Monday, August 31, 2009
I managed to finish The September Society right on the verge of September which amused me although it didn't really matter. In the end, I felt the plot failed to live up to my expectations from the book's first third. The characters are quite charming although perhaps even a tad too charming. I mean, people have been killed in most unpleasant ways and yet Our Hero persists in being, first and foremost, gracious to his valet, properly attired in morning coat, unalterably pleasant to his alcoholic doctor friend and his daffy wife who can only go on interminably about a baby name, and always on time for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner at all the best places. He never breaks polite stride even when interviewing suspects or possible murderers, at least not until the very end when it all get solved and resolved far too smoothly to make sense that it all took so long. Indeed I am probably being unduly critical of a genre where well-placed gentlemen and proper women are making their way through the end of the Victorian era, but I like the time and place so well that it was a bit saddening. The book begins promisingly but, save for one nice surprise, works too hard to justify the not-unexpected, pat and somewhat silly end. Nevertheless I shall give the previous tale in the series a try.
Books: The September Society
posted at 11:34 PM |
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I managed to finish The September Society right on the verge of September which amused me although it didn't really matter. In the end, I felt the plot failed to live up to my expectations from the book's first third. The characters are quite charming although perhaps even a tad too charming. I mean, people have been killed in most unpleasant ways and yet Our Hero persists in being, first and foremost, gracious to his valet, properly attired in morning coat, unalterably pleasant to his alcoholic doctor friend and his daffy wife who can only go on interminably about a baby name, and always on time for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner at all the best places. He never breaks polite stride even when interviewing suspects or possible murderers, at least not until the very end when it all get solved and resolved far too smoothly to make sense that it all took so long. Indeed I am probably being unduly critical of a genre where well-placed gentlemen and proper women are making their way through the end of the Victorian era, but I like the time and place so well that it was a bit saddening. The book begins promisingly but, save for one nice surprise, works too hard to justify the not-unexpected, pat and somewhat silly end. Nevertheless I shall give the previous tale in the series a try.0 comments
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