Mmm, yep, can’t resist! Caution, though: I tried to keep from spoiling it but I probably did if you go and read the book after this.
I read The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen last night. I really didn’t want to read it; I went to B&N to buy an entire different book but I wasn’t about to pay $22 for it. That’s dumb, I can get it for $8 on Amazon, even if I do have to wait. Anyway, I headed to B&N to get that book and ended up getting The Apothecary’s Daughter instead. Then I stayed up until midnight reading it (not such a good thing, being a night owl and an avid reader at the same time). I must say, I LOVE THIS BOOK. Does that count as a review?
Haha, just kidding.
Category: Fiction
Page count: I have no idea.
Genre: Historical Christian Romance
I don’t know what else to write for the factual stuff. But I do know that this is a great book. I’ve never read one of Klassen’s works before this one, but I know I will now. Basically, it’s the story of Lillian (Lilly) Haslen in early England; I think it was the 1800’s? Lilly is the only daughter of an apothecary (basically, medical chemists) and the sister of a mentally slow brother in a small village outside London. While she enjoyed the work she did as an assistant for her father- a photographic memory helping- she dreamed dreams of romance and travel. She soon got her chance, when her estranged relatives come for a visit and invite her to their home in London for the “Season,” a portion of the year when young men and women of marriageable age would attend parties, balls, and concerts in order to find their husband or wife. Immediately, Klassen introduces the 3 major male characters of the story, all interested in Lilly (well, four, kind of. You have to read it to figure out what I mean). Two live in her hometown, which she has to return to after 2 years to help her father when he becomes ill, and one relocates to join her as a doctor in her town. Different things happen-including some things you would never expect- as Lilly struggles to realize what she really wants. Obviously, Klassen knows her classic literature, because the novel absolutely smacks of Austen and Brontë. She introduces the family and social life of early England in a way that modern readers can relate to without compromising the timeframe it’s set in.
But it wasn’t the comparison to Austen and Brontë that pulled me in, although that definitely was a huge bonus in their favor (I LOVE Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights). No, the thing that hooked me and wouldn’t let me go was Klassen’s ability to keep you guessing. See, I read a lot of Christian Romance, and in most of the books I read, you can usually tell within the first 3 chapters who the main character is going to end up with. Either he’s the only major guy or there are huge, major defects in the competition which makes the guy she’ll end up with look perfect. Klassen didn’t do that. She didn’t shy away from character defects in the guy Lilly eventually married. In fact, I didn’t even see that guy in the running until later. From my background in reading this kind of fiction, I’m used to trying to figure out who the main character will end up with early. It kind of spoils the story, but whatever, it’s me. So I immediately decided Lilly would end up with this one guy, based on a couple of books that would have led to that conclusion. Then Lilly left, and another guy was introduced. I didn’t pay any attention to this guy until he relocated to follow Lilly when she went home; then I decided that it was actually him she would end up with. Then, finally, a THIRD guy entered the picture. This caught me by surprise, made me sit up and go, “what?!” Klassen kept vacillating between these guys until finally I wanted to slam the book down in frustration; I couldn’t figure it out! But I couldn’t, it was too good a book. So I stuck with it, and finally figured it out three chapters to the end. Klassen is good though; she doesn’t let you think you understand the book until the final sentence. This book is a must-read. Also, it doesn’t have any sex in it, which is always a plus for those of us unmarried folk who want to keep our mind clear. If you’re reading this, go get this book! 🙂
Congrats, Klassen. You’re an incredible writer.
nemil 