Deep within the hidden library of Los Angeles' iconic poetry venue, Beyond Baroque, all modern electronics mysteriously fail. There, 19-year-old Beatriz encounters Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley, who promises a magical adventure back to 19th-century Europe.
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| September 2024; Walton Well Press; 978-1964295015 ebook, print (102 pages); literary fiction |
I'm not exactly sure why I picked up this book. In the last few years, I've read a couple of books with Mary Shelley. The first book was about her mother, Love and Fury by Samantha Silva, and then a couple of years ago my book club read Mary Shelley's The Last Man. So even though I thought I should read this.
I wasn't expecting it to be written in the Romanticism style. It is not my favorite literary period - to be honest, I don't like it at all. But Rosenthal did a great job of capturing that style. Awake For Ever in a Sweet Unrest definitely had the same vibe as The Last Man.
I love the title. This wouldn't be the first time chose a book because I loved the title. And the author worked it into the prose quite well.
When I read The Last Man I dug a little deeper as I was leading the discussion for it at book club so I was familiar with Mary, Percy, Claire, and Byron. Though I have read Keats (who hasn't read "Ode to a Grecian Urn"), I didn't know much about him. Rosenthal captured the essence of Mary, et al. so I assume he got Keats right as well. It was fun to see them come to life.
Unfortunately, the present-day characters weren't as likable. I think their interactions were odd which made it difficult to connect with them. Speaking of present-day, it is supposedly 2025 but it felt more like the 1990s. Perhaps I'm just not familiar enough with Venice Beach, California.
I already mentioned that the Romanticism period isn't a favorite of mine. And I did struggle with the style. I figured that magical realism would be problematic as I sometimes struggle with it. But when she went back in time with Mary or Keats or the others, I actually found it enjoyable. It was more when the story went to present-day. It meandered and jumped too much (which is exactly what I thought of the writing of The Last Man).
If you have ever wondered what if the Romantic writers wrote a present-day story, here's your chance to find out. It definitely brings up some deep thoughts for such a short story. It would make for a great book club discussion.
Buy Awake For Ever in a Sweet Unrest at Amazon
Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.
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