R. L. Stedman

Writer

Book Review

Adore Old-Fashioned Romance? Here’s 7 Tales You’ll Love.

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Do You Adore Old-Fashioned Romance?

Old-Fashioned Romance

Do you love secondhand stores, especially those that sell silver and hand-embroidered linen?  You know the kind: staffed by an old lady and her dog; the rooms smell faintly of talcum powder and every item is labelled with a hand-written price tag?

If you’re like me, you love these places because they remind you of old-fashioned romance novels. Novels that feature independently minded women, gorgeous dresses and all-conquering love.

So … because it’s a wet day and I’m feeling nostalgic, I thought I’d share a list of my favourite romantic couples with you.

Hope you enjoy!

Top Fictional Romances

1. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blyth.

Who can forget the wonderful Anne-with-an-e Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, and the foolish boy who called her ‘carrots’? At first she hates Gilbert Blyth, but as she grows into adulthood she learns he was only seeking her attention.

One of the things I most loved about the Anne of Green Gables series was how the books continued after marriage.

This isn’t just a kiss-and-happily ever after romance; this is a long-term relationship!

I’ve not watched the Netflix TV series yet, but I loved the 80s TV version. Here’s a clip.

2.  Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder

Okay, so this isn’t fictional; in the Little House in the Big Woods series Laura really did marry her Almanzo. But the way the stories are crafted reads like fiction. There’s the build-up, the tensions and finally the happily-ever-after resolution.

I think this was deliberate. Wilder’s earliest foray into writing was in writing non-fiction; she later crafted the Little House series into fiction, possibly to help it sell.

Like Anne and Gilbert, the series continue past the wedding, and because it’s based on real-life we know that Laura and Almanzo remained together until his death at age 92. Oh, how romantic!

3.  Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester

I have mixed feelings about this romance. After all, in Jane Eyre Rochester keeps his first wife locked up! How could anyone love such a man? But despite my modern ideals I can’t help seeing him through Jane’s eyes, and she is totally besotted.

The main reason that this is romance number 3 is the ending: ‘Dear reader, I married him.’ What a perfect, perfect ending!

5 Books I Fell in Love With

4.  Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy

Mr Darcy’s name is actually Fitzwilliam, but he’s only ever known as ‘Mr.’ in Pride and Prejudice.

Why do I love this romance? Partly (if I’m being honest) is because of Colin Firth’s starring role in the BBC TV series!

But the other great thing about this novel is how Mr Darcy changes.

When Pride and Prejudice begins he is too proud to invite Elizabeth dance (even though he acknowledges her as “tolerable”), and his first proposal is absolutely terrible! But by the end of the narrative he admits his mistakes. So in Pride and Prejudice, the heroine rescues the hero.

5.  Hero Wantage and Antony (Lord) Sheringham

Friday’s Child, by Georgette Heyer, is one of my fave period romances.

I mentioned Heyer in my last blog post. She wrote over twenty regency romances, and this is one of the best.

Friday’s Child is about Hero, who faces a future as a governess and her neighbour, Viscount Sheringham, who is in desperate need of a wife. Their runaway marriage creates chaos for their families and friends, but in saving his young bride, the erratic Antony finally learns maturity.

This is a hilarious book, because all the characters are just so stupid! It’s a perfect rainy day read.

6.  Gwendolin Fairfax and John Ernest Worthing

The Importance of Being Earnest isn’t a novel; it’s a play, but who cares? This is Oscar Wilde at his funniest. Although Gwendolin and John are gorgeously earnest in their nature, I have a sneaking love for Algernon Moncrieff, Cecily Cardew, and of course, Lady Bracknell.

JACK: Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?

GWENDOLEN: I can. For I feel that you are sure to change.

If you get a chance, do watch the Rupert Everett/Colin Firth version (Colin Firth seems to be a common thread of this post). I’ve posted a clip here, just to whet your appetite.

7.  Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler

Despite not being a happily-ever-after, Gone With the Wind is the archetype of character romance. The passion between the main characters is so intense that it’s easy to overlook the ‘frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn,’ ending.

I love how Scarlett transforms from society belle to independent woman. I love Rhett’s air of danger. But mostly I adore the setting; this book takes the reader into another world. Gone With the Wind is one of those addictive reads that are almost impossible to put down.

And for this particular story, even though the movie is a classic and the costumes are amazing, I prefer the book.

What do you prefer? Book or movie? And which romances do you love?

Love Pride and Prejudice? Here’s 4 Books To Read

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4 Books Like Pride and Prejudice —

If you love all things period romance, here’s 4 books I guarantee you’ll love.

But first, That Shirt…

Pride and Prejudice

1.   Emma

Emma - a book like Pride and Prejudice

Emma is the second-best Jane Austen novel after Pride and Prejudice. Well, that’s what I think!

Like P&P, Emma abounds in eccentric individuals. And like Austen’s other work, there’s character transformation.

Emma, a rich and beautiful woman, is certain she should be a wonderful matchmaker — why, she knows which man deserves which woman, better even than the individuals themselves…

Like Pride and Prejudice, Emma is very funny and with a surprisingly contemporary tone. Personally, I don’t find it quite as fast-paced as P&P, but it’s still an enjoyable read.

Emma has been made into television shows, movies, stage plays.

Here’s one of my favourite clips from Gwyeneth Paltrow’s version.

2.   Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre - a book like Pride and Prejudice

Charlotte Bronte’s gothic novel about a governess who falls in love with her charge’s father is considerably darker than Austen’s romances.

Jane Eyre is a story of love and loss; of deceit and poverty. I love the settings of Jane Eyre, and Mr Rochester has, I think, more depth than many of Austen’s characters.

BUT — there’s not a whole heap of fun in this book.

However, if you like period romances with a gothic twist you must read Jane Eyre. In this work Bronte created a genre that we’re still enjoying today. From Twilight to Feverborn, readers love the attraction of the dark.

The movie trailer below shows why.

3.  Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome

Three Men in a Boat

Three Men in A Boat is SUCH a good book! Like Pride and Prejudice, Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) is laugh-out-loud funny, and like P&P, it’s true to its era.

Unlike P&P, it’s not a romance. Three Men in a Boat is a travel book, quite possibly the first of its kind! It reads a little like Bill Bryson meets Queen Victoria.

Three Men in A Boat tells the tale of three (slightly hypochondriac) men who feel they need a holiday. So they take a week to travel from London to Oxford by rowing upstream along the Thames.

The story meanders like the river, moving from anecdote to anecdote, and as long as you’re happy to not journey in a straight line, it’s highly enjoyable. Published in 1889, Three Men in a Boat was a hit almost as soon as it hit the stores, and has retained all its charm.

I’ve actually rowed part of the portion in the book, and the descriptions are still accurate. Not all of the pubs remain, alas :).

It’s been made into TV, movies and has ripped off by plenty of comedians and writers. Watch this clip!

4.   Arabella by Georgette Heyer

Arabella - a book like Pride and Prejudice

If you haven’t yet discovered Georgette Heyer, you’re in for a treat! Heyer specialised in regency romances and despite being written in the 1950s, her books feel true to period.

Like Austen, Heyer is very funny and like Austen, she manages to move between third-person limited point of view and third-person omniscient effortlessly. Note to non-writers: this is very hard to do.

Arabella has the classic prejudice of a heroine to the hero; and the hero in Arabella, is extremely proud, but the story is faster-paced than Austen’s.

A brief summary: Arabella is to journey to London to stay with her godmother. The oldest of eight children, from a penniless-but-respectable family, she knows it is her duty to marry well. Unfortunately, she convinces the monde that she is an heiress…

Heyer’s books are superbly written. They’ve been continuously in print since their first edition, and their popularity remains high. However, they’ve never been turned into television or movie, which is a real shame, and Heyer herself never appeared to gain recognition within the literary community.

But if you love P&P, Arabella is the ONE book in this list you must try. And once you read it, you’ll be hooked for life!

But wait – there’s more!

If you’re still short of reading material here’s some other works that are similar to P&P. These books were either written in the same period as Austen, or their tone is similar. The links here lead to the Amazon store, so you can check the description.

Wuthering Heights – by Emily Bronte

My Cousin Rachel – by Daphne Du Maurier

The Grand Sophy – by Georgette Heyer

You could also check out the Silver Petticoat Review; a blog for all things romantic!

Over to you – any books you’d recommend?

Post Script:

Pride and Prejudice bank note
Image Source

Just after writing this post, the Bank of England released a new 10 pound bank note. The bank note features Jane Austen, along with a quote from Pride and Prejudice!

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading”

Ironically, this line is spoken by Caroline Bingley — a character who in Pride and Prejudice who is far more interested in Mr Darcy than books.

This bank note makes Jane Austen to be the only woman (apart from the Queen) to be depicted on a UK bank note.

Go Jane!

Books to Read if You Love Downton Abbey

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Countess at Downton Abbey

Do you love period dramas that are absolutely BRIMMING over with romance?

If you love Downton Abbey: Here’s some books you’re guaranteed to love!

 

A Room With A View

I know, I’ve talked about this book before. For good reason: it’s gorgeous.

A Room With a View is my favourite E. M. Forster work. The book is about Lucy, an upper-middle class young woman embarking on her first trip to Italy. Lucy is disappointed when she fails to gain a room with a view in the pensione; a widower with a son offers her his room — and thus her adventure begins.

The story about tolerance and love, and hence ‘A Room With A View’ is also about how the character’s own views change. A Room With a View is a really easy read, but don’t be fooled by how easy a read it is; it took Forster nearly ten years to construct this small masterpiece. As a writer, I don’t find this at all strange. Simplicity is hard.

Why is it a great read? Partly because of Lucy’s transformation, but mostly because of the characters: Mr Beebe, the parson; Freddy, Lucy’s “unpromising” brother and Charlotte Bartlett, Lucy’s cousin.

The 1985 movie by Marchant-Ivory won 3 Oscars and is fabulous viewing, particularly Maggie Smith, who gives Charlotte Bartlett more depth than even Forster managed.  The score, featuring Kiri te Kanawa, is simply stunning.

Forster later wrote a satirical piece, called “A View Without A Room” as a postscript to this work.

The Remains of The Day

Like Downton Abbey, The Remains of the Day is set in a large country house in the years before World War Two, where a butler, Mr Stevens, and housekeeper, Miss Kenton, work together to ensure the comfort of Lord Darlington.

Mr Stevens is reluctant to admit his feelings for Miss Kenton and buries himself in his work of service. Only later does Stevens realise that perhaps this loyalty was misplaced; perhaps his days have passed, as have the days of the country houses.

The Remains of the Day won the Man Booker, but don’t let that put you off (!) — it’s a lovely read, especially if you like slower-paced period dramas.

The novel was made into a brilliant movie starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, and their nuanced performances make the story come alive. I watched the movie first — its one of those rare creations that almost (not quite, but almost) better than the movie!

Brideshead Revisited

Brideshead Revisited is a tale of love: the love of the protagonist, Charles Ryder, for an upper class family, the Fyltes. He falls in love with the oldest son, Sebastian, but then there’s the sister, Julia … but mostly, the house Brideshead, is what he loves.

Brideshead Revisited is told from the perspective of Charles, beginning when he’s billeted at Brideshead as a soldier in WW2, so the novel is gripped by a sense of nostalgia and loss. The story deals with the homosexuality of Sebastian, what it’s like to be a Catholic in an Anglican society (the Fyltes are Catholic), but mostly it’s about the end of a privileged lifestyle.

Personally, Brideshead Revisited is my least favourite of these novels, although it’s probably the best retelling of the era, and possibly the most autobiographical. It was made into a television series in the 1970s. I remember this series as being staggeringly popular, but to me it seemed inordinately long!

Jeeves and Wooster

Jeeves and Wooster Box set

A series by P. G. Wodehouse, the Jeeves and Wooster novels feature the all-knowing valet Jeeves and his inept-but-harmless upper-class employer, Bertie Wooster.  Wooster narrates over ten novels in a charmingly ignorant fashion, using pre-war slang; language that fits beautifully in the early Downton Abbey series.

The Jeeves novels are basically situational comedy. Wooster tumbles from complicated scrape to complicated scrape, requiring rescuing by Jeeves.

Jeeves and Wooster were incredibly popular characters, and the series influenced a number of British comedy writers: you can see aspects of Wodehouse in Blackadder and Monty Python, and Bertie Wooster and the sapient Jeeves have starred in a number of television shows.

(If you watch this clip you’ll see Downton Abbey in the background!)

Love in a Cold Climate

Love in a Cold Climate

I have to confess: I’ve not read Love in a Cold Climate yet, despite it being on my TBR pile for ages!

Written in 1949 by Nancy Mitford, the story narrates the adventures of Polly Hampton and her love for her paedophilic uncle (nicknamed “Boy”). The story was a huge best seller and is still popular today.

Love in a Cold Climate takes place in similar settings and characters to Downton Abbey, and as Mitford moved in these circles (she was a contemporary and friend of Evelyn Waugh) the settings are authentic.

Mitford’s story is as interesting as her fictional romances; one of the notorious Mitford sisters, she was probably the least political of the set. The Times described them as: “Diana the Fascist, Jessica the Communist, Unity the Hitler-lover, Nancy the Novelist and Deborah the Duchess.”

Love in a Cold Climate (I wonder if its title was the reason for Love in a Time of Cholera) was made into a number of mini series. Here’s a clip of the 1982 version, staring a very young-looking Judi Dench.

The Larnachs


The Larnachs

Unlike the other books in this blog post, The Larnachs isn’t set in England; the events in this story take place very close to my house – in Dunedin, New Zealand.

I’ve included The Larnachs in this list as the setting is similar in many ways to Downton Abbey, and there are similar themes of changing morality, wealth, privilege and class. However, unlike Downton, the events in this story actually happened.

William Larnach, a self-made millionaire, was a politician in colonial New Zealand. After the death of his first two wives he married Constance de Bathe Brandon, daughter of a well-to-do aristocratic family. William and Constance moved to Larnach’s new-built castle near Dunedin, where Constance met and fell in love with William’s oldest son, Dougie.

This is a sensitively-told story of a doomed love triangle. Marshall is a very empathetic writer, and sets the scene of this troubled family with compassion.

The story ends tragically, but the beautiful castle Larnach built has survived.

You can visit it today – we do, frequently. There’s supposed to be a ghost there, but we’ve never seen it!

 

I hope you enjoyed this list.

I know it’s not exhaustive; there’s plenty of other wonderful stories out there. Feel free to recommend your favourites in the comments!

 

5 Books to Read if You Love Doctor Who and Sherlock

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books like doctor who

Love Doctor Who and Sherlock?

If you’re a fan of Sherlock and Doctor Who, here’s a series I can almost guarantee you’ll love! This is the Rivers of London (Peter Grant) series, written by Ben Aaronovitch.

Ben Aaronovitch Peter Grant Series

The books are set in London, and follow the adventures of biracial Peter Grant, the first wizard to be discovered in the police force in fifty years. Peter finds himself averting various magical disasters and along the way has a relationship with a river, a dog and a faceless villain. And no, it’s not like Harry Potter. Well, it is a bit…

Once you’re hooked, there are FIVE books to discover. And it’s not one of those series that has a couple of not-so-good stories. All these books are great. And, as a bonus, there’s another, called The Furthest Station, coming out this year.

Why is it like Doctor Who?

Well, for a start Aaronovitch was a writer for Doctor Who! So of course he really knows how to capture the London voice. There’s this deeply ironic, subversive, gallows-humour that pervades the series. And of course, the city itself makes a fantastic setting; there’s the underground, the history and – did I mention the rivers?

Blurb:

“Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut. But Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost.”

Best Quote:

“My name is Peter Grant and I am a member of that mighty army for justice known to all right thinking people as the Metropolitan Police and as ‘the filth’ by everyone else.”

Where can I find?

Here’s links to the Amazon listings for these books:

Rivers of London (published in the US as Midnight Riot)

Moon Over Soho

Whispers Under Ground

Broken Homes

Foxglove Summer

The Hanging Tree

Extras

There’s a  heap of additional material: comic books, novellas, short stories. If, like me, you’re a bit confused about what fits where, check out Aaronovitch’s website.

Hope you enjoy!

Book Review: 4 Books I Wish I’d Written

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Anyone who’s read A Necklace of Souls will know I love writing (and reading) about Girls With Swords.

Book Review

I have NO idea where this came from. As a child, no-one put a blade in my hand and whispered: “Go! Fight!” But somehow, I love stories about women who fight.

When I was growing up, back in the dark ages of black and white television and dinosaurs, it was hard to find stories about fighting females. They were a rarity, a throwback to B-grade sixties movies.

But  recently there’s been a plethora of stories of girls who not only fight, but who win.

I’ve put a short review of my top four of these books in this post, in ascending order.

Each of these books are really well written, fast-paced, with great characters. Each one leaves me desperately envious. Why? Because I wish I’d written them.

Ah well, never mind. I have my own tales to tell.

Book Review

4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Books - Throne of Glass

 

Throne of Glass starts with a bang. Celaena Sardothien, erstwhile Royal Assassin, is serving a sentence in the salt mines, when she’s offered a choice. Fight as champion for the Crown Prince, or return to prison. The reader plunges straight into the story, and there’s no going back. Throne of Glass is the first in a series, and while its sequels, Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire (and more recently, Empire of Storms), are exciting and fun and keep you up at night, Throne of Glass is my favourite.

Just a warning: if you like strong male leads as well as female, and you’re not keen on instalove or love triangles, you may not like Throne of Glass. But what the hey, the fight scenes are excellent!

Maas has written another series, Court of Throne and Roses, a Beauty and the Beast retelling . I’ve not read this yet, but its definitely on the TBR list!

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stievfater

Unknown-1

The Raven Boys, first in the four-part series of The Raven Cycle, is a fabulous read. Although it isn’t really a Girls-with-Sword adventure,  I’ve included it here because a) I love the characters and b) I wish I’d written it.

The Raven Cycle tells the story of three boys and their friend, Blue, daughter of a clairvoyant. The boys are on a quest for a dead Welsh king and Blue is on a quest to stop one of them becoming dead. The problem is, she knows she’s going to fail.

The characters in this story simply leap from the pages, especially Blue’s mad clairvoyant family, and there’s a healthy mix of mysticism, magic and street racing. There’s a bit of romance, too, but it’s not overwhelming and never gets in the way of the story. This is a story that boys will enjoy just as much as girls.

2. A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab

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I’ve just finished this book, and I’m still reeling. First, because I read the series in the wrong frigging order. If you’re going to read this series, people, and I highly, highly recommend it, START AT THE BEGINNING.

The first in this series is called A Darker Shade of Magic. I can’t talk about it, because I haven’t read it yet, but I can talk about its sequel, A Gathering of Shadows.

A Gathering of Shadows is about a thief named Delilah Bard, a wizard named Kell and three different Londons: Red, Grey and White. And a contest. It’s a fun, fun read, contains fantastic world-building, and deals with difficult concepts, including home, and freedom and how do we know we’re alive. This book (this series) will be loved by both males and females, which I think makes it quite unique in these days of very polarising YA reads. And, as an extra bonus, there is NO love triangle. Amazing!

1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

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Published in 2009, Graceling quickly became a sensation. I can see why; the story is about Katsa, a girl Graced in fighting. She’s smart but forever separate, not only because she’s use by the king as his private army, but because she has a deformity: her eyes are different colour.

All Graced have different coloured eyes, and they’re all feared because of it. Katsa, though, is feared more than most, until one day she meets a young man with different coloured eyes. Graceling is about survival and self-knowledge and courage. It’s won multiple awards and is one of my favourite books. One of its strengths is that it’s a stand-alone story. There are others in the same world (Fire and Bitterblue) but to my mind they lack the strength and the lyricism of Graceling.

Finally, as a small digression: Kell, in A Gathering of Shadows, has eyes of two colours. That’s how you know he’s Antari, a magician. Katsa, being Graced, has different coloured eyes. Clearly, there is something to be said for having eyes of  different colours.

A strange, and probably unrelated fact: My eyes are different colours. One is blue, and one is grey.  I am not, as yet, a magician. Still, I live in hope.

 

Book Review(s): 4 Unusually Good Fairytale Retellings

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4 Unusual (and Exciting) Fairytale Retellings —

I’ve been reading a lot of fairytales.

5 Books I Fell in Love With

This is partly because I’m writing my own collection, and it’s always helpful to see another author’s work.

But mostly I read fairytales because they’re just darned fun! Even though the ending is never in doubt, still, its great to anticipate the twists. And think, wow, how did they come up with that?

There are a host of fairytale retellings to choose from, from Marissa Meyer’s science-fiction cyberpunk Cress to Gena Showalter’s White Rabbit in Zombieland series.

The four books here are some of the best of the genre that I’ve read in the last two years.

One you’ve probably heard of, but two were totally random finds on the library bookshelves, and one was such an unexpected treat that I wanted to share it here.

Book Reviews (In No Particular Order)

1. Nameless: A Tale of Beauty and Madness by Lili St Crow

This little gem is a Snow White retelling. A battered child is found alone in the snow by the godfather of the Seven — one of the powerful, mafia-like families, that rule the magic-ridden city of New Haven. The child, Camille, does not remember her real name, nor why she has such terrible nightmares. And always there’s the smell of apples, oh and yes she has to be careful of mirrors… Nameless is a grim-dark kind of story, set in an alternative reality, and the world-building is truly fantastic. If anything, I’d love more information about the Seven and all the other characters that dance in and out of the story with no explanation, but have strange, mysterious pasts. Like Marya, the fey croissant-making housekeeper and the Potential, that turns adolescents into magic workers, sometimes with unexpected results.

Nameless - Fairytale retellings

2. The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

This beautiful book has stunning illustrations by Chris Riddell. Although the story begins as a Sleeping Beauty retelling, it quickly morphs into something much more interesting. It’s a very short read, but its the sort of story you can turn to again and again. And like most of Gaiman’s works, The Sleeper and the Spindle is pure, beautiful, quirky escapism.

The Sleeper and the Spindle

3. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Enchanted suffers from an unremarkable title, but don’t let that put you off. The story is about Sunday, the seventh-born daughter of a woodcutter and a very strict Mama. Kontis skilfully weaves Jack the Beanstalk, the Princess and the Frog, Little Red-Riding Hood and a host of other fairytales; there’s even a nod to the original Grimm Brothers versions. This is a funny, quirky and exciting story and its well worth reading.

Enchanted

4. The Snow Queen: Heart of Ice by KM Shae

KM Shae specialises in fairytale retellings, and they’re all great reads. Heart of Ice is my favourite — even though it’s not a strict retelling — but I totally recommend Rumpelstiltskin too. Heart of Ice tells the story of Princess Rakel, exiled from the palace because of her magical control over snow and ice, and how she overcomes the distrust of her captors to save them from an invading army. The story is really about learning to accept who you are, and its both entertaining and fun. It’s a clean read, but not a dumb read, and its the sort of book that mothers and daughters can both enjoy. Plus, its cheap (!) and there’s more in the series to try!

the snow queen