Mr. Malcolm's List

Mr. Malcolm's List

by Suzanne Allain
Lemoyne House, 2009. 220 pages. Romance

The Honourable Mr. Jeremy Malcolm is searching for a wife, but not just any wife; one who will meet the qualifications on his well-crafted list. But after years of searching, he's beginning to despair of ever finding this paragon. Until Selina Dalton arrives in town. Having been scorned by Mr. Malcolm, Julia Thistlewaite invites her friend Selina Dalton, a vicar's daughter of limited means and a stranger to high society, to London as part of a plot to exact revenge on Mr. Malcolm. But when Mr. Malcolm begins judging Selina against his unattainable standards, Selina decides that she has some qualifications of her own. And if he is to meet them he must reveal the real man behind the list.

I read this book with my book club, and it was delightful! It's what I call a cotton candy read: light and sugary, with nothing to heavy or serious. Was it predictable? Perhaps, but maybe that's part of the appeal. I also feel that, while Mr. Malcolm was a little arrogant, he didn't deserve all the backlash he got. Julia was a terrible friend, and Selina truly got the short end of the stick. While lacking in historical accuracy, this was a gentle, fun, light-hearted romp that avoided the tragic miscommunication that seems so common in this genre. 

The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller
Bloomsbury, 2011. 378 pages. Fantasy

Brought together by chance, Achilles -- a strong and irresistible warrior -- and Patroclus -- an awkward, exiled prince -- forge an inseparable bond, risking the wrath of the gods. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of glory, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

A fresh take on a Greek classic, this work showcases the character development of Achilles, the helplessness of Patroclus, and their innocent, strong love, all while preserving the characterization of the capricious, vengeful gods found in Homer's works. The descriptions were vivid and vibrant, if at times at the expense of the plot progression. It's worth noting that the women in this work are reduced to tropes, as seen in the misogynistic original myths; Miller's Circe is recommended as a companion read to highlight the true power of women.

The Man Called Noon

The Man Called Noon
by Louis L'Amour
Bantam, 1969. 240 pages. Western

Settings: El Paso, Colorado, and New Mexico; presumably mid- to late-1800s.

Plot Summary: Waking up with no memory and an urgent sense of peril, a man knows someone wants him dead -- but not why. As he seeks answers, he seems to find only more questions and more people trying to hide the truth. When he finds a link that connects him to a trove of gold buried on Fan Davidge's ranch, he knows he must protect her from the no-good gunfighters trying to loot it. But the people who know all about him are trying to make sure this man with no past also has no future.

Subject Headings: Amnesia, gunfighters, treasure troves, female ranchers.

Elements of Westerns: (From Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 151)

• Ranges from traditional Old West stories to western-set Historical Fiction. Written by L'Amour and originally published in 1969, this work falls squarely in the domain of traditional Western stories about the Old West. 
• Exterior descriptions of terrain: western U.S., usually between the Civil War and 1900 (often unspecified further than this). Although there is mention of a few specific towns like El Paso, Mesilla, Socorro, Alamosa, and Denver, the specifics of the setting aren't particularly relevant to the plot. The writing evokes an Old West backdrop, and it often describes the landscape "west of the Mississippi". The year is not specifically mentioned, but it seems to be the mid- to late-1800s based on discussions of settlements and the technological advances.
  
• Traditionally, a loner hero who rights wrongs and then moves on. Our lone hero defends himself with his gunslinging and marksmanship. While he befriends Fan, Rimes, and Lebo, he largely works alone to defeat the villains. At the end of the novel, it is not clear if he truly "moves on," but he seems to remain with Fan on her ranch, which is a deviation from the typical elements of a Western.
• Either complex or straightforward plots. While the plot of this work seems straightforward, the protagonist does learn more about his past, including his own name (Rubal Noon / Jonas Mandrin) and how he is connected to the hoard of gold. He also learns how Judge Niland is responsible for the death of his wife and child, which complicates the plot somewhat.
• Often includes elegiac tone for days gone by. There is a sense of yearning for the days of yore when a man was as good as his word, and people treated each other fairly. This is reflected in the tone of the work, which is somewhat moody and mournful.
• Pacing may be quick (traditional) or more measured. True to the form of traditional Westerns, this work is very quick-paced, with action in almost every chapter and plenty of excitement to keep the pages turning.
• Spare, colorful, jargon-filled dialogue, with some lyrical landscape descriptions. Most of the characters do not engage in extended dialogue, and the use of cowboy slang (like "dun", "hand" and "sorrel") together with non-standard grammar and conventions helps to create the atmosphere of the Wild West. The work contains minor expletives like "damn" and "hell", which further add to the ambiance of the era.

Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009) 

1. Fast pace. As mentioned above, this work has a very fast pace with lots of action and gunfights. This contributes to the compelling nature of the work that makes it difficult to put down.
2. Gritty, moody tone. The dark and foreboding feeling of the work is paralleled in the way that L'Amour doesn't pull his punches; our hero doesn't suffer less consequences from negative actions just because he's written sympathetically. The tone compels the reader to investigate further and unravel the tightly-wound plot as it is revealed.
3. Action-packed, plot-driven storyline. Related to the fast pace, this work is chock-full of action and excitement. There are multiple gunfights, train scenes (complete with bandits) and chase scenes, each of which advances the storyline towards the resolution of the hero's plight.

Similar Works (Read-alikes): 

• Slaughter of Eagles by William W. Johnstone
  Both of these action-packed Westerns feature gunfighters in search of treasure troves in the Wild West. While Johnstone's work was written some 40 years after The Man Called Noon, it still contains many of the same elements and is a good suggestion for someone looking to venture from classic Westerns to more recently published works.
• Dorn of the Mountains by Zane Grey
  As a golden age Western writer, Grey's stories mirror L'Amour's in their action and adventure with beautiful descriptions of the terrain and concise, clear writing. In particular, this work features an old-fashioned cowboy saving a damsel from a gang of ne'er-do-wells.
• The Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins
  Set in the West during the 1800s, Jessi Rose also centers on a female Frontier homesteader and a gunslinging mercenary. However, Jenkins explores the relationship between the characters at more depth than L'Amour did, carrying elements of Westerns into the Romance genre. This work may be spicier than traditional Western fare, and a potential reader should we aware of this fact.
• Bill O'Reilly's Legends and Lies: The Real West by David Fisher
  This nonfiction work sheds a light on the real-life events that occurred on America's frontier, separating the facts from the fiction about this iconic period in American history. The amazing artwork helps bring the Wild West to life in this fast-paced, action-packed narrative.
• Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides
  While classic Westerns are sometimes problematic in their depiction of women, indigenous peoples, Latinx characters, and other minority groups, Sides here examines the westward expansion of the United States and the forcible subjugation of Native American tribes. This may compel readers interested in the authenticity of traditional Westerns.
• I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia by Su Meck
  Readers interested in delving deeper into the real-life implications of head trauma and subsequent amnesia may enjoy this chronicle of a twenty-two-year-old woman's freak accident that completely wiped her memory, never to fully heal. 
  

Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). Westerns. In The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (pp. 149-166).

It Takes Two to Tumble

It Takes Two to Tumble

by Cat Sebastian
Avon Impulse, 2018. 286 pages. Romance

Book #1 in the "Seducing the Sedgwicks" series

Setting: Rural England, 1817 (Regency era).

Plot Summary: Captain Phillip Dacre can't wait to get back to his ship, but since his wife's death, his three unruly children have driven away a number of tutors and governesses, so it falls to Phillip to set things right at home. The cheerful vicar Benedict Sedgwick has looked after them in Phillip's absence, and the two men soon feel drawn to one another in ways that could change their entire lives. Is their budding romance is worth risking the lives they've worked so hard to secure?

Subject Headings: Men/men relationships, naval captains, clergy, single fathers, sexual attraction, marriages of convenience.

Elements of Romance: (From Wyatt & Saricks, 2019)

• Focus on a developing relationship (with reader's vicarious participation): evocative, emotional tone. "Romance appeals... to the emotions" (p. 217), and this work is no exception. The story of Phillip's family and Ben's interactions with them -- in addition to the attraction between the two men -- helps readers "feel the power of love at all levels" (p. 217), including the love each man has for the Dacre children, and Ben's feelings for Alice and Hartley.
• Satisfaction and fulfillment in its emotionally resonant conclusion. "[A]ll Romances deliver an emotionally satisfying ending" (p. 217). Readers won't be dissatisfied by the "requisite happy ending" (p. 217), which goes all around the table to encompass not only Phillip and Ben, but also Alice, Mrs. Winston, and Alton. By the end of the work, "the romantic future for the characters looks bright" (p. 218).
• Vivid characters. The characters in this novel, particularly the protagonists, "come to understand themselves and each other in revealing, intimate ways" and ultimately "relinquish preconceptions about themselves" (p. 217), which in this case include an awareness of their sexualities and mutual attraction, as well as grief. Below is a passage that describes the aftermath from the passing of Phillip's lieutenant and lover:
  
  Neat categories of valid relationships that everyone understood, phrases of belonging that could be etched concisely onto tombstones: beloved son, devoted wife. There were even rules for how to grieve people in each category, how many months to wear a black armband and whether one could dance. Captain Dacre didn’t have any of that, and Ben felt his heart twist in his chest at what that must cost him. (p. 49)
  
  The development of Hartley without a resolution segues into the second novel of the series with Hartley as the protagonist, a common practice for Romance series.
• Misunderstanding or external separating force with satisfactory resolution. The primary separating force in this novel is a sense of obligation: Ben's obligations to God, his parish, and Alice's family; Phillip's obligations to his wife and his previous male lover (both deceased); and the societal pressures condemning the union of two men. Together, the men work to overcome these obstacles and provide a satisfying conclusion to the work.
• Engages with time and place. Set in Regency England, this work "provid[es] vivid and authentic glimpses into the time period" (p. 219), which in particular engages with the topic of religion and sexuality at a time when same-sex relationships were not only taboo but illegal and punishable by death under the Buggery Act 1533. As is common in Historical Romances, "the time period is romanticized.... [T]hat world is veiled to allow readers to focus on the romance of the era" (p. 221).
• Fast-paced. This novel is certainly a short read, clocking in at just over 275 pages. As with most Romance works, this book "rel[ies] more on dialogue than description" (p. 219), particularly "witty and sexy conversations" (p. 220).   
• Recognizable language and style. The use of descriptive adjectives, "lush and expressive language" (p. 219), and the way in which the characters "flirt with outrageous charm" (p. 219) denote this work as a Romance. Consider this passage and its "adroit use of language" (p. 219):
  
  Phillip knew he could spend the rest of his life memorizing the ways Ben responded to his touch, charting the ways his strong frame went supple when Phillip pushed close. Now, pressed against the wall, he seemed to almost melt against Phillip's body. (p. 224)

Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009) 

1. Fast pace. As with many Romance books, the rapid pacing of the book is driven by dialogue and moves towards the clearly projected outcome.
2. Steamy and atmospheric (Regency England). The reader gets a feel for the time period and location, engaging with the cultural and societal pressures of the day. Also, the steamy details of the work leave very little to the imagination.
3. LGBTQ+ diverse. Starring a relationship between two adult men and the decisions they make about how they will live the rest of their lives. (This should be obvious from the cover.)

Similar Works (Read-alikes): 

• A Fashionable Indulgence by K.J. Charles
  The first of a trilogy, this novel features a fast-pace romance between two Regency-era gentlemen, punctuated by witty banter and steamy scenes. Whereas Sebastian's protagonists are a local clergyman and a middle-class captain, Charles' leading men belong to the upper-crust of society.
• The Governess Game by Tessa Dare
  In this witty Regency romance, unruly children guide their caretakers to unconventional relationships. These intricately plotted, steamy Romances both address challenging issues and create situations that readers can resonate with.
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
  This engaging and witty novel describes the steamy romance between two men in the present day. While McQuiston includes greater cultural diversity than Sebastian, both novels keep the reader engaged through well-crafted dialogue and explicit sexual encounters.
• An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser
  This steamy autobiography gives readers a strong sense of place as it recounts Fraser's long-term love affair that followed the breakup of her marriage.
• I Can't Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I've Put My Faith in Beyoncé by Michael Arceneaux
  A set of witty essays that discusses the reconciliation of sexuality and religious beliefs.
• Mad and Bad: Real Heroines of the Regency by Bea Koch
  The engaging life stories of real Regency-era women (including queer identities) who broke societal norms and made their own decisions about how to live.

Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). Romance. In The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (pp. 215-234).

The Glass Ocean

The Glass Ocean
by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White
William Morrow, 2018. 408 pages. Historical

Desperate for inspiration for her next book, a struggling author opens a chest of her great-grandfather's memorabilia from the RMS Lusitania. What she discovers could change history, and she begins her quest to answers in England. Her research ties her to two women aboard the Lusitania in 1915: a Southern belle who senses something amiss in her marriage and happens upon an old flame aboard the vessel, and a thief and forger who has come aboard to pull off one last heist. The three women find themselves entangled in a web of scandal and betrayal, and they each work to unravel mysteries that will ultimately change the course of their lives.

This intricately plotted story has a bit of everything -- romance, mystery, intrigue, action -- without feeling overcrowded or haphazard. Collaborations among three authors are admittedly somewhat unusual, but Team W manages to pull off another beautiful and riveting story after their joint effort on The Forgotten Room. Each author pens the chapters from one character's point of view, which makes for a strong sense of voice, and the audio format mirrors this structure: three performers for the three main characters. Readers craving more by the same trio of authors may also enjoy their newest release, All the Ways We Said Goodbye.

*This blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library Staff Reviews blog.*