“It must be quite humiliating to inspire no stronger inclination in a gentleman than to sneeze.”
Selina Dalton
This book presents itself as a take on Pride and Prejudice or a comedy of errors and fails miserably on both counts. A grating writing style only compounds the problems caused by a cast of manipulative characters in a series of events that get progressively crueler.
The only thing I liked in this book was Selina. She is a humble young woman who wants to make a good match to give her younger siblings a chance at better circumstances. She tries to keep up good spirits even when everyone and everything is conspiring against her.
By everyone, I do mean everyone. Selina’s former schoolmate (I won’t use the word friend because she isn’t one), Julia, brings Selina to London solely to get revenge on Mr. Malcolm for slighting her. All the while, making Selina pay the price for every part of the schemes, both literally and figuratively. Julia’s cousin Cassie, Mr. Malcolm’s friend, goes along with every idea just to get Julia to leave him alone. Mr. Malcolm subjects Selina to an embarrassing set of trials to see if she fits his list. Even her parents refuse to take her side after being thoroughly humiliated, and she just wants to go home. Everyone says that they have Selina’s best interests at heart, but their actions all speak otherwise.
The writing style doesn’t help matters either. While attempting to emulate a nineteenth-century style, it comes across the same as an actor with an atrocious accent sounding like nails on a chalkboard. Apparently, writing like someone from an earlier century requires enormous words that add nothing to the story and are unusual enough to break the story’s flow.
I also disliked the characters passionately throwing themselves into each other’s arms as a way to end any tense situations. It’s a copout that means that they have little to no character growth at all.
I wish the upcoming movie all the luck in the world. Being based on this book, I don’t see it doing well at all.
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