Joan Kessler
An intense story about a strong-willed girl growing up without love, struggling through other horrible conditions, and finding freedom in body, mind, and soul in a time that didn't recognize freedom for women. The theme, love is not something you must earn, plays out beautifully throughout the book. But note to first-time readers of Jane Eyre; the annotations contain spoilers. I found this annoying, despite my familiarity with the story, and left off reading them for several chapters, catching up with them later. But on the whole, I appreciated the excellent annotations as a writing structure guide. A really insightful way to read a story.
If they were going for Quick Factoid Reference Guide, they nailed it. Encyclopedia, not so much. Still, an enjoyable guide.
I loved the premise, and the cover is gorgeous. The writing comes across as modern rather than evoking the time period. The amateur-detective main character explained everything and stated the obvious repeatedly. I don't know if her naiveté was meant to be a charming personality quirk, but the fact that she'd worked as a riveter in a bomber plant during the war made her lack of little grey cells perplexing. I was left with no sense of her having attained mastery. Unfortunately, like Julia's mayonnaise problem, this just didn't come together. It was such a great idea for a mystery.
Delightful! Sure to inspire spumescent divagation among pajama-clad chasmophiles and rusticated putti alike.
