March 2020 reread, just because. It's surprising how much of this I forgot since I first read it 5 years ago ... and how much more I liked it this secMarch 2020 reread, just because. It's surprising how much of this I forgot since I first read it 5 years ago ... and how much more I liked it this second time around. I loved all the meta stuff; it's pretty mindblowing. And I'm actually very fond of the three codas that make up the last quarter of the book. (I got a good chuckle when I realized that the three codas - First Person, Second Person and Third Person - are about three different minor characters from the main storyline, and the codas are written in ... wait for it ... first person, second person and third person. How did I miss that the first time through? :D
4.5 stars!
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What if the redshirt extras low-ranking crew members on Star Trek The Chronicles of the Intrepid realized that whenever one of them accompanies the starship's officers on an away mission to a planet or somewhere, that crew member was extremely likely to be killed?
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Naturally, this creates a dog-eat-dog situation where the long-term members of the crew learn to disappear quickly whenever an officer comes around, and the newer members have a very high mortality rate. Finally, a few of the junior crew members decide to try to get to the bottom of this mysterious phenomenon and, if possible, try to find a way to end it.
This book is extremely funny in parts, especially if you're familiar with the original Star Trek and some of its characters and quirks, but it's really kind of an odd book at the same time. Most of the book is a satire, a little on the superficial side and very snappy-dialogue-driven. There's a lot to make fun of with Trek, as fond as I am of it, and it's not all about the callous and weird ways in which random crew members die. (I did think the captain here needed a few sexy alien ladies slinking up to him.) The answer to the mystery of why so many crew members are dying on this particular starship doesn't really hold water logically AT ALL, but I've suspended disbelief on a lot shakier plot lines in my Trek-watching over the years, and I was willing to roll with it.
Then the story gets a little bit more screwy and a lot more meta, and at about the 70% mark the main story ends. The rest of the book is three "codas" written from the points of view of three very minor characters from the first part of the story, telling a little more about what happened in their lives after the main story ended. They're interesting, but so very different in tone from the rest of the book that the contrast is a little jarring. They're kind of sobering, in fact. And no, that wasn't me you saw surreptitiously wiping away a tear as I turned the last page.
3 1/2 stars. I may decide to round up when I see how I feel about this in another day or two. ETA: I have in fact decided to round up, after chatting with Anne in the thread to her very funny review. It made me realize that I recall this book with a lot of affection, despite its flaws.
Content advisory: fairly frequent F-bombs, and some innuendos and crude talk in a few places....more
I still haven't forgiven this book for looking so appealing on my own, personal (also, in my bedroom) bookshelf that my daughter, who was about 12 at I still haven't forgiven this book for looking so appealing on my own, personal (also, in my bedroom) bookshelf that my daughter, who was about 12 at the time and a precocious reader, snitched it from my shelf and read it. I didn't find out until after she was finished. It's not the worst thing in the world that she could have read at that age, but it has some adult content that, let's just say, I wasn't quite ready for her to be exposed to yet. And yes, it was totally the book's fault and not mine. Although now I do tend to hide my adult content books in harder-to-find places.
Anyway, this was a fairly enjoyable, humorous read about a quirky family of private investigators, the latest mystery they're trying to solve, and their relationships with each other and with other people. The MC, Isabel ("Izzy") Spellman, age 28, is the middle child and a former juvenile delinquent:
My teenage years were defined by meetings at the principal’s office, rides in squad cars, ditching, vandalism, smoking in the bathroom, drinking at the beach, breaking and entering, academic probation, groundings, lectures, broken curfews, hangovers, blackouts, illegal drugs, combat boots, and unwashed hair.
Izzy has now straightened out, mostly, and has a job with her parents' PI firm, but is thinking of striking out on her own. But first she needs to solve an old missing person mystery that may have something to do with a problem in her own family. It was fun read, but not really my thing. I've since dumped the book on PBS, and I didn't feel any compelling urge to go read any more books in this series.
And not just because I would have had to find a better hiding place for them. [image]
Content Advisory: Scattered F-bombs, a (non-explicit) seduction, and descriptions of drug use and teenage misbehavior (aka Things I Didn't Want My 12 y/o Reading Yet)....more
This is a memoir of childhood days, growing up in the 1960s and 70s in the small town of Mooreland, Indiana (pop. 300). Lots of quirky or downright ecThis is a memoir of childhood days, growing up in the 1960s and 70s in the small town of Mooreland, Indiana (pop. 300). Lots of quirky or downright eccentric characters populate the town and the pages of this book. There's no real plot here; it's pretty much a collection of small town stories and anecdotes. Some of the stories involve animal neglect or abuse, the thoughtlessly cruel kinds of things that many small town people didn't consider really wrong back in the day, so sensitive readers beware. People's foibles, faults and troubles, like her family's poverty, her mother's depression and her father's alcoholism, are all seen through the childish eyes of the narrator.
Even at a young age, Zippy is dubious about her religious beliefs, especially when she's forced to go to her mother's Quaker congregation every Sunday; she'd rather worship in her father's Great Church of the Outdoors. How you feel about someone questioning Christianity in humorous ways is another thing that may affect how you feel about this book. It occurs to me, in fact, that this book has a lot of different possibilities for offending people.
There are also a lot of stories involving teasing and small cruelties that may strike you as terrible or humorous, or both, like when Zippy's older sister (falsely) tells her that she's adopted, and Zippy, who's maybe 8 or 10 years old, goes to ask her mother:
"How could you not tell me I was adopted! Don't you think I have a right to know? And who were my real parents anyway?" I was trying to be mature, but periodically spit flew.
"Gypsies, honey." She still had not looked up from Isaac Asimov Explains the Whole of Reality and Then Some.
"Gypsies? Really?" This was somewhat compelling. I sat down.
"Yes, I thought we managed a very wise trade. . . Plus, you were born with a tail."
I looked at her, completely speechless, my mouth hanging open exactly like a creature with a tail.
"We had it removed so your pants would fit."
The most poignant story, for me, was near the end of the book (this isn't really a spoiler because there is no real plot, but if you want to read the book yourself, you may want to skip this next part): A local man, Mr. Sewell, begins to teach some of the elementary students how to play various band instruments. He volunteers to give Rose, one of Zippy's friends, private lessons after school once a week. A little later Zippy is spending the night at Rose's house:
We were mostly not talking, when Rose scooted over closer to me and whispered, "I'm scared of something."
I whispered back, "What?"
"I don't want to do private lessons with Mr. Sewell any more."
This didn't surprise me, because I never would have wanted to do it in the first place. "Why? Is it boring and stupid and you'd rather be outside?"
"No." Rose didn't say anything for a long time. "I told my mom, but she thinks I'm making it up or being silly."
"Making what up?"
"I'm just afraid. He . . . never mind. Forget it."
The next time Mr. Sewell comes, Zippy stays after school, telling him that she's required to wait for Rose and walk home with her. At the end of the private lesson he offers the girls a ride home, "but we turned it down, even though we had a long, long walk ahead of us." The capper is that Zippy tells another friend, a devout Christian, that she's a failure at doing good deeds and helping others. "Good works just aren't for me."
This memoir is often humorous, occasionally ironic, sometimes poignant, frequently insightful.
The science fiction plot is paper-thin and kind of random, but this book gave me some really good laughs. I about lost it when the computer on their sThe science fiction plot is paper-thin and kind of random, but this book gave me some really good laughs. I about lost it when the computer on their space ship started singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" while the missiles closed in. I was reminded of this novel when I was reading one of the books in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, which is pretty much the same sort of thing, except in a fantasy world rather than SF. Anyway: read for laughs.
I've had the first Discworld book patiently waiting on my iPad for months and haven't gotten to it, but per Deborah's strong recommendation (see her rI've had the first Discworld book patiently waiting on my iPad for months and haven't gotten to it, but per Deborah's strong recommendation (see her review and Emma Sea's comment #1 at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) I skipped past the first two books and went straight to the third, Equal Rites, to begin my Discworld experience.
A dying wizard passes his wizardly powers and magical staff to the newborn 8th son of an 8th son (why not 7th? I guess Discworld just has to be different). He doesn't realize, however (until after he's dead), that the 8th son is a girl, and in this world women are never wizards--only witches. However, the wizardly powers will not be denied, and as Eskarina, or Esk, begins to grow up she has to deal with learning to control her powers while also dealing with a wizardly establishment that refuses to recognize or train girl wizards. Luckily Esk has Granny Weatherwax to help her.
[Granny] stood up. "Let's find this Great Hall, then. No time to waste."
"Um, women aren't allowed in," said Esk.
Granny stopped in the doorway. Her shoulders rose. She turned around slowly.
"What did you say?" she said. "Did these old ears deceive me, and don't say they did because they didn't."
"Sorry," said Esk. "Force of habit."
"I can see you've been getting some ideas below your station," said Granny coldly.
This was a fun reading experience, not terribly deep but good for laughs, a lot like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, except in a fantasy setting rather than science fiction. Humorous asides and tongue-in-cheek humor abound.
Bits of gnolls hung from the nearby rocks, giving them a sort of jolly, festive air. Gander wasn't particularly sorry about that--gnolls liked to capture travelers and practice hospitality of the red-hot-knife-and-bludgeon kind . . . Still, it was a relief to get away from that macabre sight. Gander considered that gnolls didn't look any better inside than out. He hated their guts.
I would have liked a little more substance with my humor, but this was rewarding enough that I'll try dipping my toes into the Discworld series a little further. Maybe I'll jump straight to Guards! Guards! and see what the fuss is about Vimes. :)
3.5 stars. Thanks again to Deborah for egging me on!
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Content advisory: Some humorous sexual innuendos. Maybe not for younger teens....more
Ogden Nash was a humorist poet who regularly took wild liberties with rhyme and meter, often coming up with delightful and absurd results. As the forwOgden Nash was a humorist poet who regularly took wild liberties with rhyme and meter, often coming up with delightful and absurd results. As the forward to this collection states: "Nash is the master of surprising words that nearly-but-do-not-quite-match, words which rhyme reluctantly, words which never before had any relation with each other and which will never be on rhyming terms again."
What would you do if you were up a dark alley with Caesar Borgia And he was coming torgia?
Nash was often cynical:
Come live with me and be my love And we will all the pleasures prove Of a marriage conducted with economy In the Twentieth Century Anno Donomy. We'll live in a dear little walk-up flat With practically room to swing a cat And a potted cactus to give it hauteur And a bathtub equipped with dark brown water. . . . And one of these days not too remote I'll probably up and cut your throat.
But much of his poetry is quieter and quite charming:
THE CHIPMUNK My friends all know that I am shy, But the chipmunk is twice as shy as I, He moves with flickering indecision Like stripes across the television. He's like the shadow of a cloud, Or Emily Dickinson read aloud.
Sometimes he was insightful:
. . . And I have no desire to get ugly, But I cannot help mentioning that the door of a bigoted mind opens outward so that the only result of the pressure of facts upon it is to close it more snugly. Naturally I am not pointing a finger at me, But I must admit that I find any speaker far more convincing when I agree with him than when I disagree.
and
The only incurable troubles of the rich are the troubles that money can't cure, Which is a kind of trouble that is even more troublesome if you are poor. Certainly there are lots of things in life that money won't buy, but it's very funny-- Have you ever tried to buy them without money?
Not everything he wrote is great, and unfortunately some of his poetry reflects the stereotypes and prejudices of his day (he wrote much of his poetry in the 1930s and 40s). But when he was on, he was really on.
A few parting shots:
All along the highway, Hear the signs discourse:
Men SLOW Working ; Saddle CROSSING Horse .
. . . Wisest of their proverbs, Truest of their talk, Have I found that dictum:
Cross CHILDREN Walk .
When Adam took the highway He left his sons a guide:
Cross CHILDREN Walk ;
Cheerful CHILDREN Ride .
THE FLY God in His wisdom made the fly And then forgot to tell us why.
MY MY 1. My Dream Here is a dream. It is my dream-- My own dream-- I dreamt it. I dreamt that my hair was kempt, Then I dreamt that my true love unkempt it.
2. My Conscience I could of If I would of, But I shouldn't, So I douldn't.
One of my two least favorite Georgette Heyer novels that I've read (the other being April Lady, which may not count since I DNF'd that one). Who knew One of my two least favorite Georgette Heyer novels that I've read (the other being April Lady, which may not count since I DNF'd that one). Who knew a marriage of convenience story could be so boring? It has soo many annoying elements:
* one of those very young, impetuous, immature TSTL heroines I dislike so much * she has a stammer that is written out Every.Single.Time. * lots of frantic, farcical running around * an evil ex-mistress and a cardboard dastardly villain * a hero who's twice the age of the heroine
Anyway, it all adds up to way too many things I found dislikeable about this novel. Frankly, I skimmed through most of it....more
Daddy-Long-Legs is a delightful short novel written in 1912. Basically it's along the lines of "Anne Shirley goes to a girls' college." It's mostly epDaddy-Long-Legs is a delightful short novel written in 1912. Basically it's along the lines of "Anne Shirley goes to a girls' college." It's mostly epistolary, told in the form of letters written by the main character where she talks (and jokes) about her daily life.
At the beginning of our story, Jerusha is a 17 year old oppressed but imaginative girl who lives and works in an orphanage, where she's grown up. She's unexpectedly given the chance to go to college when one of the orphanage trustees reads a humorous English essay that she wrote and offers to pay her way. He insists on remaining anonymous to her, but wants her to write him monthly letters telling him of her progress. This novel consists of the letters Jerusha (who quickly dumps her unliked name at college and tells people to call her "Judy") writes over the next four years to her benefactor.
It's fun to get a glimpse of life at an all-girls college 100 years ago. A sample from one of Judy's letters:
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,
I hope you aren't the Trustee who sat on the toad? It went off--I was told--with quite a pop, so probably it was a fatter Trustee.
. . . Every spring when the hoptoad season opened we would form a collection of toads and keep them in [window wells by the orphanage's laundry room]; and occasionally they would spill over into the laundry, causing a very pleasurable commotion on wash days. We were severely punished for our activities in this direction, but in spite of all discouragement the toads would collect.
. . . I don't know why I am in such a reminiscent mood except that spring and the reappearance of toads always awakens the old acquisitive instinct. The only thing that keeps me from starting a collection is the fact that there's no rule against it.
Judy/Jerusha is a likeable main character with a lively sense of humor and an independent streak. In many ways the book is dated, understandably, but at the same time there are some unexpectedly progressive views. Given the times, it's not too surprising that Judy also makes some positive comments about socialism, as well as a few snarky comments about religion.
But overall this is a gentle, humorous coming-of-age story with just a bit of romance. Minus one star for the overly pat and somewhat disturbing ending -- I didn't care for the way the author glossed over some major personal trust issues (view spoiler)[with the big reveal at the end of who Daddy-Long-Legs is, and immediately gave us a simple and-they-lived-happily-ever-after ending. I rather think that a personality like Judy's would have a few snippy (or even irate) things to say to Daddy about the secret he kept from her, before letting him sweep her off her feet. (hide spoiler)]
After the death of the father of the Gilbreth clan in the early 1920s, who was the starring character in the memoir Cheaper by the Dozen, their motherAfter the death of the father of the Gilbreth clan in the early 1920s, who was the starring character in the memoir Cheaper by the Dozen, their mother was left to raise their 11 children on her own, and to try to support the family when working mothers were far more rare. Lillian Gilbreth was an accomplished motion study expert in her own right, but it was tough to convince companies in the 1920s to give her a chance. Belles on Their Toes tells Lillian's story, as well as many of the various adventures and misadventures of their children, who range from college age down to toddler when the story begins.
My favorite stories: First, the one about the girls and their swimsuits (their father had been EXTREMELY conservative about how his girls dressed, and they were all still wearing 1900's style swimsuits as the story begins).
[image] Old-style women's swimsuits
The other was about the youngest daughter Jane beginning high school and her brothers' determination that she'd be on the cutting edge of fashion and popular with her classmates ... but not TOO popular. The descriptions of the brothers' lessons on dress, dancing (back in the days when guys cut in), and avoiding kisses are pretty hilarious.
It's a worthy sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen - you should definitely read it if you liked the first book. It's a bit less humorous but more heartwarming. It's nice to see Lillian quietly asserting herself in different ways, like setting aside some of her husband's more stringent rules on behavior, dress and frugality.
Content notes: Very G-rated, but some of the stories and language reflect outdated social values, like the "energetic colored woman" who was their mother's maid, and their non-PC handyman Tom. There's also a story about two of the girls smoking, and their mother's (view spoiler)[very measured (hide spoiler)] reaction to it, that's an eyebrow-raiser based on what we now know about the dangers of smoking. You have to be able to allow for the fact that the events took place in the 20's and 30's and this book was written in 1950....more
3.75 stars, partly for the nostalgia factor. I adored Cheaper by the Dozen when I was a young teen, and I read it more times than I can count. I still3.75 stars, partly for the nostalgia factor. I adored Cheaper by the Dozen when I was a young teen, and I read it more times than I can count. I still have the ancient paperback copy of this book and its sequel, Belles on Their Toes, on my basement bookshelves. I just reread it for the first time in years, and though much of it was still amusing, the book as a whole hasn’t aged as well as I’d hoped.
This is a semi-factual account of the Gilbreth family, growing up in the early 1900s. The Gilbreth parents were both well-known engineers and "efficiency experts" who tried, with mixed success, to apply their theories and ideas to raising a large family of twelve (YES) children.* It's a funny, fond, and heartwarming account of their growing up years, as told by two of the children.
Dad himself used to tell a story about one time when Mother went off to fill a lecture engagement and left him in charge at home. When Mother returned, she asked him if everything had run smoothly. 'Didn't have any trouble except with that one over there,' he replied. 'But a spanking brought him into line.'
Mother could handle any crisis without losing her composure.
That's not one of ours, dear,' she said. 'He belongs next door.'
This probably goes without saying, but other than being about a very large family, the Steve Martin movie Cheaper by the Dozen has pretty much zero in common with this book.
The stories are generally amusing, but they’re kind of strung together. The whole book is more anecdotal than I remembered. And there’s much more casual racism than I’d recalled. I was especially struck by the wince-worthy descriptions of their grandparents’ stereotypical Chinese cook, and the impromptu minstrel shows by their father (with the mother playing along). I give this book somewhat of a pass on this, though, because it’s at least a semi-true life account of a bygone time, plus it was written in 1943.
On the plus side, it’s a great snapshot of life in an unusual family a hundred years ago. I liked the affection and teasing between them. And it was really interesting to see the social changes that the 1920’s brought.
Recommended if you like humorous, nostalgic memoirs and can forgive the outdated social attitudes of the time. In many ways the Gilbreths were actually a surprisingly modern family.
*One of their daughters, Mary, died in her childhood. I vividly remember how disappointed I was as a teen when I ran the numbers mentally and realized that the family never had twelve living children at the same time. "How can the dad say his children were cheaper by the dozen? And why did they put twelve kids in the car in the cover image?"
4.5 stars! Also, this is currently on a $1.99 Kindle sale, as of April 12, 2021. Georgette Heyer books very rarely go on a sale, and this is one of he4.5 stars! Also, this is currently on a $1.99 Kindle sale, as of April 12, 2021. Georgette Heyer books very rarely go on a sale, and this is one of her Regency comedy gems, so grab it if you’re interested! My third read of this one, and it keeps moving up on my list of favorite Heyer novels.
Kitty Charing is the orphaned ward of the miserly and eccentric Mr. Matthew Penicuik. "Uncle Matthew" has no children of his own, but has five grand-nephews, including his favorite, the suave and handsome Jack. Kitty has a crush on Jack, and Matthew hopes he’ll marry Kitty, but he decides, in fairness, to throw the field wide open: he'll leave Kitty his fortune, contingent on her marrying any of his grand-nephews. So Matthew calls a meeting of all of his single grand-nephews, two of whom promptly propose to Kitty. But Jack, reluctant to be ordered about and to lose his freedom too quickly, doesn't show up at the meeting, thus offending both Kitty and Matthew.
Kitty impulsively asks Freddy, another of the great-nephews, to enter into a pretend engagement with her for a month. With a fair amount of difficulty and tears, she convinces Freddy to go along with her plan, partly so she can enjoy life in the big city for a few weeks, out from under Uncle Matthew’s thumb and miserly ways, and partly to try to make Jack jealous.
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Freddy patiently squires Kitty around London (his reactions at being forced to tour the sights of London with her are one of the highlights of the story). Jack is a little taken aback by the news of the engagement, but thinks (rightly) that Kitty is just playing hard to get and (maybe rightly) that he can win her back any time he wants. Meanwhile, he's busy trying to make the lovely and innocent Olivia his latest mistress; since she has a not-so-innocent Mamma, Jack figures his chances of success are good.
To complicate matters, Kitty’s generous heart is moved try to help everyone else in her vicinity with their romantic troubles. She's very much like Arabella, actually. And Olivia, of course, just happens to be one of those people Kitty meets and tries to help.
When I first read Cotillion, ten or so years ago, I thought it was pleasant but forgettable. I think I was expecting more of a focus on the romance. I was new to Georgette Heyer at the time, and also my expectations had been set by Devil's Cub, probably one of Heyer's more romantic books, what with the hot (and hot-tempered) hero chasing the reluctant heroine all over creation (be still, my heart). *Note: Some spoilers follow, although I've tagged most of them*
In Cotillion the romance is definitely more low-key, the handsome rake that the heroine has been angling for (view spoiler)[turns out to be pretty much just a cad and a jerk and a cheater besides (hide spoiler)], and the hero is a beta character of middling good looks and average intelligence, excessively fond of appearing in the pink of fashion, who turns out to have unforeseen depths of character. It's definitely gratifying in its own way, but it wasn't what I was looking for at the time. Looking back on it now, I think I had my expectations set wrong: (view spoiler)[ I was expecting a reformed rake trope plot and instead I got a "beta hero stepping up to the plate" type of plot. Which is really a far better plot, when you think about it! (hide spoiler)]
Rereading it a second time, it struck me that this really is much more a comedy than a romance, even though the plot centers around several romantic entanglements. Once I stopped expecting it to give me deep romantic feelz and just settled down to enjoy the wit and the absurdities, it became immensely enjoyable.
One of my favorite things was how this book thumbs its nose at the standard romantic tropes:
“I do think,” said Kitty fervently, “that Freddy is the most truly chivalrous person imaginable!”
Freddy’s sister, regarding her with awe, opened her mouth, shut it again, swallowed, and managed to say, though in a faint voice: “Do you, indeed?”
“Yes, and a great deal more to the purpose than all the people one was taught to revere, like Sir Lancelot, and Sir Galahad, and Young Lochinvar, and—and that kind of man! I daresay Freddy might not be a great hand at slaying dragons, but you may depend upon it none of those knight-errants would be able to rescue one from a social fix, and you must own, Meg, that one has not the smallest need of a man who can kill dragons! And as for riding off with one in the middle of a party, which I have always thought must have been extremely uncomfortable, and not at all the sort of thing one would wish to happen to one—”
Freddy is about the farthest thing from a dragon-killer or a feet-sweeper-offer: he's a clothes hound who loves high fashion, and he has an interesting habit of dropping his pronouns that makes him appear more dim-witted than he really is. But he's also a totally goodhearted, stand-up guy, and Kitty's tendency to get into fixes that require some nice guy to rescue her motivates Freddy to step up to the plate and develop new depths.
A cotillion is a genteel version of an English square dance, popular two or three hundred years ago in Europe and America, and was - mark this - originally danced by four couples.
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In this book there actually are four romantic (well, more or less romantic) couples:
And suddenly it struck me how brilliant Heyer was with the plot of this book, with these four couples engaging in a social dance with each other and in their relationships with the people around them, and with all of the crazy entanglements among them.
4.5 stars, up from an initial 3 star rating. :)
Prior review: This has been one of the Georgette Heyer books on my TBR list for a while, but I paged through it at the library the other day and realized that I actually had read it (maybe 10 years ago) and pretty much forgotten it, except for the ending. Even at the time I read it, it struck me as pleasant but forgettable.
A lot of my fellow Heyer fans love this one so I might give it another try sometime, when my TBR pile gets a little less daunting or I'm really in the mood for an old-fashioned Regency read....more
99c Kindle special today. This is a funny, light YA fantasy with a little romance.
This YA novel is one of those rare sequels that I liked better than 99c Kindle special today. This is a funny, light YA fantasy with a little romance.
This YA novel is one of those rare sequels that I liked better than the first book in the series, My Fair Godmother, mostly because I liked the main character better in this book. As a childhood nerd and compulsively good student, I had a hard time sympathizing with the gorgeous, popular high school student in the first book, who never used her brains until forced to do so. #sorrynotsorry
Anyway. The Valley Girl-ish fairy godmother from the first book, Chrysanthemum (Chrissy), is still trying to get into fairy godmother university, or something like that, so she's taken on another extra credit project in the form of Tansy, an unhappy teenager dragged down by the aftermath of her parents' divorce, who registered too high on the fairy's Pathetic-O-Meter and thus qualifies for some fairy godmotherly intervention in her life. Hijinks ensue and eventually everyone gets sent by Chrissy to (not particularly realistic, but whatever) medieval times--including, of course, the requisite hot guy. Identities are mistaken, fences are mended, lessons are learned.
Sample quote, from the fairy contract that Tansy had to sign:
"... if thou shalt tell an untruth, in consequence of such an act, a reptile or amphibian shall grow upon thy tongue until such instance when thou spittith it out. Or if thou art an animal rights activist and considereth such an act to be inhumane to reptiles or amphibians, thou mayest choose instead to have flashing lights above thy head declaring thou art a blasted liar."
"Oh," I said.
"The animal rights option is new this year," Chrissy said.
Tansy, understandably, chooses the flashing lights option, which leads to some really funny moments later on, like this one:
He smiled. "You’re into me, I can tell."
"I’m not into you," I said hotly. Hotly, because as soon as the words left my lips, sparklers erupted on top of my head.
Hudson looked at them, and a grin spread across his face. The baby cooed and reached out, trying to grab the flaring light. Hudson moved farther away. "Don’t touch. Just look at Mommy’s pretty liar hat."
He was enjoying this way too much. "Okay," I said. "Maybe I like you a little."
The sparklers dimmed, but didn’t go out.
Hudson raised an eyebrow.
"All right," I said, nervously eyeing the area to make sure no one saw us. "I’m into you."
The sparklers died, but I didn’t wait around for more commentary. I headed to the inn. Behind me I heard Hudson still talking to the baby. "Yes, we like Mommy’s flaming hairdo, don’t we?"
This was a cute, light, humorous story with occasional moving and thoughtful moments. If you enjoy the lighter YA novels, this one is worth reading. ...more
This 1895 play about mistaken and hidden identities is my favorite by Oscar Wilde. One of the wittiest plays ever!
Algernon is visited in his town homeThis 1895 play about mistaken and hidden identities is my favorite by Oscar Wilde. One of the wittiest plays ever!
Algernon is visited in his town home by his friend Ernest, who intends to propose to Algernon's cousin Gwendolen. Algernon manages to dig out his friend's secret: his name is actually Jack.
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Jack has an 18 year old ward, Cecily, who lives in his country home. So he uses the name Ernest when he is in town so he can live it up a little, and then tells Cecily about his wastrel younger brother Ernest when he stays with her in the country. Algernon is instantly intrigued and wants to meet Cecily; Jack refuses.
Enter Jack's beloved, Gwendolen, with her mother, Lady Bracknell, the epitome of Victorian shallowness, materialism and moral superiority.
[image] "Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that."
Gwendolen is delighted to accept Jack's proposal, but her mother refuses to approve the engagement: Jack is a foundling who doesn't know who his parents are.
"To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."
So things are at a standstill ... until Algernon sneaks off to visit Jack's country home and meet Cecily. He introduces himself as Jack's wayward brother Ernest.
[image]
Love at first sight, and comedy heaven, ensue. Both Gwendolen and Cecily are bound and determined to marry a man named Ernest ("There is something in that name that seems to inspire absolute confidence"). You can see the clash coming, but it's even better when it happens than you could imagine.
It's a quick read, just under 100 pages on my Kindle. Everybody wants to be earnest (or Ernest) ... but nobody really is ... or are they? It's the most intriguing combination of delightful frothiness and absurdity, but with a strong streak of social satire and criticism of society's shallowness and materialism running through it. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Reading this is great, but seeing it is even better. I haven't seen the 2002 film with Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon and Judi Dench, which sounds fantastic. But I can vouch for the 1952 film, which is an absolute delight, with Michael Redgrave and Dame Edith Evans (in the role of her life as the imposing Lady Bracknell).
2.5 stars. Uncharted Territory is a short, farcical science fiction novel about a team of explorers of a planet called Boohte that is filled with stra2.5 stars. Uncharted Territory is a short, farcical science fiction novel about a team of explorers of a planet called Boohte that is filled with strange alien life - almost as strange as the relationships between the humans on this planet. Findriddy (Fin) and Carson are two planetary surveyors who embark on a trouble-plagued expedition to map the largely uncharted planet. In an excess of concern about cultural insensitivity and imperialism, the government has imposed some ridiculous constraints on exploration. The surveyors are also required to hire an indigenous guide, the alien natives of Boohte, and their native guide Bult is delighted to take every advantage of the situation.
Connie Willis's works seem to alternate between farcical, even slapstick humor, and more serious books that include incredibly detailed research (occasionally both together, as in To Say Nothing of the Dog). Uncharted Territory is on the far end of the humor side of the spectrum, but it's kind of a quirky, satirical humor mixed with quite a bit of oddness and frustration. (Why do so many of Willis's books seem to involve frustrated people running around vainly trying to accomplish near-impossible tasks?) It didn't really grab me.
I'm tempted to say "for Connie Willis completists only" but that would be a bit harsh. Anyway, think of it as a very short novel (or a longer novella) that explores the ideas of sex, love, territorial exploration and excessive political correctness, with tongue firmly in cheek. It was a decent read with some funny moments and a few surprises, but generally the plot kind of wanders aimlessly around, rather like our intrepid explorers. Personally I expected more from a Connie Willis book....more
Bellwether is one of Connie Willis' non-SF satirical (even farcical at times) comedies. It took me a couple of reads, about 10 years apart, to really Bellwether is one of Connie Willis' non-SF satirical (even farcical at times) comedies. It took me a couple of reads, about 10 years apart, to really appreciate it. Here’s my evolving take on this unique novel:
[image] The bellwether sheep, who leads the flock
Bellwether Read #1, sometime around 2005: 3 stars. I'm a big Connie Willis, but she can be a little uneven. She seems to have two primary modes: farce/comedy of errors (usually with a little romance mixed in), and incredibly detailed and well-researched SF. Sometimes the two mix together, to delightful results (my favorite is To Say Nothing of the Dog).
Bellwether is in the farcical vein. It's not really science fiction since there's not much really speculative about it. Sandra Foster is a scientist who is researching the phenomenon of fads, in particular, how they start and spread. The plot felt like kind of a mad scramble, mixing the stress of research with the competition for a grant, the complications of Sandra's attraction for another researcher, and her frustrating daily run-ins with Flip, the Administrative Assistant from Hell.
It was an interesting read with some fun moments, but ultimately this one didn't really stick with me. But some of my GR friends love this book, so YMMV.
Interim thoughts (in between Read #1 and Read #2): Even though Bellwether didn't wow me the first time I read it, I've downloaded it and am going to give it a reread. The Wikipedia article on this novel makes a fascinating but pretty spoilerish comment about a particular name that opened my eyes to some interesting symbolism, and makes me want to revisit this book. (view spoiler)[Flip's name is short for Phillipa, which is also the full name of Pippa in Robert Browning's poem "Pippa Passes," about a girl who influences everyone around her just by cheerfully passing by. Flip is a trendsetter, like Pippa's evil twin: flipped, if you will, lol. But is her influence for evil, or is it just mundane? (hide spoiler)]
Bellwether Read #2, October 2015: 4 stars. I'm finished with my totally unplanned reread, and this one definitely deserves another star. I think the first time I read it I just expected more science fictiony stuff because, well, Connie Willis, and this short novel isn't that. But it is very funny; Willis' send-up of the worst parts of corporate culture is to die for, and her exploration of the way people unthinkingly jump on the bandwagon and adopt (often really idiotic) fads is worth reading. Interestingly, the "Pippa Passes" theme is much stronger and more explicit than I remembered from my first read. I kept an eye out for it this time, and it pops up repeatedly, as does a fascinating minor theme related to the "Toads and Diamonds" fairy tale that I had totally forgotten.
This book also makes a point about how society also cycles through phases of being "anti" various things--drinking (Prohibition), certain religions that are persecuted, obesity, smoking--and how those attitudes are also fads, in a very real sense.
Minus a star for being a bit slow in places and because the big reveal at the end didn't seem to me to be as earth-shattering as the book and the main characters were making it out to be. But still, this was very funny but thought-provoking reading, and I recommend it....more
Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽
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