Hello, everyone!
I realize I'm a bit behind on the challenge (three books to be
exact) and therefore blog updates, but I'm doing the best I can. I actually
read for well over an hour today to finish Keeping
the Castle by Patrice Kindl.
There was a major problem I had with this
book. This may not be the best way to start off a review, but I feel it should
be addressed first because it came up throughout the book. The main characters
are pretty poor. To the point where they can't afford to get their tapestries
mended- or to even afford food regularly! Yet, they had thirty seven servants,
one of which was a stable boy for the two horses they owned. The author
attempted to explain how they kept the horses, one was a gift and one was
bought by the rich stepsister who keeps her money locked away, but she seems to
forget to explain the servants. If I knew how people who couldn't afford sugar
or fresh tea could afford to have thirty seven servants, I may have enjoyed the
book more. It was something my mind kept going back to and I hoped at
some point there would be an explanation... There wasn't.
Despite this issue, there were several
aspects of Keeping the Castle that I enjoyed. A major one was Mr.
Fredericks' character. At first he seemed aloof, almost like a carbon copy of
Mr. Darcy from Pride and
Prejudice (if you didn't get
that reference immediately, shame on you). It wasn't long before I realized
that wasn't it at all. Where Mr. Darcy is shy and proud, Mr. Fredericks' turned
out to be awkward, outspoken and spontaneous. This is a common mix of traits
for heroines these days, but seem to be rare in male characters. It was a
refreshing change and I found him to be my favorite character, although the
main one, Althea, grew on me towards the end.
The story was an interesting idea, but it
fell a bit short. There was only one major plot twist and the romantic aspects
were hard to follow. It reminded me a bit of A
Midsummer Night's Dream in
that it was difficult to tell which secondary characters were going to end up
together. I couldn't tell who wanted to marry who for what reasons for most of
the book! The ending was pretty cute, albeit hasty and a bit clumsy.
I gave Keeping the Castle three stars on
Goodreads, but I would only recommend it if you don't mind little plot holes
and a bit of confusion in your romantic comedies.
I hope to read the next book item quickly
and update soon, but we'll see!
