Friday, April 29, 2005
Doubt Leaves Questions
This isn't about romance but it is somewhat literary - I went to see the Broadway play Doubt tonight and I am still somewhat overwhelmed by it. It's something I'll think about for some time - it definitely leaves you with a question, not an answer. (In an interview, the cast members said that audience polls usually found 1/3 for him, 1/3 for her and 1/3 undecided.) Brian F. O'Byrne and Cherry Jones were fabulous (although I found the Bronx accents a bit distracting). I'd read quite a bit about it, and it was what I expected - but also not what I expected. If you have the opportunity to see it, you should. You'll be thinking about it after you leave the theatre.
A Romance For Food Network Fans
Even though I usually prefer serious and heart-rending books, I enjoy a light read every now and then - and I usually turn to a series book when I'm in that mood. Humor wears thin in many longer books but a shorter book can be sustained on "amusing and charming". But there's a fine line between "charming" and "annoying" - I'm picky about my humor (just like everything else).
Dishing It Out by Molly O'Keefe (HFlip 37)
(2005, Contemporary Series) 4/28/05
Grade: 4
Marie has finally opened her bistro, and is appearing in a successful cooking segment on the morning news, but she’s still struggling - and the annoyingly smug chef across the street doesn’t help. But when they’re maneuvered into hosting a cooking show together, she finds out that Van is more than he seems - not to mention incredibly sexy!
A charming and fun book. The plot is thin, but most of the book gets by just fine with likeable characters and plenty of charm. I loved the details about cooking, which were the best part of the book. The characters had great chemistry together (even though they didn’t jump in bed immediately) and the book was amusing and fun. Unfortunately, the book ends with a rote “she’s afraid to commit” conflict which was predictable and dull, and ended the book on a less appealing note. But overall, the book was a light and enjoyable read.
For anyone who loves chef books and worships at the altar of Alton Brown, this is the book for you. I debated about whether to give this a 4 or 4.5, but I had to give it extra points for the setting. Chefs are definitely sexy - I wish more authors would write about them! (I also recommend Cathy Yardley's Blaze Guilty Pleasures from 2002.)
Dishing It Out by Molly O'Keefe (HFlip 37)
(2005, Contemporary Series) 4/28/05
Grade: 4
Marie has finally opened her bistro, and is appearing in a successful cooking segment on the morning news, but she’s still struggling - and the annoyingly smug chef across the street doesn’t help. But when they’re maneuvered into hosting a cooking show together, she finds out that Van is more than he seems - not to mention incredibly sexy!
A charming and fun book. The plot is thin, but most of the book gets by just fine with likeable characters and plenty of charm. I loved the details about cooking, which were the best part of the book. The characters had great chemistry together (even though they didn’t jump in bed immediately) and the book was amusing and fun. Unfortunately, the book ends with a rote “she’s afraid to commit” conflict which was predictable and dull, and ended the book on a less appealing note. But overall, the book was a light and enjoyable read.
For anyone who loves chef books and worships at the altar of Alton Brown, this is the book for you. I debated about whether to give this a 4 or 4.5, but I had to give it extra points for the setting. Chefs are definitely sexy - I wish more authors would write about them! (I also recommend Cathy Yardley's Blaze Guilty Pleasures from 2002.)
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Discovering a New Author
I'm always a little bit nervous, trying a book by an author that I've "met" online. Lydia Joyce has been posting about this book for so long, how could it possibly be anything but anticlimactic? But how could I resist a book that promised my favorite tortured hero angst?
The Veil of Night by Lydia Joyce
(2005, Victorian) 4/20/05
Grade: 4.5
The heroine goes to visit the mysterious Duke of Raeburn to persuade him to forgive her brother’s debts - and she ends up agreeing to a week of sensual pleasure. (She’s already ruined, so why not take one last chance for pleasure?) Raeburn finds out Victoria’s secrets and grows to care for her, but he will not - cannot - reveal the secret that keeps him forever in darkness.
A well written, interesting book that has a few pacing problems, but it shows a lot of potential for a first time author. The book seems to be divided into thirds - the first third is a sensual, languid gothic, which made me want to savor every word. Maybe a little overly atmospheric in places, but rich and compelling. (Almost a hybrid of Ivory and Schone.) But then the book seemed to lose its way - the secret went on too long and the plot became predictable. The characters seemed stuck. But just before I put the book down in frustration, it picked up again, and I eagerly turned the pages until the end, although it became a more traditionally written and plotted romance in the last third. Not quite a keeper, but definitely an author to watch.
It's always fun to find a new author who is worth watching. It's lovely to find a current book that revels in darkness, and even better, a publisher who doesn't think every book should be the same. I wonder which direction her next books will take - this one seemed like two different books grafted together. I look forward to finding out.
The Veil of Night by Lydia Joyce
(2005, Victorian) 4/20/05
Grade: 4.5
The heroine goes to visit the mysterious Duke of Raeburn to persuade him to forgive her brother’s debts - and she ends up agreeing to a week of sensual pleasure. (She’s already ruined, so why not take one last chance for pleasure?) Raeburn finds out Victoria’s secrets and grows to care for her, but he will not - cannot - reveal the secret that keeps him forever in darkness.
A well written, interesting book that has a few pacing problems, but it shows a lot of potential for a first time author. The book seems to be divided into thirds - the first third is a sensual, languid gothic, which made me want to savor every word. Maybe a little overly atmospheric in places, but rich and compelling. (Almost a hybrid of Ivory and Schone.) But then the book seemed to lose its way - the secret went on too long and the plot became predictable. The characters seemed stuck. But just before I put the book down in frustration, it picked up again, and I eagerly turned the pages until the end, although it became a more traditionally written and plotted romance in the last third. Not quite a keeper, but definitely an author to watch.
It's always fun to find a new author who is worth watching. It's lovely to find a current book that revels in darkness, and even better, a publisher who doesn't think every book should be the same. I wonder which direction her next books will take - this one seemed like two different books grafted together. I look forward to finding out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)