I wouldn't have met Piti if it hadn't been for a chichigua. To translate chichigua as a kite does not do justice to these beautiful creations of...
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PLEASE NOTE: I was well aware of the controversy surrounding this novel when I picked it up, which was at least half the motivation for doing so.
I'm torn on the rating with this one. I liked the characters - as each was deeply drawn and behaved in accordance with their respective personal histories. On the other hand, there are scenes where Kylemore crosses the line from seduction and undoubtedly rapes Verity.
Please also note, I don't intend to criticize Ms. Campbell's intentions or portrayal in CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, as Kylemore *does* realize and acknowledge the extremity, violence, and utter abhorrence of his actions - not that it makes them okay. I just find myself unsettled (and perhaps that was what Ms. Campbell intended).
The "forced seduction"/rape scenes were not - i.m.h.o. - arousing or titillating in any way (though - again, I don't believe they were meant to be). In general I find such depictions distasteful (at best) and am hard pressed to imagine a situation in which a rape survivor would fall in love with her attacker, regardless of circumstances. A great deal of trouble arises when simple-minded individuals allude to such works of fiction as justification of real-life actions, or "proof" of women's "true" desires.
In this case though, I find Ms. Campbell's novel as deft and sensitively portrayed as it could possibly be, given the story's set-up and the genre's requirement of a HEA. (Also note: This isn't a slam against romance. I *LOVE* romance novels. All I mean is to be categorized as such, the characters must receive their HEA or at least a HFN ending. Hence my final statement.)
I was drawn to Nova Ren Suma's debut novel DANI NOIR the moment I caught sight of its title and attention-grabbing covers. Thanks to my love of pink, polka dot tights, and noir cinema, I found a new favorite author and another great addition for the keeper shelf.
Dani's having a rough summer dealing with the fallout of her parents' divorce. It's horrible watching her dad move on (and in) with his girlfriend, knowing her best has moved to a town more than an hours' drive away, and feeling so lonely she's actually starting to miss her annoying brother who's gone off to soccer camp.
Dani's only solace comes when she enters the Little Art and disappears into the moody, atmospheric mysteries of noir films. There's a comfort in walking away from the theater knowing exactly who the good and bad guys are, not to mention hanging out with the projectionist and her former baby-sitter's new boyfriend, Jackson. Being left alone and not asked stupid questions like: "How are you *feeling* about your parents divorce?" is almost worth the hassle of getting past her classmate and Jackson's younger cousin, Austin. Until one day when Dani catches Jackson in a lie about a mysterious girl in pink, polka dot tights she spies leaving through the theater's fire exit. Now Dani is on the trail of a real-life puzzle, but off screen mysteries almost never wrap up as neatly as those in movies.
Every character in DANI NOIR is so real, with their fallibility and raw emotions - especially Dani. I didn't always like her - at times she's bratty, even downright mean - but I understood the reasons for her behavior. Her entire world has been destroyed by the people she loves and trust more than anyone else. It's one of life's most difficult experiences and in it's the aftermath of suspicion that sets Dani on the mystery girl's trail.
Nova Ren Suma transported me to Dani's world: the tedious heat small town summers; nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to see. I *was* Dani, sweating in front Taco Juan's while peering down the street towards my mother's office at newspaper headquarters, the mountains off in the distance. sun beating mercilessly on my aching head. What a relief to escape my sadness and worries in cool comfort of celluloid, where dames are glamorous, private eyes know all and problems are solved in under two hours.
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(3 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Having graduated a year early from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, fifteen year old Penelope Lumley is off to interview for a governess position at Ashton Place. After a rushed meeting with Lady Constance, Penelope is shocked to discover three dirty, wild-haired children howling in the stables. Much to his bride of six month's consternation, Lord Ashton discovered the feral group while hunting the woods of his vast estate and decided to keep them. Now Penelope must draw upon every ounce ingenuity and skill at her disposal in order to civilize the Incorrigible trio.
Successful teen author Maryrose Wood makes her middle-grade debut with a charming, lighthearted Victorian mystery featuring a heroine brimming with intelligent gumption and a supporting cast that is (respectively) endearing, humorous, fluttery, pompous, and downright vexing. By juxtaposing the historical circumstances and details with examples from contemporary life, Ms. Wood gives young readers easily identifiable touchstones for reference. All in all, a winning combo that has me eagerly anticipating the next installment.
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Forget everything you know about THE TEMPEST cause Caryl Cude Mullin's ROUGH MAGIC ain't your mama's Shakespeare. Born of a corrupt king and power-hungry sorceress-queen, raised in complete isolation on an island raped of it's magic Caliban - previously portrayed as a nonsensical, gibbering rapist - takes center stage. In contrast, this Caliban is a quiet, gentle soul, subject to the whims of a magic-maddened mother, angry island spirits and a pompous, self-important alchemist-king. Caryl Cude Mullin depicts not just the events of William Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, but the origins of Caliban's mother, his childhood on the island, subsequent departure as Prospero's servant, and his final return.
Spread out among multiple characters, including Prospero's granddaughter Chiara and a mysterious young girl, disguised as a boy; the expanded narrative allows for a rich, nuanced exploration that has, until now, been one-dimensional. Caryl Cude Mullin depicts the characters' plights with such sophistication and deft, it's possible to empathize with each one, even the villains. Books like this are a rare and genuine treat.
"...I thought you were dead," are words most people don't expect to hear, least of all Elise Moloney on her first day of grad school at Wickman College on Cape Cod. Since Elise's parents never kept adoption a secret, she's shocked to discover the existence of an identical twin sister Hannah McPhee; a sister who died in a tragic accident on the Drowning River pier the day before their last birthday. At the urging her fellow dorm hall resident Parker Reilly, Elise delves into her sister's life and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death; but the deeper she digs, the more Elise suspects foul play and the further she places her own life in danger.
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catie james has commented on (52) products.
Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
catie james, June 24, 2010
PLEASE NOTE: I was well aware of the controversy surrounding this novel when I picked it up, which was at least half the motivation for doing so.I'm torn on the rating with this one. I liked the characters - as each was deeply drawn and behaved in accordance with their respective personal histories. On the other hand, there are scenes where Kylemore crosses the line from seduction and undoubtedly rapes Verity.
Please also note, I don't intend to criticize Ms. Campbell's intentions or portrayal in CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, as Kylemore *does* realize and acknowledge the extremity, violence, and utter abhorrence of his actions - not that it makes them okay. I just find myself unsettled (and perhaps that was what Ms. Campbell intended).
The "forced seduction"/rape scenes were not - i.m.h.o. - arousing or titillating in any way (though - again, I don't believe they were meant to be). In general I find such depictions distasteful (at best) and am hard pressed to imagine a situation in which a rape survivor would fall in love with her attacker, regardless of circumstances. A great deal of trouble arises when simple-minded individuals allude to such works of fiction as justification of real-life actions, or "proof" of women's "true" desires.
In this case though, I find Ms. Campbell's novel as deft and sensitively portrayed as it could possibly be, given the story's set-up and the genre's requirement of a HEA. (Also note: This isn't a slam against romance. I *LOVE* romance novels. All I mean is to be categorized as such, the characters must receive their HEA or at least a HFN ending. Hence my final statement.)
Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma
catie james, June 22, 2010
I was drawn to Nova Ren Suma's debut novel DANI NOIR the moment I caught sight of its title and attention-grabbing covers. Thanks to my love of pink, polka dot tights, and noir cinema, I found a new favorite author and another great addition for the keeper shelf.Dani's having a rough summer dealing with the fallout of her parents' divorce. It's horrible watching her dad move on (and in) with his girlfriend, knowing her best has moved to a town more than an hours' drive away, and feeling so lonely she's actually starting to miss her annoying brother who's gone off to soccer camp.
Dani's only solace comes when she enters the Little Art and disappears into the moody, atmospheric mysteries of noir films. There's a comfort in walking away from the theater knowing exactly who the good and bad guys are, not to mention hanging out with the projectionist and her former baby-sitter's new boyfriend, Jackson. Being left alone and not asked stupid questions like: "How are you *feeling* about your parents divorce?" is almost worth the hassle of getting past her classmate and Jackson's younger cousin, Austin. Until one day when Dani catches Jackson in a lie about a mysterious girl in pink, polka dot tights she spies leaving through the theater's fire exit. Now Dani is on the trail of a real-life puzzle, but off screen mysteries almost never wrap up as neatly as those in movies.
Every character in DANI NOIR is so real, with their fallibility and raw emotions - especially Dani. I didn't always like her - at times she's bratty, even downright mean - but I understood the reasons for her behavior. Her entire world has been destroyed by the people she loves and trust more than anyone else. It's one of life's most difficult experiences and in it's the aftermath of suspicion that sets Dani on the mystery girl's trail.
Nova Ren Suma transported me to Dani's world: the tedious heat small town summers; nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to see. I *was* Dani, sweating in front Taco Juan's while peering down the street towards my mother's office at newspaper headquarters, the mountains off in the distance. sun beating mercilessly on my aching head. What a relief to escape my sadness and worries in cool comfort of celluloid, where dames are glamorous, private eyes know all and problems are solved in under two hours.
(3 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #01: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
catie james, April 21, 2010
Having graduated a year early from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, fifteen year old Penelope Lumley is off to interview for a governess position at Ashton Place. After a rushed meeting with Lady Constance, Penelope is shocked to discover three dirty, wild-haired children howling in the stables. Much to his bride of six month's consternation, Lord Ashton discovered the feral group while hunting the woods of his vast estate and decided to keep them. Now Penelope must draw upon every ounce ingenuity and skill at her disposal in order to civilize the Incorrigible trio.Successful teen author Maryrose Wood makes her middle-grade debut with a charming, lighthearted Victorian mystery featuring a heroine brimming with intelligent gumption and a supporting cast that is (respectively) endearing, humorous, fluttery, pompous, and downright vexing. By juxtaposing the historical circumstances and details with examples from contemporary life, Ms. Wood gives young readers easily identifiable touchstones for reference. All in all, a winning combo that has me eagerly anticipating the next installment.
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
Rough Magic by Caryl Cude Mullin
catie james, January 28, 2010
Forget everything you know about THE TEMPEST cause Caryl Cude Mullin's ROUGH MAGIC ain't your mama's Shakespeare. Born of a corrupt king and power-hungry sorceress-queen, raised in complete isolation on an island raped of it's magic Caliban - previously portrayed as a nonsensical, gibbering rapist - takes center stage. In contrast, this Caliban is a quiet, gentle soul, subject to the whims of a magic-maddened mother, angry island spirits and a pompous, self-important alchemist-king. Caryl Cude Mullin depicts not just the events of William Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, but the origins of Caliban's mother, his childhood on the island, subsequent departure as Prospero's servant, and his final return.Spread out among multiple characters, including Prospero's granddaughter Chiara and a mysterious young girl, disguised as a boy; the expanded narrative allows for a rich, nuanced exploration that has, until now, been one-dimensional. Caryl Cude Mullin depicts the characters' plights with such sophistication and deft, it's possible to empathize with each one, even the villains. Books like this are a rare and genuine treat.
The Drowning River (Five Star First Edition Mystery)
catie james, January 27, 2010
"...I thought you were dead," are words most people don't expect to hear, least of all Elise Moloney on her first day of grad school at Wickman College on Cape Cod. Since Elise's parents never kept adoption a secret, she's shocked to discover the existence of an identical twin sister Hannah McPhee; a sister who died in a tragic accident on the Drowning River pier the day before their last birthday. At the urging her fellow dorm hall resident Parker Reilly, Elise delves into her sister's life and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death; but the deeper she digs, the more Elise suspects foul play and the further she places her own life in danger.Kim Byrne makes a strong debut with THE DROWNING RIVER by taking the cliché of identical twins separated at birth and giving readers a plausible mystery. Centered on a strong protagonist, Ms. Byrne keeps the narrative focused and moving at a brisk pace while deftly juggling multiple suspects. While there are a few moments of clunky prose, awkward transitions, and a somewhat overwrought climax, these are minor flaws that will no doubt, smooth over with time and experience. THE DROWNING RIVER is a solid, satisfying "whodunit" from a promising new author. I look forward to watching Ms. Byrne's skills and talent develop in the future.
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