Remember back a few weeks (or so) when I was looking for something light?? Well, this is pretty much what I was looking for. It was not deep, or particularly specatacular, but it was involving, diverting (I tend to think and talk in Victorian English after reading a book like this) and a whole lot of fun. I think part of what made it fun for me was the method in which it was written. The basic premise: two girls in early-19th Century England (with magic) are writing back and forth to each other and get into a series of adventures (and fall in love, of course). See? Nothing special. But, it was written by Patricia Wrede (writer of the Enchanted Forest, which my oldest loves) and Caroline Stevermer (of whom, I admit, I’ve never heard before). What they did (and it sounds like fun) is essentially become the two characters (Wrede was Cecelia; Stevermer was the cousin Kate) and let the plot develop by writing letters back and forth to each other. Then, of course, they got back together and did some revising and editing for the book. But still… to experience the development of the book in such a way… wow. And it showed in the writing. There were really two disctinct voices (which is hard to achieve if there’s only one writer), and you could tell that things were simoltaneously developing individually and in response to what the other writer had written. Makes me want to try it. Oh, and it makes me want to read the sequel, The Grand Tour: Being a Revelation of Matters of High Confidentiality and Greatest Importance, Including Extracts from the Intimate Diary of a Noblewoman and the Sworn Testimony of a Lady of Quality. How can you not want to read a book with a title like that?
The Book Nut 
Thanks for the recommendation! It sounds like just the ticket. I’ve been reading WAY too much serious stuff of late and the weight of winter demands a little delight.
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You’re welcome. I’m reading <>Snow<> by Pamuk now, and it’s not exactly light after-Christmas fare… sigh. Maybe I should get that sequel…BTW, out of curiosity, do you happen to know my SIL, Jessica Madsen?? She’s an advid knitter, and lives in A2, and I was just curious.
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I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jessica (yet!)–it seems there are about 10 regular knitting groups that meet around here. If she’s ever free on a Tuesday evening, that’s when the group I get together with meets at Sweetwater’s cafe (if say, you wanted to pass that on to her!)
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I normally have a strong tendency to avoid books written by co-authors but this one sounds totally intriguing!
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Kate — I’ll pass it along to her; though she’s expecting a baby due in a couple of weeks so it may be a while before she gets out!Julie — You know, I feel the same way, usually. I picked this one up with low expectations; I figured it was Patricia Wrede “helping out” a beginning author. I was glad to be wrong.
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i read sorcery and cecelia a little while ago. i loved it!! of course i’m fourteen and maybe that has something to do with it, but first of all, the way this book was written appealed to me, and second, it has two intelligent, funny, sarcastic heroines, who remind me of myself. anyway, it’s pretty hard to find a light-reading, fun fantasy book set in the victorian era but this is it! and of course i really want to read the sequel. i love patricia wrede; she is one of my favorite child-book authors. actually howl’s moving castle, by diana wynne jones, is also one of my favorites. i recommend it to anyone who likes those type of headstrong heroine books. and i think there’s a sequel to it but the name has slipped my mind. anyway, i love this book. the one thing i am worried about is, from the minute i started reading this book, i knew who was going to fall in love with who. it just popped out @ me and i was waiting for the proposals the who of the book. so i’m worried that now that they’re married the heroines won’t be as much fun–or god forbid–they’ll have children! that would spoil them–they might live in the victorian era but they’re still fun-loving teenagers. but overall, i enjoyed this book immensely. it’s one you can read quite a few times without getting tired of it.
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