by Siri Mitchell,
NavPress, 2005
After reading She Walks in Beauty, I was anxious to read another novel by Siri Mitchell. Chateau of Echoes tells the story of Frederique Farmer, a youngish widow and accomplished chef, who has purchased a castle in Brittany, France and turned it into an inn. She is, however, not overly keen on having guests, preferring to run, work in her garden, and experiment with food.
When Robert Cranwell, a popular American author, persuades Frederique to let him stay at her inn, she agrees against her better judgement. Cranwell's presence and the intimacy he assumes provoke her at every turn as he encourages her to move on with her life and open herself to new relationships. But as Frederique's feelings for Cranwell turn to affection and possibly love, she is perturbed to see that he's developed what appears to be more than a friendship with her assistant, the beautiful researcher, Severine. And as strange things begin to happen, Frederique fears for her own safety.
The story alternates between the modern-day plot and the story of Alix, a girl from medieval times, whose journals Frederique found on her property and turned over to the university. This sub-plot takes us back to a time when marriages were pre-arranged in order to strengthen status, position, and loyalties, and when women weren't typically valued as persons. The Alix- Awen story has a mystical feel to it, which is enhanced through the telling of traditional tales, including references to King Arthur and the Holy Grail.
At first I wasn't sure what period the "modern-day" section was set in. Mitchell's language conveys a more historical and formal feel than the 2002 date that is later clarified. This causes confusion for the reader, especially in the beginning. This fact is less important as the reader comes to care about the characters and to hope for a happy romantic ending. Mitchell has done a considerable amount of research on Brittany, France, and medieval times. Her love for her subject shines through. I was satisfied with the story's conclusion, though of the two books, I have to admit a preference for She Walks in Beauty.
Showing posts with label Siri Mitchell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Siri Mitchell. Show all posts
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
She Walks in Beauty
by Siri Mitchell,
Bethany House, 2010
It's been a while since I've read any historical fiction, perhaps even longer since I've read any historical romance. What a beautiful reintroduction to the genre. Mitchell's writing - fluid, authentic to the period, creating vivid images - is as true a treat as any I've enjoyed.
Set in the Victoria era when debuts were fashionable, our heroine, Miss Clara Carter, is seventeen years old, her debut a year away. That's good, because she's not looking forward to it at all. She has a bright mind, an excellent tutor, and hopes to study medicine at Vassar College. Alas and alack, the man her father and aunt (her mother is dead) have their sights set on, returns earlier than expected from his European tour, and Clara's debut is moved up to the current season.
Franklin DeVries is a handsome and charming man, the heir to the DeVries fortune. As a result, he is very popular with the ladies, though it is Clara's best friend, Lizzie, who is her chief rival to win his affections. But when Clara meets and gets to know Franklin's brother, Harry, she is no longer confident that it's Franklin's affections she wants. Still, she wants to please her elders, and to get back for them the money they feel was stolen by the DeVries family.
To sway the odds, Clara's father, a physician whose methods are questionable, puts pressure on a respected journalist. Clara is feted in one newspaper, but mocked by reports in The Tattler. As the debut season progresses, Clara wonders why it appears that someone is out to get her, why her father seems to have detractors, and whether she can find happiness in a society so beset by competition and show. Is there no more meaning to life than the bondage of class?
Mitchell creates an excellent picture of the Victorian era, highlighting the dark side of society life (especially for women), as well as the situation of the poor in New York City. Clara is a likeable character with whom the reader strongly identifies, and the plot, though happily resolved at the end (as all good romances are), will pull at your heartstrings (as all good romances do).
Bethany House, 2010
It's been a while since I've read any historical fiction, perhaps even longer since I've read any historical romance. What a beautiful reintroduction to the genre. Mitchell's writing - fluid, authentic to the period, creating vivid images - is as true a treat as any I've enjoyed.
Set in the Victoria era when debuts were fashionable, our heroine, Miss Clara Carter, is seventeen years old, her debut a year away. That's good, because she's not looking forward to it at all. She has a bright mind, an excellent tutor, and hopes to study medicine at Vassar College. Alas and alack, the man her father and aunt (her mother is dead) have their sights set on, returns earlier than expected from his European tour, and Clara's debut is moved up to the current season.
Franklin DeVries is a handsome and charming man, the heir to the DeVries fortune. As a result, he is very popular with the ladies, though it is Clara's best friend, Lizzie, who is her chief rival to win his affections. But when Clara meets and gets to know Franklin's brother, Harry, she is no longer confident that it's Franklin's affections she wants. Still, she wants to please her elders, and to get back for them the money they feel was stolen by the DeVries family.
To sway the odds, Clara's father, a physician whose methods are questionable, puts pressure on a respected journalist. Clara is feted in one newspaper, but mocked by reports in The Tattler. As the debut season progresses, Clara wonders why it appears that someone is out to get her, why her father seems to have detractors, and whether she can find happiness in a society so beset by competition and show. Is there no more meaning to life than the bondage of class?
Mitchell creates an excellent picture of the Victorian era, highlighting the dark side of society life (especially for women), as well as the situation of the poor in New York City. Clara is a likeable character with whom the reader strongly identifies, and the plot, though happily resolved at the end (as all good romances are), will pull at your heartstrings (as all good romances do).
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