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No Angel (2004)

No Angel (2004)

Book Info

Genre
Rating
4.12 of 5 Votes: 4
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ISBN
1585676071 (ISBN13: 9781585676071)
Language
English
Publisher
the overlook press

About book No Angel (2004)

This is what I picked up thinking, "Hey, my life isn't boring enough. I need some pallidly romantic, poorly researched, family-saga historical fiction, with love scenes written by someone with no limbic system.[http://www.stanford.edu/.../braintut/...]" That is exactly what I got. I have tried to use this mundane-at-best tome as a sleep aid on multiple occasions, only to be jerked out of a semi-dozing state by Vincenzi clumsily reminding her readers of the time line of the plot. This has caused me to want to get out of bed and launch the book out of the bedroom window. Examples of such offenses:Main characters are involved in women's suffrage in the UKFemale Protagonist 1 participates in a women's charity leagueFemale protagonist 2 (spinster) is dating a socialist and frequently rendezvous with him at dark-alley socialist gatherings.FP1 illegally adopts daughter of her charity league clientThey all catch influenzaFP1 and her husband score tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic, but they are saved from having to actually board the doomed vessel by the good luck of the adopted daughter's near death influenza experience.FP1 & FP2 sig-others join the war.FP2 finds out she's going to have a socialist baby.Socialist baby-daddy is gassed to death in FranceVogue magazine is introduced, and FP1 & FP2 casually discuss it.FP1 expresses that she'd like to give up wearing her restrictive corset.****I would like to tell you that the author rallies at some point and delivers a gripping scene of catharsis, but I just don't see it happening. I feel victimized by this book.

Angel, by Penny Vincenzi. 626 pages. (5323 pgs)tThis was the last on the list recommended for those suffering from Downton Abbey withdrawal. At 626 pages, I am officially over it!! In fact, I believe I know more about the period and WWI than those who lived through it. Seriously. Ask me.tOut of the past four books or so, this was by far the easiest to read. The story focuses around Cleia, who marries Oliver Lytton, heir to a publishing house. The book is the story of this couple, their children, and an extended family consisting of Oliver’s sister—LM--, his brother, and various others.tI particularly liked how the book zigs and zags from one short vignette involving different groups of people to another. It successfully creates, in effect a huge number of little cliff hanger and rising action as we see-saw from America to England to country manor and from one family to another.tThis is not my typical read. At the risk of sounding like a chauvinist pig, the text is probably more fun for a female, but definitely held my attention. Much of the conflict centers around an affair, but contains a surprise that redeems and saves the book as a whole. ***+/4-

Do You like book No Angel (2004)?

This book had the potential to be a good book due to the premise/overall concepts that the book was built on.Though there were so many issues I had with this book, that I was forced to not finish the book. The book was EXTREMELY slow moving- and trust me I gave the book a complete chance, hoping that it would improve or the pace of the story would pick up by chapter 8. It just dragged on and added more and more characters to the point where I came close to losing track (this is coming from an avid reader).The author also made the characters seems so emotion-free, once husbands/boyfriends started dying off at war, they all seemed to move forward and cope so easily. It just was not realistic. Along with the obviousness of missing the Titanic, or receiving a letter at just the perfect time- all of these coincidental incidents in the book just made it less believable and less relatable, and more soap opera like. Im confused how someone could enjoy this book, unless this person of course is extremely patient and willing to wait for a climax in a story or is a gullible person that doesnt mind fantasy intertwined with history/reality.
—Kimberly Kolansky

Yes ... this was a silly book and yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it despite it being like a Sydney Sheldon book on steroids. Set it the UK and starting before WWI and ending several years after the war. About a family involved in the publishing business. Everything was hyper-dramatic in the book ... from the characters to the plot. Almost every woman has large beautiful eyes and gorgeous flowing hair. Almost every man is tall, dark and handsome. Every woman (and man) has rapturous, earth-ending sex (though not described in dirty detail, which is just fine). What I liked about the book is that it was absolutely filled with characters, and there were a lot of stories to follow. I admit that I stayed up late last night to finish as I wanted to see what happened. The end of the book manages to bring several story lines together in a suspenseful way and at a good pace - though, again, with lots o' drama. Literary fiction this is not. This book is total brain candy ... but the sweet kind that makes you happy you splurged, not the sticky kind that makes you regret it and kick yourself afterwards for going off your diet. I found it in the bargain section of B & N for a mere $5.00, which makes it less guilt-inducing. Bring it to the beach or by the pool this summer and enjoy!
—Kelly

What a brilliant introduction to the Lytton family! I was quickly absorbed in their saga -- so much drama, deception, delight, and devastation -- in London during the years, 1904-1920 (verrrry Downton Abbey-esque). I loved some characters, then despised them, then loved them again. I felt my heart pounding as I flipped through the pages during some of the more dramatic moments in the story (and there were many!). And, of course, I was completely smitten reading about the triumphs, trials, and tribulations dealing with the Lytton publishing house -- BOOKS! *swoon* I am excited to dive into the next book in The Spoils of Time trilogy and see how the Lytton clan are thriving.
—Charity

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