Review: Very Entertaining
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 2, 2011
Elizabeth Aston writes about one of my favorite subjects: Darcy and Elizabeth. I've read a few of her novels before, being that I love that particular genre. So when the opportunity came up to read her contemporary novel The World, The Flesh and the Bishop, I was thrilled.The World, The Flesh and the Bishop takes place in Eyot. It's a charming little town with a lot of history. Many interesting and diverse people make up this vibrant town. Quinta is a single mother who is bringing up the spirited Phoebe. Quinta has a lot of responsibilities and she tries to make it on her own. Phoebe is fantastic. She very inquisitive and says whatever she is thinking. Quinta has her hands full. Lydia is an old school friend of Quinta's who comes to Eyot to stay with her very proper grandmother, Lady Wray, after she's been crossed in love.  This book has a big cast of characters but they all stand out on their own so you don't get confused.This book is highly entertaining. It's packed with humor, drama, whimsy and is cleverly written. I enjoyed this novel from start to finish. The story line is engaging. It focuses around Lydia and Quinta and the farcical people in their lives. Lydia is trying to figure out what to do with her life and Quinta is just trying to get through life with as little damage as possible. Together they take on a cantankerous composer,  a historian with 'interesting' hobbies  and manage to keep the gossip mill running at full speed.The World, The Flesh and the Bishop is the first book in the Mountjoy series. This is a delightful, fun ,brilliantly written book.  I really like this book and I definitely want to continue to read this series.