Recent reading
Dec. 15th, 2022 11:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luzulaKidnapped by R L Stevenson (1886)
I reread this for three reasons: 1) I requested it for Yuletide and I wanted to refresh my memory in case I got fic for it, 2) I am currently beta-readingregshoe’s Flight of the Heron/Kidnapped crossover and I want to be a better beta reader, and 3) I have bought a lovely physical copy of it and wanted the pleasure of perusing it. And it really was a pleasure! My first time through, I listened to it as an audiobook, and it very much was worth rereading. What a contrast with the Walter Scott book I recently read: this one is lively and fun and has so much warmth between the main characters. Aww, Davie and Alan. <3 Much recommend.
Also, I seem to be filling up my bookcase with lovely cloth-bound early 20th century books. I recently ordered a really nice 1912 edition of Flemington that I couldn't resist, and also one of Naomi Mitchison's first books which I haven't read (The Conquered).
Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell (2022)
Well, this was very enjoyable! I mean, it's true that both this book and Winter’s Orbit can be described by the sentence "Chaotic upper-class socialite and controlled competent dutybound man are forced into a bond, which they fake at first, but during their adventures, it deepens into a true bond". But hey, if someone has a trope they like, they should go for it! I thought it was page-turney and fun and I liked it a lot. Actually my main criticism of it was the lack of sex. Perhaps I'm being shallow here, but I feel like it built up sexual tension, which if it had been fan fiction, we would definitely have gotten payoff for.
I reread this for three reasons: 1) I requested it for Yuletide and I wanted to refresh my memory in case I got fic for it, 2) I am currently beta-reading
regshoe’s Flight of the Heron/Kidnapped crossover and I want to be a better beta reader, and 3) I have bought a lovely physical copy of it and wanted the pleasure of perusing it. And it really was a pleasure! My first time through, I listened to it as an audiobook, and it very much was worth rereading. What a contrast with the Walter Scott book I recently read: this one is lively and fun and has so much warmth between the main characters. Aww, Davie and Alan. <3 Much recommend. Also, I seem to be filling up my bookcase with lovely cloth-bound early 20th century books. I recently ordered a really nice 1912 edition of Flemington that I couldn't resist, and also one of Naomi Mitchison's first books which I haven't read (The Conquered).
Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell (2022)
Well, this was very enjoyable! I mean, it's true that both this book and Winter’s Orbit can be described by the sentence "Chaotic upper-class socialite and controlled competent dutybound man are forced into a bond, which they fake at first, but during their adventures, it deepens into a true bond". But hey, if someone has a trope they like, they should go for it! I thought it was page-turney and fun and I liked it a lot. Actually my main criticism of it was the lack of sex. Perhaps I'm being shallow here, but I feel like it built up sexual tension, which if it had been fan fiction, we would definitely have gotten payoff for.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-12-15 10:34 pm (UTC)Haha I felt the same. Honestly I would have liked more sexual tension, too. Just wasn't sexy enough for my tastes all around, although very charming otherwise.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-12-16 05:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-12-16 07:33 pm (UTC)I completely agree :D
Aww, I'm glad you enjoyed the re-read. And yay for beautiful old books! Especially Flemington, which seems to be pretty rare in old editions (ooh, and that reminds me I still haven't actually read my paper copy of it—that's one for a re-read at some point...)
(no subject)
Date: 2022-12-17 04:54 pm (UTC)