What I Read in December Part VIII . . .

What I Read in December Part VIII . . .

Shawl Straps (Aunt Jo's Scrapbag) by Louisa May Alcott -- Historical Fiction novella/Travelogue

A travelogue featuring three spinsters traveling through Europe on their own. There isn't much plot - the point of the story is women can do anything they set their minds to and don't have to rely on men. This isn't Louisa's best book but I admire her dedication to women's rights. 


 Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag: My Girls, Etc. by Louisa May Alcott -- Historical Fiction/short stories

This volume of Aunt Jo's Scrapbook features several unrelated stories. The frontispiece of the first edition features an illustration that isn't in this volume. There are two more illustrations that follow. The first story My Girls is a tract about how virtuous young girls can become whatever they want to be with a little encouragement and not become idle and empty-headed. Of course she ignores the fact that she came from a very progressive family and most girls could never dream of becoming lawyers or doctors in 1877! This story represents Louisa's stance on women's rights and why I adore her so much.

The second story Lost in a London Fog is the story of two sisters, one being based on Louisa and the other her sister May, take a cab in London with a cabbie who has not only been drinking, but has no idea where he is going! They're out all night in the London fog in despair of ever getting home again. This story is pretty bland and not in Louisa's usual vein.

The Boys' Joke and Who Got the Best of It is more in Louisa's usual line. It features a charming dolls' Christmas party and a bunch of boys who try to outwit the girls with a sweet little party of their own. Animal rights activists beware - there are certain gruesome elements to the story that apparently didn't bother anyone in the 1870s. Even with that, this was my favorite story in the book. It's a lot of fun and if you like Little Men you will probably enjoy this story.

The fourth story Roses and Forget-Me-Nots is one of Louisa's moral tales in which a rich girl learns to really see the poor and help a poor girl find happiness. It's a little heavy handed but not too bad. The writing is typical of Louisa's moral tales. Nothing new or special here. Old Major is an unusual story because it's about saving an old horse and rewarding him for his years of hard work. Unlike Black Beauty it's not from the horse's point-of-view but very much the same idea. I didn't remember Louisa was a champion of animal rights as well. I knew I loved her for a reason!

What the Girls Did is a forgettable moral tale. A once wealthy girl learns to leave off the frills of Society and live plain and simple with middle-class folks and give back to those in need. The descriptions of the culture and social life are really interesting and give a good feel for the time period.

Little Neighbors features a lonely boy, an old professor and a cheerful little bird. This story is sweet without being overly moral and didactic. It's a nice little domestic story and I can see Emerson in the role of professor.

Marjorie's Three gifts is another moral tale rewarding the virtuous poor. I wish Louisa's poor people weren't so abnormally good. I prefer her blood and thunder tales because the characters show more human emotion. Marjorie is a sweet girl and deserves happiness as a reward. I like how the story COULD be mystical if interpreted from a child's point-of-view.

Patty's Place is a moral Christmas story about an orphan who is in need of some love and kindness. I've read this one elsewhere so I skipped it for now. It's not a bad story and full of heartwarming Christmas cheer.

Autobiography of an Omnibus is unlike anything I've ever read as it's told from the POV of a bus! It ends up being a moral tale about the virtuous poor. It's a little slow until the final section and I was wondering what the point of the story was until then.

Red Tulips a moral tale of the same idea as Roses and Forget-Me-Nots. This time the virtuous poor girl happens to be "colored." Little Betty, a colored girl, loves bright flowers but does not have a garden and is not allowed to pick any flowers in private gardens. Along comes a young woman with the power to make Betty happy and find her own path to happiness along the way. This is a sweet story that though moral, is fun to read. I liked Betty's enthusiasm for flowers and how it all turned out. This is my second favorite story in the volume.

The final story A Happy Birthday is a forgettable, boring story of an old woman's birthday and the happiness being with her family brings her. There is a bit of racist content but the boys were influenced by Barnum's circus so it's not really the author's fault because that's what boys did back then.

This collection is a must have for any Louisa May Alcott fan. As of Christmas 2014, The Barrow Bookstore in Concord had one early edition left on the shelf and one first edition pristine volume containing "An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving" and other stories.

What I Read in December Part VII . . .

What I Read in December Part VII . . .

Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver -- Historical  Mystery

Amory Ames married the handsome, charming Milo Ames after a whirlwind courtship. Five years of putting up with his constant flitting about and flirting, Amory isn't sure how she feels about Milo or what to do about it. When her former fiancé, Gil Trent, shows up asking for help, she readily accepts, wondering "what if?" Gil wants Amory to talk to his sister Emmeline and convince her not to marry the roguish Rupert Howe. They head off to the seaside to the Brightwell hotel, where a bunch of acquaintances are gathered for a holiday. They're really not in the same class as Amory and Gil but they all seem to know each other somehow. When Rupert ends up dead, the police are convinced it was murder. Amory starts a little investigation of her own and when Gil is accused of the crime, she's convinced he didn't do it. She KNOWS him and KNOWS he couldn't but what about the mysterious argument she overheard? Who saw Gil on the terrace just before Rupert was killed? Could one of the guests be the killer? Amory is determined to find out. When Milo shows up unexpectedly, Amory has mixed feelings. She enjoys his kisses and lovemaking but she's hurt by his actions. When he turns up in all the places she's investigating, she has no choice but to allow him to help solve the mystery. Unless he's the killer...?

Mystery-wise this plot is pretty good. It moves slowly though and doesn't get to the unputdownable part until late in the story. There are any number of suspects and no real motive. I figured out the identity of the murderer really early in the story. It seemed fairly obvious, even without a known motive, because it's a novel and the murderer is always someone no one will ever suspect. There are some humorous reflections on what happens in mystery novels and how this is real life for Amory, not a novel. That's about all that's funny in this book. The period description is limited to fashion and a reference to the stock market crash once and then later another period reference. I kept forgetting this was supposed to be the 1930s and set in Britain. It could have been Los Angeles or any seaside resort. The story also lacks the witty verbal banter of the Thin Man movies to which this novel is compared. Miles has some charming bon mots but that's about it.

I didn't much like any of the characters in this book. The secondary characters are boring and forgettable. I felt sorry for Mrs. Hamilton and cared about her slightly but not a whole lot. I found Amory a little annoying. She couldn't make up her mind about Miles and she was willing to pretend to be having an affair with Gil just to pay him back. She always assumes things about him but admits she doesn't really know him. Her investigations aren't as amusing or interesting as Georgie's in the Her Royal Spyness series, which this book is also compared to. Amory lacks Georgie's ditzy but earnest personality. She's older and more hardened to the realities of life. Miles is a charming rogue and I expect he has hidden depths but nothing is ever fully explained. The couple has chemistry and enjoy making out and connubial bliss (All is fade to black/implied) but don't talk about anything.

If there is a sequel I would probably read it but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped.

What I Read in December Part VI . . .

What I Read in December Part VI . . .

Christmas at Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Holiday Sequel by Regina Jeffers-- Austenesque, Regency Christmas

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet have been married two years and are inseparable, especially now she has had two miscarriages and is expecting again. As Darcy and Elizabeth travel home after a failed business opportunity, Darcy reflects on his Christmas surprise. He has invited the Bennet family to Pemberley for the Christmas holiday in order to cheer up Elizabeth, who has been depressed since the loss of their children. A snowstorm forces the couple to hole up at a small country inn with a number of strangers, including Mr. and Mrs. Joseph. Mary Joseph is eight months pregnant and Darcy hopes her friendship with Elizabeth and the message of the holiday season will help bring back the joyful Elizabeth he fell in love with. Meanwhile, back at Pemberley, Georgiana is left to play hostess to the holiday guests - half of whom were uninvited! There are several romances and a mystery to solve before the story wraps up.

I was largely bored by the Darcys and the Josephs. The coincidence of Mary Joseph is just too too overboard for me. If the story wasn't a direct parallel it may have been better. Darcy and Lizzy are a very passionate couple. If the author had omitted a good chunk of their passion, the story would have been a lot better and shorter. Too much time is spent on what they're doing and what they want to do. I ended up skimming their sections and focusing on what was happening at Pemberley. I couldn't put the book down until I found out just how all those different personalities would come together to celebrate the season. I found the romances a little obvious. I didn't like Georgiana with that particular man. He is too old for her and I find that kind of relationship a little creepy. It seems out of character for Kitty to marry a clergyman but that's what Jane Austen wanted so that's what we get. Her romance is sweet and develops nicely. There are several plot shockers I didn't see coming at all! The Epilogue should have taken place years later instead of months. It was kind of silly the way it was.

It is always fun to revisit the characters from Pride and Prejudice. The author did a good job of keeping them in character. Kitty's character development is especially nice. Another character with nice growth is Anne DeBourgh. I liked the idea of her plot but not necessarily the execution. There are some new characters to be introduced to including a clergyman who I found kind of boring; an American Mr. Manville and a young Lieutenant. I don't know what to make of the Lieutenant. He's an odd character to be sure. Mr. Manville's story is somewhat predictable but not entirely. I didn't like him at all but what happened at the conclusion of his story is what he deserved.

What I Read in December Part V . . .

What I Read in December Part V . . .

Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd--Regency Mystery

Major Robert Kurland was wounded at the Battle of Waterloo and for several months he's been cooped up in his home near the village of Kurland St. Mary attended by his faithful butler and batman. One night he wakes to the moonlight streaming in his window and at the risk of his health, he moves to the window where he thinks he sees a mysterious figure carrying something heavy. He wonders what's going on but knows his servants will think he's crazy if he brings it up. He turns to the only person he can trust with this knowledge, his childhood playmate, the vicar's daughter, Miss Lucy Harrington. Lucy doesn't want for sense and she doesn't treat him like a child. If there's anything mysterious going on in the village, she'll know about it. Lucy Herrington, spinster, has spent half her life caring for her widowed father and younger siblings. Her father spends more money and attention on his horses than on household matters. Lucy also does her duty as vicar's daughter visiting the poor parishioners. She's surprised when the normally taciturn Major asks for her help but when she is eager to help, especially once she discovers a rash of petty thefts in the village and two missing local girls, one of whom is her maid Mary.

The subject matter of this story was rather darker than I expected from a cozy mystery. It's more mystery than cozy mystery despite the country village setting. The story takes place after the Battle of Waterloo and the hero is a wounded soldier. The mystery starts off a little slow but picks up about halfway and then I stayed up too late because I couldn't put it down. There are some red herrings along the way but I figured out whodunnit before the characters did, but only once the final clues were dropped. I didn't really care for the darkness involved in the mystery which made me rate the book lower than I would have if it had been lighter. Also, the writing is good but not spectacular. The language is very modern - Georgette Heyer this is not. There's very little actual humor in this story. It needs some secondary characters to provide comic relief. Aunt Rose is fun but not enough. The ending is so abrupt and vastly unsatisfactory! The period details are very good though. There's enough detail so the author didn't need the 1816 heading in the beginning of the book. I love Merlin's Mechanical Chair - it's very steampunk!

I really liked the heroine, Lucy. She's not your typical milk-and-water Regency miss nor is she a modern woman inserted into a Regency novel. She has ideas about what she wants that are in keeping with gender norms of the time. She's forthright and managing which makes her an appealing character for a modern reader. I felt really bad for her being stuck in such an intolerable situation. Her father is the true villain of the story, being an old-fashioned clergyman who can not empathize with his eldest daughter. My heart truly broke for Lucy.

Robert is an interesting character. He's from the gentry but his mother was from trade and he considers himself a soldier above all things. He's typical of an alpha male who is sick and confined to bed. I really like his character growth in the story. I think he has potential to be a great man.

What I Read in December Part IV . . .

What I Read in December Part IV . . .

Dangerous Deceptions by Sarah Zettel--Young Adult Historical Fiction/Romance

This sequel to Palace of Spies has Peggy still at court, as herself this time, as a maid of honor to the Princess of Wales. She's shocked when her betrothed, Sebastian, turns up like a bad penny wanting to continue the engagement. After his attempted rape, Peggy wants nothing to do with him. She's also stuck making nice to her uncle, for the sake of her freedom and friendship with Olivia. Little Princess Anne's dog is about to have puppies and she wants Olivia to be Guinevere's midwife. Peggy is not enthusiastic about the project for she has enough to deal with court gossip and trying to figure out the game Sebastian is playing and what her uncle wants from her. Her mentor, Mr. Tinderflint is in Paris hoping to locate Peggy's father so she can finally be free from her uncle. When Uncle Pierpont refuses to give up her betrothal contract, Peggy and Olivia plot to discover the truth even if it means breaking a few laws. Peggy's beloved Matthew is along for the adventure to keep Peggy safe, but he can't be there all the time. Not even the Princess of Wales can save Peggy from an unwanted marriage or an another attack from Sebastian. If she uncovers nefarious secrets, her life may even be in danger. She must use all her wits and money to stay one step ahead or everything she's worked for and dreamed of will crumble to dust.

This book didn't move as quickly as the first one did.l I didn't reach the couldn't put it down stage until very late in the novel. The plot is filled with intricate details of life in court. The historical detail is amazing and I really got a sense of what it was like to be a courtier in early Georgian Britain. However, all that detail gets in the way of the plot. There's also a subplot about Peggy's friend that bears no real relevance to the main plot and is not fully resolved. I was able to figure out what Peggy's uncle was up to before she did. The ending is very abrupt and could use an epilogue. The book could also use an historical note to explain what was real and what happened after the events of the novel. The adventure part of the novel moves along quickly and is heart-in-your-throat exciting. I expected more of a heist plot though.

I love the characters in this novel. Peggy and Olivia are very modern women. Olivia especially is unrealistic for an 18th century woman, but there were some eccentric ladies and the restrictions on women were less than what they would become by the end of the Georgian period. Olivia provides the comic relief as does little Princess Anne. I liked Peggy too. For all she's supposed to be a spy, she isn't a very good one. I picked up on things she should have noticed much sooner. However, I like her because she's not perfect. She's not a super intelligent spy; she's just a girl caught up in circumstances beyond her control. She doesn't have all the answers and makes a lot of mistakes. I think this makes her a character teen girls can relate to and it makes her vastly appealing. I like how she uses her wit to battle her way through the court gossips. Matthew is a swoony sort of hero only found in storybooks. Their relationship made a nice change from the usual bickering couples.

The romance is sweet: kisses only. There is talk of rape, "tumbling" and mistresses. The few swear words don't fully appear in print. There is one scene of violence against animals which I did not care for. This book is geared for ages 14+. I think adults will like it too.

What I Read in December Part III . . .

What I Read in December Part III . . .

File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents by Lemony Snicket-- Middle Grades Fiction

This is a book of short mysteries brought to Lemony Snicket while he stays in Stained By the Sea investigating his large case. Each mystery is a few pages long and the solution is in the back of the book. There are more conclusions than there are mysteries, complicating things in true Snicket fashion. Some of the mysteries were easy to figure out while others baffled me. They're geared towards middle schoolers and more simplistic than the larger cases Mr. Snicket has worked on. I liked the noir-style illustrations by Seth and all the literary references (most of which I couldn't figure out). If you want to know what young Snicket has been up to since he last reported in from Stained By the Sea, check out this book. I don't know yet if any of these mysteries are relevant to the larger case.

Shouldn't You Be in School? by Lemony Snicket-- Middle Grades Fiction

Young VFD apprentice Lemony Snicket is still in Stained By the Sea trying to solve the perplexing mystery of the villain known as Hangfire. The key might be in the library. Lemony Snicket doesn't know who to trust or who can help. When the local school burns down, the school children are transferred to the Wade Academy. Lemony Snicket is suspicious of the happenings there and is certain that the school is connected to the series of arsons and the overall mystery he has come to solve. His chaperone wants to give up and return to the city but Lemony and his associates refuse to give up.

This is the best book in the series so far. I simply couldn't put it down. The plot moves quickly and is full of mysteries. Not much is resolved but this series acts as a prequel to A Series of Unfortunate Events. Things from ASOUE are starting to make sense and we are learning how ASOUE came to be, I think. I need to read them all again to be sure. The story is full of literary references - most of which I can't figure out. The one thing I hate about Lemony Snicket's books is that the adults are all either villains or incompetent idiots. The children are interesting and intelligent. I especially like Moxie Mallahan and Pip and Squeak. Moxie lives up to her name and is a good example of girl power. Pip and Squeak love to read and I enjoy trying to figure out which books Lemony recommends to them.

If you haven't read ASOUE and you want to, start with this series. If you've read all the previous books in this world, you'll want to read this series too. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

What I Read in December Part II . . .

What I Read in December Part II . . .

Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow-- Historical Fiction/Romance

Kendra Logan travels with her mother on board the ship Cynthia around Cape Horn to a place called California. There they will join Kendra's stepfather Colonel Taine in a place called San Francisco. No one has ever heard of San Francisco in 1847 and Kendra does not relish going there, for she is not wanted. The crew members are all kind, especially Loren Shields. San Francisco is a muddy, uncivilized place but Kendra enjoys creating meals for her family and friends and the company of Ted Parks, the errand "boy" from Chase and Fenway. When gold is discovered near Sutter's Fort, Ted decides to try his luck. Kendra won't let him leave without her and despite the hardships, is determined to make the best of it. Her traveling companions include the the ex-sailor Hiram Boyd, a kind man nicknamed Pocket and a woman known as Marny, a gambling hostess from Honolulu. Marny's partner Delbert, two bodyguards known as "The Blackbeards" and their girlfriends round out the party. Kendra is shocked but intrigued by the beguiling Marny, obviously a woman with different morals than Kendra has been brought up with. For better or for worse, in the gold fields of California, the traveling companions become trusted friends. When Kendra's life takes an unexpected turn, her friends are there for her every step of the way. As San Francisco grows and changes, Kendra does too.

This book is a follow-up to Jubilee Trail. I recommend reading that one first. This book follows that one in time sequence, telling the story of how San Francisco came to be a city thanks to the gold rush. The characters are merely inserted into the history of San Francisco. The story is very slow to start and I didn't really get into it until a quarter of the way through. It just wasn't compelling enough to grab my attention. The plot starts and stops a lot as the author stops to explain the history of California. I found myself skimming parts of the book because there was too much history. I know a little bit about the gold rush and have seen demonstrations of panning for gold on TV. I wanted to know more about the characters and what was happening with them. Also, the history bits got repetitive after awhile. The story is not as compelling as Jubilee Trail for that reason. It does pick up a lot about 3/4 of the way through and I had a hard time putting it down.

This author has a formula to her romantic plots so I wasn't entirely surprised at the turns Kendra's story took but I thought the author tried too hard to insert romance where it didn't fit. There are some really odd pairings at the end of the book just randomly tossed in. They aren't developed enough to be believable. Though the romances are clean and technically kisses only, it IS set in the wild west. There's frank talk of who is going to bed with whom; frequent mentions of Blossom, a notorious Madame and her flower garden girls; gambling; drinking; unmarried couples being together and other things that go on in the wild west. There's also a lot of ethnic and racial stereotypes that while accurate for the time, bothered me to read. That sort of thing doesn't usually bother me in a period novel but there was a lot of it here and unnecessary at times too. I also felt like there was a pre-women's-liberation agenda going on in the author's head that she tried to push. There were far too many women interested in domesticity. That got boring fast.

The characters are almost shadow copies of those in Jubilee Trail, but not quite as lifelike. These characters are more stereotypes. The only character I really cared for was Marny. I loved her independent spirit and how she had the guts to leave her comfortable life and go after what she wanted. Though she chafes at the label of "Woman of easy virtue with heart of gold" she really does fit that stereotype. I especially loved how educated she was and how she used it to her advantage when she wanted to. I really felt for her during her ups and downs and wanted her to be happy. While I did want her to find someone who loved her and cared about her, I also wanted her to remain independent. I'm torn on how I feel about the outcome of her story. The only other character I liked was Pocket. He's so sweet and kind, plus he ends up working in the library! He's a true blue friend, one I would want by my side when the going got rough. He was the most supportive of the supporting characters.

Kendra could have been a great character but the decisions she makes turn her into exactly the sort of person she can't stand. I see why she made some of the choices she did and probably I would have too if I were her, but I didn't like the choices she made because they seemed out of character. She's supposed to grow and change but her growth isn't really all that visible. She just randomly realizes things at the end and her story is rushed to the inevitable conclusion. This is the author's fault for including too much history and not weaving her characters completely into the history of San Francisco.