tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post3692750534414832734..comments2024-01-31T01:40:57.553-06:00Comments on Adventures in Reading: Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette KowalJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094675116398769415noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-1437508643065827552010-08-08T18:23:59.550-05:002010-08-08T18:23:59.550-05:00Anon: Sorry you didn't like it. I found it ab...Anon: Sorry you didn't like it. I found it absolutely delightful.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16094675116398769415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-72445942346762935482010-08-08T01:03:29.351-05:002010-08-08T01:03:29.351-05:00I don't know anything about Kowal, but I do kn...I don't know anything about Kowal, but I do know Austen, and I found this book completely underwhelming. I was really looking forward to it, but instead got a bunch of badly-recycled Austen characters going through the motions of Regency England with very little depth or insight. The entire point of Austen is her ability to do social commentary in the most elegant of ways; Kowal doesn't seem to get that, and as a result the story is hackneyed and flat.<br /><br />I read science fiction and fantasy regularly, so was wide open to this book. But Kowal hyperfocuses on Regency manners in the most unrealistic ways, she misuses vocabulary, she never gets the lyrical rhythm down at all. It was an unpleasant experience, reading this book. I frequently put it down to take a break, because it was bothering me so much. I wouldn't recommend it, either to an Austen fan or a fantasy fan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-59535601866527788872010-06-02T13:54:06.181-05:002010-06-02T13:54:06.181-05:00Given your feelings toward Austen, Kowal's sho...Given your feelings toward Austen, Kowal's short fiction must have been exceptional to get you to commit to read this. <br /><br />I think I'll start with the short stories.Chad Hullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17774092046594256969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7354250.post-25099387632544086412010-06-02T09:12:43.908-05:002010-06-02T09:12:43.908-05:00Excellent review! I, too, am a fan of Mary Robine...Excellent review! I, too, am a fan of Mary Robinette Kowal's short fiction and have been looking forward to her novel.Livianiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479932701589363306noreply@blogger.com