Britannia announces her love for Jake to her parents. To my amusement, her father is bored by this, but her mother takes her seriously and talks to her for a few minutes. I could see my parents having a similar response to a "I've met a man whom I may never see again, and I want to marry him!" announcement.
Britannia's got some vacation coming up, and a friend who invites her to stay in the Netherlands. Of course it's ridiculous to think that Britannia would run into Jake while she's there, and Britannia even thinks that it would be ridiculous.
So of course, Jake lives just up the road.
Oh, sorry. I just had to pause to sigh and shake my head sadly.
So in an interesting twist on the adopted pet theme, Britannia's busy rescuing an injured bird when Jake's car - not a Bentley, but a Rolls-Royce Camargue - pulls up so that they can chat. As my mom would say: of course she is.
Showing posts with label other car. Show all posts
Showing posts with label other car. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Bachelor's Wedding, chapter 4
In this chapter, Jason's sister comes back from Chile, so Araminta finishes her job with the family. Jason's sister notices Jason's tendency to refer to Araminta as "Miss Smith", and the way he reacts to her, and draws a few conclusions. Jason's nowhere near drawing those conclusions on his own, though in this chapter he starts to think about how pleasant it would be to come home to a restful woman. He's aware that Araminta is restful, but he hasn't made the connection yet.
Jason gives Araminta a ride back to her home, and she walks into a dirty home: dishes and pans unwashed, dust everywhere, laundry undone. Alice has been to the doctor since Araminta was home, and reports that she's well, but refuses to get a job (even though Araminta, the Gallant of this story, has already arranged for a new job that starts the next morning). So in an unusual show of assertiveness, Araminta does her own laundry, but refuses to do Alice's (Alice had said she would not get a job because she would do the housework, though clearly she's unwilling to do even that). To add insult to injury, Alice and Mr. Smith have racked up a bunch of bills because Alice spent the housekeeping money on a faux-leather jacket. Araminta ends the chapter reflecting that she will never escape her family; even after Alice marries, Araminta will have to stay home to make sure her irresponsible father stays solvent.
This got an other car tag, because Jason drives a Rolls! He also - and this is crazy, so brace yourself - has an actual personality trait, one that his shrill friend Vicky recognizes: he likes to read. In this chapter, he has another free hour, and reads Homer (Betts doesn't say whether it's a translation, though).
Jason gives Araminta a ride back to her home, and she walks into a dirty home: dishes and pans unwashed, dust everywhere, laundry undone. Alice has been to the doctor since Araminta was home, and reports that she's well, but refuses to get a job (even though Araminta, the Gallant of this story, has already arranged for a new job that starts the next morning). So in an unusual show of assertiveness, Araminta does her own laundry, but refuses to do Alice's (Alice had said she would not get a job because she would do the housework, though clearly she's unwilling to do even that). To add insult to injury, Alice and Mr. Smith have racked up a bunch of bills because Alice spent the housekeeping money on a faux-leather jacket. Araminta ends the chapter reflecting that she will never escape her family; even after Alice marries, Araminta will have to stay home to make sure her irresponsible father stays solvent.
This got an other car tag, because Jason drives a Rolls! He also - and this is crazy, so brace yourself - has an actual personality trait, one that his shrill friend Vicky recognizes: he likes to read. In this chapter, he has another free hour, and reads Homer (Betts doesn't say whether it's a translation, though).
Friday, August 24, 2007
Always and Forever, chapter 1
I'm looking forward to this book! All Else Confusion made me cranky, so this will be a nice change. I have a "larger print" version of this book - it's not a trade paperback, as older large-print Bettses are, but a mass market paperback with slightly larger type. Most of the people I know who like Bettses (aside from me, I mean) are over 60, so I shouldn't be surprised by the larger print.
Amabel, our heroine, runs a B&B with her mother, who is visiting Amabel's sister in Canada. Amabel isn't happy about being left at home alone, but puts a brave face on it. She's a jolie laide - "with a face which, while not pretty, was redeemed by fine brown eyes" and long, pale brown hair (p. 5). She has a dog, Cyril, and a cat named Oscar.
One day, during a storm, Dr. Oliver Fforde and his mother knock on the door, asking to stay because the weather's awful for driving. He drives a Rolls Royce, by the way, which is a nice change from Bentleys. Of course Amabel is a good cook and a good host, and it's not surprising that Oliver and Amabel get along well. In the days that follow the Ffordes' departure, Amabel proves to be a capable B&B manager. Oliver stops by one day to see how she's doing, and takes her out to lunch.
At the end of the chapter, Amabel receives a letter from her mother, explaining the delay in her return from Canada: she has met a market gardener, and after they marry they will convert the B&B into a working garden, so Amabel should feel free (that's a strong hint, there!) to go find a career. Amabel assesses her skills (p. 30: "She could cook - not quite cordon bleu, perhaps, but to a high standard - she could housekeep, change plugs, cope with basic plumbing. She could tend a garden... Her pen faltered. There was nothing else."). Of course she has A levels, but she decides that working as a waitress, or for the National Trust (as a house guide, or in a teashop) would be a better fit.
I was delighted by her mother's letter, because I didn't know how to categorize this book before I read it. Her mother's cool assumption that Amabel will keep the B&B running until her mother's return several months hence, and the strong hint that she won't be wanted after that, make this book an ungrateful family title. Yippee!
Amabel, our heroine, runs a B&B with her mother, who is visiting Amabel's sister in Canada. Amabel isn't happy about being left at home alone, but puts a brave face on it. She's a jolie laide - "with a face which, while not pretty, was redeemed by fine brown eyes" and long, pale brown hair (p. 5). She has a dog, Cyril, and a cat named Oscar.
One day, during a storm, Dr. Oliver Fforde and his mother knock on the door, asking to stay because the weather's awful for driving. He drives a Rolls Royce, by the way, which is a nice change from Bentleys. Of course Amabel is a good cook and a good host, and it's not surprising that Oliver and Amabel get along well. In the days that follow the Ffordes' departure, Amabel proves to be a capable B&B manager. Oliver stops by one day to see how she's doing, and takes her out to lunch.
At the end of the chapter, Amabel receives a letter from her mother, explaining the delay in her return from Canada: she has met a market gardener, and after they marry they will convert the B&B into a working garden, so Amabel should feel free (that's a strong hint, there!) to go find a career. Amabel assesses her skills (p. 30: "She could cook - not quite cordon bleu, perhaps, but to a high standard - she could housekeep, change plugs, cope with basic plumbing. She could tend a garden... Her pen faltered. There was nothing else."). Of course she has A levels, but she decides that working as a waitress, or for the National Trust (as a house guide, or in a teashop) would be a better fit.
I was delighted by her mother's letter, because I didn't know how to categorize this book before I read it. Her mother's cool assumption that Amabel will keep the B&B running until her mother's return several months hence, and the strong hint that she won't be wanted after that, make this book an ungrateful family title. Yippee!
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