old-fashioned
Oct. 11th, 2007 02:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snugglekittyThis week I finished Empire of Ivory, the new Naomi Novik book, and The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax. I group these books together, since the main characters of both have somewhat old-fashioned ideas about the world and their roles in it, at least in certain ways.
Empire of Ivory is the fourth in the Temeraire series. I loved the first and the second, I thought the third was a little weak. The fourth more than makes up for it. I think now that the third must have represented growing pains, because the fourth is far more mature than the others. Less of the "ooh, dragons in battle and Victorians being snooty to each other" and more actual issues and ideas. I don't want to give too much away, but the institution of slavery gets discussed, and the question of loyalty comes up a lot. Also, we see more of the main character trying to cope with women who don't fit Victorian standards of behavior. I thought this book was very well done. If you like the series, you'll really enjoy it, even though it's very sad in places. If you haven't read the series, give it a try. Three and a half stars.
The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax. I enjoy these books while I'm reading them. Afterwards, though, I'm not sure what I liked about them. It seems to be just one of those things. Three stars.
Empire of Ivory is the fourth in the Temeraire series. I loved the first and the second, I thought the third was a little weak. The fourth more than makes up for it. I think now that the third must have represented growing pains, because the fourth is far more mature than the others. Less of the "ooh, dragons in battle and Victorians being snooty to each other" and more actual issues and ideas. I don't want to give too much away, but the institution of slavery gets discussed, and the question of loyalty comes up a lot. Also, we see more of the main character trying to cope with women who don't fit Victorian standards of behavior. I thought this book was very well done. If you like the series, you'll really enjoy it, even though it's very sad in places. If you haven't read the series, give it a try. Three and a half stars.
The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax. I enjoy these books while I'm reading them. Afterwards, though, I'm not sure what I liked about them. It seems to be just one of those things. Three stars.
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Date: 2007-10-11 06:56 pm (UTC)*scoots to get it*
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Date: 2007-10-12 01:58 am (UTC)I read and enjoyed the Mrs. Polifax books years ago, and I know what you mean about them. Fun but why?