Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, 1832-1898

A talented scholar, photographer, minister, and, of course, writer, Charles Dodgson a.k.a. Lewis Carroll was, not surprisingly, a man of infinite complexity. While he is best remembered for his both imaginative and nightmarish Alice in Wonderland, Dodgson is often overlooked as an exacting practitioner of satire.

Journalists camped out at the house and court.  Sounds just like today.

Scotland Yard sent its best -- Detective Inspector Jonathan Whicher who made great headway, only to be attacked for his intrusion on the sanctity of the English home and hearth. 

The story is detailed in Kate Summerscale's book, "The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher."

The case inspired much of today's detective fiction, beginning with Wilkie Collins' "The Moonstone." Charles Dickens was fascinated by the case and had his own theories.  He used elements of the case in his own works.

The book discusses origins of the language of detection.  The word "clue" comes from "clew," meaning a ball of thread or yarn.  It came to mean "that which points the way" because of the Greek myth in which Theseus uses a ball of yarn, given to him by Ariadne, to find his way of the Minotaur's labyrinth.  People unravel mysteries.  They untangle the knots and follow the thread of evidence.

The book also talks about our uneasy relationship with the police.  We need them, yet resent their prying.  The original detective  ("detect" is from the Latin de-tegere or to "unroof")  was Asmodeus, the prince of demons, who removed roofs to spy on the lives inside, according to the author.  This was a book I couldn't put down.

Your own mystery: In the photo above, what is the detective examining?

I enjoyed reading the sries and I would like to see what else the author has in store.  She has great literary knowledge and sense of humor although I suspect that its a bit dark.  Anyways anyone interested in Victorian England, magic realms, and or poetry should really read these.

Throughout the novels the characters go through many conflicts and dilemmas which change them and not always into better people.  All the characters are flawed, no one's except.  Each of the characters show a surprising mix of good and evil and are capable of love and hate.  The on going love story is both painful and enjoyable to read as I'm sure all good love stories are.

Gemma Doyle also changed from the girl who dream of balls and gossip to one who cared absolutely nothing for either.  She went to wishing for the happiness of the past and realizing time past can never return and so she must move forward into the past with its memory still intact.  I think this is a lesson many of us struggle or are struggling to learn are are many of Gemma and her friends' lessons that they are forced to learn.

Well throughout The Far Sweet Thing Gemma was kind of scaring me could of her choice of association (circe), her boldness, and use of her powers.  Well Pip scared me too. Did anyone else who read the book feel this way as well?

Kagehime

The Victorian library belongs to wealthy amateur detective Charles Lenox. His trusty butler, Graham, also resides there. Why is it fictional butlers are never mere servants? They always have an emotional bond with their employers, almost friendship, dating back to some important event which creates a secret loyalty. But I digress. There is also a neighbor, Lady Jane, who seems to share a mutual attraction with Charles. A few other friends and relatives often gather about the fireplace, too.

A maid has been killed in a nearby household and Scotland Yard is barking up the wrong tree. The title of the book is from the poison that killed the maid, one that is so rare and expensive that finding the culprit ought to be easy. When a prominent member of society is murdered in the same house as the maid, things grow murkier. There is a lot of Wodehousian humor woven through the unraveling of the mystery, which keeps things lively.

Charles’s brother, Edmund, a member of Parliament, tells him of a theft near his country estate.

“Well, it was not so much that there was a silver thief as that there was a matter of misplaced silver.”

“Who could have misplaced so much silver? Did you think of insurance fraud?”

“It was a fork, to be precise.”

Lenox raised his eyebrows. “One fork you say?”

“But a serving fork, you know, so it was really quite large. And of good silver. Very well made. And old. An heirloom, really.”

“How many men were assigned to the case? Did you break up the silver ring?”

“It had fallen under a chair, you see….”

Dialogue such as that, along with charming characters, makes this a highly enjoyable read. There is already a second book out in this series, which I am quite eager to read. I’m hoping that there are many more adventures for Charles and his circle in the years to come.

St. Martin’s Minotaur   2007     309 pp.  ISBN-13: 978-0-312-35977-5

Oscar Wilde and the Death of No Importance

By far the most interesting parts of the book are Wilde's rather unlikely friendship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who figures prominently; and the domestic detail of Wilde's everyday life.  The plot itself is not quite riveting, but overall, it's fun. When Wilde is being "observant," he is a very like Sherlock Holmes; when he is, as Sherard says, "on song," is is witting and entertaining, carrying the reader and his friends on great waves of entertaining talk.

I don't always like historical mysteries or ones with famous authors, but I like the ones with Jane Austen, and I'm sure I'll read more in this series.

Follow this link for a synopsis and review of the novel.

One of my current research interests is food eaten on expeditions (long story—maybe I'll write about it later) so I glommed onto the references to overladen Victorian picnickers in both books. A little digging around online found this recommended menu from Mrs. Isabella Beeton's Book of Household Management, 1861:

BILL OF FARE FOR A PICNIC FOR 40 PERSONS.

2149. A joint of cold roast beef, a joint of cold boiled beef, 2 ribs of
lamb, 2 shoulders of lamb, 4 roast fowls, 2 roast ducks, 1 ham, 1
tongue, 2 veal-and-ham pies, 2 pigeon pies, 6 medium-sized lobsters, 1
piece of collared calf's head, 18 lettuces, 6 baskets of salad, 6
cucumbers.

2150. Stewed fruit well sweetened, and put into glass bottles well
corked; 3 or 4 dozen plain pastry biscuits to eat with the stewed fruit,
2 dozen fruit turnovers, 4 dozen cheesecakes, 2 cold cabinet puddings in
moulds, 2 blancmanges in moulds, a few jam puffs, 1 large cold
plum-pudding (this must be good), a few baskets of fresh fruit, 3 dozen
plain biscuits, a piece of cheese, 6 lbs. of butter (this, of course,
includes the butter for tea), 4 quartern loaves of household broad, 3
dozen rolls, 6 loaves of tin bread (for tea), 2 plain plum cakes, 2
pound cakes, 2 sponge cakes, a tin of mixed biscuits, 1/2 lb, of tea.
Coffee is not suitable for a picnic, being difficult to make.

Things not to be forgotten at a Picnic.

2151. A stick of horseradish, a bottle of mint-sauce well corked, a
bottle of salad dressing, a bottle of vinegar, made mustard, pepper,
salt, good oil, and pounded sugar. If it can be managed, take a little
ice. It is scarcely necessary to say that plates, tumblers,
wine-glasses, knives, forks, and spoons, must not be forgotten; as also
teacups and saucers, 3 or 4 teapots, some lump sugar, and milk, if this
last-named article cannot be obtained in the neighbourhood. Take 3
corkscrews.

2152. _Beverages_.--3 dozen quart bottles of ale, packed in hampers;
ginger-beer, soda-water, and lemonade, of each 2 dozen bottles; 6
bottles of sherry, 6 bottles of claret, champagne à discrétion, and any
other light wine that may be preferred, and 2 bottles of brandy. Water
can usually be obtained so it is useless to take it.

The section of the book directly following this is on managing one's servants. You're certainly going to struggle to carry that much food without some kind of help.

Η κλέφτρα της Σάρα Γουότερς, εκδόσεις Αλεξάνδρεια

Η ιστορία με λίγα λόγια: το πρώτο μέρος ξεκινάει με την αφήγηση μιας νεαρής κοπέλας, στις φτωχές και κακόφημες συνοικίες του Λονδίνου, γύρω στο 1850. Είναι ορφανή και τη μεγαλώνει μια οικογένεια κλεπταποδόχων. Κάποια στιγμή ένας συνεργάτης της οικογένειας, τής κάνει την πρόταση να δουλέψει ως καμαριέρα μιας πλούσιας κοπέλας με σκοπό να την εξαπατήσουν (την πλουσία).

Δε θα πω τίποτε άλλο γιατί σημαντικό κομμάτι της ομορφιάς του βιβλίου βασίζεται στο στοιχείο της έκπληξης. Οι ανατροπές που έχει μου έκοψαν την ανάσα δυο φορές καθώς το διάβαζα. Σε κάποιο σημείο μάλιστα το διάβαζα κι έλεγα, «εντάξει μας το είπε αυτό, τί θα πει στις υπόλοιπες 350 σελίδες;» κι εκεί ακριβώς γύριζε τόσο πολύ την εξέλιξη που έβγαζα το καπέλο μου στην κυρία Γουότερς.

Η οποία συγγραφέας είναι πολύ γνωστή και πολυ βραβευμένη στην Αγγλία. Οι περισσότερες ιστορίες της έχουν ένα λεσβιακό στοιχείο όπως και η συγκεκριμένη άλλωστε. Όπως γράφει στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου από μια κριτική στο New York Times Review of Books: « Είναι σαν τον Όλιβερ Τουίστ με μια απρόσμενη ανάπτυξη: για κορίτσια και μάλιστα σεξουαλικά ενεργά. Αυτό είναι το Βικτωριανό μυθιστόρημα που οι Βικτωριανοί δε θα μπορούσαν ούτε να ονειρευτούν».

Δεν ξέρω αν σας φάνηκαν υπερβολικές οι συγκρίσεις στην αρχή. Ο Ντίκενς είναι πάντα Ντίκενς. Αλλά και η Γουότερς τα καταφέρνει θαυμάσια στην εικονογράφηση της εποχής. Μέρος της οποίας άλλωστε αποτελεί ο Ντίκενς και γι αυτό ένα θεατρικό του έργο που βλέπει η μία από τις δύο πρωταγωνίστριες, τής κάνει βαθύτατη εντύπωση. Μερικά ευρήματα που μου άρεσαν πολύ είναι αυτό με τα γάντια που φοράει η πλούσια κοπέλα σύμφωνα με τις επιταγές του θείου της. Αυτός ο θείος είναι ένας διαταραγμένος βιβλιόφιλος, ένας ακόμη ήρωας βιβλίου που μας αποδείχνει ότι οι βιβλιόφιλοι μπορούν να είναι πολύ κακοί άνθρωποι όπως λέει και ο Λιμπροφίλο. Αναγκάζει λοιπόν την ανηψιά του να φοράει συνεχώς ένα ζευγάρι σουέντ γάντια για να αγγίζει τα σπάνια βιβλία του. Η άλλη δε ηρωίδα του βιβλίου η Σουζαν, είναι μια ικανότατη κλέφτρα, η fingersmith του Αγγλικού τίτλου που μπορεί με τα δαχτυλάκια της να κλέβει ρολόγια από ανυποψίαστες μητέρες. Μοναδική μου ένσταση το μέγεθος του βιβλίου. Καμιά 200αριά σελίδες αν είχε κόψει θα ήταν τέλειο.

Αυτό που μένει όταν τελειώνεις το βιβλίο είναι αυτή η φοβερή ερωτική ιστορία και το πως τα συναισθήματα μας για έναν άνθρωπο μπορούν να κυμαίνονται από την πιο έντονη αγάπη στο πιο φοβερό μίσος. Πέρα από φύλα και τάξεις, ο έρωτας πονάει και η προδοσία ακόμη πιο πολύ όταν προέρχεται από το αντικείμενο του πόθου μας.

Written by superstar scribe Neil Gaiman, Stardust is a pleasant departure from the traditional presentation of graphic storytelling. The story is presented in the form of a text based book with wonderful illustrations by Charles Vess strategically placed throughout its entirety.

Gaiman doesn't disappoint with his straightforward (by Gaiman standards), but skillfully developed, fairy tale following a young man's quest to win the heart of his true love. Set in the era of Victorian England, the tale begins in a mostly quiet village but quickly moves into realms of magic and witchcraft as readers follow the young man in pursuit of a fallen star which he must retrieve to claim his heart's desire. His journey affords Gaiman the ability to do what Gaiman does best as he expertly creates detailed landscapes and colorful characters. Needless to say the young man isn't the only one after the fallen star as numerous antagonists are added to the mix making for an excellent yarn all around.

The story is not hard to follow, pedantic or painfully verbose. It is, simply put, a well crafted short story collected in a trade paperback that presents nicely. Extras include a sketch and cover gallery at the back. Of note: this book is not a children's fairy tale as it contains sexual content and graphic violence (probably should have mentioned that right off the bat as a selling point). Suggested for Mature Readers. (Grade: A)

- Chris Williamson

It was dawn on the McGintyre estate.

Peregrine McGintyre raked the strawberries stark naked, as he did every morning. Good for the constitution, his uncle Hawksbill "Gimpy" McGintyre used to say, until he was disemboweled by a rabid toad. Gertrude, the groundskeeper's daughter, sidled up to Peregrine, her breasts heaving like a sack full of jellified blood.
"Oh, Perry... your hands looks so masculine gripping that long, hard pole... so very masculine in their pulsating thickness, like a mongoose caressing a string of licorice."
Peregrine let out a throaty laugh, like warm piss trickling down a brick turned on its side. As he did so, some of his teeth flew out and into Gertrude's wig, causing it to burst into flames and scurry into her ears.
"Oh, how careless of me..." said Gertrude, and one of her breasts fell from her bodice like a dead slug sliding off a tree branch. The morning mist curled around their feet like cool morning mist curling around someone's feet.
"Gertrude, come closer. I will use my rake to put out the flames." He began beating her about the shoulders with the long rod.
"But Perry, what about the flames in my heart? You know, the flames of passion..."
"I'll see what I can do." And with that, he thrust his rake into her chest cavity, causing her lungs to explode out of her spine and a ferret in a nearby tree to have a heart attack. "It was never meant to be, dear." And with that, he continued raking the strawberries, whistling a merry tune. Fade to a kilt, then black.

"I need someone to escort me to town to see Archibald Plucketts," said Lady Crippleshit. "A beautiful young bachelorette with breasts like wads of unleavened dough and a minge like a hollowed out sausage filled with castor oil should not be walking around the capital alone. Peter, you will come with me."
Peter, the family chauffeur, shook his head. "I'm terribly sorry madam, but today, I must comb the hair of the family ostrich. If I do not comb it, it will become enraged."
"Dash and blast. Whoever can take me to the town now?"
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Peter opened it. There stood Matthias Kleghorn, the village doctor's son. He was a handsome fellow, with a chin like a U-shaped bag of crushed walnuts and automobile grease, a nose like a hawks bill with two large, fleshy nostrils cut out of it, and eyes as deep as hoof-divots in freshly laid cowshit. He had a beautifully pasty complexion, as one whose life is spent around dangerous chemicals and strange metal implements to be shoved in various orifices.
"Hello, good sirs and madams. I'm heading into Londinium and was wondering if any of you fine breasts needed a lift. I've got a big cart with two horses, a driver with a lovely moustache, and an ice bucket with some elderberry wine in it. The back seat folds down to reveal a silk-lined swimming pool full of frogspawn. What what."
Lady Crippleshit gulped and her armpits began secreting sweat like milk from a dog's eyeballs.

So, here is a lazy post: what I'm reading and watching.

I Walked With a Zombie came in the mail a few days ago. I’m not sure about it. But its director Jacques Tourneur also filmed Cat People, and that was enjoyable. I’ll give it a chance.

Also re-watching season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I’m up to the episode Inca Mummy Girl. Xander was awfully cute and loyal in the early days.

It doesn’t involve rampaging demons but I’m liking it quite a bit. It’s about a maid in Victorian England who falls for wealthy young man. Their love is not to be, evidently.

After I started reading it, I found a positive review of it by Johanna from Comics Worth Reading. She’s always right when she recommends comics. After all, she loves Sinfest.

I may pick up Hikaru no Go, Beauty Pop, Hana Kimi, Othello, Saikano, or Swan when I go to the anime convention.

Back to the list.

I'm also reading Serious about Series by Silk Makowski about young adult books series. The series she's discussing are old but she's an engaging writer. I wish she'd written more. If she's got a blog, please let me know.

Lastly, I'm reading Robert Silverberg's Book of Skulls, it's good. I don't know how it's going to turn out at this point. It's not science fiction so much as psychological horror.

Lillian Bowman is one of my very favorite characters. Ever. I'm going to name my first child Lillian in the hopes that she will be imbued with her tenacious spirit and good humor. The second in The Wallflower Series, this book continues the tempestuous relationship between the spirited American Soap Heiress and the staid, arrogant Marcus, Earl of Westcliff, that started in Secrets of a Summer Night. The romance between Lillian and Marcus is very fine, though the story lacks some of the more interesting social commentary on the Victorian Era contained in Secrets and has a silly plot gizmo in the form of a supposedly "magic" perfume that makes the wearer irresistible. Such a level-headed, intelligent woman like Lillian would not be given to the fanciful idea of a magic perfume. Despite these setbacks, this was one of my favorite of the series.

Lillian is the daughter of a self-made man who earned a fortune in America as a soap manufacturer. The Bowmans unfortunately have failed to find husbands for their two daughters among the old puritan families in America, so they travel to England hoping that the girls' impressive dowries will be an enticement to some impoverished landed aristocrat with a title. In London Lillian and Daisy find that even the promise "Marry Lillian, you'll get a million" isn't enough to overcome their American brass and unrefinement. Resined to the side of the ballroom through the season, the girls make friends with two other wallflowers and make a pack to help each other find husbands. Through her father's business connections to the progressive Earl of Westcliff, Lillian finds herself a visitor to Stonycross Manor for a number of long house parties where her antics earn the ire of the strait-laced earl. Lillian and Marcus' interactions are hilarious. Their mutual dislike and stubbornness finally flares in passion (betcha didn't see that coming).

One thing made me slightly uncomfortable in this story - consent? I know I am nitpicking when there are so many romance novels out there with real rape scenes in them, but taking advantage of a drunk girl is not honorable. Westcliff goes from bickering with Lillian to finding her drunk and deciding, without asking her, that he can't help himself and should just do it and marry her in the morning. Note the "not asking her" part - he doesn't ask if she wants to marry him, but she has no choice after their little indiscretion. Of course she doesn't say "no" and they fall in love in the end, but still, a man with the honor and impeccable self control of Marcus Westcliff should have some serious qualms about taking advantage of a drunk girl. The villain in this story threatens to rape Lillian when he abducts her, and that is a-o-kay because rape is a villainous thing to do. A hero should never even consider it.

Despite that, I really enjoyed this book, so much that I plan on rereading it this week. Lillian is awesome. I hope Kleypas writes her into further novels as a secondary character.

The Victorian Era is more fascinating than the Regency Era. Much more. I know, I know - it sounds blasphemous. But it's true. The world was in upheaval during the Victorian Era: The Industrial Revolution barreled ahead at full steam, turning out technological innovations, upsetting commonly held beliefs, and overthrowing the traditional balance of power between social classes. Thank goodness. Our Regency Lords and Ladies, those pompous, arrogant asses who were responsible for subjugating half the world and its people (including starving my ancestors), who thought themselves morally and racially superior to the rest of us with the bad luck to be born to non-aristocratic parents, and who held a genuine contempt of work, really needed to be booted out on their silver-plated derrières. The Victorian Era saw the rise of a new entrepreneurial class, where intelligence, tenacity, and hard work replaced birth as the primary catalyst for wealth and power.

Lisa Kleypas captures this tumultuous time brilliantly, vibrantly illustrating the conflict between the old landed aristocracy and the rising new capitalists. This conflict is exposed in the tumultuous relationship between the hero and heroine. Our hero, Simon Hunt, is one of these new self-made men who rose from the lowly son of a butcher to be one of the richest men in England and best friend to one of the oldest and most powerful Earldoms in the country. His money buys him grudging entrance to the hallowed social halls of the aristocracy, but can't overcome their deep seated contempt of his lowly birth. Our heroine, Annabelle Peyton, as a member of the lower aristocracy, shares their contempt, even though her family doesn't have two cents to rub together. Annabelle has the unfortunate burden of trying to find a rich husband to support her and her impoverished family, but her pride prevents her from accepting the overtures of a member of the lower class. Her desperate state hinders her husband-hunting efforts, as the men wait for her to give up and become available as a mistress. Annabelle enlists the aid of three other awkward young women with whom she has shared the unenviable position of wallflower at balls and parties throughout the season, rich but low-born Evangeline Jenner and the American Soap Heiress' Lillian and Daisy Bowman, each of whom has her own novel in the remaining three books of the Wallflowers Series. Lillian cracks me up. I love the scene where they play Rounders in their knickers.

In addition to the compelling class conflict, Kleypas imparts to us the awe inspired by the technological innovations of the time - truly a feat in this day and age when innovations are so commonplace as to be dully pedestrian (I can call, surf, photograph, and blog on my iPhone). I particularly enjoyed the prologue descriptions of the interactive theater show with volcanoes and a revolving audience.

Annabelle can't deny the sparks between her and Simon, and eventually grows to understand and respect his work-ethic, even preferring it to the lazy ennui of men of her class. I can't help but feel proud of the triumph of this decidedly American ideal - meritocracy over monarchy. The romance was sweet and sexy and completely yummy. I fell in love with Simon myself. I strongly recommend this novel to all romance readers!

The beauty of this novel is that is it broken into four parts with part one narrated by Constance, part two narrated by Anne, part three by Joseph, and part four by Angelica. Each of the characters give an entirely different voice and viewpoint of the same circumstances so that each time I thought I had the answer to Angelica's demon, a new twist would present itself into the equation. Phillips' prose is elegant without being too flowery while he spins a dark tale of Victorian sexual taboos and those deep seated horrors residing in own minds.

My rating: