anne before reading her poetry, so this was my first experience with her words. I found them beautiful and thought provoking.

Anne's words were often about wanting to break free, while Emily's words were often inspired about the Parsonage and her love of her home.

With this, I'll leave you with my favorite poem in the collection:

Honour's Martyr by Emily Brontë

The moon is full this winter night;
The stars are clear, though few;
And every window glistens bright
With leaves of frozen dew.

The sweet moon through your lattice gleams,
And lights your room like day;
And there you pass, in happy dreams,
The peaceful hours away!

While I, with effort hardly quelling
The anguish in my breast,
Wander about the silent dwelling,
And cannot think of rest.

The old clock in the gloomy hall
Ticks on, from hour to hour;
And every time its measured call
Seems lingering slow and slower:

And, oh, how slow that keen-eyed star
Has tracked the chilly gray!
What, watching yet! how very far
The morning lies away!

Without your chamber door I stand;
Love, are you slumbering still?
My cold heart, underneath my hand,
Has almost ceased to thrill.

Bleak, bleak the east wind sobs and sighs,
And drowns the turret bell,
Whose sad note, undistinguished, dies
Unheard, like my farewell!

To-morrow, Scorn will blight my name,
And Hate will trample me,
Will load me with a coward's shame--
A traitor's perjury.

False friends will launch their covert sneers;
True friends will wish me dead;
And I shall cause the bitterest tears
That you have ever shed.

The dark deeds of my outlawed race
Will then like virtues shine;
And men will pardon their disgrace,
Beside the guilt of mine.

For, who forgives the accursed crime
Of dastard treachery?
Rebellion, in its chosen time,
May Freedom's champion be;

Revenge may stain a righteous sword,
It may be just to slay;
But, traitor, traitor,--from THAT word
All true breasts shrink away!

Oh, I would give my heart to death,
To keep my honour fair;
Yet, I'll not give my inward faith
My honour's NAME to spare!

Not even to keep your priceless love,
Dare I, Beloved, deceive;
This treason should the future prove,
Then, only then, believe!

I know the path I ought to go
I follow fearlessly,
Inquiring not what deeper woe
Stern duty stores for me.

So foes pursue, and cold allies
Mistrust me, every one:
Let me be false in others' eyes,
If faithful in my own.

The Garden Party and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield

Oh, Katherine Mansfield, where have you been all my life?

I'm no expert on this type of writing, but I know beautiful stuff when I read it. With 15 stories crammed into this small volume, I felt immensely involved with the characters of all of them. To me, none of the stories had a real beginning, nor end. It was as though you were just plopped into a certain character's life on just any old day and were observing them. You witnessed their emotions, listened to their thoughts and sometimes observed them making a life altering decision.

My favorites from this collection were: At the Bay, The Garden Party, The Voyage, Miss Brill, and The Lady's Maid.

Most of the stories dealt with women. You saw some of them go out into the world for the first time, but the characters that affected me most were the ones with the sad stories. Miss Brill, for example, who has formed this imaginary world around her, feeling that she is needed and has formed imaginary connections with strangers. When she overhears a comment by a young couple, she is snapped into the reality that she isn't needed, but is immensely lonely. In The Lady's Maid you witness a woman giving up true happiness because of her connection with her mistress. It is sad, seeing these women when they suddenly witness where they are with their lives.

It's blasphemy that Mansfield isn't as celebrated as other writers from her era such as Woolf and T.S. Eliot. Her work should be more revered than it is.

I'm including this in my list for the Women Unbound Challenge. 

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

I'm including this book in my list for the Women Unbound Challenge because it has been categorized as feminist fiction. However, I don't agree that it is.

I loved this story for the beautiful writing and the intricate way of exploring the life of a tragic woman. I saw this as a tragic story, not as the example that feminists having been using it as for decades.

The feminist themes are there, no doubt, but I don't think that Chopin intended it to be used as an example of what a woman in a similar situation should do.

The Awakening is a story of a woman who feels bound and oppressed by her marriage and by motherhood. This stuff was never for her and she tries to escape them. I don't agree with her ways of escaping them, especially what she did to her children! Is that what feminists want to use as an example? I don't want to give too much away for someone who hasn't read this, but her actions in this book are too extreme.

Seeing this simply as a tragic story of a selfish, oppressed woman, it is wonderful. At times I felt for this character and at times I was frustrated with her. The writing was, as I said, beautiful. Chopin really had a knack for conveying emotions without much dialogue.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Read for the first time this well-loved novel that I liked well enough.

This is a beautiful story with beautiful descriptions of a manor with a musical sounding name. Manderley. Just rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it? We're guided through the whole story by 'I' or 'Mrs. de Winter.' Aha, we never find out her real name, although we are lead to believe it is an interesting one! I am glad to say, she was not dumb as a bag of rocks - which I admit I was fearing. The world of Manderley through her eyes is thoroughly enjoyable.

I admit I did not become fully engrossed until about halfway through. Right along the fancy dress ball did I start not reading fast enough. Before that I was just enjoying the seemingly flawless writing style, but now we were cooking!

I had seen the old Hitchcock film years ago, so unfortunately, the mystery was gone. I kept picturing Laurence Olivier as Maxim while reading - I am not complaining! However, knowing what happened did not make it any less intense. I found myself holding my breath at some points and I stopped to ask myself, "Why?" du Maurier is no doubt a master at suspense!  

This was my last read for the Back to School Challenge!

The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins

A man is walking home one night. He feels a tap on his shoulder. It's a woman dressed in white. She asks for help in getting far away. Once he has her safely in a carriage and she is off, he finds out this woman has escaped from an Asylum.

Got your attention?

This book was darn good. The Woman in White set the format of what a great mystery thriller should be and it's no wonder. It was perfect.

This lengthy novel was told from the point of view - in the form of written testimonies - from different people who were both knowing and unknowingly involved in the 'secret'. Instead of this hindering the flow of the story, it enhanced it. Each narrative picked up where the last one left off and also filling in the holes the last narrative left.

There were a few times in reading where I thought the story was slacking, but what I failed to realize at the time was Collins was masterfully setting up for the next shocking event. When I hit these, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Heck, I felt like I was right there viewing it in person.

The Woman in White also showed the limits that women had in the 19th century, especially once they were married. It's almost sickening at some points.

Marian Holcombe was a fascinating character, one of the best in literature. One thing I didn't understand is why her narrative was told through journal entries while everyone else's was told through written testimony, even by those who couldn't even write! Marian was probably the most clever person in this cast of characters, so I just don't get it.

I was never scared at any point, but I have read that some people have been. The Woman in White I did fine very thrilling. Lots of shady people. Who was a spy? Was someone unknowingly being followed? Secret identities. Cleverly woven secrets. Brilliant!

If you love Victorian literature or mystery thrillers and have not read The Woman in White, for shame! I highly recommend it.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton had an impeccable ability to make upper society look as ridiculous as it really is. This time she takes on upper New York society in the 1870s.

The double standard shown in this book between men and women is just asinine. Countess Olenska is shown as unfortunate because she left her cruel husband. Because of his follies, she is punished for leaving him.

The Age of Innocence shows the ridiculous standards of old New York. You couldn't even sneeze in public without someone knowing and gossiping how unsanitary you are. This is just an example, not used in the book. Bottom line, you could not do anything without being exposed to the horrible monster called gossip. The people who you regularly converse with (your friends, I guess, although I wouldn't call them that) one week could shun you the next.

People's lives were structured by these standards. A man and woman who could have such happiness together could not otherwise be together because of something in one of their pasts. Newland Archer married May because it's what society basically wanted. It was s safe marriage, free from scandal.

Wharton is the queen of satire, in my opinion. She was also an author not big on the happy ending. So far, this is my favorite of her work.