The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullanyreviewed by Cybil SolynAugust 2007, 288 pages, Publisher: Avon , ISBN: 0061229830 Back Cover Blurb: Regency heiress Philomena Wellesley-Clegg has rather strong opinions about men and clothing. As to the former, so far two lords, a viscount, and a mad poet have fallen far short of her expectations. But she is about to meet Inigo Linsley, an unshaven, wickedly handsome man with a scandalous secret. He's nothing she ever dreamed she'd want - why then can she not stop thinking about how he looks in his breeches?
A delightful marriage of Pride and Prejudice with Bridget Jones's Diary, Janet Mullany's The Rules of Gentility transports us to the days before designer shoes, apple martinis, and speed dating - when great bonnets, punch at Almack's, and the marriage mart were in fashion - and captivates us with a winsome heroine who learns that some rules in society are made to be broken.
Really the back cover blurb says it all. Philomena is an Regency heiress who wants nothing more than to look good and find the right husband. ..yep that pretty much says it all!
This is a frothy book that puts you in the day to day life of an ordinary Regency Miss and Mister. No spies, intrigue, hidden babies, etc. Just what we all would imagine the mundane 19th century life would be like with exciting routs, shopping, and bad lemonade. I have to admit I had a hard time reading this book. I loved Mullany's last book, Dedication, because it was well written and had a unique storytelling twist. This novel has all the same characteristics, but I just don't like chick lit which is what this book is like.
However, I must applaud Mullany for once again writing outside the box. The Rules of Gentility is written in the first person of our heroine and hero. This style threw me off for the first half of the book, but as I got used to it I began to enjoy watching Philomena hunt for a husband, and observe our hero Mr. Inigo Linsley being pressured into marriage just as many of our Regency heroines are.
I laughed out loud a couple of times and chuckled a lot while reading this book, but the characters were too shallow for me. This isn't to say they were written poorly, just the characters themselves were shallow. I had trouble liking either of them. It was just too much like reading a book filled with people I wouldn't want to hang out with, so spending 228 pages with them (and paying a trade size price) is not my idea of a good time.
Bottom Line: If you aren't into contemporary novels or chick lit this isn't the book for you, but that doesn't stop it from being daring, unique, witty, and well written.
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Cybil Solyn, csolyn@rakehell.com
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