Of Mice and Maltesers 3: stickylittlefingers' book

[stickylittlefingers]

Here we go again :)

I hope you enjoy the book. I love the way it's such a young book, so full of enthusiasm and emotion. It's a breath of fresh air! I mean to re-read it when DD1 is in her teenage years (although she seems to be getting there already, and she's only 7!) to remind myself what a whirlwind it is then (and how unfair life can feel).

Anyway, I'll be interested to see how you all react to it... (bates breath in readiness)

Hi slf, well I really didn't think I was going to like this book when I first started it as it seemed a bit dated. But I quickly got into it and couldn't put it down! I loved all the physical descriptions of the places that they lived, with all the lush vegetation. I'm still not too sure whether I liked the heroine or not though and I am in two minds about her decision at the end. She was quite a complicated character. On the one hand she seemed very insecure but on the other supremely self-confident and self-knowing for her age. I found her cynicism a bit sad in a way. She really didn't seem to know whether she liked Harry or not but then looking back I remember being a bit like that at her age! SPOILER ALERT! Her decision not to be with him at the end was obviously the right one as she didn't love him and wanted to be her own woman but, on the other hand, her future just seemed so bleak - another bit of me thinks 'he seems quite a catch and it sounds like he'd let you get on with your writing and whatnot, surely it has to be better than the alternative?!' I actually thought that the end might involve her going off to Sydney and becoming an actress with Everard Grey as that plotline just seemed to fizzle out.

I have to admit I found some of the flirting utterly bizarre but perhaps it's of its time!

Thanks slf. It's also made me go and root out some old Viragos that I have never read.

that's great to hear!! I love the Viragos, they're nearly always worth a go.

I think you're absolutely right about her character - for me that makes her so believable.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! :)

Thanks for the selection - it is not a book that I would have picked up to read.

I agree that the main character wasn't a very likeable - but the book was fun.

glad to hear you enjoyed it itsjusta :)

SLF your book arrived today and it will be started ASAP
thanks

Well, here goes .....

Thanks SLF I liked your book. I must admit that I would never ever have chosen this for myself simply because it was published in 1901, I have a dis-like for B&W films too BUT it was a very enjoyable read.

Is it fiction or an autobiography - a mix of the two I think. I found the fact that she wrote this whilst being such a young age fascinating.

Very very far ahead of its time

only just made the 20th century criterion . Really glad you liked it aristocat