Recent reading
Oct. 19th, 2021 02:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luzulaThe Jacobites' Apprentice by David Ebsworth (2012)
Did not finish, abandoned after 140 pages (of 640). I thought this book sounded interesting because it's set in England during the '45, more specifically in Manchester which had an important role. Also it has a (sort of) enemies-to-lovers f/f relationship. But alas, I didn't enjoy it! The book gave me a vague sense that everything is sordid and tawdry, and I didn't feel that the book was generous and sympathetic to its characters, which made me lose interest in them. I can't even put my finger on why I felt this way! It was just something about the tone of the writing (and the writing itself didn't flow particularly well for me, though here also I can't put my finger on why). There's also some emphasis in the setting on things being dirty and bodily functions. No doubt things were often dirty, and that can make for good description, but really I don't need reminding that people farted in the past. *rolls eyes*
The historical Hanoverian spy Dudley Bradstreet has an important role as antagonist, and besides spying, he also murders, tortures, blackmails, and manipulates in ways that almost elevate him into some sort of super-villain. From the reading I've done, I am skeptical that the prime minister would use personal spies to murder random members of the English upper classes for being Jacobites--and in 1744, before there was even a war, too?
The Rider on the White Horse by Rosemary Sutcliff (1964)
Sutcliff was balm to my soul after the previous book. She has such a talent for details of setting and description, and her prose flows so well, and there's such a warmth in her attitude towards her characters. This one was set during the English Civil War, and the main characters are Anne and Thomas Fairfax. The latter is a military leader of the Parliamentarians, and Anne follows him on campaign. Theirs is an arranged marriage, and she is in love with him, whereas he is very kind to her, but often reserved. It's an interesting dynamic, and while it doesn't get resolved in any clear fashion, I was nevertheless satisfied at the end with the complicated ways in which the war changed their relationship. (Toregshoe: this book is set mostly in Yorkshire. : ) You might enjoy it!)
Did not finish, abandoned after 140 pages (of 640). I thought this book sounded interesting because it's set in England during the '45, more specifically in Manchester which had an important role. Also it has a (sort of) enemies-to-lovers f/f relationship. But alas, I didn't enjoy it! The book gave me a vague sense that everything is sordid and tawdry, and I didn't feel that the book was generous and sympathetic to its characters, which made me lose interest in them. I can't even put my finger on why I felt this way! It was just something about the tone of the writing (and the writing itself didn't flow particularly well for me, though here also I can't put my finger on why). There's also some emphasis in the setting on things being dirty and bodily functions. No doubt things were often dirty, and that can make for good description, but really I don't need reminding that people farted in the past. *rolls eyes*
The historical Hanoverian spy Dudley Bradstreet has an important role as antagonist, and besides spying, he also murders, tortures, blackmails, and manipulates in ways that almost elevate him into some sort of super-villain. From the reading I've done, I am skeptical that the prime minister would use personal spies to murder random members of the English upper classes for being Jacobites--and in 1744, before there was even a war, too?
The Rider on the White Horse by Rosemary Sutcliff (1964)
Sutcliff was balm to my soul after the previous book. She has such a talent for details of setting and description, and her prose flows so well, and there's such a warmth in her attitude towards her characters. This one was set during the English Civil War, and the main characters are Anne and Thomas Fairfax. The latter is a military leader of the Parliamentarians, and Anne follows him on campaign. Theirs is an arranged marriage, and she is in love with him, whereas he is very kind to her, but often reserved. It's an interesting dynamic, and while it doesn't get resolved in any clear fashion, I was nevertheless satisfied at the end with the complicated ways in which the war changed their relationship. (To
regshoe: this book is set mostly in Yorkshire. : ) You might enjoy it!)
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-19 02:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-19 02:41 pm (UTC)Do you know if you read the abridged version of Rider on a White Horse or not? Sadly, I read the abridged version where some "adult" material was cut (see this discussion). I guess I wasn't willing to shell out $50 (including shipping) for a rare book I didn't know how much I would enjoy! But now I would be intrigued to know how the cut portions changed the Anne/Thomas relationship...
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-19 04:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-19 04:25 pm (UTC)Maybe you can ILL it where you live?
Also, have you read the sequel Simon, by the way?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-19 05:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-19 05:22 pm (UTC)The Sutcliff sounds lovely, however. I had it on my vague 'to read at some point' list but shall certainly bump it up after this review—especially as I'm also reading a very interesting non-fiction book about the Civil War and its cultural effects at the moment, so more 1640s reading seems like a good idea in general.
(Hmm, Thomas Fairfax also held a Cameron title!—funny how things overlap...)
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-20 06:20 pm (UTC)Yes, it's a shame--I thought it sounded interesting...
Looking forward to your review of the Civil War book! And yes, it does sound as though this one would be a good match for it. I'm going to look for the sequel, too, which is more of a YA book about a young subordinate officer of Fairfax's. Which sounds like a set-up very similar to Bonnie Dundee!
How weird that Fairfax had a Scottish title despite not being Scottish or living in Scotland...
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-19 06:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-20 06:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-19 08:58 pm (UTC)/shallow
But the question of Peacock editions is now nagging at me. I first read FotH in a Peacock, but can't remember any differences with earlier or later version. Except that there was a massive spoiler in the blurb.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-20 06:33 pm (UTC)Surely there isn't an abridged version of FotH? The horror.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-21 10:23 am (UTC)It's got nice cover illustrations - Alison is on the back, along with the spoilery blurb. Possibly the spoiler is the only difference, due perhaps to it being a teen imprint. It's been a long time since I read that edition, though, so I can't be sure.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-26 08:45 pm (UTC)Your post makes me wish there existed a novel with the plot and themes of The Jacobite's Apprentice, but written by Sutcliff! (I guess there's sort of Bonnie Dundee, but that's not the same time period, nor does it have the enemies-to-lovers f/f...)
(no subject)
Date: 2021-10-27 08:19 pm (UTC)