Dee - aNobii

Books (398)

English Book… Added (Newest) Title (A to Z) Title (Z to A) Rating (Highest) Rating (Lowest) Finished (Newest) Finished (Oldest) Published (Newest) Published (Oldest) Added (Newest) Added (Oldest)

- Oscar and the Lady in Pink (17)
- By Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
- Reading
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- O Jerusalem (17)
- (Mary Russell Novels)
- By Laurie R. King
- Reading since Mar 3, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- The Recruit: Bk. 1 (20)
- By Robert Muchamore
- Finished on Mar 1, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- Living with the Dead (35)
- By Kelley Armstrong
- Finished on Feb 25, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- Frostbitten (34)
- A New Hunt Begins... and an Ancient Secret is Revealed
- By Kelley Armstrong
- Finished on Feb 22, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List

- The Moor (21)
- By Laurie R. King
- Finished on Feb 21, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- A Letter of Mary (22)
- A Mary Russell Novel
- By Laurie R. King
- Finished on Feb 14, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- Wedlock New Edition (4)
- By Wendy Moore
- Finished on Mar 3, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- The Greatest Knight (12)
- By Elizabeth Chadwick
- Finished on Jan 27, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- A Monstrous Regiment of Women (26)
- By Laurie R. King
- Finished on Feb 1, 2010
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
A Monstrous Regiment of Women

I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series that I’ve read, but this one I loved. Totally loved it.
It is 1921 and our hero Mary Russell, has finished her undergraduate course at Oxford. She is also about to come into her inheritance. Her life on the brink of being totally her own. No longer a ward ... (continue)

I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series that I’ve read, but this one I loved. Totally loved it.
It is 1921 and our hero Mary Russell, has finished her undergraduate course at Oxford. She is also about to come into her inheritance. Her life on the brink of being totally her own. No longer a ward of her aunt’s; she will be able to live as she chooses. But how will she choose, and what does she want to do with her life? Will she pursue an academic career with her interest in theology? Or does her future lie with Holmes and the life of a detective?

Is this helpful?

— Feb 3, 2010 | Add your feedback

- Here Lies Arthur (8)
- By Philip Reeve
- Finished on Jan 21, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- The Beekeeper's Apprentice (45)
- or on the Segregation of the Queen
- By Laurie R. King
- Finished on Jan 17, 2010
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Beekeeper's Apprentice

1 person find this helpful

I read the most recent of this series recently, and really enjoyed it, so of course I had to pick up the first in the series and get introduced to the characters properly. I just couldn’t shake the impression that I was missing out on so much when I read The language of bees. And, of course, one sho ... (continue)

I read the most recent of this series recently, and really enjoyed it, so of course I had to pick up the first in the series and get introduced to the characters properly. I just couldn’t shake the impression that I was missing out on so much when I read The language of bees. And, of course, one should always begin at the beginning. It is a very good place to start, or so I’ve heard.
Set against a WWI background this novel introduces us to a retired Sherlock Holmes, he has left London and is busy looking after his bees, when along comes Mary Russell. At 15 years old she is full of herself, sarcastic, and not afraid to give her own opinions, even when they aren’t looked for. And all of a sudden Holmes begins to wonder if she will make a successful apprentice. For, as you may have guess, he has not fully retired from the life of detection.
As Nymeth points out a lot of this book is a commentary on the role of women and gender in society, especially in one where gender roles are becoming less fixed. This is mainly due to the war effort, the men are away at war and the women left behind must adopt in order to keep the country running.
But never fear, it isn’t a polemic, this theme serves the plot, rather than the other way around.
I’ve never been a huge fan of re-imaginings of famous characters. I’ve always thought, well just create a similar character of your own and make all your changes that way. But I’ll make an exception in this case. Holmes is different than I remember from the couple of Conan-Doyle books I’ve read, but much of this is because he is in different situations, and being confronted and challenged with different ideas. Plus in many ways he is the same old character, just from a different persepctive. Although I do think that perhaps Russell is a little hard on Watson and his version of events, but then again, she is very fond of him.
Russell herself is a great character. Never in the slightest bit Mary-Sue-ish, she still has more than enough attributes to be a real partner to Holmes. I can’t wait til I get my hands on the second book.

Is this helpful?

— Jan 19, 2010 | Add your feedback
- The Ask and the Answer (15)
- (Chaos Walking)
- By Patrick Ness
- Finished on Jan 10, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- East of the Sun (25)
- By Julia Gregson
- Finished on Jan 4, 2010
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
East of the Sun

*** This comment contains spoilers! ***

I wasn't too sure about this book when I first started to read it. It didn't quite grab my attention, and I wasn't sure that I'd like any of the three main characters. But I persevered. And came to really quite enjoy it. The story is set in 1928, and our heroes are off to India. One to start a new l ... (continue)

I wasn't too sure about this book when I first started to read it. It didn't quite grab my attention, and I wasn't sure that I'd like any of the three main characters. But I persevered. And came to really quite enjoy it. The story is set in 1928, and our heroes are off to India. One to start a new life with her fiancée whom she really doesn't know. One to serve as bridesmaid but really part of the "Fishing Fleet" off looking for a husband. And the third is looking for independence and a new life in an old home.
This last, Viva is the oldest of the three at 25, she has been employed as a chaperone for the other two, as well as to another teenager, the possibly troublesome Guy.
It is these characters that made the novel, because, although they are in many ways stereotypes, they are well-written and well-described. And as I got to know them I became more interested in what was going on in their lives. However the first quarter of the book or so it quite slow. And all of it is quite conversational, which I liked, but others may not.
It is, in essence, an historical romance, detailing how the three women deal with love and men in general. And I had a little bit of an issue with this.
**Spoilers
Why is it that books with "independent women" always end with them realising that they aren't independent or happy without a man. Yet books about independent men can easily end without a female companion. Of course, given the time setting I guess it is understandable. There were just so many things a single woman couldn't do back then.***
The ending was a little bit too quick and settled for me, at least for some of the characters, others, well, we're left wondering how exactly their lives are going to turn out.
Overall it was a good, very readable novel, once you got into it that is.

Is this helpful?

— Jan 5, 2010 | Add your feedback
- The Knife of Never Letting Go (60)
- By Patrick Ness
- Finished on Jan 6, 2010
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List