I keep forgetting to blog about this! Thankfully, a new CD reminded me.
The Betts I just finished, The Bachelor's Wedding was part of Harlequin's "Holding out for a Hero" series. I'm a Gen Xer, so of course for the last nine or ten days, I've been thinking of the melodramatic Bonnie Tyler song. I suspect the people in the marketing meetings were also amused by this - one couldn'tcome up with a "Holding out for a Hero" marketing campaign without being aware of the song, could one?
I'm not sure that Jason, reader of Juvenal and Horace (in the original, of course), really meets the description of a hero. He did save Araminta from her horrible family, but with a few less scruples she could've done that herself. And the rescue at the end was a bit contrived - Jason's sister called at 5 am, saying her son is missing and possibly injured in this horrible storm, but it takes him seven-odd hours (including an unnecessary stop at the London house) to get there. There wasn't anyone else who could've gone in search of the kid?
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
sinners at the hands of an angry Jason
I enjoyed The Bachelor's Wedding, and Araminta and Jason were more likeable than many other Betts heroes and heroines. That said, there's a rather disturbing bit in the otherwise pleasant chapter 9. If you'll remember, Alice comes over to tell Araminta that their father had gotten a promotion, that he'd sold the house, and that he and Alice were moving to Bournemouth.
That's all well and good, so far as it goes. It's in character for Mr. Smith to take one more chance to upbraid Araminta for marrying and leaving them in the lurch ("I find it difficult to forget your selfishness even if I can forgive", p. 168). But it's a bit of a surprise that Jason used his connections to get Mr. Smith the promotion and move to Bournemouth (kicking him upstairs, presumably), arranged for the house to be bought quickly.
And it's astonishing to read this, from the otherwise polite Jason: "He said harshly, 'Unless you wish to do so, you do not have to see your father or Alice again. They have treated you badly, used you as a housekeeper and breadwinner, and shown not one jot of gratitude. They do not deserve to have their circumstances improved but it was the only way I could think of that would set you free'" (p. 169).
Ok, whoa. Everything he said about their treatment of Araminta was true, I'll grant that. But - sending them away and suggesting that Araminta need never see them again? One wonders whether he was genuinely that indignant, or whether he took this as excuse to rid himself of Araminta's undesirable relatives.
That's all well and good, so far as it goes. It's in character for Mr. Smith to take one more chance to upbraid Araminta for marrying and leaving them in the lurch ("I find it difficult to forget your selfishness even if I can forgive", p. 168). But it's a bit of a surprise that Jason used his connections to get Mr. Smith the promotion and move to Bournemouth (kicking him upstairs, presumably), arranged for the house to be bought quickly.
And it's astonishing to read this, from the otherwise polite Jason: "He said harshly, 'Unless you wish to do so, you do not have to see your father or Alice again. They have treated you badly, used you as a housekeeper and breadwinner, and shown not one jot of gratitude. They do not deserve to have their circumstances improved but it was the only way I could think of that would set you free'" (p. 169).
Ok, whoa. Everything he said about their treatment of Araminta was true, I'll grant that. But - sending them away and suggesting that Araminta need never see them again? One wonders whether he was genuinely that indignant, or whether he took this as excuse to rid himself of Araminta's undesirable relatives.
Bachelor's Wedding, chapter 9
Chapter 9! It came so quickly. Alice comes over to visit. Is it just me, or are the secondary characters in this book more shallow than usual? In this case, Araminta walks in on Alice "fingering the small silver ornaments set out on a small ebony side-table" (p. 164). Alice has come to tell Araminta that their father has gotten a promotion, so they've sold the house and are moving to Bournemouth. Alice, Mr. Smith, Jason and Araminta have dinner together.
A week or ten days pass. Jason spends more time in Araminta's company of an evening (she sews, he reads - once, he reads Juvenal "in the original of course"), and begins to think she's pretty. They go to the cottage, but the weather takes an abrupt turn for the worse, and they have to go rescue Jason's nephew, who has broken his leg out in the storm. Araminta is sensible in the face of danger.
The book ends (as The Awakened Heart did) with Araminta's decision that she is breaking the spirit of her promise to have a platonic relationship, so she goes to tell Jason that she loves him, but that now she'll have to go. But before she can tell him, he calls her "dear heart", and the book ends happily.
I'll be offline for roughly a week, so I imagine my next post will be in the New Year. I'll be reading Britannia All At Sea while I'm offline, so I expect I'll post about quite a bit of it at once. It's a fun one - it reminds me of the one (can't remember the title) where the Dutch doctor has a vague engagement with the most pedantic, tiresome woman ever: the Betts heroine's patient.
A week or ten days pass. Jason spends more time in Araminta's company of an evening (she sews, he reads - once, he reads Juvenal "in the original of course"), and begins to think she's pretty. They go to the cottage, but the weather takes an abrupt turn for the worse, and they have to go rescue Jason's nephew, who has broken his leg out in the storm. Araminta is sensible in the face of danger.
The book ends (as The Awakened Heart did) with Araminta's decision that she is breaking the spirit of her promise to have a platonic relationship, so she goes to tell Jason that she loves him, but that now she'll have to go. But before she can tell him, he calls her "dear heart", and the book ends happily.
I'll be offline for roughly a week, so I imagine my next post will be in the New Year. I'll be reading Britannia All At Sea while I'm offline, so I expect I'll post about quite a bit of it at once. It's a fun one - it reminds me of the one (can't remember the title) where the Dutch doctor has a vague engagement with the most pedantic, tiresome woman ever: the Betts heroine's patient.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Vicky: more flimsy than cardboard
What's more flimsy and two-dimensional than a cardboard character? Vicky is. Vicky appeared several chapters ago, encouraging Jason to go out for the evening. Here, she appears as Jason and Araminta are settling back in after the trip for the cottage.
It's too tedious to consider her a foil for Araminta - in fact, the only one who feels that Jason might like Vicky is Araminta. This is one occasion when Araminta's much-vaunted common sense goes out the window. She should see that if Jason didn't attach himself to Vicky after all these years, he's hardly likely to take up with her now that he's married.
But for whatever reason, we all have to endure these scenes with Vicky, clearly designed to make Araminta look good. Jason offers Araminta some sherry, and asks Vicky what she would like. She answers, "Gin and tonic, of course - unless there's champagne" (p. 158). Vicky gossips light-heartedly and mocks Araminta for adopting the cat, so of course Jason is very disapproving of Vicky. Betts makes Vicky even more shallow on the next page: "Life's too short not to get as much fun out of it as possible."
I'd probably get a kick out of coffee with Vicky.
It's too tedious to consider her a foil for Araminta - in fact, the only one who feels that Jason might like Vicky is Araminta. This is one occasion when Araminta's much-vaunted common sense goes out the window. She should see that if Jason didn't attach himself to Vicky after all these years, he's hardly likely to take up with her now that he's married.
But for whatever reason, we all have to endure these scenes with Vicky, clearly designed to make Araminta look good. Jason offers Araminta some sherry, and asks Vicky what she would like. She answers, "Gin and tonic, of course - unless there's champagne" (p. 158). Vicky gossips light-heartedly and mocks Araminta for adopting the cat, so of course Jason is very disapproving of Vicky. Betts makes Vicky even more shallow on the next page: "Life's too short not to get as much fun out of it as possible."
I'd probably get a kick out of coffee with Vicky.
Araminta's gardening clothes
Araminta was poor before this - at least, her wardrobe was nothing to write home about. So I can see where she would revel in her nice new clothes. But Betts has her dress up to go to the country, which seems strange. Here's the quote (p. 151): "...since they hoped to spend the weekend walking and pottering in the garden, Araminta wore the suede jacket and one of her new skirts with a silk shirt and cashmere sweater. She wore sensible shoes too..."
Well, I'd hope she wore sensible shoes! Because honestly, this is a really odd outfit to wear for gardening, in that sort of bathing-horses-in-champagne way. Why not wear an old skirt?
Well, I'd hope she wore sensible shoes! Because honestly, this is a really odd outfit to wear for gardening, in that sort of bathing-horses-in-champagne way. Why not wear an old skirt?
Bachelor's Wedding, chapter 8
Wow, this book is going quickly!
I have to introduce a new label: adopted pet. This refers to the bedraggled pets that Betts characters adopt. These pets are always handy for establishing a character as thoughtful and caring. Betts heroines have been known to adopt pets even when they are very poor. Araminta finds this one on the doorstep of the cottage, which they visit in this chapter. In this case, the pet serves as something for Vicky to mock when she comes over, and for Jason to defend.
Araminta continues to be in love with Jason, and at the very end of the chapter, he realizes he's in love with her.
I have quite a bit more to say about this chapter - well, two long comments, which I feel would be better in separate posts.
I have to introduce a new label: adopted pet. This refers to the bedraggled pets that Betts characters adopt. These pets are always handy for establishing a character as thoughtful and caring. Betts heroines have been known to adopt pets even when they are very poor. Araminta finds this one on the doorstep of the cottage, which they visit in this chapter. In this case, the pet serves as something for Vicky to mock when she comes over, and for Jason to defend.
Araminta continues to be in love with Jason, and at the very end of the chapter, he realizes he's in love with her.
I have quite a bit more to say about this chapter - well, two long comments, which I feel would be better in separate posts.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Bachelor's Wedding, chapter 7
Araminta and Jason get married at the beginning of the chapter. Alice doesn't even attend; Mr. Smith does, to give Araminta away, but skedaddles off tout de suite with the comment that he has to go take Alice out to lunch.
Araminta has a wedding day (and first days after) that would be atypical for anyone but a Betts heroine: Jason works quite a bit, and she is left to learn about the house on her own. She gets some tapestry to do, and Jason takes her to Harrods for a shopping spree. Essentially, she needs a whole new wardrobe; not even her wedding suit is quite good enough.
At the very end of the chapter, Araminta realizes she is in love with Jason, and probably has been for a while. She's sensible about it, though, and decides to have a good try at winning his love (with the help of a good clothes, careful makeup and well-dressed hair, natch).
Araminta has a wedding day (and first days after) that would be atypical for anyone but a Betts heroine: Jason works quite a bit, and she is left to learn about the house on her own. She gets some tapestry to do, and Jason takes her to Harrods for a shopping spree. Essentially, she needs a whole new wardrobe; not even her wedding suit is quite good enough.
At the very end of the chapter, Araminta realizes she is in love with Jason, and probably has been for a while. She's sensible about it, though, and decides to have a good try at winning his love (with the help of a good clothes, careful makeup and well-dressed hair, natch).
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