Bitchin' Blog Posts
Gifts for Thesis Advisor: Romance, of Course!
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | July 21, 2008 | Monday at 1:52 pm | 67 CommentsBitchery reader Natasha is finishing up her MA Thesis (Go Natasha!) and is looking for a present for her thesis advisor (because Natasha, she is a wise, wise grad student):
She’s a total bibliophile (stacks and stacks of books in her office), so I know she’ll like a present of a few books to read while she’s traveling through Europe in August. I was thinking of getting her a few good romance novels, because I know she likes romance, but I doubt she’s explored the romance genre (if that makes sense?).
My advisor’s specialty is alchemy, but she’s also really into 19th-century Europe, witchcraft, and Surrealism. She said once that her favorite book of all time is Perfume: Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind. I’ve never read it, but maybe someone in the Bitchery has and can make a recommendation based on that?
Thank you so much if you can offer any help!
So - romances for a professor who’s into alchemy, 19th century Europe, witchcraft, Surrealism, and books by Suskind. Piece of cake! What comes to mind, oh wise readers?
Filed: General Bitching, Random Musings
Tagged: shopping, history, historical romance
Elizabeth Wadsworth said on 07.21.08 at 02:14 PM • [link]
I read this years ago when it was first released in the US (it’s a translation of a German novel, as I recall.) Very dark and moody; almost Dickensian in some of its descriptions of 18th century Paris. It tells the story of a perfumier’s apprentice named Grenouille (ha!) who in his quest to create the perfect scent turns to murdering young women and distilling their essence. If you have a strong stomach and a taste for over-the-top Gothic, I’d certainly recommend this one. Never saw the movie that came out a few years ago, so I can’t comment on that.
-Liz
Darlene Marshall said on 07.21.08 at 02:34 PM • [link]
It’s not 19th C., but Judith Merkle Riley’s A Vision of Light might fill the bill. There are sequels, but as a stand-alone novel it’s quite good, the story of a young woman in medieval times who is a midwife, a healer, and has visions, along with some interesting marriages.
Amanda Quick (Jayne Anne Krentz) writes novels about the Arcane Society, a 19th C. group of men and women, some of whom have paranormal abilities. There are various books, and all can be read alone.
Finally, it may be waaaaaay out in left field, but Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens is rollicking fun about “The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch”.
Elizabeth Wadsworth said on 07.21.08 at 02:39 PM • [link]
Sorry—I misread and thought the reader was asking for commentary on Perfume! My mistake! As for a gift recommendation, I’ve honestly no idea - something in the gothic/paranormal range, I should think. Or maybe the collected works of Aleister Crowley, assuming the supervisor doesn’t already have them?
-Liz
idea38—I’m sure Natasha will get many more than 38 ideas for a gift!
Kate Duffy said on 07.21.08 at 02:44 PM • [link]
I love playing Book Matchmaker.
THE HISTORIAN and AN INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST.
She will thank you.
Kate
Toddson said on 07.21.08 at 02:52 PM • [link]
Try The Eight by Katherine Neville. It’s long, dense, full of historical details - many real, some fictional - and can keep a reader immersed for a good long time. It’s old, but I don’t think it’s ever gone out of print.
Kate H said on 07.21.08 at 03:00 PM • [link]
Going with the gothic theme, I’d recommend Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty (which was memorizing in audio book form - I missed my turn off on the interstate by 30 miles before I noticed!). It’s YA, but excellently written. British teen raised in India comes back to London after her mother is murdered. She is shipped off to a girls’ school, where sinister secrets from her mother’s past follow here, including a secret society of women who are able to access an alternate reality space where nothing is quite what it seems.
Elizabeth Wadsworth said on 07.21.08 at 03:05 PM • [link]
Oh yeah—The List of 7 by Mark Frost!
Randi said on 07.21.08 at 03:24 PM • [link]
I was also going to recommend Katherine Neville, but since that got taken, how about Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. 19th century England, witchcraft AND alchamy, mysterious abound, and it’s dense, just like Dickens.
Randi said on 07.21.08 at 03:25 PM • [link]
oh well, clearly I need to finish my coffee before posting: that should read, “...mysteries abound…”
Mari said on 07.21.08 at 03:31 PM • [link]
I haven’t read any of the others mentioned, but both The Eight and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell are truly fabulous!
I also quite enjoyed The Third Heiress by Brenda Joyce, which takes place in the present time, but has flashbacks to the beginning of the 20th century, and is basically a thriller - or rather, two thriller plots - with romance thrown in.
JaniceG said on 07.21.08 at 03:34 PM • [link]
This made me think of several fantasy series about alternate Englands where maric works, all of which are also romances:
* The correspondence-novel series by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, light but well-written books about an alternate Regency period when magic works. First book is *deep breath* Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country. Similar theme in two slightly more serious novels by Stevermer: A College of Magics and A Scholar of Magics, set in the Edwardian period.
* The Mercedes Lackey fantasy series about elemental magic, early 1900s, first book is The Serpent’s Shadow
* Mary Jo Putney series, mid-18th century England with Guardian magicians, first book is A Kiss of Fate
Then there’s always my favorite alchemist, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s romantic vampire Saint Germain, first book set in mid-nineteenth century France, Hotel Transylvania
Roslyn Holcomb said on 07.21.08 at 03:45 PM • [link]
They’re making Perfumier into a movie. I don’t have any recommendations, just thought I should mention it.
Colleen Gleason said on 07.21.08 at 04:02 PM • [link]
Check out the website ninthmoon.com for great gifts for writers and bibliophiles.
Everything there is very classy, and the presentation of the order—even if it isn’t a gift—is elegant.
http://www.ninthmoon.com
snarkhunter said on 07.21.08 at 04:20 PM • [link]
It’s not nineteenth century, *technically* a romance, or about alchemy, but I recommend Tracy Chevalier’s The Virgin Blue. For some reason, it was the first book that popped into my head when I read this, and I tend to trust those instincts. Gorgeous novel, really. (I didn’t care for Girl with a Pearl Earring, but this one really worked for me. Also, her Falling Angels is a wonderful look at late Victorian/early Edwardian England.)
A. S. Byatt’s Possession, if she hasn’t read it already. It’s like academic porn for people who study the 19th century.
Carolyn Jewel said on 07.21.08 at 04:22 PM • [link]
I read Perfume when it came out and I really really really hated this book. I found it dark and depressing and violent without hope. I felt the author fundamentally misunderstood the female point of view. Not uncommon in those days.
I think the idea about ninthmoon is a good one.
Carrie Lofty said on 07.21.08 at 04:42 PM • [link]
The Virgin Blue is my favorite novels. Thumbs up, snarkhunter. The historical subplot is very dark, and I want to make out with Jean-Paul. Here’s the homepage w/ info & excerpts.
BethanyA said on 07.21.08 at 04:43 PM • [link]
I second the the rec. for A Great and Terrible Beauty. I will also recommend a trilogy from Pocket/Sonnet by Jayel Wylie: A Falcon’s Heart, This Dangerous Magic , and Wicked Charms. They are set in the 12th century, and I couldn’t put these books down. The trilogy was given to me by Liz Carlyle’s editor, if that has any influence over you.
Or you can just give her a nice collection of Christina Rossetti poems.
Maggie Robinson said on 07.21.08 at 04:55 PM • [link]
The medieval mystery series by Ariana Franklin featuring Adelia Aguilar, a female physician serving unwillingly as King Henry’s forensic specialist. Mistress of the Art of Death and The Death Maze are the two compelling, literate, rich-in-historical detail books in the series so far. Also, Deanna Raybourn’s wonderful, witty “Silent” books. Romance is not front and center in either series, but they are romantic anyway.
Alice said on 07.21.08 at 05:33 PM • [link]
This isn’t a book, but if she likes Perfume, it’s been made into, like, the greatest movie of all time. It has Alan Rickman and Dustin Hoffman (I think), and it should have won every Oscar ever, but was somehow ignored.
Anyway, if she doesn’t have that, it’d be another thing you could give her.
Leslie said on 07.21.08 at 05:33 PM • [link]
She might want to try Crimson Petal and the White by Faber, or Winter Rose and Tea Rose by Donnelley (I work at BN and these two Donnelley books drew raves from several of the readers I trust the most—school has kept me from diving in, but they look pretty good). The Witch of Cologne by Learner and Mistress of the Art of Death by Franklin (noted above) are medievals/early moderns that have a witchcraft/outsider theme; I would not call either one a “romance” but they have strong female protagonists and intricate storylines.
Marie Brennan said on 07.21.08 at 05:40 PM • [link]
My apologies for being totally OT, but—Natasha, I am likely to be researching alchemy for an upcoming novel, and I am having a *devil* of a time figuring out how to get from “vague philosophical concepts” to something usable in a story. If you would be willing to give me your adviser’s name and contact info, I’d be hugely grateful; I’ll e-mail her and see if she would be willing to take the time to point me at some useful reading. You can let me know here, or send it to me more privately—marie dot brennan at gmail dot com. Thanks!
Leslie said on 07.21.08 at 05:42 PM • [link]
Ooops…forgot to recommend the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig—the modern-day heroine is working on her dissertation, so there are fun academic references, and the historical plotlines are a nice mix of mystery and adventure. Also, the Tasha Alexander mysteries are nice historicals—again, not really “romances,” but lots of great detail and great stories.
For pure fun (and a witchcraft theme) The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Crusie, Stuart, and Dreyer is the best kind of airplane book: entertaining characters, enough story to pull a reader through a mid-length flight but relatively easy to put down to take a nap, and sections to re-read if the flight gets too long. I kept mine, but since it is a mass market, she could do like I did on my last research trip and leave it behind for the next reader when she is done.
Nik said on 07.21.08 at 05:57 PM • [link]
I will second the recommendation for Judith Merkle Riley’s books. In fact, that’s what immediately came to mind, even though it’s medievil and not 19th C. More in line with 19th C, but not much in the way of alchemy is AS Byatt’s Possession - disregard the movie version. The book is incredible and one of my all time favourites.
(Oops, now I see Snarkhunter’s beaten me to that recommendation too. Oh well, consider this another “me too” post in every which way possible.)
Monica Burns said on 07.21.08 at 06:04 PM • [link]
I didn’t read the book, but saw the movie with Dustin Hoffman and Allan Rickman http://tinyurl.com/yasgh8 It’s a pretty dark movie, so maybe some dark Vampire slayer romances. Christine Feehan, Sherilynn Kenyon possibly. Maybe Eve Silver, she’s done some gothic types of historical romances that have a mystery to solve.
Becca said on 07.21.08 at 06:05 PM • [link]
What about The Thirteenth Tale, if she likes gothic-dark stories? It’s brilliantly written.
spinsterwitch said on 07.21.08 at 06:06 PM • [link]
Affinity by Sarah Waters is a book about spiritualism in Victorian England. It is also a lesbian romance, so that is something to be aware of. It is a lovely and compelling tale that I recommend to anyone.
chanel19 said on 07.21.08 at 06:32 PM • [link]
Sergeanne Golons early Angelique novels had the hero being an alchemist, being tried for magic/witchcraft.
OK, it’s 18C France but still a good read.
Ciara said on 07.21.08 at 06:48 PM • [link]
Favorite romance novel set in the 19th century that I recommend to EVERYONE, including non-romance readers: THE SPYMASTERS LADY by Joanna Bourne. Doesn’t have magic or alchemy, but it is marvelous!
Claudia said on 07.21.08 at 07:00 PM • [link]
Perhaps you could give the advisor some bookdarts as well. The best thing about them is that you can “take notes” even when reading for pleasure.
Kay Webb Harrison said on 07.21.08 at 07:38 PM • [link]
Amanda Quick: Mystique; set in Medieval England
karmelrio said on 07.21.08 at 07:48 PM • [link]
How about the Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey?
Sherry Thomas said on 07.21.08 at 08:31 PM • [link]
I can’t recall precisely how much alchemy is in Laura Kinsale’s Shadow Heart, but there is some.
Laura Kinsale’s The Shadow and the Star is one of the best Victorian-set romances ever, as is Judith Ivory’s Black Silk.
snarkhunter said on 07.21.08 at 09:08 PM • [link]
I’d anti-recommend The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, but only b/c the authors’ utter inability to keep their own timeline straight drove me batty throughout the whole book. YMMV, obviously.
Also, *I* really, really hated The Bookseller’s Daughter, or, at least, the parts of it I read (serious wall-banger due to TSTL heroine), but it’s set in pre-revolutionary France and rife with historical detail. And someone less judgy than me might have fun with it.
Natasha said on 07.21.08 at 09:13 PM • [link]
Thanks, everyone! I actually have a lot of these books on my TBR pile right now (but my advisor can’t have them until I’m finished with them). There are some really great recs here that I think she’ll like. :)
Sandy D. said on 07.21.08 at 09:16 PM • [link]
It’s got some romance in it - “Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafron. It’s just a gorgeous gothic book, and a great one for book collectors.
Randi said on 07.21.08 at 10:55 PM • [link]
Leslie, what did you think of the ending of The Crimson Petal and The White? I didn’t like it, which was disappointing, because I enjoyed the rest of the book. Also, I am seconding Lauren Willig-because she’s rad (I’m trying to bring back the early 80’s).
Melissandre said on 07.21.08 at 11:48 PM • [link]
I second whoever mentioned the Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey. I just took Kushiel’s Justice with me to Ireland, so I know they’re good for long trips. Start with Kushiel’s Chosen. There’s nothing like a series about a land that worships with sex!
JaniceG said on 07.22.08 at 12:05 AM • [link]
And now, for an opposing view…
* I read the Kushiel books and liked them (although I thought they started going downhill after the second one) but I think you’d have to know someone fairly well to recommend them given their subject matter.
* I couldn’t get into the Lauren Willig books, personally - I tried the first one but the switching back and forth from modern to historical periods I didn’t think was handled particularly well and the characters in the past period were very modern in some of their attitudes and behaviors, not to mention language.
Natasha said on 07.22.08 at 12:07 AM • [link]
Is that what that series is about? I had no idea….
Yeah, I think I’d have to know my advisor a little better before I went there. :)
JaniceG said on 07.22.08 at 01:13 AM • [link]
Plus the lead character is a revered holy masochist, so the squick factor is fairly high.
eaeaea said on 07.22.08 at 02:16 AM • [link]
Even though your supervisor is into 19th century, maybe something different & more modern is acceptable.
*Audrey Niffenger - Time Traveller’s wife.
(time-tavel romance expicable by genetic disorder. I loved it)
*Diana Gabaldon ...?
BTW - totally agree with “Shadow of the Wind†by Carlos Ruiz Zafron. Gorgeous, atmospheric read set in gothic post-war Barcelona.
Kimberly B. said on 07.22.08 at 03:29 AM • [link]
A book I’ve read recently and enjoyed that reminded me of Perfume was Elizabeth Redfern’s Music of the Spheres. It’s a mystery set at the end of the 18th century involving astronomy and the hunt for a serial killer.
I also third (it’s at least there by now) the recommendations for Judith Merkle Riley. The Oracle Glass is a personal fave.
snarkhunter said on 07.22.08 at 03:45 AM • [link]
I liked Pink Carnation okay, except she made a couple of historical errors that were so ridiculous I STILL remember them. And I read the book like 2 years ago. And maybe if it hadn’t been Regency-era England, and the mistakes hadn’t been related to literary figures, I might not have noticed. But I did, and I have never been able to get past them enough to read more.
Gin said on 07.22.08 at 02:10 PM • [link]
I loved Perfume & a book with a similar feel – not romance, not hea, dark, gothic, deeply moving– Ingenious Pain by Andrew Miller. 18 Century Britain & Europe & a character who can feel no pain; I remember the scenes in a Russian snowstorm vividly
Another favourite for rich details and ambiguous characters, again not a love story; The Dumas Club by Arturo Perez-Reverte – nothing like the film that Polanski made from it with Johnny Depp. Set mostly modern day Spain but lots of detail about ancient manuscripts plus echoes of The Three Musketeers and books for summoning the devil, and some witches (I bet your supervisor has already read it, I also love The Fencing Master by the same author)
Randi said on 07.22.08 at 03:49 PM • [link]
snarkhunter: Lauren actually talks about her personage historical inaccuracies in the back of the books (somewhere in the Q/A section). Also, on her website she talks about why she did what she did. Just saying, if you liked the book but the inaccuracy bugged you, you can find out why she did it on purpose. Also, the rest of the series picks up, IMO, and considering how long the books are, the modern day romance takes a fairly large backseat to the storylines. Anyway, just a thought about that.
As for Kushiel, I adored the series, even though I am two books behind. Yes, it is heavy on the sex, but I wasn’t squicked out about it. But it might not be for everybody.
Leslie said on 07.22.08 at 08:04 PM • [link]
Sorry for the late reply—school and BN. Like most of the readers above, there were some “hitches” in the Willig books, but they were so much fun and I have such fond memories of Leslie Howard’s Scarlet Pimpernel and the historical inaccuracies inherent in studio films of that era that I let them slide. I do think the historical sections picked up in the second and third books and show a maturation in Willig’s writing, too.
Also, re: the Historian, I have to note that one of the most erudite, slightly elitist, post-modernists in my department really loved it—unexpected. Kostova clearly loves libraries and people who like to read—I felt like I WAS in several of the repositories she writes about.
I’d second the Perez-Reverte novels and the Carey stories and throw in one more recommend for a mystery series—Kate Ross’ Julian Kestrel Regency mysteries: think Peter Whimsey without the PTSD and with a cravat.
MB said on 07.22.08 at 09:09 PM • [link]
Definitely Diana Gabaldon! I second the mentions of Good Omens, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell, Sourcery & Cecilia, and Mary Jo Putney. How about Robin McKinley? Also Kage Baker’s Cyborg series. And maybe The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clare (author of JS&MN;). Also, Suzanne Frank (aka J. Suzanne Frank). Also Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series.
I hated The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes. Bad work by authors who should have known better.
MB said on 07.22.08 at 09:11 PM • [link]
Oooh! Don’t forget Georgette Heyer!
tracyleann said on 07.22.08 at 10:09 PM • [link]
Most of it’s not 19th century (though there is one brief Victorian storyline), and there is no alchemy, per se, but I am telling everyone I know to read The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson when it comes out on August 5. I read the ARC last month and adored it. It’s a literary love story that is part contemporary and part historical. Lots of dark, gothic overtones and a subplot about Dante’s The Inferno. Also, bibliophiles/academics should be intrigued by the portion set in a medieval monastery—there’s lots of stuff about early bookmaking in the scriptorium.
snarkhunter said on 07.22.08 at 11:53 PM • [link]
The inaccuracies in Willig’s books that bothered me weren’t mistakes in character. They were flat-out errors in chronology. You can’t have a character mentally compare himself to Keats in 1803. Why? Because Keats was 8 years old at that point. You can’t have a character saying someone should star opposite Edmund Kean on stage at Drury Lane when he didn’t take the stage until over a decade later.
There’s no excuse for errors like that—not even if she’s trying to “set the mood” of the Regency or whatever. Especially since she’s a trained historian—I expect better.
SonomaLass said on 07.23.08 at 12:37 AM • [link]
Another recommendation—Maria V. Snyder’s “Study” series (Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study). They are fantasy with a nice romance plot for the central character. The way she handles magic is interesting, too.
I can’t imagine anyone who enjoys fiction and 19th century who hasn’t read Possession; wonderful as it is, it’s also very well-known and widely read.
Instance of the Fingerpost is long, complex and utterly wonderful, so I heartily second that recommendation. But while I LOVE me some Jacqueline Carey, I would certainly not recommend the Kushiel books as a gift in a student-mentor relationship. If she likes dark, though, Carey’s other books, The Sundering (two volumes, Banewreaker and Godslayer), are amazing. Well written, but quite dark (think loosely of Tolkien’s books told from Sauron’s side).
JaniceG said on 07.23.08 at 12:55 AM • [link]
Well, if we’re moving on to just historical mystery series I’d have a lot more to recommend but I have to second this recommendation of the Kate Ross books. The Devil in Music is one of the best books I’ve ever read, period. Shame the author left us too soon…
On the flip side, A Beautiful Blue Death, a first novel by Charles Finch, has good characters and an interesting mystery but some of the clunkiest prose I’ve ever encountered. (Examples in my Amazon review.)
DS said on 07.23.08 at 01:16 AM • [link]
Late to the suggestion, but strong in the alchemy area is Mary Gentle’s Rats and Gargoyles , The Architecture of Desire, and Left to His Own Devices. The books are set in periods that range from a 17th century England where Hermetic magic has taken the place of science to a near future cyberpunk milieu. Gentle included lots of reference to obscure historical facts and alchemical symbols.
The plot is not linear and Alchemy is not my area but I became fascinated by these books a few years back.
SonomaLass said on 07.23.08 at 01:42 AM • [link]
I can’t believe I didn’t think of these right off, but for alchemy-related plotting and interesting history, you can’t beat Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle, consisting of three BIG volumes, Quicksilver, The Confusion, The System of the World. My DDP and I spent all of last summer buried in those, on holiday in Scotland as well as back home. They’ve got alchemy, romance, sex, politics, even pirates! Loved, loved, loved these books. (I’m an academic too.)
Randi said on 07.23.08 at 02:08 AM • [link]
snarkhunter: I know they were inaccuracies in chronoglogy. All I’m saying is that she did it on purpose and if you care to know why, though it doesn’t sound like you do, she talks about it in the Q/A sections and on her website. Just sayin.
snarkhunter said on 07.23.08 at 02:23 AM • [link]
In which book, Randi? She doesn’t talk about it at all in the Q&A;section in the back of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. I looked this afternoon. I looked on her website, too, and couldn’t find anything.
Why does she do it, if you can remember? I’m really curious here, though still rather disinclined to forgive.
snarkhunter said on 07.23.08 at 02:44 AM • [link]
I would really love to know why, and I’m not sure why you think I don’t want to know.
The funny thing is that I’m not normally a stickler for historical accuracy, as long as the errors aren’t too egregious. And I love a book that *deliberately* plays with the historical record as part of its world-building. In Willig’s case, I couldn’t see how the errors I spotted contributed to world-building (they weren’t deliberate enough, for one thing, which could just be part of her being a first-time novelist). Furthermore, *because* of her historical training, which she touts on all of her publicity sites, I hold her to a higher standard than I do someone like, I don’t know, Julia Quinn, who obviously does her research, but who doesn’t make an overt effort to be seen as an expert in the field. I’m not saying that Willig does, but she talks about going to grad school to write better historical novels, and for that alone I think she asks us to hold her to that higher standard.
It’s not that I didn’t like the book, b/c I did. But it didn’t grab me quite enough to overcome my irritation.
Randi said on 07.23.08 at 04:50 AM • [link]
snarkhunter: you’re right, I don’t see it on Lauren’s website. I had thought it was under the FAQ, but some of those are different than from the last time I checked. However, I have an email from her where she explains herself (actually following a post here at SmartBitches back in Jan). If she approves, I will post it for you.
re:” I would really love to know why, and I’m not sure why you think I don’t want to know.”
Mostly that was a tone thing. It just felt like you had your opionion in stone, (which is perfectly fine, as I have movie and book opinions that are very rigid [don’t get me started on batman]), and weren’t particularly interested in the wherefores. This is, however, text, so if I mis-read the tone (and that happens all the time), then my bad.
JaniceG said on 07.23.08 at 04:59 AM • [link]
Speaking just for myself, although for intellectual curiosity I would like to know why the author did what she did, the reasons really won’t affect my opinion of the book. I shouldn’t have to read an explanation of why there are chronological and period errors in a book purported to be set in a particular historical period unless, as snarkhunter said, it’s very clear that the author is playing with the history in a specific way for a specific purpose. Referencing Keats when he was only 8 doesn’t seem to be one of those touches, for example, and distracting and annoying a reader who knows better seems like an odd thing to do on purpose even if there is some grand scheme behind it. If the average reader can’t tell what the author was going for, then the scheme has pretty self-evidently not succeeded whatever the reasons were. Very much IMHO, of course, and I know many people have enjoyed these books.
snarkhunter said on 07.23.08 at 05:41 AM • [link]
I can see how it came across that way. The only thing set in stone, though, is my conviction that she’s wrong on the details (my field of expertise is 19th century British poetry, so this is something I notice). I always want to know why. It sometimes mitigates my emotional reaction to mistakes.
For what it’s worth, this:
is a perfect explanation of why, even if she’s got a damned good reason for the timeline quirks, they’ll still bother me. If she did it on purpose and has to explain it, then she hasn’t done her job as a writer for me.
Mia said on 07.23.08 at 04:42 PM • [link]
When I heard the description for Perfume, I thought of of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It’s a movie but a very worthy one and it has Johnny Depp and Alan Rickman, so you know it’s good.
Randi said on 07.23.08 at 04:49 PM • [link]
snarkhunter: Lauren gave her permission for the repost below.
“Oh goodness, those Keats and Kean references. Talk about things coming back to bite you in unmentionable parts of the anatomy. The wonderful irony of that all is that my editor and I had a long chat, pre-publication, about the anachronism of it and decided that even though they were a decade or so off, it all added to the Regency-land feel and who would really care anyway? Um. Right. In retrospect…. Oh well. You live and you learn. (The Wordsworth reference, however, was actually chronologically correct. But that’s another story). As a bit of Pink Carnation trivia, the Keats reference was meant as a nod to a
> British comedy called “Blackadder” (if you haven’t seen it, I
> highly recommend—talk about witty banter!), in which Keats, Byron, Shelley and Coleridge all violently (and anachronistically) threaten to disembowel Blackadder or, in the alternative, swoon on him, should any harm come to Dr. Johnson’s dictionary. It’s much funnier when they do it. I thought of mentioning all this on Smart Bitches, and then decided that it was really poor
> form for the author to come swooping in—among other things, it would be awful to inhibit honest conversation about the books by making folks feel that angry author was a-waiting in the wings, ready to swoop.”
snarkhunter said on 07.23.08 at 06:00 PM • [link]
Hm. I know the Wordsworth reference was chronologically correct—my protest about it is complicated and based largely on literary opinion, so I’ll give her that one.
Her reasons don’t work for me. I had a feeling that was why she did it, and I think it’s lazy writing. You can work with a “Regency feel” and yet still be historically accurate.
The Blackadder thing is cute, I admit. But, again, neither reference has nearly enough sense of deliberation to seem like anything more than a mistake. I’m glad to know she was aware of it—that does give me a higher opinion of her writing, if not of her literary judgment. But that’s just me.
Randi said on 07.23.08 at 06:56 PM • [link]
snarkhunter: fair enough. ;)
Ellen Morris said on 07.24.08 at 07:20 AM • [link]
* The Mercedes Lackey fantasy series about elemental magic, early 1900s, first book is The Serpent’s Shadow
Sorry, JaniceG, this is just a quibble, but the first book in this series is set in the 1800s, and is called The Fire Rose. There’s lots of alchemy in it, so it could definitely be a good choice for Natasha. It’s one of my favorites.
Natasha said on 07.24.08 at 07:35 AM • [link]
Can I just say, you guys are awesome! :) You’ve given me soo many great recs so far—including some I’m going to add to my personal TBR pile.
Mia, I just watched Sweeney Todd a few days ago. That is a pretty good movie, though I’m sure my advisor has seen it already—it’s right up her alley.
JaniceG said on 07.24.08 at 07:54 AM • [link]
I took the series start designation from Amazon, which apparently doesn’t count The Fire Rose as part of the series: http://www.amazon.com/Serpents-Shadow-Elemental-Masters-Book/dp/0756400619/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216878549&sr=8-1
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