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extemporallyKitty Harris: The Spy With Seventeen Names, by Igor Damaskin.
This has been hanging around my house forever, so last night/today I finally read it. It was okay, I guess? Like, the subject-matter was intriguing, but it definitely felt like it deserved more contextual information about the way Russian spy networks were set up; either that or more emotional heft about the attraction/costs of spying for the Soviet Union. This didn't seem to make a decisive choice either way or draw a very good balance, so insofar this tried to be insightful exposition it... wasn't. Still interesting, though. Lady had an interesting life!
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling, &
The Hidden Gallery, by Maryrose Wood.
Reviewing these books together because they're part of the same series and the quality remained relatively consistent throughout, the books are really part of the same plot, etc. "Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners in time for the holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische? "
Anyway, this was delightful. If you can suspend your disbelief about the likelihood of teaching feral children social & verbal skills, etc, within a month, all the better. I loved the little details, like Penelope coming from an Academy for Poor Bright Females, etc, that made this series super quirky and loveable. I'll be looking out for the third book, for sure! (One thing I didn't like: the narrator, who was in the continual habit of being all, 'Yep, people had TEA back in the day when they were suffering from shock - I'm sure you have other MODERN DISTRACTIONS, such as yoga in a sauna!' and continually explaining other such details, which was annoying as fuck. I'm p-r-etty sure yr readers can figure that out on their own, thanks.)
Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding.
This (or, it's beginning) was on a list of the funniest lists in literature so when I was in the library today I thought I might as well pick it up and give it a try; anyway I'd heard some pretty good things about it. Anyway I mostly hated this - Bridget is pretty funny about her own neuroticisms but she isn't very interesting otherwise, is she? I mean, she doesn't do much, just hangs around her home thinking about men (I mean....... I think about men a lot too but that's ALL she does, disdain emphasis on thinking rather than men). Also, maybe this is where the book starts to show its datedness but I found it pretty eyeroll-y in terms of its conception of 'feminism' (Bridget: need to be whole and complete inner person, without boyfriend, as best way of getting boyfriend. PS I'M TOTALLY A FEMINIST! - I get that this was played for laughs, but...) and the 'gay best friend'. Blah.
White Cat, by Holly Black.
Awesome stuff - great premise, great execution, great everything. I loved the twists Holly Black threw in here, and I loved the ending. I'll be looking for the sequels, for sure.
This has been hanging around my house forever, so last night/today I finally read it. It was okay, I guess? Like, the subject-matter was intriguing, but it definitely felt like it deserved more contextual information about the way Russian spy networks were set up; either that or more emotional heft about the attraction/costs of spying for the Soviet Union. This didn't seem to make a decisive choice either way or draw a very good balance, so insofar this tried to be insightful exposition it... wasn't. Still interesting, though. Lady had an interesting life!
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling, &
The Hidden Gallery, by Maryrose Wood.
Reviewing these books together because they're part of the same series and the quality remained relatively consistent throughout, the books are really part of the same plot, etc. "Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners in time for the holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische? "
Anyway, this was delightful. If you can suspend your disbelief about the likelihood of teaching feral children social & verbal skills, etc, within a month, all the better. I loved the little details, like Penelope coming from an Academy for Poor Bright Females, etc, that made this series super quirky and loveable. I'll be looking out for the third book, for sure! (One thing I didn't like: the narrator, who was in the continual habit of being all, 'Yep, people had TEA back in the day when they were suffering from shock - I'm sure you have other MODERN DISTRACTIONS, such as yoga in a sauna!' and continually explaining other such details, which was annoying as fuck. I'm p-r-etty sure yr readers can figure that out on their own, thanks.)
Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding.
This (or, it's beginning) was on a list of the funniest lists in literature so when I was in the library today I thought I might as well pick it up and give it a try; anyway I'd heard some pretty good things about it. Anyway I mostly hated this - Bridget is pretty funny about her own neuroticisms but she isn't very interesting otherwise, is she? I mean, she doesn't do much, just hangs around her home thinking about men (I mean....... I think about men a lot too but that's ALL she does, disdain emphasis on thinking rather than men). Also, maybe this is where the book starts to show its datedness but I found it pretty eyeroll-y in terms of its conception of 'feminism' (Bridget: need to be whole and complete inner person, without boyfriend, as best way of getting boyfriend. PS I'M TOTALLY A FEMINIST! - I get that this was played for laughs, but...) and the 'gay best friend'. Blah.
White Cat, by Holly Black.
Awesome stuff - great premise, great execution, great everything. I loved the twists Holly Black threw in here, and I loved the ending. I'll be looking for the sequels, for sure.