Variations on a Theme

Here are some more 70's book covers:

     Farewell the Tranquil Mind by R.F. Delderfield is a historical fiction novel set mostly in France during their revolution. David Treloar must leave his native England for France after his father is caught smuggling. While there, he is taken in by a the Rouzet family and he falls in love with their cousin Charlotte Lamotte. The novel follows the goings on of the Rouzet household, a family passionate about the revolution in it's most philosophic terms. As the Revolution reaches a fever pitch David and the Rouzet family must find a way to escape Paris before they are all imprisoned. 

     This novel took me by a pleasant surprise. I began it thinking I would be enjoying another light Gothic Romance. What I held instead was a well thought out captivating historical novel. I found myself delighted by the reality of the characters, they all embody traits that you would expect in people today. The plot was engaging, the novel takes place over the course of two years, the bloodiest in the history of the French Revolution. I would recommend this novel to someone who likes to read for the details of history, but if you want historical romance, this might not be for you.

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart is a Gothic romance novel also set in France, this time post WWII. Young Linda Martin is hired by a wealthy French family, the Valmy's, to act as an English governess to their young nephew, Philippe. At first everything is very pleasant, but then strange accidents start happening around the chateau. A gun goes off and hits a tree where a moment before Philippe had been standing and a part of a balustrade on his balcony breaks off as he runs out in a thunderstorm. There are too many secrets and silent looks at the chateau, what could they all mean? And what part does the dashing Raoul, son of the intimidating Leon de Valmy, play in this drama?
     OK, this was much more along the lines of brain candy. Mary Stewart is effective in creating an atmosphere of suspense, there was one scene that left me unable to turn off the light, there is not much historical meat to the story. However, I would recommend this novel to someone looking to read on their commute, or some light reading on their lunch break.

Used bookstores....

     Hold the most amazing treasures. I like to find novels from the 70's at used bookstores. Especially romances, they have the most outrageous titles and cover art.

Here is one that I picked up recently....

     This is the story of a young woman, Christina, who goes from America to stay with her father's estranged family in England. It was her Father's dying wish that the bridge be mended between himself and his father and his daughter has gone to fulfill that desire.

     The setting is the coast of England and here there be smugglers. It is dark and dreary, the patriarch of the family is manipulating everyone into doing his bidding, including trying to blackmail Christina into marrying her cousin. Little do they know that Christina comes as a lady with a mind and a will of her own and she won't allow anyone to manipulate her so easily. 

     I enjoyed this novel. There is a love story mixed in with the intrigue of nearby smugglers and the threat of their discovery and all of these elements mixed together to make for an enjoyable reading experience.

     Also, how could you say "no" to that wonderful, dramatic cover art?

I just LOVE finding geeky finds at Goodwill.

The First 100 Pages of Rose Cottage by Mary Stewart.

Reading the first 100 pages of this novel makes me think that maybe I need to reevaluate the 100 page policy. Or maybe this book just takes a while to get started. That could prove problematic as it's only 264 pages long...

Rose Cottage is a suspense romance by Mary Stewart, who also wrote The Crystal Cave. It takes place in England shortly after WW II. We are introduced to Kathy Herrick, Née Welland. She comes from a small village in the English countryside, the illegitimate granddaughter of the gardner and cook of the local big house. She is returning to her childhood home, Todhall to retrieve some papers for her grandmother who is moving to Scotland.
On the day of her arrival she runs into an old friend, Davey Pasco, who agrees to assist her in opening her Grandmothers safe. Back at the house, she discovers that someone has been in the cottage and removed the contents of the safe. The next day she goes into the village and begins to ask questions about any goings on at Rose Cottage.

And that's the first 100 pages.

I don't know if I will finish this novel. It didn't really grasp my attention, and I don't really feel motivated to discover who would have gone into her grandmother's house to get the things out of her safe.

So, for now, I will set Rose Cottage down and move on to the next novel.