Book Review: Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield

Set in Victorian times, Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield tells the story of William Black and how he ultimately pays the price for killing a rook when he was just a boy. The rook that was killed was an ancestor of Thought and Memory, the rooks of the god, Odin. William pays for his crimes through the loss of family and friends but strikes a deal for the survival of his daughter.He believes this deal is the construction of Bellman and Black Mourning Goods Store. It is later, he learns this is not the case.

At first, I was not aware the story was set in Victorian times. It was not until about 1/3 into it, that may have been a mistake on my part but it was easily overcome. About half way of the book, I correctly predicted the ending of the booking, which was disappointing. I was hoping that with every turn of the page, I would encounter the twist and turns of Setterfield's previous work, The  Thirteenth Tale. However, this never happened, which left me disappointed.

Without taking the thrilling The Thirteenth Tale into account, Bellman and Black did provide an entertaining tale full of history, culture, and mystery. If you are a Setterfield fan, I would recommend this book. However, I feel that she was pressured to write something so quickly after her best seller, The Thirteenth Tale.The book did seem rushed but still well put together. For those who are thinking about reading her work for the first time, I suggest reading Bellman and Black first then The Thirteenth Tale. Overall, I will look forward to Setterfield's next work, but with trepidation.

Book Review: Wideacre by Philippa Gregory

Author: Philippa Gregory
Title: Wideacre
Publisher: Touchstone Book
ISBN: 978-0-7432-4929-4
Rating: 7.5 (1 lowest and 10 highest)

I must admit that I adore Ms. Gregory's books. They fascinate me with her ability to dwell into history and manifest a story rich in detail and interest. This book was no exception and rarely disappointed. However, there was disappointment. The book, a first in a trilogy, dealt with a young woman, Beatrice, trying to keep her family home in Georgian England. This is no easy task because of the laws of inheritance. Of course she does not make the right choices (or we wouldn't have a novel), but the wrong choices are terrible. Obviously there is significant money trouble and the author spent a great deal of time and effort on going over this subject. It hit too close to home and I found myself not enjoying the book. I am all for reading the suffering of others and how they make things better. However, I found myself not wanting to read anymore because the character infuriated me with her bad financial decisions. All in all, I would recommend this book and enjoyed it. I hope the next book in the series is better.

My next book I am reading is Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield which was published by Emily Bester Books and has ISBN: 978-1-4767-1195-9.

Have you read Wideacre? Have you read Bellman & Black? Do you have a book I should ready? Let me know.