Book Review: Spy by Danielle Steel

Rating: 10/10- It’s honestly that good

Favorite Character: Alex. I love her so so much.

This novel made me understand why everyone is so obsessed with Danielle Steel. The book is absolutely brilliant. It follows Alex, a rich British girl, through World War II and beyond. Once the war starts, Alex moves to London from her country estate to help with the war effort while her brothers go off to fight. Eventually, Alex gets recruited to be a spy, something no one can know. She has many new experiences, and falls in love with a man who eventually becomes a diplomat. As his wife, she continues her spy work, informing the British during the Cold War. This extraordinary story is fascinating and gripping, as you becomes invested in Alex’s work as well as her life. The writing is beautiful, the plot is exquisite, and the characters are vivid.

Reflection on L.M. Montgomery’s Book Proposals: Anne v. Rilla

SPOILER ALERT!!! This post has major spoilers for the entirety of the Anne of Green Gables Series, especially Anne of the Island and Rilla of Ingleside. Also, in retrospect there’s a bit of a spoiler for Little Women and an implied one for Pride and Prejudice too, although I’m not sure whether those count as spoilers or not. I live and breathe Montgomery, Alcott, and Austen, so… if you don’t know about the proposals in either book, there’s probably a spoiler in there.

Comparison/Judgement

In the end, taken all together, I think the quality of the proposals Anne and Rilla received evens out. Both of Rilla’s proposals were quite nice, and suitably romantic, even if one was tragic and the other hopelessly vague. Anne, on the other hand, had to suffer through three rather embarrassing and ridiculous proposals, but she also received two utterly beautiful, iconic, romantic proposals.

Rilla

I’m going to start with Rilla, as she received less proposals; two to Anne’s five. Fred’s proposal was actual rather well-done, it was romantic and moving. Unfortunately for him, Rilla had already promised Kenneth, and therefore he had to be disappointed. Considering he proposed right before going away to World War I, where he might die, this proposal was utterly heartbreaking and tragic. Romantic, but a terrible moment for poor Rilla. Kenneth, meanwhile, was terribly vague. Rilla was left without knowing whether she was really engaged or not! Who does that?!! But it was a romantic war time proposal, and he followed it up with love letters, so I’ll forgive him for the uncertainty.

Anne

So, let’s start with the bad proposals. First things first, there was Billy Andrews. Oh god, poor Anne’s first proposal was mortifying! His sister, Jane, one of Anne’s best friends, proposed for him, and when Anne rejected him, Jane said that it was as well because of Anne wouldn’t have him, he had a back up candidate which would probably work out better when all was said and done! What a mess! And what a blow for Anne, who was such a romantic! Next, we have Charlie Sloane. He’s just… very Sloanish. Enough said about that. His proposal was terribly awkward, and he flew into a legitimate rage at Anne’s refusal, insulting her dreadfully. Finally, we have Roy Gardner, aka Prince Charming. This book (all of Anne’s proposals happen in Anne of the Island) definitely made me sure that I don’t want a Prince Charming. Poor Roy is an utter sop and frankly, his proposal war rather pathetic. I suppose you could call it romantic, but I just found it rather embarrassing. Who wants Prince Charming anyway? I’d rather have Gilbert Blythe any day of the week.

Which leads us to Gilbert, who made both of Anne’s iconic proposals. Despite being rejected the first time, he did give a beautiful and romantic proposal. Actually, I found it somewhat reminiscent of Laurie’s proposal to Jo in Little Women, (whoops, another spoiler) except Anne had no good reason to refuse him (the poor girl was deep in denial) and Gilbert behaved much better (more sensibly too, while we’re at it!) and of course, his second proposal, at the end of the third book, is the most iconic book proposal of all time (and yes, I am counting Jane Austen’s book proposals in there, sorry- I prefer Gilbert over Darcy).

Most Iconic Proposal Quote: “‘I have a dream,’ he said slowly. ‘I persist in dreaming it, although it has often seemed to me that it could never come true. I dream of a home with a hearth-fire in it, a cat and dog, the footsteps of friends — and YOU!’” -L.M.Montgomery

Also, “There was nobody else — there never could be anybody else for me but you. I’ve loved you ever since that day you broke your slate over my head in school,” is part of the conversation, and I think is terribly romantic (I really am a total sap) but I don’t really think it counts as part of the proposal.

Book Review: Rilla of Ingleside by LM Montgomery

Rating: 10/10 (this should probably be a 9.75 but I’m adding points for nostalgia- it’s my comfort book and my favorite.

Favorite Character: Rilla (I never claimed to be particularly original)

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I honestly think everyone should read it. It is severely underrated, mostly because not a lot of people know about it. The last book in the Anne of Green Gables Series, it follows Anne’s daughter, Rilla, during World War I. You do not actually need to read the rest of the series to enjoy this book. Seriously- Rilla’s legitimately a baby in the only other books that mention her in the series. Frankly, I think this story is perfect. This is very much a historical fiction sort of piece, as it centers on Rilla’s experiences as a Canadian woman in World War I. Between worrying over her loved ones away at war, adopting a war orphan, and organizing a Junior Red Cross, the war drastically reshapes Rilla’s life. Montgomery writes a beautiful tale of a young girl growing up in the midst of war. This book is perfect as a Bildungsroman, a classic, historical fiction, romance, a wartime story, and realistic fiction. Please read it. I hope you fall in love with this book just like I did.

Book Review: 44 Charles Street by Danielle Steel

Rating: 9/10

So, personally I loved this book. I thought it was a beautiful work of fiction. It was romantic, but not without being realistic and cynical. The story follows Francesca, a gallery owner who after a breakup is forced to search for roommates. Eileen, a young teacher, Chris, a divorced father with an addict ex-wife, and Marya, a widowed chef, join Francesca in her house. The story follows the four as they become friends, not just roommates, and through their difficulties over the course of a year. An excellent work of realistic fiction, I would definitely recommend this beautifully written book.

Book Review: The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak

Rating: 9/10

Favorite Character: Barbara

This book tells the story of the Russian court from the arrival of Catherine the Great as Princess Sophie of Zerbst, to her triumph as empress. The book is from the perspective of Barbara, a penniless orphan who is one of the Empress Elizabeth’s wards. She becomes on of Elizabeth’s tongues, or spies. Born in Poland, she finds some kinship with the Princess Sophie, as they are both foreigners. Barbara rises and falls in importance at court, but through it all she observes the happenings around her, making her an excellent storyteller. In this book, we learn more than just Catherine’s story; we get to see Barbara’s story, the Empress Elizabeth’s story, as well as parts of the tales of many other key players at the time, such as the Orlov brothers. This book immerses you into the fascinatingly complex and dangerous Russian court. A story of politics, survival, and ambition, this book gives you an insider’s view into one of the most significant power struggles in history.

Cassandra Clare Character Appreciation Post Part I: Charlotte Fairchild, Julian Blackthorn, Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, and Catarina Loss

Comment your opinions and/or character suggestions! (I will implement any ideas you give me via either edits or a Part II. Chances are, this is not a complete list.)

Charlotte Fairchild

Quote: “People were intrinsically selfish, and many hated the idea of a woman in charge of the Institute. They would not put themselves at risk for her. Only a few weeks ago he would have said the same thing about himself. Now, knowing Charlotte, he realized to his surprise, the idea of risking himself for her seemed an honor, as it would be to most Englishmen to risk themselves for the queen.” (While not a quote from Charlotte, I felt that it was rather pertinent to her character all the same. It was said by Gabriel Lightwood.)

Charlotte is iconic. She was the first female consul ever. She broke so many barriers for women in the Shadowhunter world. She overcame all the difficulties she faced, including prejudice. She was always just, fair, wise, and kind. A true leader, she believed in diplomacy and doing the right thing. A formidable woman, without her, the London Institute would have fallen apart during the Infernal Devices trilogy. She earns respect through her leadership skills from anyone with sense. Charlotte sets a wonderful example for all readers, especially female ones.

Julian Blackthorn

Quote: “We are bound together, Emma, bound together—I breathe when you breathe, I bleed when you bleed, I’m yours and you’re mine, you’ve always been mine, and I have always, always belonged to you!”

Ok, so I love this character. Actually, one of my friends likes to make fun of how obsessed I am. So sue me, I find the fact that he would do anything for his loved ones and puts them above all else an attractive trait. Also, he’s rather more morally grey than most of Clare’s characters, though, of course, one of my favorite things about her books are how complex all her characters are. Still, one of Julian’s strongest traits is that he would let the world burn- he would even set it on fire himself- if that’s what it took to protect his family (and I don’t just mean blood relatives). Most of the other characters care more about the rest of the world, are willing to risk those they love as well as themselves for it, but Julian doesn’t give a damn. His character is so full of love- he loves with his whole heart, loves so much that he could drown in it. Yet he is also full of rage and fire and fury and secrets and darkness. There’s this duality to his character, how he is a romantic artist while being a dangerous and ruthless criminal (spoiler- it’s complicated, but he upholds the Blackthorn motto of lex malla lex nulla, a bad law is no law, practically religiously) that makes him incredibly fascinating.

Magnus Bane

Quote: “Who ever said we were owed happiness?” (Despite being depressing- or perhaps because of it- this quote is one of my all time favorites.)

Quote #2: “Life seems to me to be a matter of choosing love, over and over, even knowing that it makes you vulnerable, that it might hurt you later. Or even sooner. You just have no choice. You choose to love or you choose to live in an empty world with no one there but you. And that seems like a truly terrible way to spend eternity.” (Magnus gets two because, while the first one is my favorite Cassandra Clare quote, I feel like this one represents him better.)

If you have read any book about the Shadowhunters universe, you know who Magnus Bane is. He is arguably the most important character in the universe, though I admit, being immortal certainly gives him an advantage. Despite everything he’s been through, he is, at heart, incredibly kind. Something that is remarkably amusing about him, which becomes all the more hilarious when you realize he is literally hundreds of years old and never lost this trait, is his willingness to help people he is attracted to. These favors range anywhere from helping Marie Antoinette escape Paris during the French Revolution to buying an enchanted ruby that literally cost him a London townhouse as a goodbye present to summoning demons. Despite his flamboyancy, Magnus is unerringly genuine. His philosophies and perspectives are often the deepest of all the characters. He is the character most likely to make my laugh- and also the most likely to make me cry. Truly, he is a wonderfully three-dimensional character that will absolutely move you.

Alec Lightwood

Quote: “‘Take my hands,’ Alec said. ‘And take my strength too. Whatever of it you can use.’”

Alec has, hands down, THE best character arc I have ever read. He starts as a side character, but he very quickly steals the show. Seriously, he very quickly became the main reason I was reading the Mortal Instruments series. I mean, all the characters in that series are very good, but Alec and Magnus just shine. Alec cares, so much, and that remains the same throughout the books, but throughout them, his entire world view changes. Even at the beginning, he is still a good person, but he develops into an amazing empathetic leader. He is able to accept that the prejudices he had been raised with are wrong, and dedicates the rest of his life to bettering the society he lives in.

Catarina Loss

Quote: “Every decision you make, makes you. Never let other people choose who you’re going to be.” (Catarina honestly lives by this quote, which is very impressive.)

Catarina is a severely underrated character. She is honestly such a good person; she dedicated her entire life to helping others. She was a nurse in both world wars, and helps even those who don’t deserve it. She sticks to her morals above the rules, defying death to take care of an orphan child. She is always the sensible voice of reason and kindness.

Book Review: The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

Rating: 9.5/10

Favorite Character: Briseis; Most of the male characters in this book end up looking really bad, probably because the book is so true to the original epic instead of making the story softer.

A feminist retelling of Homer’s Iliad, this story is told from the perspective of Briseis. While all the characters are vividly complex, Barker does not soften her portrayals. The men in this story are conquerors, taking the women as slaves and murdering all the men. There is little mercy in this story. In fact, above all, it is a story of survival, as Briseis goes from princess to slave and nonetheless creates a place for herself, never backing down. The concentration in this story, for once, is the women. Not the queens sitting proudly on their thrones, but the women who are brought low; the slaves in the Greek camp, the Trojan women who become slaves themselves when Troy falls, the girls sacrificed for fair winds, the ones whose lives are dismissed as worthless. There is a solidarity between them, as they all help each other deal with their fates. Some of the women choose freedom and death, other choose to live despite being slaves. This story shows how all of the choices these women might make are valid. This book is, above all, as its title says, about the silence of the girls, the ones who are forced to pretend they are voiceless to survive. Yet with each other their voices rise up and we see them through Briseis’ eyes, these survivors who learn to hide their pain.

Rant: Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

Ok, so I’m rereading this book right now, and I am just- wow, I am just dying over here. God, I’m such a sap. First of all, the emails. Oh my god the emails. It’s the most romantic thing ever, writing love letters to each other via email and quoting famous love letters in them. I can’t decide on my favorite, but I just spend most of the time reading this book screaming and squealing.

Also, oh my god I love Alex but wow I feel bad for Liam. Like that’s got to suck. They had a legit relationship, and Alex didn’t even know. Hell, Alex didn’t even know he wasn’t straight. When Liam was first mentioned, I was like: why would you drop a friend like that just before he moved. Then, once Alex started having his identity crisis, I realized: oh. That was an actual break up. Ok, I got it now.

Continuing, I also love the Latinx representation in this book. I’m Argentine, and a lot of people assume that just because my dad is Latino, he’s homophobic. Which like, yes, some Latinx people are homophobic. So are people who are not Latinx. Anyway, so I love Alex’s dad’s reaction. He just very much takes it in stride. Actually, I love how he just tries to slip it into the conversation and progressively becomes less subtle when Alex doesn’t notice at first. Though Ellen Claremont’s “Exploring Your Sexuality: Healthy, But Does It Have To Be With the Prince of England?” slide will always be iconic.

Now, on to quotes. Because I am obsessed with quotes and this book has some of the absolute best. Not to mention, the lines: “Of course I want you-“ “Then fucking have me!” destroy me every time. Though, let’s be honest. Nearly every other line of this book, especially anything Alex and Henry say to each other, kind of destroys me. Also, “I thought, this is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, and I had better keep it a safe distance away from me. I thought, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire.” That, that is absolutely amazing. It makes me want a love that would set me on fire. And “I love him on purpose,” is such a romantic line. How loving Henry is a choice Alex is making, something he wants.

Some other amazing quotes include “America, he is my choice,” and “History will remember us.” Honestly, the way this book looks at love and legacy is just really moving. Another quote on the topic is, “Henry’s smiling so wide and bright that Alex thinks his heart’s going to break trying to hold the size of this entire moment, the completeness of it, a thousand years of history swelling inside his rib cage.” I love how this quote makes me think about how, though we’ve certainly still got ways to go, our present is the result of our history, our rights a result of the fights our ancestors and previous generations fought.

Ok, now I’m done with the reread. Seriously, this book is peak escapism and is just beautiful. Isn’t it nice to read a book that’s so hopeful?

Quote of the Day

“Should I tell you that when we’re apart, your body comes back to me in dreams? That when I sleep, I see you, the dip of your waist, the freckle above your hip, and when I wake up in the morning, it feels like I’ve just been with you, the phantom touch of your hand on the back of my neck fresh and not imagined? That I can feel your skin against mine, and it makes every bone in my body ache? That, for a few moments, I can hold my breath and be back there with you, in a dream, in a thousand rooms, nowhere at all?” -Casey McQuiston, Red White and Royal Blue

So, I am in love with this quote. I feel like this, having been written in an email, shows that romantic things such as love letters still have a place in the modern world. Also, I’m a sap, and it makes me cry. Hope you enjoy it!

Reflections: Patroclus and Achilles

Books: Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, the Iliad by Homer, the Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

In the end, their love story endures like nothing else. I’ve always wanted a love like that, you know? A love that could set the world on fire. A love that could change the course of history, that could burn the world down. Patroclus and Achilles really are the definition of epic love. Could you imagine loving someone that much? That passionately? (Reflections of a romantic teenager who’s never been in love, but still.) No matter which way you tell it, or whose perspective you tell it from, the story of the Trojan War, one of the most famous stories of all time, always becomes, at least partially, a story about their love. Their names will be linked together until the end of time. Now that’s what I call a romance.