The Heir by Johanna Lindsey

Johanna Lindsey is candy.

Her books, among a few others', are what I read when I want something sweet, happy and satisfying when TV and life fail to give me a break from reruns. The books are relatively short and are easy to digest, generally better than TV. I like Lindsey because her romance novels always contain amusing characters, and there is usually a large cast surrounding the main couple, bickering and providing funny anecdotes. It's not all self-involved mush, you get aunts and uncles with sordid pasts, and siblings providing comic relief while the romantic couple get to be almost unbearable in their romantic angst.

"The Heir" is part of the Reid series apparently. I've only read the Malory series, which is quite long in its own right, and it was nice to discover a new series set in Victorian England. I suppose one reason I like Lindsey's books are that they are historical romances, so when the heroine waxes pathetically, I can indulge myself and not scoff because the character might actually do that "back in the day". If it were set in contemporary times, I'd feel obliged to throw the book because I can't quite imagine anyone doing that these days. This book is about Duncan MacTavish who is the unknowing heir to a large fortune in England. He grew up in the Scottish Highlands, so he is naturally grumpy with the prospect (I will have to go to Scotland one day to find out if this sentiment is true... like English vs. French in Canada). Apparently, his two grandfathers had an agreement that he would inherit his English grandfather's estate, and his first born would inherit his Scottish grandfather's. So he is unceremoniously sent to England to find a wife and have lots of babies. In England, the heroine of the story is Sabrina Lambert who is a poor noblewoman with a "scandalous" past. The scandal itself is rather contrived, but I suppose that is the intent, to show how ridiculous "scandal" can be. Unfortunately, if you take a look at any of the tabloids these days, that is still true. She's in London, hoping to find a husband at her spinster aunts' behest. The two old ladies are awesome, they fight alot and have no restraint when they want to say something. The two grandfathers are awesome too in much the same way. While in London, she is accompanied by her aunt's friend's daughter - Ophelia, the villain. A vain, self-centered, but beautiful girl. Her character is revealed pretty quickly, and you can't help but hate her. Near the end, she gets the best tongue lashing from one of her best friends. The rant isn't spiteful, it's just true and I couldn't help but feel incredibly satisfied to read it... I've been tempted more than once to do the same to some people but was forced to restrain myself. I look forward to the opportunity to express myself fully. Apparently the second book in the series is about Ophelia's reformation.... I might not read that one just because I enjoyed her comeupance so much. Rounding up the cast is Raphael Locke (Rafe), the kind hearted rake who becomes Duncan and Sabrina's friend.

At the beginning of the story, Ophelia is bethroved to Duncan, something arranged by his English grandfather at the request of his Scottish grandfather - "find him the bonniest lass in England". Everybody meets at Duncan's English estate, where his grandfather is holding a big party to pimp him out to find a wife. Duncan meets Sabrina first, they more or less fall in love at first sight but the reader is told that Sabrina only has a crush on him, and Duncan finds Sabrina amusing amongst all the aggravation he is currently suffering for his inheritance. Duncan meets Ophelia, he finds her beautiful but when she opens her mouth he is repulsed by the insults that come out and breaks the engagement. Her pride is scarred by this, and vows to fix it or prevent him from marrying anyone else. Meanwhile, there's a party going on, and new ladies coming and going, Rafe arrives to annoy Duncan and make friends with Sabrina. Duncan goes around meeting all the pretty girls, but he ends up spending most of his time with Sabrina because she's fun... everyone else is pretty but a only a little less shallow than Ophelia. Ophelia goes on to be incredibly repulsive and mean to Sabrina, while trying to recover her engagement with Duncan if not get herself engaged to Rafe because he has a shinier title than Duncan. Of course both Rafe and Duncan sees through the act, but that doesn't stop her. Conflict, conflict, conflict, love, love, love... it ends with a happy ending!

The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

Page 147 of 755
The passionate biographical novel of Michelangelo

I picked this book up at the big library book sale downtown about a month ago. I was attracted to it because it sounded familiar at the time, and I later found out that it had been made into a movie... d'uh. I haven't seen the movie, but remembered the title because it sounded sexy.

So far, the book has been better than I expected. It starts off a little slow, because it is still a historical text(book). But the author does a good job of imagining what Michelangelo might of thought and felt. In the intro, the author cites a number of historical authorities, and thanks professor for translating Michelangelo's personal letters.

I've been slow reading it because it is very slow... not alot of action as yet. Lots of passages about Michelangelo discovering the art of sculpture, and his near fanaticism of marble. It's been really interesting to read about life in Florence during his time though, living with the Medici and the conventions of the day. I'm sure I could make it sound more interesting, but I haven't finished the book yet, so I'll reserve that for later.