Recent reading
Mar. 4th, 2021 07:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luzulaShips in the Bay! by D K Broster (1931)
This is my least favorite Broster so far: there is no slashiness and no memorable female characters like Raymonde or Valentine. I don't object to Martin and Nest, but they're just not particularly vivid characters. I think one reason it isn't as gripping is that Broster's typical dilemma or misunderstanding is not between two characters, that is, there's no one being torn between various combinations of love/honour/duty. Instead the misunderstanding is between Martin and the British state, and the main characters are soon brought to understand Martin's problems and are on his side.
Also, I have to say that if there's going to be a character who is in trouble for being involved with revolutionary France in the 1790's, I had far better that he actually was so, rather than falsely suspected of being so for convoluted reasons, and actually perfectly patriotic! But, um, it's a Broster book, so that's not going to happen, is it. Although there are some Irish rebels who are fairly sympathetically treated. I liked La Vireville making an appearance again, though he is flamboyant enough to make Martin pale by comparison. And, likeregshoe, I lament the tragic lack of Raymonde... : ( But the writing is still lovely, and it's not like I regret reading it.
This is my least favorite Broster so far: there is no slashiness and no memorable female characters like Raymonde or Valentine. I don't object to Martin and Nest, but they're just not particularly vivid characters. I think one reason it isn't as gripping is that Broster's typical dilemma or misunderstanding is not between two characters, that is, there's no one being torn between various combinations of love/honour/duty. Instead the misunderstanding is between Martin and the British state, and the main characters are soon brought to understand Martin's problems and are on his side.
Also, I have to say that if there's going to be a character who is in trouble for being involved with revolutionary France in the 1790's, I had far better that he actually was so, rather than falsely suspected of being so for convoluted reasons, and actually perfectly patriotic! But, um, it's a Broster book, so that's not going to happen, is it. Although there are some Irish rebels who are fairly sympathetically treated. I liked La Vireville making an appearance again, though he is flamboyant enough to make Martin pale by comparison. And, like
regshoe, I lament the tragic lack of Raymonde... : ( But the writing is still lovely, and it's not like I regret reading it.
