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[rynne]

I am in a very good mood today. Last night I was feeling off, but then heart_of_man and I went for coffee (well, so to speak, since she didn't actually get anything and neither of us drink coffee) and we talked for a couple hours. That was great, and I felt much better at the end.

Tomorrow I have two fairly biggish assignments due, and I did those today, and I think they're fairly good. I'm pleased with them, at least. :)

But mostly I am still full of COMPLETE GLEE because today I read Busman's Honeymoon, one of Dorothy L. Sayers's Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane books, and I just ADORED it. It's almost exactly what I want to read in a story. :D


I'm sure I've mentioned before that my favorite genre is basically plot-with-romance. I'm not particular about what kind of plot--I just want there to be something interesting going on. I don't actually typically read mysteries, but then I started to read the Lord Peter Wimsey books, and I've enjoyed all the ones I've read (even those that are just Lord Peter, with no Harriet and no romance, so I am not solely attracted to romance *g*), but this one was definitely my favorite.

The romance was the kind of thing I love to read. Very sweet, very genuine, very true to the characters and very good for them. I thought Peter especially very adorable. I mean, I've always had a weakness for pairings that take a long time to get together (Peter/Harriet is five years, Mulder/Scully seven, Josh/Donna nine, and Luke/Mara (Star Wars EU) ten--Doctor/Rose also took four, but the delay of the last two wasn't really their fault), mostly for how they are once they do get together--that is, adorably disbelieving at their good fortune, that kind of thing. Also, Peter's habit of quoting poetry and things makes me full of glee because it feels romantic without being saccharine, and he can eloquently express how much he loves her while still being IC. I love it when characters can do that. XD

Much as I love happiness in romance, I am also a firm believer that struggle is necessary for that happiness to mean something, and this doesn't disappoint there--both in the struggle, and in the making it mean something, which is where I think a lot of angst-writers fail. But there was a particular clash in this book that absolutely struck me--and it ends when Peter says he'll let the mystery alone for Harriet's sake, and Harriet is horrified at the idea because she doesn't want to diminish him. They bring up the thing about how much power people can have over each other (in this case, Harriet's power over Peter), including power to make the other person be someone they're not, but Harriet is just horrified at the idea of using that power. So this argument ends up drawing them closer and making them stronger and is really just full of yay.

Also, the ending. It's not an especially happy ending, because Sayers is awesome enough to follow all the way through here to the trial and execution of the murderer--and more, on what that does to Peter, who has that on his conscience. Combined with Peter's PTSD from World War I, which recurs in these circumstances, he's not in a good state, and all Harriet can do is hope that he comes to her. He does at the end, and there's hope. He'll likely never be rid of the PTSD and always have his issues that Harriet will just have to watch, but the end of the book leaves us with the hope that while, okay, he'll never be cured, at least he has her to be with him and love him and do what she can to help with his demons, as he's done with her.

The plot was...interesting, I suppose. It wasn't a bad plot, but I am definitely a character person rather than a plot person, so I am always most interested in plots because of what they can do to characters, and in that sense, this plot was a complete success. It was fairly typical as a mystery plot, I think--or at least, it didn't stand out in that way, but it definitely served to really illuminate characters and relationships while still being interesting in itself, which is what I want in a plot.

My only grievance with the novel is that there's too much untranslated French. XD

So yes. I loved that book enough that I really need to buy it now. And also find fanfic, of course. XD yuletide has some good ones, and surprisingly so does ff.net, but neither really has that many. This is probably just a tiny fandom. *sigh*

Comments

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I think I had a grin on my face for pretty much the first half of Busman's Honeymoon. :D I agree that the plot is just sort of...there. It seems obvious Sayers' heart really was more into the relationship between Harriet and Peter.

I love how genuine it is (like you say) - there's been just so much formulaic fiction when it comes to romance and relationships, that it's refreshing to come across something different like this. And I agree with you - I really like it that when there's conflict between them, they actually gain something from it. AND how healthy their relationship is when it comes to being two individuals who are also a very connected couple. Recognizing they can hurt each other, and so choose not to, keeping the arguments "out of the bedroom" and so on.

I really liked the ending, although it took a mental adjustment since I expected the book to end earlier, but Sayers does take it past where everyone else would end. I would have liked to have seen more in that area, but at the same time that also seems honest - it's only scratching the surface of the problem, but there shouldn't be a pat resolution for this.

You'll have to tell me if you run across any good fics. I've ordered the book "Lord Peter: The Complete Stories" - it's a collection of short stories Sayers wrote later, and I understand that two of them are with Harriet and their kids. Another is with his nephew, one with his mother... I'm hoping they'll be good.

I asked threerings about the novels that were written recently by another person who used Sayers' notes - apparently she had another Peter/Harriet book planned, but it never got written. But she was very very negative about the modern books, so I guess I'll skip them. (Modern sequels never seem quite right anyway.)

[rynne.livejournal.com]

It seems obvious Sayers' heart really was more into the relationship between Harriet and Peter.

Yes. Which was fine with me, because so was mine. *g* This book has made me happy enough that I've read it all the way through three times though I haven't even had it a week. It just has--so much depth, you know?

I've now ordered all the Peter-and-Harriet books from Barnes and Noble, plus that one you mentioned--thanks for that. :) Also, for fic, there's the yuletide Peter Wimsey section, though sadly not much else. My favorites there are "Ducenti Quinquaginta", "Small Things", "Scare Any Man", "The Conscience of the Queen", and "Wither Thou Goest", though there a bunch of other good ones.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Yes. Which was fine with me, because so was mine. *g* This book has made me happy enough that I've read it all the way through three times though I haven't even had it a week. It just has--so much depth, you know?

It really does. I keep thinking of small excerpts that say so much. Like when they're driving in the car at the beginning, Harriet has a moment of disconnect that seems so genuine. That "did I do what I think I did?" moment.

I've now ordered all the Peter-and-Harriet books from Barnes and Noble, plus that one you mentioned--thanks for that. :)

The short stories are...short. :D The first of the two barely has Harriet in it at all. But the part she's in is GREAT. I won't spoil it for you. The second of the two is downright adorable, giving a glimpse into their lives after they have three kids aged 6, 4 and 2.

(I only wish she'd not had a fondness for derogatory terms. It's hard for me to read over those.)

Also, for fic, there's the yuletide Peter Wimsey section, though sadly not much else. My favorites there are "Ducenti Quinquaginta", "Small Things", "Scare Any Man", "The Conscience of the Queen", and "Wither Thou Goest", though there a bunch of other good ones.

Oooooh! Thanks!

[velesia.livejournal.com]

Wow, you've been so much more productive than I have. I haven't started my lab report for tomorrow, or finished my printmaking homework, or read my spanish homework! At least I don't have anything due for environmental science. I've never heard of this author before, what genre is her work?

[rynne.livejournal.com]

XD I am being a good student this semester!

Dorothy L. Sayers is a British mystery author from the 30's. She's quite awesome. :D