This book had such a promising premise.
13 year old Penny and her mother live in a large house in a secluded Illinois town, and every once in a while, without notice, literary heroines come out of their respective novels to stay with them for a while. Scarlett O'Hara, Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, and Catherine Earnshaw among others have all spent time at their house.
When a beautiful young woman named Deirdre comes to stay, she is followed by her hero...a Celtic King named Conor. Conor tries to get Penny to help him win back Dierdre so they can return to their 'place' in literature.
In a series of flashbacks we learn that Heroines have been coming to the house since Penny's mother was a girl (although no one knows why) and while it is okay to offer them shelter and hospitality, it is dangerous to try to advise them on their fates.
I really, really wanted this novel to be more than what it was. At every turn Ms Favorite (the author) tried to build up mysteries and suspense, but I guessed where she was going every single time. It was all so very predictable. She wrote herself into a corner and there was only one possible outcome. How sad. Even when she tried to get all philosophical (ala 'Sophie's World' --a far superior novel that I highly recommend) I was unimpressed.
But the thing that really, really annoyed me was when Penny tried to tell people about Conor, she got thrown in a mental hospital and suddenly the book was all 'Girl, Interrupted' which just seemed highly inappropriate to me.
I read this for The Pub Challenge (3 down, 5 to go).
Not recommended.
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Heroines
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5 have spoken:
I have to say, I can relate to this story. My house is full of minor characters who want to become heroines. Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper showed up earlier today, insisting that she should be the heroine of The Adventures of Mrs. Hudson. And how do I tactfully explain to Mary Bennet that there's a reason Pride and Prejudice isn't about her?
Yes, quite a problem you have there, Rob. Hmmm. Listen, if Atticus Finch, TS Garp, or Rhett Butler ever stop by your house, give me a call, would ya? :D
Sounds like a fun premise. Too bad it didn't live up to the idea...Bummer.
I'm sorry this turned out to be a dud. It sounded promising at first.
I love the cover and the premise. I've heard other authors say how their stories didn't go where they expected, and I'm okay with that. But if you're going to take a right turn down the road you need to at least give the reader some visual blinker. I hate being disappointed by a book I really wanted to like. You want to take a pen and say, "Here let me fix that for you."
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