Christine > Recent Status Updates

Two stories down, one more to go. Somehow this book feels like it's taking forever.

How it started: why are these characters suddenly attracted to each other?? Nothing's even happened yet

How it's going: OH ok yes so everyone in this book is an 8 on the horny richter scale

I'll say this much: this books gives me an ardent need to brew some loose-leaf tea

Really appreciating how funny this is so far. Feels like a good double-feature read with Northanger Abbey.

So I guess nothing has changed et je ne peux toujours pas saquer le style de Nothomb.

Oh so this is a TWO-murder book?? And the killer is still loose?? Great. Just great.

Absolutely loving this peek at 16th century miniaturist office politics and larger stylistic and philosophical differences. The murder mystery doesn't hurt, either.

How are we still no closer to the end? What was the editor thinking??

I'm not going to lie, the story is dragging quite a bit. Must we really get a play by play of the ghost circle ceremony thing? For several days in a row?? (I'll also add, I think it's nice that the heroine wants to rescue this guy, but like... that's it. Not really sure there's enough chemistry here for a romance.)

Ok now we're just making it up as we go along, I think. This book is at least 100 pages longer than needed. What are we doing here?

Girl no don't go in the basement/cellar stopppp

Always fun when we can't decide which is worse: restless ghosts or the prospect of entertaining your husband's totally uninvited and very pushy friends who are also (checks notes) pseudo-Victorian spiritualists, apparently?

We have now reached the stage of Not!Jane Eyre where the husband/mansion owner is gaslighting the heroine

Not me assuming this would be a lavender marriage situation only for it to immediately pivot into het romance (based on reviews it sounds like others made the same assumption?)

Ok so we're in the late 70s and early 80s now. The Amadeus era. I'm reeling at the idea of Curry doing That Laugh.

I need to not read this before bed. (Reads it anyway.)

Ok so we have three different POVs in this book and all of them are giving "GIRL YOU'RE IN SO MUCH DANGER" vibes. Very fun. Also distressing. Kudos to the author, as always.

Mildred is both #goals and #for the love of god mildred STOP PUTTING UP WITH THIS BULLSHIT. How she keeps calm is beyond me.

So what this book shows me is that nothing has changed about politics, really. Same ingredients as before (clearly left out to rot in the sun).

How it started: I don't remember why everyone hates Uncle Andrew in this

How it's going (31%): someone needs to stop this old man!!!!!!!!

Don't mind me. Just need to run away to the 1930s Dales for a few hours at a time.

Pur shoujo 100%. Et j'assume pleinement mon enthousiasme pour ce cocktail d'humour, d'aventure, et de mélodrame.

Jane Austen really said: Anyone who looks down on novels or thwir readers can royally fuck off. They're not easy to write, and they're fun to read!

We are now at the point where Henry's advisors are debating over the best way to help Henry get aroused. Someone proposed exercise. Another offered a sexy book (Tudor erotica? It's more common than you think).

By the umpteenth flashback to baby Cromwell witnessing the burning of Joan Boughton, I figured Crumby is not doing so well.

Re-using this joke from when I was reading the previous book: I'm 37% done with the novel but 1000% done with Henry VIII

I'm taking my time reading this, just a few chapters every evening, but it's very hard not to scarf it all down. I love how the style feels so breezy and casual while never triggering any need or desire to skim. I'm highlighting so many good passages. One of the best books I've read in ages, and never stodgy while painting this early tudor era with Henry VII.

Omg I'm FREEEE

oh thank goodness, the interminable flashbacks and interludes are over and the main plot is back. I've been clawing at this cliffside since the last cliffhanger ended 30 minutes ago.

I think I'm going to die wondering why this book made little to no use of its pseudo-historical 18th century Venetian setting. Like... why. Why not make the most of it. Canals and bridges aren't enough!!