05/20-05/26: Romancing the Inventor

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings)]

The Great 2019 Parasolverse Read-Along continues!
(See the Info & Schedule post here for all the details.)

Our next read, to be digested for one week May 19th through 26th, is the novella: Romancing the Inventor, featuring the talented Genevieve Lefoux!

Ready? Set? Read!

Then come back to discuss! What was your favorite part? Best character & why? Favorite line/quote? Share your beloved moments!

And don't forget to check out Lady Gail's extras: DVD Extras

[Brooke]

This was actually my first read of this lovely novella, and I enjoyed it very much. You could feel the tension in the pages (you know, the good kind).
I love that Alexia was looking out for her dear friend, and I liked Channing quite a lot in this one as well.

[Stacy]

This was also my first read of this novella. I found it delightful - I now need a Gypsy caravan all my own! And I really enjoyed the math thread that was woven through: finding the “x” was an adorable metaphor!

In the beginning, I was a bit surprised to find two plot points that I thought Ms. Carriger doesn’t enjoy reading - 1) problems between 2 characters that could be solved with a simple conversation, and 2) the threat of sexual violence as a catalyst. But I think the difference in this novella as compared to other books I’ve read with these flaws is how Ms. Carriger turns them both on their pathetic metaphorical heads through development of agency. Imogene finds her voice and uses it and manages to work her way through both of these classic flaws. So in the end, I really loved how these classic cliches that normally keep female characters marginalized are conquered in this book.

Also, I was worried, too, when Imogene moved out of the hive house, but I know Ms. Carriger always promises a happy ending, so I kept clinging to that promise and in the end, I was very happy, indeed. It is my favorite part of her books, the endings - not because the book is over, but rather because upon finishing one, I am left washed over my a wave of joy, and I always close her books with a perpetual smile and a hopeful perspective on life, both of which are not my nature, which is why I like the feeling so much!