Envy by Anna Godberson
Feb. 25th, 2009 01:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meganbmooreMay I just say that I absolutely adore the covers of these books? I can testify to the power of a woman in an elaborate ball gown against a dark background being able to pull a person’s eyes from a few shelves away. This is probably the prettiest of the dresses, but Penelope’s red dress on the cover of Rumors is probably the most attention grabbing. Which, given Penelope’s personality, is rather fitting. Not that Elizabeth’s pink number is anything to sneer at.
I admit, as much as I’m enjoying Gossip Girl right now, and as much as these books are clearly riding theGossip Girl wave, only in 1899-1900, I still prefer the Luxe books. This is also the penultimate Luxe book (it seems a lot of my book and manga series are nearing their end). I have a weird problem with writing up penultimate books in that, no matter how good they are.
This book is notable for some people making surprisingly good choices, some people being thwarted on the verge of making good choices, and other making absolutely terrible choices. At least some are improving!
I’m very surprised that I’m actually liking Lina and Penelope on their own at this point, as opposed to for the conflict they bring. Lina has gone from being shallow and making terrible, selfish choices to having the beginnings of a moral compass and the ability to sympathize with others, and making romantic choices based on merit. The test will be whether or not her recent windfall will cause her to lose that. Penelope is still the evil villainess manipulating everyone around her for her own ends, but I’ve come to enjoy it. And hopefully, she’ll learn to want things because they’re good things, not because they’ll make her look good.
I’ve liked the Diana/Henry pairing from the start, but haven’t cared much for Henry before. Largely because he spent most of the first book badmouthing Elizabeth and chasing after his fiancee’s sister. Apparently, however, I like him broken and angsty and drowning his sorrows in alcohol. I usually stop liking them when they get like that! And he finally grew a real spine! And ran off to join the army. That part causes me concern. Especially since Teddy also went, almost guaranteeing that one must die.
I’m not particularly thrilled with a part of Diana’s plotline here, largely because I can’t help but think that it was at least partly to put her closer to even ground with Henry on the “having messed up” scale. But I chortle at the fact that she’s dressing as a boy and chasing after Henry.
I’ve thought from the first book both that Snowden was in love with Elizabeth, and that Elizabeth was going to end up pregnant at some point. Of course, I initially thought that she would be pregnant and separated from Will for some reason, not that Will would be dead. I can’t think that that marriage can only result in Teddy, who she almost loves, being dead and Elizabeth stuck married to someone she cares about but doesn’t love, or Snowden somehow dying so she can be with Teddy. While I don’t blame Mrs. Holland for using his loyalty and love for Elizabeth to get her married before people learn she’s pregnant (she shows it in strange ways, but she really does want what’s best for her daughters) he deserves someone who returns his love, and she deserves to be happy with someone she loves.
I have to say, though, that the cast suddenly debunking to Florida for half the book was a bit odd. It served to move the plot along, but I can’t help that Godberson just wanted a turn-of-the-century beach.
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Date: 2009-03-02 07:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-03 03:32 am (UTC)I haven't read the GG books and have no desire to, but those who've read both say that these are much better, and that the comparison doesn't do them justice.
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Date: 2009-03-03 04:12 am (UTC)Not that I need to be adding to my TBR list, at all.
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Date: 2009-03-03 04:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-03 04:27 am (UTC)