Thomas, Sherry - Not Quite a Husband
Wed, May. 27th, 2009 11:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oyceterI realize it is a very stupid idea to try and catch up with book posts while also trying to catch up from Wiscon, but nevertheless, that is what I am doing! Also, a ton of this is from chatting with coffeeandink, so I may be stealing a lot of her insights.
Four years ago, Bryony Asquith proposed to Leo Marsden, dazzled by the younger man's self and thinking that his marrying her would prove to the world that she was worthwhile. But a year later, their marriage has been annulled, and Bryony has been going around the world to escape London. Leo has just found her in India and convinces her to return with him to England, and together, they have to get through the wild landscape and past a dangerous rebellion (oh Sherry Thomas, why did this have to be set in India WHY?).
I read the prologue and bits of the first chapter back when Delicious came out and have been looking forward to it since: icy cold female doctor! The book itself both completely surpasses what I wanted and undershoots at the same time. Many parts of the characterization are completely off or do not make sense, the setting in India is pretty much as bad as I thought, and although the ending is not as tacked on as some of Thomas' other endings, the way the romance is partially resolved midway through the book left me bored and puzzled.
The structure is much like Thomas' previous two novels, although the flashbacks are few enough that they can be contained in italicized sections, as opposed to alternating chapters. I personally am a giant flashback fan, so this did not bug me, but I know other people do not like it.
First, the bad. As previously mentioned, this is set in India, starring white people. We all know how this goes, yes? I don't know if it's good or bad that there are no speaking Indian parts. I hate that non-white people are erased and made into dangerous rebels or lackeys, and yet, I am fairly sure if they did get a larger role, it would be made of fail. Also, as mentioned, Bryony and Leo get caught in a local rebellion in Swat Valley. Oh Sherry Thomas, why must you remind me that the heroes are actually the villains? I tried skimming the India sections as quickly as possible to avoid massive FAIL, but given how much plot the fighting takes, it was difficult. It is hard reading a romance novel when you are siding with the people trying to kill off the hero and thinking, "Die, British Raj, die!"
Also, Leo basically rapes Bryony in her sleep in the flashbacks—she tells him she does not want to have sex with him when she is sleeping, but he does it anyway. Sadly, the book does not find it problematic. There are sleeping-sex scenes in the present day as well, which I am conflicted about, as Leo clearly does not mind Bryony doing it to him. Still, it makes me nidgy.
Finally, the characterization.
Spoilers start here
We discover that Leo has been in love with Bryony ever since he was a kid, and from all the flashbacks, he treats her very well (save the sleeping sex thing). But in the first chapter from Bryony, she thinks he never loved her and married her for her money, and it is incredibly difficult reconciling what we see from Leo with what Bryony thinks of him. Even the infidelity prior to their marriage doesn't make it make sense to me. Also, Bryony completely hates sex during marriage, which is never quite explained. We get a little bit about her not liking that Leo that much of an effect on her, but not much beyond that, and then in the present day, she is suddenly ok with sex with Leo, and I don't know what changed. Furthermore, we don't get enough of Bryony being cut off from her family; she says she is and Leo says she is, but all we see is reconciliation and misunderstandings being patched up, none of which explains everything.
And yet, all that said, some parts of the book make me so happy! I love icy brittle Bryony and her affinity for scalpels and diseases even as she dislikes people, and oh, Leo. Leo is wonderful.
More spoilers here
I feel sad because the first part of this write up is so negative. And the book really is quite flawed. And yet! Baby Leo totally in love with slightly older Bryony is the Cutest Thing EVAR. He watches her dissect animals and thinks it's wonderful! He cries for her at her stepmother's funeral! The day she proposes to him is the happiest day of his life! He runs their household to make sure everything suits her! And oh, oh, oh, he buys her a microscope on the day she tells him she wants an annulment, and he puts it together in front of her as if he's hoping she'll change her mind. I love him so much. I thought he would be this rakish alpha male from the prologue, and really, he is just a complete puppy dog when it comes to her.
Another bonus point: Bryony cannot conceive and... NO MIRACLE BABY.
All in all, I am not sure this would work for people who do not have my same love of Leo, Bryony, and microscopes. Still, I am glad there were moments of squee in there, although there was a lot of unevenness as well.
coffeeandink, so I may be stealing a lot of her insights. Four years ago, Bryony Asquith proposed to Leo Marsden, dazzled by the younger man's self and thinking that his marrying her would prove to the world that she was worthwhile. But a year later, their marriage has been annulled, and Bryony has been going around the world to escape London. Leo has just found her in India and convinces her to return with him to England, and together, they have to get through the wild landscape and past a dangerous rebellion (oh Sherry Thomas, why did this have to be set in India WHY?).
I read the prologue and bits of the first chapter back when Delicious came out and have been looking forward to it since: icy cold female doctor! The book itself both completely surpasses what I wanted and undershoots at the same time. Many parts of the characterization are completely off or do not make sense, the setting in India is pretty much as bad as I thought, and although the ending is not as tacked on as some of Thomas' other endings, the way the romance is partially resolved midway through the book left me bored and puzzled.
The structure is much like Thomas' previous two novels, although the flashbacks are few enough that they can be contained in italicized sections, as opposed to alternating chapters. I personally am a giant flashback fan, so this did not bug me, but I know other people do not like it.
First, the bad. As previously mentioned, this is set in India, starring white people. We all know how this goes, yes? I don't know if it's good or bad that there are no speaking Indian parts. I hate that non-white people are erased and made into dangerous rebels or lackeys, and yet, I am fairly sure if they did get a larger role, it would be made of fail. Also, as mentioned, Bryony and Leo get caught in a local rebellion in Swat Valley. Oh Sherry Thomas, why must you remind me that the heroes are actually the villains? I tried skimming the India sections as quickly as possible to avoid massive FAIL, but given how much plot the fighting takes, it was difficult. It is hard reading a romance novel when you are siding with the people trying to kill off the hero and thinking, "Die, British Raj, die!"
Also, Leo basically rapes Bryony in her sleep in the flashbacks—she tells him she does not want to have sex with him when she is sleeping, but he does it anyway. Sadly, the book does not find it problematic. There are sleeping-sex scenes in the present day as well, which I am conflicted about, as Leo clearly does not mind Bryony doing it to him. Still, it makes me nidgy.
Finally, the characterization.
Spoilers start here
We discover that Leo has been in love with Bryony ever since he was a kid, and from all the flashbacks, he treats her very well (save the sleeping sex thing). But in the first chapter from Bryony, she thinks he never loved her and married her for her money, and it is incredibly difficult reconciling what we see from Leo with what Bryony thinks of him. Even the infidelity prior to their marriage doesn't make it make sense to me. Also, Bryony completely hates sex during marriage, which is never quite explained. We get a little bit about her not liking that Leo that much of an effect on her, but not much beyond that, and then in the present day, she is suddenly ok with sex with Leo, and I don't know what changed. Furthermore, we don't get enough of Bryony being cut off from her family; she says she is and Leo says she is, but all we see is reconciliation and misunderstandings being patched up, none of which explains everything.
And yet, all that said, some parts of the book make me so happy! I love icy brittle Bryony and her affinity for scalpels and diseases even as she dislikes people, and oh, Leo. Leo is wonderful.
More spoilers here
I feel sad because the first part of this write up is so negative. And the book really is quite flawed. And yet! Baby Leo totally in love with slightly older Bryony is the Cutest Thing EVAR. He watches her dissect animals and thinks it's wonderful! He cries for her at her stepmother's funeral! The day she proposes to him is the happiest day of his life! He runs their household to make sure everything suits her! And oh, oh, oh, he buys her a microscope on the day she tells him she wants an annulment, and he puts it together in front of her as if he's hoping she'll change her mind. I love him so much. I thought he would be this rakish alpha male from the prologue, and really, he is just a complete puppy dog when it comes to her.
Another bonus point: Bryony cannot conceive and... NO MIRACLE BABY.
All in all, I am not sure this would work for people who do not have my same love of Leo, Bryony, and microscopes. Still, I am glad there were moments of squee in there, although there was a lot of unevenness as well.
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