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jenn

Murder by Death

I read cozy and historical mysteries, a bit of Paranormal/UF, and to mix it up, I read science and gardening books on occasion.

Sprig Muslin

Sprig Muslin - Siân Phillips, Georgette Heyer

I'm being kind with 3 stars.

 

I totally get why people love this Heyer book so much; I do.  But I really disliked it.  It's beautifully written and the narrator of this version did a fantastic job (although her Mr. Theele kept making Peter Sellers' Sidney Wang character pop into my head; I couldn't shake the feeling that when she read it she had a rictus-like smile on her face.  But I digress.)

 

So what didn't I like?  Amanda.  Dear God in heaven; at her best-behaved I'd have left her on the side of the road, taken Joseph with me, and buried her in the carriage's dust.  At her worst I wanted to slap her stupid. I very nearly didn't finish the book.

 

I know I was supposed to find her and her antics a hilariously entraining romp, and I have no problem understanding why most people do, but she's just such a spoiled rotten brat and I was stuck listening to her ridiculous tantrums and schemes for 2/3 of the book.

 

Why didn't I just dnf it?  Because everyone I know and trust loved it, and I really liked Lady Hester and Sir Gareth.  I'd have loved this book if it had more of them and less of that little idiot Amanda.

 

But after saying all of that, this is a personal thing; the book is superbly written and flows beautifully.  I hated the predominant character but that's not because she's badly written; likely the opposite.  If you can laugh at the antics of a teenager scheming to get her own way with careless but cheerful disregard for others, I highly recommend you put this Heyer at the top of your list.  If you're disinclined to find charm in spoiled teens, you might want to stick with Heyer's other titles.

 

N.B. - notwithstanding the rictus-smile narration of one of the characters, I'd totally listen to this narrator's work again; she did an excellent job.

 

N.B.B. - OH!  I just realised!  I can use this for summer book bingo for the Planes, Trains or Cars square!!  More than half of this story takes place in carriages.  Woot!