(no subject)

[dangermousie]

I am rereading Laura Kinsale's Flowers From The Storm - still my favorite romance novel but a bit too depressing even for me in the earlier parts. I mean, I love h/c more than your average bear but even with that...

Still. Total total love.

Comments

[sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com]

Depressing, yes, but still one of my all-time favorites, too. :)

[m3lee.livejournal.com]

LOVED Flowers From the Storm!!! I read it twice back to back. I think I especially enjoy h/c because the earlier parts are my favorite. It's definitely on my list of favorites.

Thank you for your list of romance novel recommendations. I'm slowly going through them. So far, I've also read Beautiful Disaster, England's Perfect Hero, and will start Born of SIlence soon. (Also discovered Georgette Heyer through your recommendation. love.)

THANKS!

[(Anonymous)]

What book will you recommend that's also a romance novel but one that's not too depressing? Thanks!

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

I'm drawing a blank on the title but one of Kinsale's earliest novels dealt with PTSD and it made FFTS seem lighthearted. By the end, you were just relieved that the two broken souls had found each other again, but that was it. No epilogue of HEA nature b/c it couldn't be done w/o ruining the book. Which I applaud but compared with that, FFTS is comfort food. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Was that Seize the Fire? (hero was Napoleonic navy officer) - I loved it but jeez, that was plain depressing.

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

That's the one! :) Even the loveliest moments were rather bleak, like when they were stranded on that island & struggling to survive. Memorable book but not the easiest journey for the (romance) reader.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, their big romantic interlude was on a frozen island where they were trying not to starve to death. I remember.

I thought it neat that I started the book by despising. (though amused) by the hero who really came across as a naval version of Flashman, and ended up feeling horribly sorry and rooting for him by the end. Though by the end, I was pretty much convinced that what the hero needed was a decade of therapy and some psych meds (and after that stuff near the end, heroine would need major counseling too) but since that was not available in 1820, I suppose trying for a relationship far far away fr any stressors would have to do.

I wonder what disturbing things it says about me that out of all Kinsale books, this and FFTS, i.e., the two most depressing ones, are the only ones I love.

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

Not surprised :) (your loving FFTS and STF, no idea what it says about you :)). I read and enjoyed most of Kinsale's backlist but STF's the one that weighed on me the most and FFTS is, well, sheer 'would-not-change-a-thing' perfection/my first Kinsale/dearest to me. Been ages since I read FFTS but still can recall all of the h/h's scenes together. And what a cast! From Maddy's father to his grandmother and incorrigible friends & dogs and softie butler and half-powdered footmen... So much passion & intensity but also so much humor & wit too.

the hero who really came across as a naval version of Flashman

Kinsale would be happy to hear that, he was her inspiration for Sheridan.