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Estella P. (New York, NY)
The Quick by Lauren Owen
Set near the end of the Victorian era, this novel is a love story, a Gothic tale, a detailed historical novel, a memoir via a diary and a maze because it changes directions so often that you never really know where you are going or where you will come out – all of this adds to the overall mystic of the story.
Siblings Charlotte and James Norbury grew up on an aging estate in the English countryside. With a deceased mother and a virtually absent father, they were raised mostly by servants and a distant relative, and left to their own devices. As the estate and their family's financial position declined, they were
…more free to pursue their own lives which, after Oxford, ultimately leads James to London where he decides to pursue poetry as a career. He shares rooms with Christopher Paige, a wealthy young aristocrat who, unlike James, is quite at home in society. James lives vicariously through his adventures and Christopher's life style inspires James' writing and leads him to reluctantly experience society life. When James finds love in an unexpected place, and it inspires him to begin writing a play, he participates in a life changing event that completely alters his life and leads to his disappearance. Charlotte, in her search for her brother in London, experiences the unexplained, including the mysterious Aegolius Club, one of the darkest secrets of Victorian London, and meets one of the eeriest and strangest cast of characters in literature. The surprise ending and the true nature of the book are both elements that the readers need to experience on their own.
This book is not for the squeamish or for those who are not fans of Gothic tales. (less)This is a beautifully written book full of rich phrases that make you want to keep reading. When the author is describing the closing of James and Charlotte's childhood home she writes "it was as if their lives were a pencil line drawn on a piece of paper and someone had followed behind erasing the line as they went".
The author has the ability to make you feel like you are standing there on a London street corner or sitting in a Victorian parlor with her vivid descriptions.
The one unfavorable comment I have is that so many characters are introduced as the book progresses and are referred to alternately by their
…more first or last names that it makes it somewhat confusing to keep them all straight. (less)
Peggy K. (San Diego, CA)
Shadows
This is a rather long story that doesn't get to its main plotline for some chapters. For myself it was simply too slow. On the plus side characterization is very well defined and in that it is a bit like reading Dickens. I like a good mystery and this one has an interesting take on an old story but I felt it took too long to get there.
Readers of Anne Rice will enjoy this tale an book clubs may find it useful to throw out a discussion about the differences in these two authors.
I would recommend this book to older readers who enjoy such detailed writing and a slow work up to the actual story.
Barbara O. (Maryland Heights, MO)
Victorian London
"The Quick" is written in Dickensian style cleverly written, revealing itself to the reader in layers. The author captures the period with it's class levels and social strictures keeping the reader's interest and slowly telling the story of what happened to James Norbury. London is a mysterious place with unexplained events happening not just on it's dark and dirty alleyways.
CB (Michigan)
The Quick
I enjoy a good Gothic novel and this didn't disappoint, I was actually surprised by the supernatural/paranormal twist in it (something I am not normally drawn to) and the ending was a little disappointing to me - will there be a sequel? At times it was hard to follow and it was a little too long with not enough character development (quite a few -perhaps too many). Nonetheless it is worth the read. Good debut novel by Ms. Owen.
Linda P. (Medford, WI)
Not Just Another Vampire Story
This was an atmospheric Victorian novel with all the glitter & decay of that time period, but revolving around the vampire society. THE QUICK was a fast & entertaining read. Definitely a good debut! I could not fault the ending. Ms. Owen-----another, please!
Sue P. (Richardson, TX)
The (not so) Quick
This is a long book. It's also a very good book; however, it risks being bogged down by its sheer volume of people, places and situations. I've not read a better description of London at the turn of the century - the atmosphere is brilliant, and it is populated by fascinating (and wonderfully weird) people. Gothic in the extreme, and ultimately, very satisfying.
Ruthie A. (Summit, NJ)
Victorian Gothic with a BIG Surprise!
It is best to read this book with no foreknowledge so try not to read reviews as they may spoil the "surprise"! I will not reveal it here, so proceed!
The books begins with young Charlotte and James, living in the family mansion, their mother dead, father away. Fairly neglected by the help, young Charlotte raises James until father dies and James is sent to boarding school and later Oxford, and Charlotte moves to a smaller cottage on the property to live with and later take care of, an aunt. Fast forward to James, graduated, living in London, attempting to write poetry. He rooms with a college friend and
…more experiences London's high society lifestyle. And then he disappears. Cue the ominous music.
While I enjoyed this novel, I found it a bit frustrating. We get to know characters, and then they are gone. Pivotal characters are not always sufficiently realized, others that seem like they should be very important fizzle out. Characters make decisions that are out of character, again without explanation. The author seemed to spend a lot of time on certain set-ups that were never resolved - perhaps there is a sequel in the works?
Despite the issues I had with the book I found much to enjoy. The new author can really write. Her descriptions; of the sights, sounds and smells of London in the 1860s, of her cast of characters and their thoughts, fears and loves, are impressive. She is definitely a talent worth watching. The book often reads as if it was written in the 1860's; the language and tone are very accurate, giving the reader a true Gothic experience.
Fans of historical fiction and gothic novels will enjoy this book. There is an entire other genre of readers this book will appeal to... but that would spoil the "surprise"!! (less)
