And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

If there is one thing I love, it is taking a trip in a time machine (or a book) to a historical setting. Tasha Alexander’s novel And Only to Deceive does just that, by plopping readers down in Victorian England. But just because it is in the Victorian Age does not mean that it doesn’t portray exceedingly charming characters dealing with any sort of issues we might deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Such as intrigue, mystery, and suspense. Well, at least that is what Emily has to deal with daily since her husband died. She also has an overbearing mother obsessed with marrying her off, whom Emily had married her husband, Philip, to get away from.

Only months after they were married, her husband left on a hunting trip to Africa where he subsequently died. Emily comes to learn about her husband, whom she never got a chance to get to know while he was alive, through the private journals and letters he left behind. And that is where the intrigue starts.  She begins to question whether she, or Philip’s friends, really knew him at all. What was his involvement with antiquities and his obsessive collecting of all things Greek?

Although it was a slower-moving book, I felt it was light enough for a summer read. There is something in And Only to Deceive for everyone. A little mystery, a dash of romance, a hint of well-researched historical fiction, and a hair of amateur detective work. And a rainy summer day sets the perfect scene for the London weather portrayed in the book.   If you like this book, you will like Crocodile On the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Do I really need to tell anyone about the plot of this famous classic? Is there a book lover alive who hasn’t heard about how middle-class Elizabeth Bennett meets rich Mr. Darcy, and how at first his pride and her prejudice create an instant dislike of each other? Is there anyone who hasn’t heard the famous first sentence, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”?

The larger question is, “Why do people still read and love Pride and Prejudice 200 years after its initial 1813 publication?” Perhaps it’s because there’s something for everyone in Austen’s novel. If you’re looking for humor, you will certainly find it in the characters of nervous Mrs. Bennett and pompous Mr. Collins. If it’s social commentary you’re after, then look no further than the character of Charlotte Lucas (one of my favorites), and Austen’s observations about the absolute necessity of marriage for genteel women. If it’s character development you crave, then Pride and Prejudice gives you Elizabeth Bennett, one of the most popular fictional characters ever created.

And of course, if you want a good love story, then Pride and Prejudice gives you the quintessential love story that introduced story and character elements that have become romantic clichés. You’ve got the spirited heroine and the brooding hero. They dislike each other at first, but gradually change their minds as they learn more about each other and themselves over the course of the novel. The hero undergoes the biggest change as he discovers the redemptive power of love.

What may be the most likely reason for Austen’s continued popularity and relevance is the realism of her novels. Austen was a great observer of people, and people haven’t changed in the last 200 years. Her characters are real people with real problems and failings. In her books we see ourselves.

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Greatest Hits: Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Join us the next five days and kick off the new year with The Book-A-Day Blog’s most popular posts of 2012!

 

Kowal chose a fitting title for this Regency Era-with-a-magical-twist novel, for I found it both light and sweet. Jane Ellsworth, 28, has resigned herself to spinsterhood, but is still young enough to be jealous of her younger sister, Melody’s, beauty and likelihood of making a good marriage match. Melody, in turn, is envious of Jane’s talent with all the womanly arts that make a lady accomplished – especially her skill with glamour.

 

Glamour, the magic in this novel, is the manipulation of surrounding ether to create illusions or enhancements of sound, sight and smell. A variety of people seem to be able to work with glamour, but well-born ladies are taught how to use it to add beauty to their surroundings. Kowal does not let the magic overpower the story, it is simply an additional layer.

 

With the arrival of a mysterious glamourist, along with several other visitors to neighboring families in Dorchester, Jane and Melody begin competing for the attention of marriageable men. If you are a fan of Austen, you will surely recognize a fellow fan’s tribute to her and hopefully, like me, enjoy this pleasant romance.

 

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Emma by Jane Austen

Emma is the first Jane Austen novel I ever read and, thirty years later, it is still one of my favorites.  It is a good Austen novel to start with, because the heroine is so thoroughly “modern.”  This novel is the only one by Jane Austen with a character’s name for its title.  The plot is tightly organized around her, which makes the action easy to follow.

Emma herself has several flaws that many a modern woman can relate to—a runaway imagination in matters of romance and a habit of saying things that are better left unsaid.  At twenty-one, she is the only child left at home with a doting father whose weak judgment has resulted in her becoming something of spoiled brat.  Fortunately, Emma has other friends and family who are not so indulgent with her, and from them she learns some of the hard lessons that finally cure her of her disastrous matchmaking.

Though Emma’s snobbery and conceit are at times outrageous, you cannot help but love her.  She is gentle and patient with her aging father and a fun, cheerful hostess and aunt to her sister’s children.  In the process of arranging everyone else’s romantic destinies, she nearly misses her own.  Unbeknownst to her, she is playing her own role in the deceitful schemes of others.

Every Jane Austen novel must have two important male protagonists.  The heroine almost marries Mr. Wrong, but finally ends up with Mr. Right.  Of all Austen’s novels, I think this one has the most interesting Mr. Wrong.  He is not so much a villain as in most of Austen’s novels.  In fact, it is a delightful irony that he is really a lot like Emma and that they part as good friends.

If you’ve ever wondered why so many people love Jane Austen, read Emma.  Like me, you may find yourself hooked!

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Keeping the Castle: A Tale of Romance, Riches, and Real Estate by Patrice Kindl

Every review of this book compares the author to Jane Austen, and uses words like “frothy” and “endearing” to describe it. Many books are compared to Jane Austen’s works, but few can live up to the hype. As a hardcore Janeite, I often try to read these modern imitators, but rarely manage to finish them. To me, most are dry attempts to echo the classic books that I love so much. Keeping the Castle is different. I’m not saying it’s destined to become a classic that will be read and reread for centuries to come. No, I am saying that it is a fun read—one I can recommend to those who love Jane Austen and to those who are just looking for a romantic comedy in a book.

A beautiful young girl named Althea is from a genteel but poor family and knows she must marry well in order to preserve the family home for her younger brother. Althea has two mean-spirited stepsisters who have money of their own, but who refuse to contribute to anyone else’s comfort. Her mother does her best to help, but figuring out how to make the most of the very little moneythey have falls on Althea’s shoulders every day, and she must be both diligent and creative.

Being only 17 years old, Althea is a little too honest sometimes. She loses one suitor when she lets it slip that his money plays a part in her willingness to marry him. But she knows there will be others, and of course there are. Soon a party of friends comes to visit the neighbors, and Althea’s prospects look brighter.

This young adult novel combines elements from Cinderella with Pride and Prejudice,and has a lighthearted fairy tale feel to it. I enjoyed the characters with names like Lord Boring, Lady Throstletwist, and Miss Sneech.  But, of course, Althea takes center stage and she is a delightful character—independent, fresh, and witty. She’s a younger Elizabeth Bennet, someone we would all like to know.

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Lucia,Lucia by Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani’s novel Lucia,Lucia opens with Kit, a young and ambitious playwright, accepting an invitation from her elegant, elderly neighbor for a cup of tea. Kit expects a dull and boring afternoon with Lucia Sartori, what unfolds is the story of “the most beautiful woman in Greenwich Village”.

It’s 1952 and Lucia has her own dreams for the future. She is the very talented apprentice to a couture designer at the famous B. Altman’s department store. Walking into the store each day brings Lucia great joy.  She has an eye for beauty and is surrounded at work by beautiful clothing and objects. New York City presents Lucia with many possibilities for career, love, and excitement.

Lucia,Lucia is the classic story of young women of the time who had to choose between career opportunities and traditional family obligations. Unlike now, this was not an era when you could have it all.

Adriana Trigiani’s writing has so many strengths which I adore. Her marvelous descriptions allow the reader to genuinely feel the story unfold. The smells of spicy prosciutto, the tastes of tangy Chianti and sweet sesame cookies combine with the sensuous touch of the silky fabrics and luxurious furs of Lucia’s world.

Trigiani’s characters are complex, but very human and charming, resulting in the reader having great empathy for them. She brings tears to your eyes with tales of heartbreak and loss. Yet, you laugh and smile at the joys of a large, loud and loving Italian family.

I strongly recommend this book to readers who enjoy the Miss Julia series, the Big Stone Gap series or Julie and Romeo. Reading Lucia, Lucia guarantees a very pleasant afternoon, especially, if you include a cup of espresso and a slice of coconut cake.

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Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

All right, I’ll admit it. Mansfield Park is Jane Austen’s most difficult and least popular novel. But it is also her most complex and reflective work and as such is worth reading or rereading. In fact, many scholars believe this to be Austen’s best book.

The heroine is like no other Austen heroine. We first meet Fanny Price as a shy, ten-year-old child who is taken from her poor and overwhelmed family in Portsmouth and given to her rich aunt and uncle at Mansfield Park. She grows up there as a poor dependent, treated badly or ignored by just about everyone except her cousin Edmund, who shows her compassion and kindness. As an adult, Fanny is still being taken for granted by most family members and mistreated by a few. She is still quiet and shy, and accepts her lot in life. She is secretly in love with Edmund. Into her world come Henry and Mary Crawford, a brother and sister who have charisma and charm. Edmund falls in love with Mary, and Henry causes trouble by flirting with both of Fanny’s female cousins, Maria and Julia. Temptations arise. Fanny must resist and stay true to her values, even under very stressful circumstances.

If you want to start a debate among Janeites, just ask them how they feel about Fanny Price. Is she a strong and morally centered woman or a little Miss Priss? She’s no Elizabeth Bennet, that’s for sure. You can also start debates by asking about Henry Crawford’s suitability as a husband, whether Fanny’s Aunt Norris is cruel or pitiful, and whether Mary Crawford is a mercenary flirt or a lively young woman looking for true love.

Austen wrote Mansfield Park after the publication of Pride and Prejudice, and she seems to have been trying for something completely different. While this book lacks the crispness and the sparkle of Pride and Prejudice, it has more depth and complexity. It’s the kind of book that you enjoy more every time you read it.

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Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

This is a masterfully crafted novel that reveals the evolution and demise of a relationship through the mementos saved.

The book begins with 16 year old Min dumping a box of items she collected throughout her relationship with Ed Slaterton, a known womanizer. From the bottle caps she snuck into her pocket when they first met, to an expensive vintage cookbook Ed bought her, Min releases them all, chapter by chapter, as she recalls the circumstances under which they came to her.

Daniel Handler ( aka Lemony Snicket, author of the children’s books A Series of Unfortunate Events) does an excellent job of creating an authentic voice for his characters. With so many young adult novels creating unrealistic, overly mature situations for teen characters who seem to lack any parental controls and have bottomless pits of money and resources, I began to think all the teenagers I know had ended up with a really raw deal. Handler brings us down to earth again with characters that have the typical meddling parents and transportation woes. Min and her crowd speak like real teenagers–trying to be independent and testing their boundaries, while still suffering from the lack of experience that defines immaturity.

I love the way Min is completely duped by Ed’s charm (which, in addition to his good looks, is obviously what gets him a steady stream of girlfriends), and even convinces the reader that he’s very sweet–Min’s friends must be wrong about him. The reader and Min together struggle to accept Ed’s shine wearing off as the novel progresses, with each artifact of their relationship serving both to reveal Ed’s “love” and to explain why the relationship cannot last.

Min’s relationship with her friends is also authentically handled–as commonly happens when a girl begins dating, her friends are left behind. Of course they remain loyal, though their influence over Min is negligible, since she rarely even speaks to them anymore. And though the reader sees friendship complications develop over the course of the novel, Min is too blinded by her obsession with Ed to pick up on them. The suspense of what will happen when she finally “wakes up” carries the reader through to the end.

Handler has created an authentic novel with a fresh format. And, though it was written for teens, its quality appeals to adult readers, too. As a matter of fact, every book by Handler I read is better than the last–can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!

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Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s first published novel (1811) is a romance, of course.  But the central relationship of the book is that of two sisters,  Elinor and Marianne.

Elinor represents the “sense” of the title. She is practical, trustworthy, and self-disciplined.  Elinor tries to do what’s right even if this causes pain for herself, and she doesn’t inflict that pain on others.  Marianne is the “sensible” one.In Austen’s time, sensibility was the belief that emotions should be felt deeply and expressed freely.  For devotees of this philosophy,  social conventions were a bore. Elinor and Marianne are very different, but are united by a deep bond of sisterly love.

The plot of the novel is set in motion when the sisters’ father dies.  This forces Elinor, Marianne, their mother, and their younger sister to leave their large estate and relocate to a small cottage. Three eligible men are introduced as possible husbands for the older sisters. Shy Edward seems to be in love with Elinor, but then becomes standoffish. Charming Willoughby and Marianne seem to have everything in common and Marianne falls hard for him. And reliable Colonel Brandon falls for Marianne, but must watch her romance with Willoughby grow. We also meet the scheming Lucy Steel, the greedy Fanny Dashwood, the garrulous Mrs. Jennings, and the worst brother in all of Austen.

To say that Sense and Sensibility is a groundbreaking novel is not an exaggeration. Until this book, the heroines of novels were orphans or were otherwise separated from family support. This allowed the author to place their heroine in jeopardy with no resources other than themselves. Austen, however, knew how to move her plots forward and include close family relationships.  This made her novels more realistic and relatable. It’s part of the reason her books are still so popular today.

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Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Kowal chose a fitting title for this Regency Era-with-a-magical-twist novel, for I found it both light and sweet. Jane Ellsworth, 28, has resigned herself to spinsterhood, but is still young enough to be jealous of her younger sister, Melody’s, beauty and likelihood of making a good marriage match. Melody, in turn, is envious of Jane’s talent with all the womanly arts that make a lady accomplished – especially her skill with glamour.

Glamour, the magic in this novel, is the manipulation of surrounding ether to create illusions or enhancements of sound, sight and smell. A variety of people seem to be able to work with glamour, but well-born ladies are taught how to use it to add beauty to their surroundings. Kowal does not let the magic overpower the story, it is simply an additional layer.

With the arrival of a mysterious glamourist, along with several other visitors to neighboring families in Dorchester, Jane and Melody begin competing for the attention of marriageable men. If you are a fan of Austen, you will surely recognize a fellow fan’s tribute to her and hopefully, like me, enjoy this pleasant romance.

Find and reserve this book in our catalog.