The Cozy Book Corner No. 9: The Differences Between My Two Blogs

Welcome to my Monday 

bookish feature!

In each weekly post, I explore 

my thoughts on several 

book-related topics.

 

Back in 2010, I first began to think about the possibility of starting a book blog. Actually, it was a co-worker, in a job I had at the time, who suggested it to me, and, the more I thought about it, the more interested I became. So, in September of that year, my first blog, A Night's Dream of Books, was born.

At first, my new blog was an eclectic one. I love several genres of fiction, including popular ones, and I also love nonfiction. However, I began reviewing fiction exclusively at first, later on expanding to include some nonfiction. 

I noticed right away that, since I was reviewing Young Adult Fiction on that blog, my readers didn't seem to be interested in any other genres. I got more comments on my YA reviews than I did on those that weren't in this category. Also, whenever I reviewed nonfiction, I got very few to no comments.

Therefore, I decided to start MindSpirit Book Journeys in 2012, in order to accommodate my other literary loves -- adult fantasy and science fiction, literary fiction, Christian fiction, and, of course, nonfiction. At the same time, I decided to restrict the reviews on my other blog to YA fiction, with perhaps an adult review every so often. 

In addition to book reviews, A Night's Dream of Books eventually included other kinds of posts, such as blog tours, giveaways, blog hop book memes, and author interviews. When I first started out, I also participated in blog awards and book tags. Eventually, however, I had to stop doing so, as these became much too time-consuming. Needless to say, MindSpirit Book Journeys is not the type of blog that would lend itself to these activities. I now have statements to this effect in the sidebars of both blogs, as well as in the comments form for posts.

It's been a rocky road since then, as life and work have frequently gotten in the way of my blogging. This blog, MindSpirit Book Journeys, went through a three-year hiatus, and I began to post on it again in 2015. I still don't post on it as often as I do on my other blog, though. This is a situation I would definitely love to improve!

There are obviously some differences between the two blogs. First of all, I consider my second blog to be a more 'serious' one. I have dedicated it to genres that require more intellectual analysis, as they deal with more profound topics. This is especially true of the nonfiction topics I'm particularly interested in. 

The purpose of each of my blogs is entirely different, and I do want them to remain totally distinct from each other. Therefore, I will continue to post on serious subject matter on this blog. This also means that I will not be doing giveaways or blog tours here, at any time now or in the future. Nor will I be posting author interviews. Obviously, I have nothing against these events, since they are part of my other blog. However, certain obligations come with such posts that I feel actually detract from a blog with a more profound type  of approach. Because of this fact, I also feel that these types of posts take away some of my freedom to publish what I consider to be important, and to my liking.

Unfortunately, I have actually felt forced to participate in the above activities on my other blog for the sake of giving it more exposure, and getting some recognition for it. Sometimes I feel that I've compromised my 'blogging values' to some extent. This is why I don't want to include the same types of posts on my second blog, which, to be quite honest, I would really prefer to make my priority.

Blog hops and reading challenges are not a problem for MindSpirit Book Journeys, though. In fact, I've already participated in one weekly blog hop, "First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros", which is hosted by Diane @ Bibliophile By The Sea. This was an enjoyable hop for a while, but eventually, I came to the conclusion that there was too much of a discrepancy between the books I like to read, and those the other blog participants like to read. So I decided to stop participating. I will join another blog hop, though, if I find one that includes books that are more compatible with my literary tastes. This might sound like a rather elitist, snobbish statement to make, but surely every blogger has the right to express their own opinions, and have their own particular literary tastes. For instance, what could either of my blogs possibly have in common with book blogs that review the genres of erotica and horror? I detest both, so I would not be at all interested in interacting with bloggers who love them.

Reading challenges are very interesting, and I feel they are perfect for both of my blogs. At A Night's Dream of Books, I'm currently participating in The 2016 Reading Challenge, hosted by Evie @ Bookish Lifestyle. At my second blog, I intend to participate in The Women's Classic Literature Event, which is hosted by The Classic Club. 

These challenges do not require any 'compromise' of my blogging values and standards. I am totally free to post about the books I enjoy reading, with no pressure to publish posts by any required deadline, as happens with blog tours, for instance. Of course, these challenges do cover the present year, but still, there's no pressure to publish posts at any given time. Participants are entirely free to choose the number of books they want to read, too.

It would be great if I could get more follows and comments on my second blog, but, since I don't include the 'crowd-pleasing' posts that I publish on my other blog, the likelihood of this happening is rather slim. Unfortunately, not every blog reader is interested in reading more serious posts such as the ones I publish here. 

There's another good reason for my lack of followers and comments on this blog. I have discovered other, similarly serious blogs that do have more comments and follows. These blogs employ a more conventional type of blog design, with white backgrounds and black type in their posts. In contrast, MindSpirit Book Journeys has a more 'ornate' type of design, so this might put off blog readers who are looking for more serious content. 

Again, I feel this blog allows me to be truly myself, to do things in complete freedom. I happen to be a very visual person, so I prefer to have bold images on both of my blogs, as well as more colorful blog designs. In the case of my second blog, if this puts off readers who might otherwise be interested in my posts, then that's a sad fact I will just have to live with. I simply do not feel that having a more conventional, staid type of design reflects my personality at all. My second blog might come off as too 'flamboyant' to some readers, but this is the type of design I like. I don't feel it detracts from my serious posts at all, either. 

In short, there are distinct differences between my two blogs, as each of them reflects a different side of my bookish personality. Both, however, do have one thing in common, and that is being 'uncommon'. I don't want my two blogs to look like other blogs, nor do I want them to look visually conventional. Not at all!

I will continue to keep both of my blogs distinct from one another. MindSpirit Book Journeys may never get the interaction I have on A Night's Dream of Books (although I don't get as many comments on that blog as other bloggers I know do on theirs), but that's just the way things are. I need to keep blogging away, hoping that my second blog will eventually reach a larger audience. But if it never does, I have to be content with that. After all, I'm blogging primarily for my own enjoyment. If others of like mind discover that they enjoy reading the posts at MindSpirit Book Journeys, they will be welcome, even if there aren't that many of them! 

I would like to acknowledge and thank those of you out there who are reading and commenting on this blog. I greatly appreciate you guys! 

What are your thoughts 

on this topic?

Please leave a comment

and let me know!

Book Review: A Regency Christmas, by Anita Mills and 4 Other Writers (Fourth review for The 6th Annual Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge)

This is my fourth and last review for

The 2015 Christmas Spirit 
Reading Challenge, hosted by 
Michelle @ The Christmas Spirit!

A Regency Christmas 
(Signet Regency Christmas, Book 1)
Anita Mills, Patricia Rice, Mary Balogh, Gayle Buck, Edith Layton
Mass Market Paperback, 
347 pages
Signet, 1989
Christmas Romance, Historical Fiction, Holiday Romance

Book Synopsis:

Written by five artists of extraordinary talent, these very special, newly written stories celebrate the simple joys and traditions of Christmas -- with each heartwarming tale evoking its own unique style and flavor. — In Gayle L. Buck's "Old Acquaintances," the magic of Christmas is remembered in a story of love and longing, while in "A Gift of Fortune," Anita Mills writes of the snowbound reunion of two unlikely lovers. Both Edith Layton's "The Duke's Progress" and Mary Balogh's "The Star of Bethlehem" are moving stories of holiday sadness, hope and the renewal of spirit. And "The Kissing Bough" by Patricia Rice is a bittersweet tale of love and reconciliation.

These are stories to warm your heart with the romance, generosities, and joys of the season -- holiday tales that can be read and enjoyed year after year.

My Review 

The Regency period has always been my favorite when reading Christmas-themed romance novels. That's because this particular romance sub-genre was influenced by the novels of Jane Austen, and thus, are part of her literary legacy. Also, there's something very special about romance set in this time period; it's particularly heartwarming and cozy. Entire families are often involved, and I love that!

The five stories in this collection were written by renowned Regency romance authors, but for me, the story that truly shines is "The Star of Bethlehem", by the incomparable Mary Balogh. She is my favorite Regency romance writer, and I have enjoyed her stories and novels at other times during the year, as well. In fact, I will read anything that has her name on it!

This story is a little masterpiece, as it tells of a diamond ring known as 'The Star of Bethlehem', and how a small urchin comes into the lives of a duke and duchess during the Christmas season, totally transforming their marriage. The influence of Dickens is very obvious here, which makes me like this story even more! Like him, Balogh is great at using psychology in the depiction of her characters, which gives her stories more depth.

"A Gift of Fortune", by Anita Mills, is also a touching story. Three travelers -- a young widow, her daughter, and her aunt -- are stranded in a snowstorm when their coach overturns. They are aided by a lord with a dubious past, and a young woman with an even more dubious past. In the hands of this very talented writer, the story turns into a true example of the Christmas spirit.

I also loved "Old Acquaintances", by Gayle Buck. The characters come sharply alive, and there are plenty of touches of humor throughout the story, especially in the case of one very obnoxious woman who happens to land in the house of one of the main characters. Love wins out in the end, and all previous difficulties are smoothed out, just in time for Christmas.

"The Kissing Bough", by Patricia Rice, is another great story, one in which misunderstandings play a major part. It's also a very poignant one, due to the loss of a family member before the story opens. In fact, family dynamics also have a major role, but again, everything is satisfactorily resolved in the end, all difficulties overcome, and the lovers reunited.

My least favorite story was "The Duke's Progress", by Edith Layton. This really surprised me, as I have read other Layton stories in the past, and really liked them. In this particular tale, she takes much too long to get to the really important part of the narrative -- the love story, which is then much too rushed, and, indeed, even forced. 

Another element of this story I disliked was the depiction of an encounter between the male lead and his mistress. This took place before the actual love story, and I feel it was totally unnecessary. Besides, the scene depicted was much too vulgar and sordid. It really had no place within a Christmas story.

Had it not been for the Layton story, this anthology definitely would have deserved five stars, instead of four. It's unfortunate that this one story marred the whole impact of the book. Still, I do recommend this collection to Regency romance fans who, like me, enjoy reading such tales during this beautiful, joyful time of year! 

About the Authors

Anita Mills is a former History and English teacher, and turned to writing in the mid-1980s. Her historical novels and Regency short stories are considered among the best in their respective genres. The parents of four children, Anita and her husband Larry live near Plattsburgh, Missouri.

With several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today's bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice writes emotionally-charged, contemporary and historical romances which have won numerous awards. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. They live in Southern California.

Mary Balogh is the New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Slightly novels. She is also the author of the Simply series, her dazzling quartet of novels set at Miss Martin's School for Girls. A former teacher herself, she grew up in Wales and now lives in Canada with her husband. They have three children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Gayle Buck has freelanced for regional publications, worked for a radio station, and as a secretary. Until recently she was involved in PR for a major Texas university. Besides her Regencies, she has also written fantasy, romantic suspense, and inspirational romance. She lives in Bandera, Texas, with her husband and two sons.

Edith Layton (1938 - 2009) grew up in Queens, New York. She was a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines before publishing her first novel. She won numerous awards, including the 1984 Romantic Times Award for Best New Regency Author. She wrote a total of 30 novels and many short stories. She was married for over 35 years to Dr. Norbert Felber, with whom she had three children.

Book Review: A Husband For Christmas, by Paula Tanner Girard (Third review for The 6th Annual Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge)

This is my third review for

The 2015 Christmas Spirit Reading

Challenge, hosted by

Michelle @ The Christmas Spirit!

(I have already posted two

reviews on my YA blog,

A Night's Dream of Books.)

A Husband for Christmas
(Trilogy, Book 3)
Paula Tanner Girard
Zebra Books
(Kensington Publishing Corp.)
December 1, 1997
Christmas Romance, Historical Romance, Holiday Romance
Source: Amazon

Book Synopsis:

Lady Caroline Cavendish wants the perfect beau for Christmas. Instead, she's been given a baby! Someone has left a baby girl named Poppy in her carriage, and Lady Caroline is enchanted. But fate soon puts them in the hands of the infamous Bandit King. If anyone can reform him, it's Lady Caroline; if anyone can capture her heart, it's this remarkable rogue. And with a little child to guide them, they may find what everyone needs for Christmas--the incomparable gift of love. A Regency romance original.

 

My Review

Regency Christmas romance novels are my favorite type of romance to read during the Christmas season. This is, of course, because they remind me of Jane Austen's works. Also, there's just something very special about this period in English history.

It's wonderful to see Austen's legacy reflected in these books, although they might not be quite at the level of mastery she commanded. Still, they do abound in witty dialogues, and, like Austen's novels, faithfully observe and comment on the upper classes (and sometimes the lower classes, as well) of this fascinating time period.

Girard was an American writer, yet, thanks to her travels in England (and, I'm sure, thorough research, as well), she wrote very polished novels, with perfect historical accuracy and a keen eye for characterizations. The result is that she appears to be a British-born author.

A Husband For Christmas is the third book in a trilogy that began with Charade of Hearts, and then, A Father for Christmas. Now I want to read the two previous books!

This short novel, with its touches of humor, also reflects the legacy of Charles Dickens. The back story of the little girl named Poppy could have come straight out of Oliver Twist, for instance.  I found this combination quite interesting -- Austen's witty observations of high society, and Dickens's concern for social justice. The result? A most delightful reading experience!

At the beginning of the novel, Lady Caroline is the typical pampered aristocrat with a sense of entitlement and a rather large ego. By the end of it, she has grown to become more compassionate, kinder, and much more approachable. This is in large measure due to the little girl, Poppy, who mysteriously appears in her carriage one day. However, it's also due to the witty, tongue-in-cheek observations of her French maid, Suzette, who knows how to handle Lady Caroline, unbeknownst to that worthy.

In fact, I could go on and on about Suzette! I love how wisely she counsels Lady Caroline, while letting her think that all her decisions are self-determined. Furthermore, Suzette always refers to herself in third person, although she will at times slyly insert the first person in the middle of a comment. This is a shrewd move, as she subtly distances herself from these comments, while letting Lady Caroline think that she speaks this way because she's a foreigner. Below are some of her comical, and very spot on, remarks:

"Suzette thought him most pleasant, mademoiselle," said her maid. "It is my opinion that his lordship thinks that anyone as beautiful as you must by nature be charitable as well." (pg. 38)

"Mademoiselle must practice the patience. Suzette is trying to show you that the point is not at the end of a straight line." (pg. 79)

"Suzette really didn't have to go beyond the kitchen. It is amazing what information is available right under us. You should go there sometime." (pg. 173)

In short, I found this character entirely delightful!

As for Lady Caroline's love interest, Kendale, he was very dashing, indeed. I liked that he was not a member of the aristocracy, although he had been sponsored by a member of that group, who had rescued him from a future life of crime, when Kendale was just a boy. Although he had no title, Lady Caroline was attracted to him from the very first. He's a very charming, kind, unassuming person, with a great head for business, as well; he has made a fortune with his own fleet of ships.

And then there's Poppy. What a sweet, adorable, little girl she is! She immediately wins Lady Caroline's heart, as well as the hearts of her entire household staff. Taking care of her becomes a full-time job for all of them, for Poppy is fond of playing peek-a-boo. She totally brings out Lady Caroline's maternal side, consierably softening her aristocratic sense of entitlement.

There are many touches of humor in this novel. Much of it is provided by Suzette and Poppy, but another of the characters, Elroy, who is Lady Caroline's uncle by marriage, is outrageously hilarious. He's about her age, a total fop, and fond of gambling. His constant whining, aside from being annoying, is also very funny. Still, his heart is in the right place, where Lady Caroline is concerned. His insistence on calling her "Caro" grates on Lady Caroline's nerves, and adds to the fun.

Most of the action in the novel takes place in and around London, and the reader is treated to some nice descriptions of that city's most famous parks, as well as the social scene of the time. 

The one thing I didn't quite like about this novel was the fact that one of the characters was involved in the kidnapping of several aristocratic heirs, and got away with it. The whole thing, though, was a bit confusing. This was toward the end of the book, which, incidentally, was also a bit too melodramatic, although I did enjoy it, anyway.

Aside from the above, A Husband for Christmas is an engaging, totally enchanting tale, a comedy of manners in true Austen style. Reading it will make any historical romance reader's Christmas lighter and more joyful, as well!

if I were to use stars for rating on this blog, I would give this book four of them! 

About the Author

October 19, 1929 - November 28, 2008

Born in South Bend, Indiana (USA), Paula Tanner Girard  was an artist as well as a romance writer.

She graduated from Principia College in 

Elsah, Illinois, with an Associates of Arts degree.

She then transferred to The Academy of 

Fine Arts in Chicago for additional training in

studio art. 

She married Jerry Girard in 1951, and they

had three children, subsequently moving

to Maitland, Florida (USA).

Ms. Girard also earned a BGS degree in

Elementary Education from Rollins College, 

in Winter Park, Florida, and a Master 

of Education degree from the

University of Central Florida. She worked as

an art teacher for ten years.

Her first Regency romance novel, 

Lord Wakeford's Gold Watch, 

was published in 1995.

Among her several novels are: Charade of

Hearts (1996), A Father for Christmas (1996),

A Husband For Christmas (1997), and 

The Reluctant Groom (1999).

She was a member of Romance Writers

of America, Central Florida Romance

Writers, Volusia County Romance Writers.

and Virginia Romance Writers.

(Source: Tributes)

Online Links

Historical Romance Writers

Fantastic Fiction

Goodreads

Amazon

Book Review: Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier (second review for The 2015 R.I.P. X Reading Challenge)

This is my second and last review for this challenge, which is hosted by 

The Estella Society.

It runs from Sept. 1st to Oct. 31st.

Click HERE to access all of
the posted reviews.

Rebecca
Daphne Du Maurier
Trade Paperback, 428 pages
Virago Press, Reprint Edition, 2012
(first published 1938)
Classics,Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Thriller

Book Synopsis: Working as a lady's companion, the heroine of Rebecca learns her place. Her future looks bleak until, on a trip to the south of France, she meets Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower whose sudden proposal of marriage takes her by surprise. She accepts, but whisked from glamorous Monte Carlo to the ominous and brooding Manderley, the new Mrs. de Winter finds Max a changed man. And the memory of his dead wife Rebecca is forever kept alive by the forbidding housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers...

Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with "The Other Woman". An international bestseller that has never gone out of print, Rebecca is the haunting story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.
  

My Review

Some books -- usually the classics -- make readers feel as if they have lived an entire lifetime in the reading of the tale enclosed between the covers. This is one of those books. it is undoubtedly a classic literary masterpiece, one that is totally unforgettable, as well as a rather unsettling one. At least, if left me with a feeling of uneasiness even as I enjoyed the lush, descriptive writing, the masterfully-drawn characters, and the highly suspenseful plot. It is highly ironic, I think, that, at the time of its publication, this novel was immediately dismissed by literary critics as popular fiction -- specifically, 'just a romance novel'.

Although the book has been compared to Jane Eyre, I feel this comparison to be unfair to its brilliant author. Du Maurier's masterpiece stands entirely on its own. True, it does fit into the genre of Gothic Fiction, as Charlotte Brontë's own masterpiece does. True, there is a huge, mysterious mansion, owned by a brooding, very wealthy man who holds a terrible secret. But there the resemblances end. 

First of all, Du Maurier's female protagonist is the very antithesis of Brontë's Jane Eyre. She is no strong feminist, but instead, a very insecure, naive young woman who, at the beginning of the novel, is employed as a lady's companion, quietly suffering the daily humiliations that accompany such employment, simply because she needs the money. She is very shy, and totally unable to stand up for herself. This is especially evident in her interactions with other characters in the novel. For instance, she doesn't confront her husband, Maxim de Winter, about his apparent indifference to her, until much later in the book. In fact, when they meet, she quickly and hopelessly falls in love with him in a few weeks' time, and, although she is surprised by his sudden marriage proposal, immediately accepts, even though she hardly knows him. One also gets the feeling that she does so not only because she does love him -- although this love is more of a girlish crush than anything else -- but because she sees an escape from her debasing situation as Mrs. Van Hopper's companion. Furthermore, she constantly craves acceptance from people, whereas Jane is entirely free from such worries. Both heroines, of course, are based on the Cinderella fairy tale, but their personalities are vastly different.

There are other differences, as well. Maxim de Winter is no Edward Rochester. His motive for marrying this young girl -- she is never named in the novel -- does not seem to be an entirely honorable one, and the reader remains in doubt as to his true feelings for her throughout most of the novel. True to the conventions of Gothic Fiction, he is a tortured man. It is the past, of course, that endlessly torments him. However, I never felt much sympathy for him, and never had a crush on him, as I had on Rochester. His personality is less passionate than Rochester's, as well; he is not as dynamically virile as the hero in Brontë's novel. Unfortunately, I even came to feel contempt for him, based on his actions in the latter part of the book.

Another difference is the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. Unlike Mrs. Fairfax in Jane Eyre, this woman is a very sinister presence throughout the entire novel. She makes no secret of her hatred toward the second Mrs. de Winter, whom she violently resents for "daring to take the place of" Rebecca, the first Mrs. de Winter. Having been her personal maid since Rebecca's childhood, Mrs. Danvers totally doted on her.

Another typical convention of Gothic Fiction is also present in this novel, and that is the symbolism of nature, as well as of the house itself, named "Manderley" in this novel. Both reflect the inner states of the narrator of the novel -- the second Mrs. de Winter. There are beautiful landscape scenes, just as there are sinister ones. The vegetation is lush, and some of the flowers -- such as the gigantic, blood-red rhododendrons -- symbolize and echo the underlying, disturbing theme of the novel. They serve as a prophetic message, and also symbolize Rebecca herself -- a beautiful woman adored by everyone, a woman who remains a mysterious presence almost to the end of the novel. 

As for the house, it, too, mirrors Rebecca. It's beautiful, comfortable, deceptively inviting, with its expertly decorated rooms, all reflecting the first Mrs. de Winter's taste. Yet, the house harbors a deadly secret. The West Wing, which had been occupied by Rebecca and Max,  is meticulously preserved by Mrs. Danvers. There are creepy passages in the house, as well, all frequented by the housekeeper, she of the 'skull's face', as described by the second Mrs. de Winter. These details give a macabre feeling to the narration.

The sea is an important symbolic element as well. It has different moods, also reflective of the second Mrs. de Winter's inner states of mind. Additionally, the sea represents Rebecca herself, with its sudden, capricious turbulence and deceptively placid surface. The sea cannot be tamed, even as Rebecca herself cannot be tamed. Also like Rebecca, the sea is a constant presence in the novel, as it is frequently mentioned by the narrator, who feels disturbed by it at several points in the novel.

The plot moves at a rather leisurely pace, with lots of beautifully descriptive passages. This is typical of literary fiction, but the book is also written this way because Du Maurier has created a novel of great psychological insights, one that reveals, in fascinating detail, the workings of the mind of a very naive young woman -- the second Mrs. de Winter -- who has self-esteem issues, a woman who, more than anything, is desperate to be loved by the man she adores, a woman who feels inferior and inadequate in the face of the memory of the first wife, one who was, as she comes to believe, based on the comments of those who had known her, someone who was far more beautiful and accomplished than she herself is. 

I was totally pulled in, totally mesmerized, as the author delved into the second Mrs. de Winter's thoughts.  How she compared herself unfavorably with Rebecca, whose memory seemed to linger along the very corridors of the house, how she totally assumed and believed that her husband still loved and could never forget his first wife -- these things were fascinating to read about. I could feel what this young woman felt, and lived through what she lived through....although I could not share her feelings for Maxim.

It's uncanny how Rebecca herself, although dead, is a central character in this novel.  A picture of this woman begins to emerge as the book progresses, and it's obviously a totally unrealistic one. No one could be that perfect. Yet, even from the grave, Rebecca dominates the events and feelings of the other characters in the novel. Her presences always overshadows and touches all the characters, especially the second Mrs. de Winter, who feels her to be a rival whom she cannot fight.

Even when the novel's central, horrible, secret is revealed, the plot doesn't move any faster. Instead, Du Maurier builds the suspense to an almost intolerable level, expertly letting the reader know little tidbits of the whole truth, sprinkling them along like bread crumbs, to be eagerly devoured by said reader. Certain things are set in motion, and this revelation is a major catalyst for the second Mrs. de Winter's rapid psychological growth, although the source of this growth totally appalled me. It also sets the stage for the novel's unexpected, and rather abrupt, end. 

Rebecca is riveting reading, especially after the revelation; I simply could not put the book down, but drove inexorably to the end, turning page after page, totally absorbed, as I accompanied  Maxim and Frank, his associate, while they went about the sordid business detailed in the last third of the novel. Although I reveled in the luscious, sonorous descriptions, in the emotions aroused in me by the characters' own feelings and actions, I still felt the uneasiness, the sense of foreboding, so expertly elicited by Du Maurier. I wanted to stop reading, as the feeling grew, as I approached the horror -- for such is what it is -- at the core of the novel. I could not stop, I had to go on to the bitter end....and again I must repeat that I have lived a lifetime in the reading of this novel. This was not my first reading of it; I originally experienced it in my late teens, and did not remember much of the plot. All I could recall was that the book had left me with a very disturbing, unpleasant feeling, similar to what I felt when I first read Wuthering Heights. 

Of course this book is a masterpiece, but it's the kind of masterpiece that I can't really say I wholeheartedly love, not only because of its depiction of evil, but because of its moral ambiguity. It tells a story in which evil is not totally vanquished in the end, but somehow persists beyond the pages of the book. I feel that books of this type should not be written, that authors should only give us novels in which the good definitely triumphs in the end. Some readers might feel, however, that books such as this one are necessary, in order to 'round out', or balance, the literary depiction of the human condition. That might be so, but the fact remains that such books leave me with very mixed feelings toward them. While I can admire their authors' skill at delineating character, at writing masterful prose and riveting plots full of surprising twists, they still leave me with that uneasy feeling, that certain something that tells me that the world can be a very cruel place, and evil frequently does seem to win out in the end.

Summing up, I must admit that Rebecca is a consummate work of art, unsettling as it was for me to read. I saw the Hitchcock movie years ago, and want to watch it again. As I was writing this review, I researched the film, since my memories of it are also sketchy. I discovered that Hitchcock altered the plot in one very important way, as he was concerned that the movie would otherwise not be accepted by audiences, had he left the plot as Du Maurier had originally written it.

I would like to read some of Du Maurier's other famous novels, such as Jamaica Inn and My Cousin Rachel. It would be interesting to see whether these novels also depict stories of moral ambiguity, as I suspect they will. If so, then I will avoid reading any other books by this author.

About the Author

Daphne du Maurier was obsessed with the past. She intensively researched the lives of Francis and Anthony Bacon, the history of Cornwall, the Regency period, and nineteenth-century France and England, Above all, however, she was obsessed with her own family history, which she chronicled in Gerald: A Portrait, a biography of her father; The du Mauriers, a study of her family which focused on her grandfather, George du Maurier, the novelist and illustrator for Punch; The Glassblowers, a novel based upon the lives of her du Maurier ancestors; and Growing Pains, an autobiography that ignores nearly 50 years of her life in favour of the joyful and more romantic period of her youth. Daphne du Maurier can best be understood in terms of her remarkable and paradoxical family, the ghosts which haunted her life and fiction.

While contemporary writers were dealing critically with such subjects as the war, alienation, religion, poverty, Marxism, psychology and art, and experimenting with new techniques such as the stream of consciousness, du Maurier produced 'old-fashioned' novels with straightforward narratives that appealed to a popular audience's love of fantasy, adventure, sexuality and mystery. At an early age, she recognised that her readership was comprised principally of women, and she cultivated their loyal following through several decades by embodying their desires and dreams in her novels and short stories.

In some of her novels, however, she went beyond the technique of the formulaic romance to achieve a powerful psychological realism reflecting her intense feelings about her father, and to a lesser degree, her mother. This vision, which underlies Julius, Rebecca and The Parasites, is that of an author overwhelmed by the memory of her father's commanding presence. In Julius and The Parasites, for example, she introduces the image of a domineering but deadly father and the daring subject of incest.

In Rebecca, on the other hand, du Maurier fuses psychological realism with a sophisticated version of the Cinderella story. The nameless heroine has been saved from a life of drudgery by marrying a handsome, wealthy aristocrat, but unlike the Prince in Cinderella, Maxim de Winter is old enough to be the narrator's father. The narrator thus must do battle with "The Other Woman" - the dead Rebecca, and her witch-like surrogate, Mrs. Danvers - to win the love of her husband and father-figure.

Online Links

Wikipedia

Website
   Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

Book Review: Tryst, by Elswyth Thane (first review for the R.I.P. X Reading Challenge)

This is my first review for this challenge, which is hosted by 

The Estella Society.

It runs from Sept. 1st to Oct. 31st!

To participate, just click on 

the link above.

To post your reviews, click HERE.

Tryst
Elswyth Thane
Hardcover, 256 pages
Aeonian Press, Reprint Edition
January 6, 2014
(first published 1939)
Classics, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Paranormal Romance

Book Synopsis: When Sabrina Archer, a lonely girl of 17, moves with her father and aunt away from their city flat in London to the lavish summer home of Nuns Farthing for her father's work, she has nothing to do but explore the English country home. Finding a locked room at the top floor of the house, Sabrina picks the lock one afternoon and subsequently spends many days trying to discover the identity of the man who used to enjoy the personal study. He seems glamorous to her and it is inevitable that she falls in love with him. But can this obsession end happily?

  

My Review

There are forgotten literary treasures that should be brought out into the light of day, and enjoyed by new generations. This beautiful, poignant novel is one of them. First published in 1939, it has been reprinted several times, but is now unfortunately out of print.

The first time I read this book, I was around 17 myself, and I found it in a local library. I've never forgotten it. A few years ago, I bought one of the reprint editions available, but somehow lost it..... So I bought another one on Amazon, fortunately, at a very reasonable price. When a reader does something like this, you can be sure that the book is an extra special one!

I recommend searching for this novel in local libraries, as I'm sure they will have copies available. This is a not-to-be-missed story!

Sabrina Archer is a bookish young girl, so I was able to relate to her immediately. I was delighted to discover, right along with her, a great book collection in that mysterious, locked room. However, there's something more than just books in the room, as Sabrina gradually learns. A man's entire life and personality are in that room. Sabrina is at first fascinated and intrigued. As time goes by, she begins to fall head over heels for a man she's never met....

Hilary Shenstone is an equally compelling character. He is described, by Alice, one of the other characters in the novel, as "the last of the romantics". He is a man of high ideals, as well as a man who feels things deeply. In fact, I was a bit surprised when he didn't turn out to be a writer or poet, because he certainly had the sensitivity of either. 

Hilary and Sabrina are true soul mates.  But fate played a cruel trick on these two....Hilary died in India, while on a secret mission for the British government, before he and Sabrina ever met. 

Still, they were somehow meant for each other, and, by some mysterious circumstance, found their way to each other. 

Hilary died wishing for England, for Nuns Farthing, the house rented by Sabrina's father, a university professor who is mostly oblivious to his daughter's emotional needs, and her flighty aunt, a spinster who dotes mostly on her obnoxious dog, Bella.

Hilary's final wish comes true, and he finds himself transported back to London. From there, he eventually finds his way back to Nuns Farthing, and finally meets Sabrina, who totally enchants him.

This is a very intimate novel in the sense that Thane gets inside her main characters' heads, exploring their emotions, thoughts, and spiritual longings in a very detailed way. In contrast, the reader doesn't get to know the rest of the characters as well as Sabrina and Hilary. Simply put, the other characters are shallow, except for Mrs. Pilton, the housekeeper, whose reticence hides a world of deep thoughts and emotions.

The characterizations and social environment in this novel are perfect. In many passages, Thane reminds me of Jane Austen; she's an acute observer of all the foibles of human nature, and of the English society of the time. This is all the more remarkable because she was an American writer, born and bred. 

Although she reserves the most complete portrayals for Sabrina and Hilary, the other characters are well brought to life, too. They serve as a marked contrast to the two lovers. All the other characters in the novel are rather self-centered, too, interested only in achieving their own goals, some of them even at the expense of others.

George Shenstone is certainly totally different from his brother. There is no depth to him; his emotions are limited to whatever information his senses give him. He's only interested in whatever pleasure he can get in the here and now. And he certainly doesn't share Hilary's ideals and scruples. 

His mother tells him, while he's visiting her one day, that she has always preferred him over Hilary. She has her own reasons for this, all tied to her marriage, which had not been a happy one.

Alice, Hilary's girlfriend at the beginning of the story, is not a good match for him, something she's just starting to discover when we meet her. She is a rather materialistic person, with none of Sabrina's gentle, shy, bookish nature. In fact, she is as much a contrast to Sabrina as George is to Hilary. 

As for Sabrina's family, they are comical and pathetic at the same time. Alan Archer, Sabrina's father, is a university professor intent on doing research on primitive man for a book he plans to write. This is his overriding concern, and he seriously, and unwittingly, neglects his own daughter. 

His sister, known to Sabrina as Aunt Effie, is a silly woman who also allows the opinions of the society of the time to influence her own thoughts and opinions. She, too, fails to see just how special Sabrina is. 

Both siblings mean well where Sabrina is concerned, but are unable to give her the emotional and spiritual support she so desperately needs. Nor are they able to enter her intellectual world, for Effie is not interested in books, and Alan is exclusively interested in his research, and will only read books and articles related to it.

So Sabrina is left very much to her own devices. She is also by nature a solitary girl, since she has found no one to share her inner concerns.

Until Hilary arrives, that is.

Hilary is the only person in her life who really understands her, who really knows her, in fact. He shares her worldview -- one of high ideals and lofty goals. Unfortunately, since he is a ghost, he is unable to help Sabrina live the life she was meant to live. She can only sense his presence, but can neither see nor hear him, although he does speak to her. He's already tried speaking with his friends in London, with his own family, but, of course, no one can hear him.

It's just beautiful to become totally immersed in this novel, to see how Sabrina and Hilary care so much for each other. In spite of the obvious communication barrier that makes their relationship a difficult one, they become inseparable, and their final destiny is to be together.

Perhaps the novel's most fascinating aspect is that the romance of the two protagonists is solely based on the compatibility of two souls, to the exclusion of any physical passion. This type of romance might not be for everyone, especially those who enjoy reading so-called "bodice-rippers" or more sensual romances. However, this novel will be very satisfying to those who, like me, enjoy reading about the emotional development between two lovers, even at the occasional exclusion of the physical aspect. After all, if there's no union or compatibility at the inner level, all the fire and passion on the physical level will never be enough to sustain a relationship.

The beautiful, graceful prose style of this novel is clearly  classic, and I find it incredible that it is not better appreciated by lovers of classics and literary fiction. Although I have yet to read other novels by this author, I can see that her style and subject matter place her in the genre of classic literary fiction.

This is a very sweet, touching, and totally wonderful, beautiful book, one that, again, is unforgettable. It saddens me to know that no major studio has ever decided to turn it into a film. Why no one thought of doing so, at the time of its original publication, is beyond me. I would have loved to see this as a black-and-white movie, made in the forties or early fifties. I'm not sure who could have played these characters, but I am sure that it would have been a great movie!

There are two movies by the name of "Tryst"; one was filmed in 1994, and the other in 2005. Neither one has anything to do with this novel. Unfortunately, this jewel of a book has still not been filmed.

Read this novel so you can be carried away by a love that transcends even the barriers of death, a love that will make you feel nostalgic, happy and sad, all at the same time.

About the Author

Elswyth Thane was born on May 16, 1900, and died on July 31, 1984. She was an American romance novelist from Burlington, Iowa. Her original name was Helen Ricker, which she later changed to "Elswyth Thane". 

She was not only a novelist, but a journalist and screenwriter, as well. 

Thane is most well-known for her series of historical novels, all set in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, although later books were set in cities such as New York, Richmond, Virginia, and England.

She married the naturalist and explorer, William Beebe, in 1927.

Tryst is considered her most romantic novel.

Online Links

Wikipedia

Historical Fiction Reviews
FreshFiction

Goodreads