Grange House: A Novel
by Sarah Blake

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Book Reviews of Grange House: A Novel

Book Review: (3.5) Plot-driven Victo-Goth....
Summary: 3 Stars

In a very subtle manner, GRANGE HOUSE makes a feminist statement, defining the limited opportunities for Victorian women, forever in the shadow of their husbands. Even after the death of a husband, a woman is referred to as "Widow _____". Victorian social conventions are structured to control the behavior of young, single women, if not the male counterparts.

The writing is perfect Victoriana: ornate descriptions, shadowed rooms, lonely wind-swept graves, boat accidents, a dilapidated quarry. And there is romance, complete with complications, as Maisie is torn between two suitors. In fact, there are so many issues needing resolution, that they all tumble together, crashing together at the end. By then, so few pages remain, it is impossible to adequately complete the story line. Once the action really starts, almost halfway through the book, it snowballs, gathering momentum and characters along the way. The Gothic element is often forced, and far too many bodies litter the pages, leaving Grange House in need of a boat full of new guests to fill the empty rooms. However, for a first novel, this author has done a beautiful job with language and atmosphere.

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