Well, once again CFRB is touring a book I haven't read. It's not that I don't read a lot of books; they just like to tour things I haven't looked at. However, as I've mentioned before, ignorance doesn't stop me from rabbiting on about a book. In fact, I like to think it makes my reviews less biased than those of people who have read the book.
Anyway, today's contestant is Gentle Journey by Elaine Lyons Bach. It's a Regency romance about Eden Barret, an artist who winds up being a governess--an old-fashioned word for a female governor. (No, wait: she's more of a nanny, which according to my Picture Book of Barnyard Animals and Other Relatives is a female goat.) She wants to help the downtrodden by means of Art, which presumably means giving them uplifting objects to look at while they're trudging off to the mines or other hellhole. She probably would've been more effective as a female governor.
Instead, she finds herself helping the uptrodden, in the form of Lady Diana (no, not that one), the sister and pain in the escutcheon of Colin Ashton, Seventh Earl of Edmund. He is a confused young man; should he go by "Colin," "Earl," or "Edmund"? His current light of love, the Honorable Cassandra Bradley, compassionately just says "Good Lord!" and gives him treats. (The author graciously forbears to mention whether he wags his tail.) Unfortunately the Honorable Cassandra's dishonorable brother has designs on Eden (remember her?), and they aren't altogether artistic. Meanwhile, Lady Diana is trying to sabotage any romance between Eden and Colin/Earl/Edmund. Aren't siblings keen? Maybe Di and Cassandra's brother should get married.
On the other hand, Lady Di does keep her brother from firing Eden. He'd like to fire her because she is too much like him, and he has enough trouble without picking up even more potential names. Thwarted in his attempt to remove her person, he begins to contemplate removing her last name, or anyway changing it to match his own, whichever that may be.
Will the course of true love run smooth? Will it be, in fact, a "gentle journey"? Not likely. But if you want to know, you should probably read the book already.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Your review is amazingly spot-on considering you haven't read the book. As always, I enjoy your witticisms.
Being an English M.A., I simply read the reviews. There were lacunae--I couldn't find the name of Cassandra's brother--but it worked pretty well overall. Just like bluffing any other book, a skill in English major has.
Ooh, I should sue you for this pain in my side from laughing. I love it.
(The Fake Review) What a unique idea.
Elaine
I should sue you, Steve, for this pain in my side from laughing. What a unique idea and site! Thanks for the lift. Elaine
I'll give you this Steve, you have the most incredibly unique mannerism that envelopes your reviews. Most reviews come off as placating or stodgy (except for CFRB reviewers of course). I like to use these works as a springboard into the Word. You, however, remind me of Robin Williams, if he were to review a book. He says a lot of meaningful stuff, but he also jokes around alot too. Sometimes it's difficult to tell when he's doing what...just like you. God bless you brother.
Post a Comment