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Mar. 15th, 2010 01:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skygiantsChicago weekend with ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
newredshoes and genarti, with a guest appearance from the lovely indy_go: unsurprisingly, was FABULOUS. *_* As an added bonus, I ate so well (falafel! Chicago-style pizza! Cincinnati chili! crepes!) that I have absolutely no room to complain about living off pasta and beans for the next week while my wallet recovers from missing the last train back from the airport and having to splurge on an overpriced taxi. However, I do feel I have a right to complain about the fact that my suitcase has still not been located. Fortunately it contained nothing extremely pressing (my materialist soul shrieks 'pretty new shirt! more importantly, VOLUME 15 OF FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST!' but these are at least replaceable) so even if it never does turn up it is not the end of the world.
But anyway, I am not here to write about my travel woes, or to make you all jealous with my travel awesome either! I am here to write about Galen Beckett's The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, whichchlorrel lent to me along with Soulless. Actually the two aren't that similar, aside from being Fantastical Regency Adventures; The Magicians and Mrs. Quent is something of a more srs bsns book, although not all that srs bsns given that the author was basically like "Hey, here is Pride and Prejudice! Here is Jane Eyre! TWO GREAT TASTES THAT GO GREAT TOGETHER. >:D" You think I am kidding, but no! The book basically goes like this:
PART I:
IVY: I am the sensible eldest of three daughters of a not-very-well-to-do gentleman whose house is entailed away to a silly cousin! Did I mention I am interested in MAGIC?
IVY'S MOTHER: ALL MY DAUGHTERS MUST MARRY IMMEDIATELY.
IVY'S SILLY COUSIN: Look, here is my high-born and dashing young connection who thinks I am a moron!
IVY'S ENTIRE FAMILY: Gosh, isn't he eligible!
HIGH-BORN AND DASHING YOUNG CONNECTION: Despite the fact that you are far beneath me in status, Ivy, I find myself strangely attracted to you.
HIGH-BORN AND DASHING YOUNG CONNECTION'S BFF: In a Dickensian plotline completely unrelated to any of the above, I am impoverished, worried about my sister's virtue, possessed of strange inherent magical abilities, about to plunge myself into debt, involved with dubious political activities, and probably gay.
PART II:
IVY: Dear Diary, the narrative is now going to switch to first-person fake-epistolary diary format while I become a governess and wander through a gothic haunted house with secrets in the attic relating to my boss' dead wife.
THE HOUSEKEEPER: My name is not actually Mrs. Danvers, but because it starts with a D. and I act exactly like her you'll never be able to remember it as anything else! :D
IVY'S NEW BOSS: Hello, I'm Rochester Lite.
PART III:
IVY: Okay time to actually go back to the city and deal with that magical plot that I was kind of distracted from while I was busy being Jane Eyre.
HIGH-BORN AND DASHING YOUNG CONNECTION: I've been having character development and growing and changing as a person!
HIGH-BORN AND DASHING YOUNG CONNECTION'S BFF: I'm still here! Having a mostly-unrelated plot that now involves highwaymen! Also, an illusonist boyfriend. :D
So basically I am not sure all the different pieces of the book quite came together, but overall it was a pretty enjoyable read. I was intrigued by the worldbuilding with uneven days and nights - it's an interesting conceit even though I have no idea how it would work. I also really liked Rafferdy as a character; he was the most likeable of the cast and also the one I think the one besides Eldyn who rose the most above his archetype. Mr. Quent, on the other hand, I'm not sure I ever really got a handle on other than ROCHESTER LITE: NOW WITH 100% LESS BIGAMY. (I do approve of less bigamy!) I have no objections to Ivy but I couldn't quite get a handle on her either, and I am not sure that third-person sensible-eldest-sister Ivy felt like the same character as first-person gothic-novel-secret-past Ivy. And I very much hope that the kids are going to come back in sequels, because otherwise, wow, were those ever the most plot-device kids imaginable. (Not that this is not a grand tradition of gothic novels either.)
As for Eldyn - well, this is the part of the plot that was weirdest to me overall. I wanted to like Eldyn, and some of the time I did; he was definitely the most three-dimensional character. At the same time, I completely sympathized with his sister and her frustration with him for keeping her in the dark and locked up by herself most of the time 'for her own safety,' and I sympathized with the rebels and the studens and wanted Eldyn to pay more than lip service to, uh, any of his ideals, and I didn't feel like either of these things were addressed. And Eldyn's plotline kept reminding me that we were clearly being set up to see enormous problems in the country, and yet all of the main characters were working to stop revolutionary elements, so - I'm not sure how the author wants me to feel about that. The political elements are interesting and clearly building up to something, but even as of the end of this book I have no idea what.
newredshoes and genarti, with a guest appearance from the lovely indy_go: unsurprisingly, was FABULOUS. *_* As an added bonus, I ate so well (falafel! Chicago-style pizza! Cincinnati chili! crepes!) that I have absolutely no room to complain about living off pasta and beans for the next week while my wallet recovers from missing the last train back from the airport and having to splurge on an overpriced taxi. However, I do feel I have a right to complain about the fact that my suitcase has still not been located. Fortunately it contained nothing extremely pressing (my materialist soul shrieks 'pretty new shirt! more importantly, VOLUME 15 OF FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST!' but these are at least replaceable) so even if it never does turn up it is not the end of the world.But anyway, I am not here to write about my travel woes, or to make you all jealous with my travel awesome either! I am here to write about Galen Beckett's The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, which
chlorrel lent to me along with Soulless. Actually the two aren't that similar, aside from being Fantastical Regency Adventures; The Magicians and Mrs. Quent is something of a more srs bsns book, although not all that srs bsns given that the author was basically like "Hey, here is Pride and Prejudice! Here is Jane Eyre! TWO GREAT TASTES THAT GO GREAT TOGETHER. >:D" You think I am kidding, but no! The book basically goes like this:PART I:
IVY: I am the sensible eldest of three daughters of a not-very-well-to-do gentleman whose house is entailed away to a silly cousin! Did I mention I am interested in MAGIC?
IVY'S MOTHER: ALL MY DAUGHTERS MUST MARRY IMMEDIATELY.
IVY'S SILLY COUSIN: Look, here is my high-born and dashing young connection who thinks I am a moron!
IVY'S ENTIRE FAMILY: Gosh, isn't he eligible!
HIGH-BORN AND DASHING YOUNG CONNECTION: Despite the fact that you are far beneath me in status, Ivy, I find myself strangely attracted to you.
HIGH-BORN AND DASHING YOUNG CONNECTION'S BFF: In a Dickensian plotline completely unrelated to any of the above, I am impoverished, worried about my sister's virtue, possessed of strange inherent magical abilities, about to plunge myself into debt, involved with dubious political activities, and probably gay.
PART II:
IVY: Dear Diary, the narrative is now going to switch to first-person fake-epistolary diary format while I become a governess and wander through a gothic haunted house with secrets in the attic relating to my boss' dead wife.
THE HOUSEKEEPER: My name is not actually Mrs. Danvers, but because it starts with a D. and I act exactly like her you'll never be able to remember it as anything else! :D
IVY'S NEW BOSS: Hello, I'm Rochester Lite.
PART III:
IVY: Okay time to actually go back to the city and deal with that magical plot that I was kind of distracted from while I was busy being Jane Eyre.
HIGH-BORN AND DASHING YOUNG CONNECTION: I've been having character development and growing and changing as a person!
HIGH-BORN AND DASHING YOUNG CONNECTION'S BFF: I'm still here! Having a mostly-unrelated plot that now involves highwaymen! Also, an illusonist boyfriend. :D
So basically I am not sure all the different pieces of the book quite came together, but overall it was a pretty enjoyable read. I was intrigued by the worldbuilding with uneven days and nights - it's an interesting conceit even though I have no idea how it would work. I also really liked Rafferdy as a character; he was the most likeable of the cast and also the one I think the one besides Eldyn who rose the most above his archetype. Mr. Quent, on the other hand, I'm not sure I ever really got a handle on other than ROCHESTER LITE: NOW WITH 100% LESS BIGAMY. (I do approve of less bigamy!) I have no objections to Ivy but I couldn't quite get a handle on her either, and I am not sure that third-person sensible-eldest-sister Ivy felt like the same character as first-person gothic-novel-secret-past Ivy. And I very much hope that the kids are going to come back in sequels, because otherwise, wow, were those ever the most plot-device kids imaginable. (Not that this is not a grand tradition of gothic novels either.)
As for Eldyn - well, this is the part of the plot that was weirdest to me overall. I wanted to like Eldyn, and some of the time I did; he was definitely the most three-dimensional character. At the same time, I completely sympathized with his sister and her frustration with him for keeping her in the dark and locked up by herself most of the time 'for her own safety,' and I sympathized with the rebels and the studens and wanted Eldyn to pay more than lip service to, uh, any of his ideals, and I didn't feel like either of these things were addressed. And Eldyn's plotline kept reminding me that we were clearly being set up to see enormous problems in the country, and yet all of the main characters were working to stop revolutionary elements, so - I'm not sure how the author wants me to feel about that. The political elements are interesting and clearly building up to something, but even as of the end of this book I have no idea what.
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no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 05:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 05:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 05:29 pm (UTC). . . and now I am hungry. *laughing* brb lunch
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Date: 2010-03-15 05:37 pm (UTC)It was all very, "and then the very ground rises up to protest crap going on in this country" and then later it was all, "oh, but this one (admittedly major, but not actually root cause bit) is resolved, so now we drop the entire plot line about the umpteen million problems going on."
Erm. Is there supposed to be a sequel where we actually deal with the whole political upheaval bits, do you know?
And yeah... I actually did like Eldyn while simultaneously wanting to smack the crap out of him on behalf of his sister. But at the same time, he also clearly had a point there. I mean, she didn't seem like she was about ready to deal with Mr. Handsome Brigand of Random Plot Advancement That Suddenly Died Off Unceremoniously.
Man, I kind of need to re-read that book because I don't remember resolution to like, anything, and I'm not sure if that's because there wasn't any, or because I forgot it all.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 05:43 pm (UTC)He totally had a point as regards his sister not being able to deal with Mr. Dashing Highwayman of Semi-Hemi-Demi-Conneted Plot, but on the other hand, if I'd been kept cooped up in a room for the past like six months, I would be ready to jump into the arms of the first dashing highwayman I saw too. What I want to know is, why is Eldyn the only one who gets to cross-dress? Give Sashie a pair of trousers and at least she can go for a walk every so often!
. . . um, maybe my story biases are showing here. >.>
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 08:33 pm (UTC)Glad there'll be a sequel. I think I might specifically want to read it, because I did largely enjoy the first book, weird lacks of resolution notwithstanding. (I initially wrote "lacks of resoultion." Er. I think that goes more for the Carriger book, eh? :P)
It'll be interesting to see what they do with the whole peasantry bit and just how Totally Not Europe, No Really Guys this becomes. <_<
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 08:58 pm (UTC)I am also wondering just who the author is going to pastiche from next book! My secret hope is Alexandre Dumas and that Ivy and Sashie become MUSKETEERS - which is one set of books where I am totally okay with the fact that the protagonists are defending a patently corrupt monarchy without a qualm, because MUSKETEERS - but sadly this does not seem likely either.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 09:43 pm (UTC)Also, I am pretty sure that the crossover would be at least interesting. I'm trying to think what the protagonists' opinions of each other would be, and it's not really immediately clicking in my brain. Hm. I may be a bit tired, though. *twitch twitch* :P
What I do know is that our grand sir WereDuke would so have absolutely no patience for any of Ivy's family. Or I guess just about anyone else, really.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 10:16 pm (UTC)I suspect the protagonists would disapprove of each other at least to a certain extent. Ivy would be scandalized by all the passionate necking in the street that Alexia and her WereDuke get up to. On the other hand, Alexia could totally take Sashie out for adventures!
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 10:24 pm (UTC)I would point out that even Alexia is scandalized by the necking in the street she and her WereDuke get up to. Y'know, in between totally not hitting your mark by not really being willing to do anything about it. :P
I am pro Alexia taking people out on adventures, though. Especially if she makes other ladies get very practical parasols for protective purposes. *cough* I am sure you are shocked that I am pro-protective practical parasol procedures. I was going to put an tag here, but I think we all know that wouldn't be true.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 11:15 pm (UTC)Me too! I am particularly pro Alexia prepping Sashie, Rose and Lily with practical protective parasols for the purpose of poking potentially problematic prestidigitators. And also, you know, werewolves and vampires and other miscreants along those lines.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 11:54 pm (UTC)Are there problematic prestidigitators to be poked, or just ill-intentioned illusionists? :P
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Date: 2010-03-16 04:52 am (UTC)I am also glad you had a good time! And immensely amused by your summary of that book.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 05:04 am (UTC)I am reasonably sure the presence of problematic prestidigitators is predetermined in the next book! Although Beckett may also end up invoking ill-intentioned illusionists as well.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 05:07 am (UTC)(But, you know, if it doesn't turn up and I have to give Arakawa more money, it's - not great for my wallet, but I can't say it's an EPIC tragedy. In the grand scheme of things. Considering that I LOVE HER MORE PASSIONATELY WITH EVERY MOMENT. I just saw last week's episode and read the chapter with Lan Fan's grand re-entry and <3333333! . . . okay I'm done. FOR NOW.)
Hee, thank you! I am glad you were entertained. :D
no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 05:18 am (UTC)♥