Penny Watson's Blog, page 72

Review of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre

Review of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë


I read a lot of books growing up. Classics like To Kill A Mocking Bird, David Copperfield, and Ethan Frome. I read poetry and Shakespeare and angsty YA stuff like Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. But my reading journey of days gone by did not include Charlotte Brontë or Jane Austen. Not sure why. I guess my strict private school deemed them unnecessary for my literary education. Never realizing that I would grow up to become a romance writer and reviewer, and that Jane Eyre was probably one of the most important books I could ever read.

Well, my dear friends, I have rectified this horrible literary oversight.

Big thanks to Sherri Erwin--author of Jane Slayre, a literary mash-up of Jane Eyre and zombies and other fun stuff. After attending her workshop at the NEC conference, I decided I wanted to read her book. And before I tackled it, I needed to read the original text.

The Big Kahuna Of Romantic Fiction.

The Precursor To Romance Novels Everywhere.

With The Greatest Strong-Willed, Determined, Impassioned Heroine Ever Created...

And The Most Long-Winded, Brooding, Melodramatic Hero Ever To Grace The Pages Of A Novel.


As I read Jane Eyre for the first time, it finally dawned on me where the "formula" for romance novels originated. With Charlotte Brontë. All of my super favorite themes in romance can be found in this luscious tale.....a horribly disfigured hero healed by the power of love. A downtrodden heroine forced to forge her own destiny by her wits and inner faith. Crazy, melodramatic twists and turns in the plot. Overwrought dialogue, evil villains, pages and pages of lush description.

This is the precursor to modern soap operas, modern romance. And the truly astounding and amazing thing is that it was published in 1847. The timelessness of this tale, the universal message....about the conquering power of love and romance....sent chills up and down my spine as I finished this wonderful book.

While the message may be timeless, the "voice" is certainly not modern. There are endless pages of introspection, descriptive narrative, melodramatic dialogue, etc. This is not a fast-paced, modern story. This is old-fashioned romance at its best.

Jane is a fabulous character. She is filled with intelligence and a strong sense of morality and justice. She realizes from a young age her lot in life is unjust. At first she quietly accepts it, but as her outrage about her unfair circumstances begins to grow, she finally lets loose all of her true inner feelings.

How we cheer for her when she finally vents her emotions! We suffer through her indignities, her beatings, her humiliation with the Reeds, with Brocklehurst, and then lap up the tiniest bits of kindness from Miss Temple, Mr. Lloyd, her friend Helen. Brontë has created an incredibly strong, willful female protagonist, which is a fascinating accomplishment considering this book was published in 1847. Jane is the heroine we all aspire to be...thoughtful, determined, intelligent, loyal. She is the quintessential heroine, the basis for all romantic heroines in modern times.

This book does not disappoint with the over-the-top melodrama either. It puts General Hospital to shame. The over-zealous religious villains! The brooding hero, who waxes on (and on and on) about himself. The ridiculous plot, which includes hidden lunatics, a wedding from hell, evil relatives, kind relatives, religious missionaries, fiery death and destruction, etc. etc. This plotline is especially ridiculous: Jane flees Rochester after getting the shock of her life, gets on a random coach, ends up hours and hours away from Thornfield, stumbles into a home begging for food, and they just happen to be her long-lost cousins. And then she just happens to find out that her long-lost uncle kicked the bucket and left her tons of cashola. Haaa haaaa! Okay, so there wasn't an evil identical twin hiding a secret baby in the attic, but that's pretty damned good, anyway!
The most successful romance novels take us to the depths of despair (hell, poverty, torture) and then reward us with love. Brontë has that part down pat! Rocky McRochester (my nickname for Edward Rochester, the hero of this tale) reminded me of Sydnam from Mary Balogh's Simply Love. At the end of this book, he is totally broken....physically maimed and filled with hopelessness. His salvation is love; pure, sweet and joyful, Jane Eyre's love sets him free. So wonderful!!!!!!
Brontë makes us hate Rochester for a while, too. I was pretty pissed off at him during the house party, while the Ingrams shunned Jane and treated her like dirt. She hid behind the curtain like a wallflower, watching the man she loved "court" his intended bride. I kept waiting for him to jump to Jane's defense, but he never does. Later he admits he did this on purpose, to test her love for him...the big-ass schmo! He is filled with remorse at the end of the book, and I love how Jane forgives him. She is astonishing.

I also love that she refuses St. John when he offers her marriage without love. He says he is offering her purpose for her life, but without love or romance. She refuses. She knows she deserves more, and she's right. Rock on, Charlotte Brontë! Somehow Jane knows she can combine her practical side and her emotional, romantic side. And she refuses to settle for less.

I love Jane!

This is a gem. I can't wait to read it again.

I am really looking forward to Jane Slayre. Taking something this old-fashioned, melodramatic and romantic, and adding a dose of the ridiculous....zombies! Oh be still, my beating heart!

I can't wait to dive into all the film versions of this book. Any suggestions?

Grade: A

The Newest Member of the Rocky McRochester Fan Club,
Penelope

I'm Getting Older, Too......

"I really don't care if anybody buys it, and I really don't care if everybody steals it. What I need is to make a record for me, the artist." 
Stevie Nicks, about her new album (from The Boston Globe, 5-7-11)


I guess I have something in common with Stevie Nicks besides the big, blond hair.  
I don't write for the book sales.
I don't write for the publishers or the agents or the editors.
I don't write for the reviews.
I don't write for the awards.
I don't write for the bestseller lists.
I don't write for the money.

I write for me.

Can We Talk? A Roundtable Discussion With Book Blogging Weenies

Gertrude: So, ladies, the topic for today is the legitimacy of non-professional, romance-reviewing book bloggers on the internet....

Bertha: Huh?

Ditzy: Bertha, turn up your hearing aide, sweetie.

Gretel: That's the topic? I thought we were discussing Oscar, the dachshund who lives on Lewis Street....

Heidi: Ha! Oscar is such a horn dog, isn't he?

Gertrude: Ladies! Please! This is a serious topic. Try to focus. Ada, what is your opinion about the validity of non-professional reviews?

Ada: What an asinine question. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. How does one go about becoming a "professional" reviewer, anyway?

Brigitte: Is there a doctorate program at Yale for romance reviewing? I would love that.

Gertrude: No, I'm sorry Brigitte. There is not a doctorate program at Yale for romance reviewing.

Brunhild: Ada is right. This is an asinine topic.

Gertrude: Well, what exactly do we think are appropriate credentials for romance reviewing?

Bertha: The ability to read?

Gretchen: Chintz wallpaper and bowls of potpourri in the bathroom.

Brunhild: I took a Russian novel class at Vassar.....does that count?

Elise: I'm wearing glasses....I look very professional.



Frieda: Wearing glasses does not make you a professional book blogger, Elise. You have to get paid to be a professional.

Elise: Paid? Who is getting paid for this? Certainly not I. Could you please pass a doggie biscuit?

Gertrude: Frieda is correct. True "professionals" are paid for their opinions. For example, a reviewer for the New York Times, or something along those lines.

Gretchen: Well, I have read thousands of romance novels, I have a degree in English Literature from an ivy league university, and I wear pearls and pumps every day of my life. Just because I don't get paid for my reviews doesn't negate my opinion. I consider myself a "true professional."

Hedy: I'm a romance writer. That makes me a pretty good judge of romance writing, I suppose.

[Silence]

All the doxies laugh uproariously!

Gertrude: (Rubs a tear from her eye). Oh, good one, Hedy! Seriously, girls, any other opinions?

Elise: I like Oscar. I don't mind that he's a horn dog.

Gertrude: Elise!

Brigitte: Well, there are some professional reviewers I really like and respect. But also some I disagree with. Same with the "amateur" book bloggers/reviewers. I don't think it matters if someone is being paid or not. Everyone has his or her own opinion, and sometimes I agree and sometimes I don't. I heard Oscar is seeing Lucy, the golden retriever who lives on Avon Avenue.

Gertrude: Any other thoughts on the subject? About book blogging, not Oscar.

Brunhild: I agree with Brigette. Whether or not a reviewer is "professional," i.e. getting paid for reviews, is neither here nor there. The book blogging community is providing an invaluable service to romance readers world-wide. They read. They opinionate. They entertain. They argue. They post photos of naked men....

Gertrude: Oh! Brunhild! Please attempt to stick to the topic at hand. Although I must admit that I enjoy photos of Daniel Craig in those boy-short swim trunks just as much as the next dachshund, that's not really the point of this roundtable discussion.

Ditzy: Anyone can leave a review at Amazon or Goodreads or any other variety of places. Those folks are not getting paid, but are encouraged to leave reviews of books they've read. So who really cares?

Gertrude: Good question. Evidently, some folks do care. Not that those opinions will stifle our book blogging activities in the slightest. I, for one, am looking forward to reviewing Dogs and Goddesses in the near future. It has a hyperactive Jack Russell, a placid Newfoundland, and....get this....a neurotic dachshund. Ha! Neurotic!

Heidi: Why are dachshunds always portrayed as neurotic? That really peeves me off!

Elise: Well, I think we should all adopt glasses, pearls and pumps. We'll look like professional reviewers, even if we're just romance-reading weenie dogs. Hear me, sistahs?

Gertrude: We could also get license plates that say B-YOTCH BLGGR.

Gretchen: Love....it! I want one!

Gertrude: All right, Ladies. This will conclude our latest roundtable discussion. All in favor of posting naked photos of Oscar on our blogs, please raise your right front paw!

Ruff, ruff, ruffity ruff ruff!!!!!



Happy Blogging,Penelope

Rocky McRochester: A "Jane Eyre" Virgin Meets Rochester For The First Time

"But I tell you—and you may mark my words—you will come some day to a craggy pass in the channel, where the whole of life's stream will be broken up into whirl and tumult, foam and noise: either you will be dashed to atoms on crag points, or lifted up and borne on by some master-wave into a calmer current...."

Rocky McRochester sure likes to talk, doesn't he? I'm at approximately 30% with Jane Eyre, and loving every melodramatic minute of it! I can't believe I never read this baby before. As soon as I'm done, I'm rushing out to watch the new film version.


With The Utmost Sincerity,
Penny McPaddlepuss

Mini Pizzas On The Grill

One of the best parts about spring/summer is getting back to the grill. Even though my diet has drastically changed over the past nine months, grilling is still a big part of our family dining plan. For the easiest dinner ever, we grill some sort of protein (chicken, salmon, steak, etc) and a bunch of veggies (my favorites are zucchini, tomato, red onion, eggplant, asparagus, mushrooms, corn). I make my "grilled veggie salad".....just take the grilled veggies, chop them up, toss them with some olive oil and a dash of balsamic vinegar, and serve on a bed of greens.

Making flatbread pizzas on the grill is also easy and fun for the kids. It's an excellent choice for a party, since the kids can choose their own toppings. I buy fresh pizza dough at the grocery store (some places have whole wheat dough available, but I prefer the white dough for my pizza....*hangs head in white flour shame*). I put out bowls filled with toppings next to the grill, and we make each mini pizza to order. I have red sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil and chopped ham for the kids (mini ham and cheese pizzas!), and more sophisticated stuff for the adults. Here is my recipe for Greek-Style Flatbread Pizza....

Penny's Mini Greek Pizzas!


Ingredients

*Store-bought fresh pizza dough, divided and rolled into mini circles (5-6" wide), sprinkled with olive oil on both sides, and salt/pepper if desired
*Chopped artichoke hearts
*Crumbled feta cheese
*Chopped good Kalamata olives
*Chopped fresh oregano (or basil, chives, any herb you prefer)
*Fresh lemons
*Arugula greens, chopped
*Olive oil
*Boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders marinating in lemon juice and olive oil

First, take the chicken tenders, throw them into a ziploc bag with juice of one lemon and some olive oil, salt and pepper. (I skip the salt!). Let this marinate for a bit. When you're ready to start cooking, put out bowls with all of the ingredients next to the grill. Grill the chicken tenders first, let them cool, then shred or chop into small pieces.

The flatbreads need to be grilled on both sides FIRST, then you add the toppings and quickly heat it through. This goes very quickly on a hot grill, so watch them like a hawk or they will burn. Put the circles of dough on the grill, when they start to puff up and brown, flip them and grill lightly on the other side, then remove from the grill and place on a cookie sheet. Place arugula greens on the pizza, then scatter chicken, artichokes, feta, olives, and herbs on top. Sprinkle a bit of olive oil and lemon juice and S/P on top to taste. Put the pizza back on the grill to heat the toppings. If you are worried about the bottom burning, you can put a piece of foil underneath to protect the dough while the toppings melt. Remove from grill when heated through. These can be served individually, or cut into triangles as an appetizer.

We have a big tub on our deck filled with beers (for the adults) and juice boxes for the kids, and hang out munching these yummy pizzas.

Happy Munching,
Penelope

Reading Updates

This must be confession week. First, I readily admit to hating weddings. Second, I confess that I have never, ever, in all of my days, watched Survivor. It seems dumb, dorky, and totally contrived. I bought Wicked Games on a Twitter recommendation, and when I realized it was a Survivor-type contemporary romance, got pissed off. Well.....in a moment of boredom, I decided to give it a go. And I loved it, in spite of its reality-television-based premise. I am quickly becoming a Jill Myles fan. This was a fun, quick read, filled with sexy island time and a totally satisfying romantic ending. I still have no interest in watching Survivor, but this book was probably way more entertaining. I think I will try one of Ms. Myles' paranormal romances next....maybe Gentlemen Prefer Succubi?
Next up, on the reading horizon.....Jane Eyre, which I downloaded for free on my Kindle. I'm starting with the classic, then tackling the mash-up Jane Slayre by Sherri Erwin. I also got another M/M recommendation from Mandi, Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy. This one sounds sweet and romantic, so hopefully I won't bail in a panic (flashbacks of bearotica are popping into my head....hee hee!). 
On a Debbie Downer note, I have decided not to attend the national RWA meeting this June. :^( I barely survived the NEC meeting this past weekend, and that was a small, quick affair, unlike the jumbo extravaganza in New York. As much as it pains me to admit this, I'm not the same person I was pre-heart attack. Some of that is good (I'm 45 pounds lighter) and some of it is bad (I'm totally exhausted from my meds). I am still planning to attend the New Jersey RWA conference in the fall, especially since I will be able to do my first book signing there (yay!). 
Hope everyone is having a fun reading week! Let me know!Penelope

Conference Wrap-Up

What a great weekend! I am feeling refreshed, invigorated, inspired and grateful beyond belief for such excellent friends and colleagues. The New England Chapter Let Your Imagination Take Flight conference was a resounding success in every way. The location (Salem) was adorable, the company was exquisite (old friends and new friends), and the raspberry cosmos were quite tasty. Here are some high points....

1.) I sheepishly admit I did not attend too many workshops. I volunteered a lot, schmoozed a lot, and hung out with Matt the Bartender (he was a cutie pie). Anyhoo, I did attend one lecture that was a super epic winner. Sherri Browning Erwin discussed her mash-up book Jane Slayre, and a group of about 6 women had a fun convo about horror, romance and the "zombification" of literary classics. I am giving myself a new spring reading assignment: I'm going to read Jane Eyre (the original), then Erwin's mash-up (Jane Slayre), then Charles Dicken's Great Expectations (or maybe the cliff notes...hee hee!), and then Erwin's werewolf-y adaptation, Grave Expectations. Since I am grading myself on this assignment, I already know I'm getting an A+! Can't wait to read Erwin's book!

2.) Carolyn Sullivan, a member of the Rhode Island Romance Writers, gave gorgeous animal tarot cards to everyone. Mine is a rocking wolf with this enigmatic directive for the upcoming year...."Listen to your inner wisdom and enjoy the gift of freedom." I have no clue what that means, and I don't feel particularly wise, but perhaps this will prove to be prophetic somehow. I'm game!

3.) I may have slightly over-imbibed on Saturday night (ahem). I started out with heart healthy red wine, but things quickly progressed downhill from there (at one point I was making up new cocktail names with the bartender Matt....his coconut rum fruit punch drink was renamed "A Little Touch Of Florida"). This culminated in a surreal trolley ride at 11:15 PM, careening through the streets of Salem with a tour guide pointing out interesting sites and giving us historical tidbits about the city. At least I think that happened. It was all pretty much a blur.  :^)

4.) Best part of the conference....my awesome buds! So great to hang out with the Quirks, and see Heather, who did her most excellent impression of Nora Roberts, Natascha from New York (we chatted about paranormal romance and the kidlets!), and some new girls who we cruelly called "newbs" and hopefully didn't permanently traumatize. Good times!

5.) Funniest Moment: My sorry attempt to say "chick lit"....and I wasn't even drunk that time. Haa haaa! (Chit lit, chit lick, chick lick???? oops! heee heee).

6.) I had a great time volunteering at the Editor/Agent Appointment area. You know, the place where everyone looks like they're going to puke at any moment, waiting for their lifetime hopes and dreams to be crushed by a bitchy agent from hell. I tried to lighten the moment by doing jazz hands and fist pumps. Hopefully that helped to distract everyone.

7.) I got a book with a talking weenie dog in it. Hmmmm.......

8.) Final profound observation...

I found a $20 on the floor. One of those moments in life when you have two paths to take, and you must make a choice. The angel on one shoulder whispers "Hand the money to the bartender, do the right thing, don't pocket that cash....." And then the devil on the other side says "Keep the cash, bitch! Do you know how many martinis you can buy with that thing?" Well, I handed the cash to Matt. I wasn't sure if whoever lost the money would come back to retrieve it, or if Matt would be getting a really big tip that night. An hour later, at dinner, our conference chair announced that one lucky person at our table would be winning the most magnificent vase-of-candy centerpiece, that looked like Willy Wonka-on-crack had designed. (I had been coveting that sucker since I first spied it). And guess what! I won! (I may have been a bit too exuberant with my excitement, but I blame it all on the "Little Touch Of Florida" cocktails).

My philosophy about life, which has been sorely tested of late, was reinforced by this event. If you do something good, it will come back to you. Lesson learned: Don't keep the twenty. Get the candy instead.




All My Best,Penelope

Let Your Imagination Take Flight

Well, I am off to Salem for the NECRWA Let Your Imagination Take Flight conference. Yee haw! I look forward to this every year. The Quirky Ladies and I will be there schmoozing, drinking martinis, and....um...oh yeah, probably attending some workshops. I swear! This year, Annette Blair, Anne Stuart and Lani Diane Rich will be speaking. I put together a fun giveaway basket....


It's "Penelope's Favorite Things"!!! It includes a book about beards, a High School Musical CD, a small weenie dog (stuffed, not real), chocolate and some of my favorite romance novels. Some very lucky person will be winning this gift. I sure hope she appreciates Zac Efron. :^)
Well, I'm off to Salem! Hope to see some of you there. Please stop by and say hello!
ETA: Snafu already! The hotel kicked me out of my room because it is under renovation! Well, I never....!!! They are "relocating" 10 guests to another hotel and providing a trolley to transport us back and forth. (I'm  hoping the trolley has an open bar.) *grumble, grumble, grumble*
Penelope

An Embarrassing Admission From A Romance Lover

I hate weddings.

Yep, it's true. This is a super embarrassing admission for a reader, writer and lover of romantic fiction, but weddings give me hives.

That includes my own wedding. Other people's weddings. Televised weddings. Real weddings. Fake weddings. I can handle Vegas shin-digs with Elvis impersonators, but that's about it.

The only thing I hate worse than weddings would be bridal showers. I would rather have a red hot poker stabbed in my eye than attend a party where 150 women dressed in hot, uncomfortable pantyhose have to "Oooo!" and "Ahhhhh!" about a bunch of dumb wedding gifts. Seriously. If I go to hell when I die, Satan will have a never-ending bridal shower set up just for me for all of eternity.

Which brings to me to the (incredibly irritating) topic at hand. The. Royal. Wedding. The fact that the world is being bombarded by news articles daily about this affair is beyond irritating. The fact that this was an actual headline this week...."Shane Connolly Feels The Pressure As Royal Wedding Florist" is completely meshugana. (OK, so it was in People Magazine, but still......).

In theory, weddings are a lovely and romantic concept. Which is why they always turn out so great in romance novels. In reality, they're about family squabbles, dinner buffets, and how to avoid that drunk Uncle Bobby during the reception. I was a middle schooler when Diana and Charles got married. I woke up and watched with my mom and dad and sister while that poor woman was forced to march down the aisle with fifty thousand pounds of silk train trailing behind her. Even at that young, impressionable age, I knew that looked like a bad idea.

Later in life, it became readily apparent that "weddings" had nothing to do with the bride and groom, but everything to do with family obligations. "Marriage" was something altogether different. "Weddings" were about pastel colored cake and match books with your names embossed on the top, and registering for gifts at Bloomingdale's like you were on Wheel Of Fortune ("I'll take the crystal goblets for $150, Pat!"). "Marriage" was reality....you and your new hubby living on a resident's salary in the woods of Vermont. Coping with cancer and the loss of a beloved parent. Dealing with infertility struggles. You know what true romance is? Not the big grandiose affair with trumpets blasting. True romance is getting an unexpected flower bouquet from your spouse after another heart-breaking miscarriage.

So, even though I watched Diana get married many years ago, I will be skipping this year's grand televised event. (My invitation obviously got lost in the mail). I'm not sure how the whole idea of celebrating a marriage transformed into this convoluted Vegas-style show, but I'm of the opinion that less is definitely more. Maybe two people in a quiet little chapel somewhere, whispering vows to each other?

Hmm.....that sounds like a good scene for a romance novel........



Enjoying twenty years of wedded bliss,
Penelope

Not So Fierce: A Review of Dreams Of A Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

This book is #11 in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. #10, Demon From The Dark , was one of my favorites in this series, and I knew it would be a tough act to follow. Unfortunately, Dreams of a Dark Warrior was not nearly as good as its predecessor.

I think it's pretty apparent that one of the most important elements in a successful romance is the chemistry between the hero and heroine. That'll make or break the book. When Kresley Cole nails it, the chemistry between her leads is super intense, both emotionally and sexually---which makes for a fabulous read. Malkom and Carrow in the last installment of this series were a perfect pair...the sexual tension between them was dynamite, the intensity of their emotional connection was fantastic. I loved that book.

Regin is probably the most outrageous, cocky character in this series. I love her energy, humor and loyalty. Her hero, Declan, is without a doubt a fascinating character. After a horrifying near death experience, he has become a warrior in the "Order" hellbent on destroying members of the Lore. He is also (unbeknownst to him at the beginning of this book) the reincarnation of a berserker, Aidan the Fierce, who is the mate to Regin. Declan, because of his past, is a merciless, cold-hearted, drug-addicted killer. Unfortunately, I found Declan and Regin to be mis-matched in this book. Regin is a cocky, sword-slinging "gunfighter"....she should have been paired with a character who could match that sort of fun energy, not a brooding loner. I wasn't feeling the chemistry between them at all....except when Regin (and every other Lore member) hated his guts. I just didn't buy the transition to devoted lovers.

The pacing of this book was also problematic. Cole excels with high action sequences (and super intense love scenes, which are flat-out amazing). The beginning of this book, when Regin is trapped in the facility, stalled. Declan was a total douche bag at the start of the book, and Regin was stripped of her powers. This totally killed the dynamic between them, and the storyline itself. It took way too long for Declan to become a likable character, and for the action to kick-start the storyline.

Lothaire, the most reviled vampire, was by far the most interesting character in the book, which is a huge red flag. When the secondary characters in a story outshine the primary hero and heroine, it's a problem. The interaction between Nix and Lothaire was quite intriguing, and I can't wait to see what's in store for these two characters.

This book was missing the intense spark/magic/humor I have come to expect in the IAD books. I thought it would be ramped up for Regin's book, but instead the story seemed more subdued than others. The second half of the book was much better--more emotional, the pacing picked up, etc. More satisfying all around, but still not enough for me to categorize this one as one of the best.

After reading a lot of winners this past week, I was disappointed with this book. I still love this series, but the books seem uneven at times. I hope Lothaire's story is a winner.

Grade: B-/C+

Penelope