Thanks to the awesomeness of lisabea, I have been immersed in the gay space Regency world of My Fair Captain. VERY entertaining and touching story, and I would highly recommend it. More on my reactions to this book will follow to be sure. It was very interesting to read this in the midst of my listening to the Gabaldon "Lord John" audiobook every evening. In the latter, Lord John is living in a repressive society where sodomy is punishable by courtmartial and death. This complex and honorable man has to balance the demands on his profession (soldier), his family and his natural desire to love and be loved all the while guarding every word and every action. It was so fascinating to compare this with the openly gay but still formal and patriarchical society in My Fair Captain. I'm not explaining this very well, but anyways, it got me to thinking about culture and identity and our assumptions about what is normal and expected. All kinds of interesting stuff.
I'm also just finishing Beyond Paradise by Elizabeth Doyle. It's an entertaining pirate romp recommended to me by my blogging buddy Kristie(J). I'll probably write up a short capsule review later but for now let me just say that you have to admire an author who writes a story set not only in Martinique with an all-French cast but also has a deaf sailor (who is not even the captain) in the role as hero.
In other news, I successfully got my family to watch North and South! My mother, younger brother and I watched half last night and half this afternoon. They totally enjoyed it and were very impressed with the story, the quality of the acting and the entire production. Then my dad was looking for a DVD to use as a "test" for his new laptop and I handed it to him. A few hours later he came downstairs looking for disc 2. woot! So yeah, am I good or what?
17 comments:
I am also reading My Fair Captain from the lovely Lisabea. It reminds me of the perfect regency historical romance with Adian being the "heroine" and Nate the dashing, older hero.
I so love that picture of Richard from North and South.
BTW, where is your final scene you should be writing????
Glad to hear your family loved N&S! Sounds like you've made 3 more fans. My best friend and I are going to be watching it. I showed it to her and she said that it would be the next movie we watch on movie night.
I'm loving that My Fair Captain, too. I'm fascinated by the world, and it's super interesting that you're reading it side by side with a real-time Regency world book with a gay man.
That didn't take long for Beyond Paradise to arrive. It is different isn't it? I'll be looking to see further what you thought of it. It was recommended to me by Mailyn - who very sadly seems to have disappeared from blogland.
And cool that your family enjoyed N&S - specially your brother and your Dad!!!
katiebabs, it is a good book, isn't it? Nate makes my heart go all pitter-pattery. lol. And I haven't forgotten my scene, I've just been wrapped up in the family entertaining gig. :)
dev, I bet your friend will be thanking you come movie night. le sigh.
CJ, I'm really finding the comparison between Regency worlds to be quite fascinating. A little like parallel universes. I must say that although I was not a big fan of LJ when he appeared in the Outlander series (I can't stand ANYONE lusting after Jamie...he belongs to Claire, and well...to me, lol) I am really loving him in his own books.
Kristie, both books got here pretty quickly. I'm reading the Kristen Kyle one right now. Beyond Paradise was definitely interesting. lol. Not quite sure how to describe it but it was certainly not your common run-of-the-mill romance and I will give it points for that. The head-hopping just about drove me nuts tho.
THIS is exactly what I hoped. That you all would LOVE it like I did.
Sula, JL left a very brief post stating that she loves the regency period, but didn't want to give these two wonderful men such an unhappy ending. There just wasn't a real possibility of a HEA in that time period. I think she did a wonderful job marrying the regency flavor to a futuristic society where this relationship could bloom.
Any who, it is apparent to me that I have to finish my (daunting) stack and then read Lord John.
I am just past the point when Sir and Boy have their wedding night. :)
I can really see Langely breaking out into the mainstream just like McCarty and Lisa Marie Rice. I can't wait to write my own personal review! :)
*sneaking a look at My Fair Captain*
lisabea, I do remember that post by JL. I think she did a good job at bringing the society to life and I'll be looking forward to the next entry in the series. And yes, you really do need to give Lord John a read.
Katiebabs, looking forward to reading your review.
tumperkin, you bad girl, you have to finish with Jamie and Claire first! lol.
those books are soooo thick (whining a little) how am I ever going to read them (more whining)....
you need a whole weekend to read one Gabaldon book. LOL
I finished My Fair Captain. Nate is one yum yum man, even though the life scene where he is getting friendly with his boy's butt was a bit ewwww for me, but overall the book was amazing. :)
Sula - I am so bad. AND I've been skimming ahead with Jamie and Claire a lot (because I am VERY BAD and I have to know what is coming next). I do go back though and savour every word properly.
Katie(babs)~ It is certainly a m/m love story, make no mistake. MFC isn't at all like Jules Cassidy in the Suze Brockmann books (though I LOVE him)and JL doesn't shy from delivering every moment of Nate and Aiden's physical expression of love. Glad you liked the book, though.
T~That is my WORST reading habit. I skim ahead, often, and then have to force myself to go back and slow down. And I tend to read the last chapter...mid way through the book which is why I avoid mysteries at all costs. I'm terrible.
Finally watched N&S, and here I come to tell you and now there's a book rec for "MFC" I am going to be putting on my tbr list - geez, thanx a lot LOL.
ooh, tumperkin and lisabea, I too am a notorious skipper-aheader. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I must have done that with Outlander...but I first read it like 12 years ago, so who knows. lol. Then again, that book sucked me into their world in such a complete manner that I didn't want to come back to "real" life.
stacy, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on N&S!!! How was it? le sigh. I loved watching it again and I was tickled pink that my entire family liked it too.
thank lisabea for the MFC rec. She's the pimp. *g*
Sula - gotta share - just read the bit where Jamie finally admits he married her cos he loves her. *foolish grin*. (Which of course comes hard on the heels of the equally amazing part where she decides to stay with him *swoon*)
oooooh, tumperkin!! le sigh! le squee! And people say those books aren't romance. hmph. That whole scene just KILLS me every time. "The hot baths nearly won out."
I do hope that you have Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager on hand because once you finish the book, you're going to want to know what happens next. s'riously. *g*
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