But do I *want* beguilement?
Mar. 14th, 2008 09:06 pmStandard disclaimers plus an extra one or two: I'm a huge fan of Bujold, like nearly everyone else on my flist, no doubt. (Oops - with the not-even-remotely insignificant exception of ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
steepholm!) I've got nothing against romance, in real life or novels, though I do tend to be a bit picky about what I can give myself over to for a nice, soppy wallow. I also prefer to read aloud than to be read to, which worked beautifully with the girls, for many years (and many, many wonderful books), but does make me even more difficult about listening to audiobooks, and this is what I have this time. I know this was a factor in my taking against Austenland, and I'm sure it's not helping any in this one, as passages I could skim or even skip if I were reading, are being read lingeringly, and in a manner that intensifies my irritation with the book.
But, making the allowances I can, I'm in grave danger of doing something stupid and violent with all the sharp pointy things lying around my room if I listen to more. (They're knitting needles! Not knives.) Can anyone tell me to persevere (I've got over halfway, and they're just about to get to Fawn's home) because the romance will become less -- er, because the fairly interesting fantasy will be given a bit more prominence? Or is it more likely that I'll lose the last tiny remaining grip on sanity I might have if I listen to the breathless, light, sweet voice that's given to Fawn and her 'Ooh - I didn't think - ooh, you touched me there? Can I touch you like that - with my...' learning about lurve any more? Or Dag's gravelly, brave, loner, been twenty years a-mournin' but gotta teach her what stupid Sonny (=> any stupid Farmer?) didn't? And trying not to think ' Hey - his spideysense is talking again ...! The thing is, I know Bujold can do small 'r' romance - relationships - as brilliantly as anyone (A Civil Campaign and 'nuff said), but this is big 'r' Romance - genre - and it seems very clichéd as such to me. And repetitive. And dull.
Anybody got any Thoughts that could help? I'm sure I saw many interesting things said about this back when everyone else read it. Or should I just be quiet and go reread Promised Land, as I got a craving to do when trying to listen to Beguilement - that Sonny being my idea of what a romantic hero should be... (Wish I could get *that* on audiobook!)
steepholm!) I've got nothing against romance, in real life or novels, though I do tend to be a bit picky about what I can give myself over to for a nice, soppy wallow. I also prefer to read aloud than to be read to, which worked beautifully with the girls, for many years (and many, many wonderful books), but does make me even more difficult about listening to audiobooks, and this is what I have this time. I know this was a factor in my taking against Austenland, and I'm sure it's not helping any in this one, as passages I could skim or even skip if I were reading, are being read lingeringly, and in a manner that intensifies my irritation with the book.But, making the allowances I can, I'm in grave danger of doing something stupid and violent with all the sharp pointy things lying around my room if I listen to more. (They're knitting needles! Not knives.) Can anyone tell me to persevere (I've got over halfway, and they're just about to get to Fawn's home) because the romance will become less -- er, because the fairly interesting fantasy will be given a bit more prominence? Or is it more likely that I'll lose the last tiny remaining grip on sanity I might have if I listen to the breathless, light, sweet voice that's given to Fawn and her 'Ooh - I didn't think - ooh, you touched me there? Can I touch you like that - with my...' learning about lurve any more? Or Dag's gravelly, brave, loner, been twenty years a-mournin' but gotta teach her what stupid Sonny (=> any stupid Farmer?) didn't? And trying not to think ' Hey - his spideysense is talking again ...! The thing is, I know Bujold can do small 'r' romance - relationships - as brilliantly as anyone (A Civil Campaign and 'nuff said), but this is big 'r' Romance - genre - and it seems very clichéd as such to me. And repetitive. And dull.
Anybody got any Thoughts that could help? I'm sure I saw many interesting things said about this back when everyone else read it. Or should I just be quiet and go reread Promised Land, as I got a craving to do when trying to listen to Beguilement - that Sonny being my idea of what a romantic hero should be... (Wish I could get *that* on audiobook!)
