My book club is reading the Josephine trilogy by Sandra Gulland, which is a historical romance written in a diary style. Not at all my type of book.
(I prefer sci fi romps with political undertones where the bad guys get told off scathingly before they die.)
And yet, it's really good. Believable. Intriguing. The villains are strangely charming and likable. Josephine is a kind person trying to keep her children safe while taking enormous risks to help others. Napoleon is scrawny but still kind of hot, with his cold grey eyes, huge personality and complete lack of humor.
The worst people in the book are Napoleon's immediate family. I hate them. I want to slap them upside the head. Whereas I have a sneaking fondness for the architects of one of the most monstrous civil wars of all time.
Everyone is in debt, everyone socializes with murderers, everyone is feckless and desperate and yet... you gotta like 'em.
Now, that's good writing.
January 14, 2010
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adding book to top of list
ReplyDeletedid you say "upside the head"?
yes, indeed
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the kind of book I would like.
ReplyDeleteI love history so this sounds like a good read to me. Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to belong to a book club. Sounds like fun.
I need to read more and blog less.
ReplyDeleteWho am I kidding?
Upside the head works for me!
Sounds like a good recommendation. I'll give it a whirl!
ReplyDeleteYep, when the author can get you to like a deplorable character, that is good writing.
ReplyDeleteone of my all time favorites and I found it by accident on a random trip to Boarders.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued... sounds great in a weird kind of way.
ReplyDeleteHey, that sounds like a good one. Thanks for the review HPH!
ReplyDeleteWow. It sounds riveting. Tell us how you liked it when you're finished.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a sci fi type. This is more my style. I'm putting them on the list.
ReplyDeletePeople gettin' slapped upside the head is what I'm all about. That's why I keep coming back here. hee.
ReplyDelete