Currently reading:

 

Lost in a Good Book: I think that I am almost done with Lost in a Good Book, although because it's an omnibus edition, I can't be sure. Things seem to be heading towards a resolution. I expect to finish in an hour or so.

 

With respect to this series - I'm pretty sure that this is the last of the Thursday Next books that I'm going to read. While I like the idea behind the book, I feel like they are a little too aggressively high-concept for me and I find myself frustrated with them. I do plan to return the omnibus, but will keep it in the back of my mind in case I decide to read The Well of Lost Plots.

 

A Few Eggs and No Oranges: I didn't make a lot of progress with this one this week. I read September and October of 1940, which is right in the middle of the London Blitz.

 

Being in the middle of a pandemic where some Americans are throwing tantrums like spoiled children over having to wear masks into stores and other public places, this is fascinating reading. We would not survive the Blitz. "Conservatives" would be whingeing about "muh riiiiiigths" as they all got us killed by refusing to put up some damn curtains. 

 

Jane and Prudence: I decided that I needed a dose of Pym, so this is next up. I have the VMC edition in paperback and all I've read so far is the introduction by Jilly Cooper.

 

I do have a three day weekend coming up, so I'm definitely going to need to add at least one more book to the plans. I'm trying to settle on my next Christie reread. On my ATVL blog, I reposted a bunch of Heyer reviews for #Throwback Thursday, so I'm also considering diving into my Heyer digital collection and reading one of her regencies! I also have a digital copy of Tey's The Man in the Queue, which is in consideration.

 

This is a great introduction to an adult Prudence. I was actually really happy that the book didn’t have Prudence following Alexia around, but rather gave Rue her own adventure. While I would love a book with more Alexia, Conall, and Dama intertwined with Rue, I was very pleased that this first book didn’t do that. I absolutely loved her adventure, although it took a while to get there. It was great catching up with old friends. We get to meet new characters and explore India. Mostly, we learn the apple really doesn’t fall that far from the tree, regardless of which parent you look at!

Prudence - Caroline Clemmons The town of Tarnation, Texas has no single females of marriageable age. The single men of the town are threatening to move to larger towns to find a wife which would cause Tarnation to die out. Young widow Lydia Harrison travels to her home state of Virgina where she places an ad in the newpaper and interviews several young women who are interested in moving west to marry. Seven young women ultimately head west with Lydia and her friend Sophie; each girl escaping something or someone and looking for acceptance and love.

A well written series with interesting characters. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series as well.

In that way that two strong, bold personalities often have children that have wispy, paler personalities than themselves, Prudence is a pale imitation of Connel and Alexia Maccon in Soulless.

 

It's not for lack of trying, but Carriger's attempts at giving Prudence (Rue) her own eccentric personality just falls flat for me.  What felt like effortless eccentricity and resulting hilarity in Alexis feels forced in Rue.  What felt natural in Soulless feels affected in Prudence.

 

Still, it wasn't a bad read; if I hadn't read The Parasol Protectorate and The Finishing School series first, I'd likely have enjoyed this a lot more.  But even though we get to see the beloved cast of characters from TPP return, it's sadly just not the same.  It just never really came together for me.  It was o.k., but it was never fun.

 

 

 

 

Total pages: 357

$$:  $3.00

Another rollicking romp though an alternate Victorian world full of fun and adventure and wonderfully clever banter.  :)

 

In this book, the first volume of The Custard Protocol, we meet Prudence, the all-grown-up daughter of Alexia and Lord Maccon and the other grown-up little ones from the Parasol Protectorate series.  We have the twins, Primrose and Percy as well as the cocky Quesnel.  Off they go adventuring in Rue's airship, the Spotted Custard, headed towards India in search of tea.  

 

There is the beginnings of romance, some rambunctious adventures concerning shape-shifters of a different sort, meetings with old friends (that are never long enough - Lyall is still my fave of fave characters, but I have to admit, young Spoo has quite endeared herself to me already), and of course manners and etiquette all over the place. 

 

My only problem was that I kept getting muddled up between Rue and Prim!  *LOL*  I guess Prudence is too close to Primrose in my old brain.  But honestly, that was the only wee complaint I had and it's entirely my own problem.  

 

Another series I'm going to have to collect!  :)