Oct. 3rd, 2007

meganbmoore: (Default)
Though marketted as a historical romance, The Shattered Rose is more about making a marriage work after one party makes a horrible mistake. 

Set in 1100, TSR is about Galeran, a crusader who returns home after two years away to find his father and brother preparing to lay siege to his home.  On questioning them, he learns that this is because his wife, Jehanne, as borne another man's child while he was away, and installed the man in their household.  As an even bigger blow, he soon learns that his own son, born after he left for the crusade, has died.

Jehanne is not, of course, an evil adulturous child killer.  Driven mad by her son's death, shortly after receiving-obviously-false reports of Galeran's death, she sought comfort in the arms of Lowick, who has loved her since they were children together.  While she soon regained her senses, the damage was already done, and she was carrying her child.  Galeran, who still loves his wife even though she betrayed him, has to find a way to save face and position without doing what society says he should do, which is, at the most generous, kill the lover, dispose of the child and send Jehanne off to a convent.  Only the first part holds any appeal to him.

While there are many ways Beverley could have taken with this book, she doesn't take them.  Galeran held to his own marriage vows while away, Jehanne was not raped, Lowick is not evil. Lowick genuinely loves Jehanne and wants to take of nboth her and the baby, and truly fears that Galeran will harm them, as most men of the time would have(and as most expect Galeran to do) while Jehanne never stopped loving Galeran and regretted her affair with Lowick as soon as it happened.  For that matter, both view their own actions as being rape-Lowick because he didn't reject Jehanne when he knew only grief drove her, and Jehanne because she knows she took advantage of feelings she didn't return.

It's not an easy story, nor do the characters face easy choices.  It's a book that seems to be disliked by most romance fans and, honestly, I can see why it would alienate some.  It breaks most of the rules of romance novels, and takes hard roads instead of good.  Which is what makes it a good book instead of just another medieval romance that blends in with the rest.
meganbmoore: (princess bride-kiss)
Though marketted as a historical romance, The Shattered Rose is more about making a marriage work after one party makes a horrible mistake. 

Set in 1100, TSR is about Galeran, a crusader who returns home after two years away to find his father and brother preparing to lay siege to his home.  On questioning them, he learns that this is because his wife, Jehanne, as borne another man's child while he was away, and installed the man in their household.  As an even bigger blow, he soon learns that his own son, born after he left for the crusade, has died.

Jehanne is not, of course, an evil adulturous child killer.  Driven mad by her son's death, shortly after receiving-obviously-false reports of Galeran's death, she sought comfort in the arms of Lowick, who has loved her since they were children together.  While she soon regained her senses, the damage was already done, and she was carrying her child.  Galeran, who still loves his wife even though she betrayed him, has to find a way to save face and position without doing what society says he should do, which is, at the most generous, kill the lover, dispose of the child and send Jehanne off to a convent.  Only the first part holds any appeal to him.

While there are many ways Beverley could have taken with this book, she doesn't take them.  Galeran held to his own marriage vows while away, Jehanne was not raped, Lowick is not evil. Lowick genuinely loves Jehanne and wants to take of nboth her and the baby, and truly fears that Galeran will harm them, as most men of the time would have(and as most expect Galeran to do) while Jehanne never stopped loving Galeran and regretted her affair with Lowick as soon as it happened.  For that matter, both view their own actions as being rape-Lowick because he didn't reject Jehanne when he knew only grief drove her, and Jehanne because she knows she took advantage of feelings she didn't return.

It's not an easy story, nor do the characters face easy choices.  It's a book that seems to be disliked by most romance fans and, honestly, I can see why it would alienate some.  It breaks most of the rules of romance novels, and takes hard roads instead of good.  Which is what makes it a good book instead of just another medieval romance that blends in with the rest.
meganbmoore: (Default)
1.  Finish your errands on one side of town, head over to do the ones on the other, realize you forgot something you have to do today because it's the last day and head back.

2.  Realize you're sitting on empty and stop at a gas station you've never been to before.  Stare at the credit card slot a foot above your head (I. KID. YOU. NOT.) then precariously teeter on the tiny platform to reduce it to 9 inches.

3.  Go to the Wal-Mart on that side of town and remember that the reason you arranged things the way you did is because you're out of fish and that Wal-Mart's seafood section is measly.  Stock up on chicken instead.

4.  Almost dislocate a finger trying to get Dr. Pepper off the too-tightly packed shelf.

5.  Tear a fingernail all the way down to half an inch past the flesh while unload your cart at checkout.

6.  Vow to go straight home and watch Bones until your 5 pm appointment.
meganbmoore: (death trance 2)
1.  Finish your errands on one side of town, head over to do the ones on the other, realize you forgot something you have to do today because it's the last day and head back.

2.  Realize you're sitting on empty and stop at a gas station you've never been to before.  Stare at the credit card slot a foot above your head (I. KID. YOU. NOT.) then precariously teeter on the tiny platform to reduce it to 9 inches.

3.  Go to the Wal-Mart on that side of town and remember that the reason you arranged things the way you did is because you're out of fish and that Wal-Mart's seafood section is measly.  Stock up on chicken instead.

4.  Almost dislocate a finger trying to get Dr. Pepper off the too-tightly packed shelf.

5.  Tear a fingernail all the way down to half an inch past the flesh while unload your cart at checkout.

6.  Vow to go straight home and watch Bones until your 5 pm appointment.

randomosity

Oct. 3rd, 2007 06:52 pm
meganbmoore: (lullaby-blah blah blah)
1.  Everyone should be extremely proud of me.  I drove past book and DVD places multiple times today and did not go in.  There are some who know what a major accomplishment this is.  I'm sure others can guess.  I am attempting to be good for the Adult Literacy Council Booksale in a couple weeks(hopefully, the workers won't be rude like last year and I'll get my usual haul instead of a measly half bag) after which, I shall get to work of catching up with new releases.

2.  For Stargate SG-1 fans, Wal-Mart still has the first four seasons on sale for $20 each.  (They've had it going for about a month, so I now have S2-4 waiting)

3.  Any chance a Supernatural fan can provide me with a cap of prissy!Sam going "blah blah blah" from "Tall Tales"

4.  I love Jack Hodgins in Bones and think he is the most endearing conspiracy theorist to ever grace my TV screen.  I never want to see his bare chest again.  (because of the character, not the actor)

5.  Later tonight, [profile] calixaand I will be watching Taitei no Ken, a japanese movie starring Japan's very own force of nature, Abe Hiroshi, in all his towering, brilliant, dorky, charming glory.  Apparently he has a giant sword called "The Sword of Alexander," rescues princesses and fights bodyguards, assassins, and an alien-possessed bear hunter.  I have EXTREMELY high expectations.

I shall now take the laundry down and then wash the dishes, hoping that the torn fingernail has healed over enough that i'm not setting myself up for half an hour of stinging pain.

randomosity

Oct. 3rd, 2007 06:52 pm
meganbmoore: (Default)
1.  Everyone should be extremely proud of me.  I drove past book and DVD places multiple times today and did not go in.  There are some who know what a major accomplishment this is.  I'm sure others can guess.  I am attempting to be good for the Adult Literacy Council Booksale in a couple weeks(hopefully, the workers won't be rude like last year and I'll get my usual haul instead of a measly half bag) after which, I shall get to work of catching up with new releases.

2.  For Stargate SG-1 fans, Wal-Mart still has the first four seasons on sale for $20 each.  (They've had it going for about a month, so I now have S2-4 waiting)

3.  Any chance a Supernatural fan can provide me with a cap of prissy!Sam going "blah blah blah" from "Tall Tales"

4.  I love Jack Hodgins in Bones and think he is the most endearing conspiracy theorist to ever grace my TV screen.  I never want to see his bare chest again.  (because of the character, not the actor)

5.  Later tonight, [profile] calixaand I will be watching Taitei no Ken, a japanese movie starring Japan's very own force of nature, Abe Hiroshi, in all his towering, brilliant, dorky, charming glory.  Apparently he has a giant sword called "The Sword of Alexander," rescues princesses and fights bodyguards, assassins, and an alien-possessed bear hunter.  I have EXTREMELY high expectations.

I shall now take the laundry down and then wash the dishes, hoping that the torn fingernail has healed over enough that i'm not setting myself up for half an hour of stinging pain.

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