Bitsy's Books
Note: I'm uploading my books from Goodreads and since there are like 200+ it's going to take awhile. The uploading seems a bit wonky too, so hang with me as I fix things. Also there may be spoilers until I can make all the appropriate tags.
I'm an ex-English Major who, sick of reading classics after college, decided to read all the trashy books I didn't before because I was too snobby. Since graduating, I've entertained myself with comics, YA, and romance novels, finding out they can not only be decently written, but superbly written. I've since recovered from my classics aversion, but I'm now more open-minded reader willing to read from any genre. If a book has kick-ass heroines and/or witty banter and/or takes place in a different time or place (including fantasy settings), I will most likely fall in love with it. My favorite authors are Jane Austen, Shakespeare, E.M. Forster, Meljean Brook, Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Hartman, Catherynne M. Valente, and Aliette de Bodard.
3.5 out of 5 StarsKatherine Ann Stephenson’s sister, Elissa, has delusions of a Gothic Novel Heroine, but Kat won’t sit around and let her marry someone who may have murdered his wife! Kat will have to use all her resourcefulness and newly-discovered magic to stop the engagement, while dealing with her other sister’s witchcraft, her oh-so-proper step-mama, and annoyingly persistent tutors.If I could use one word to sum-up this book, it would be CUTE!!!!! Kat, Incorrigible is a frothy light read that combines witchcraft, magic, and Regency England. A sly dry wit runs through the book (with a few slapstick moments) that kept a smile on my face while reading. Kat is every plucky, resourceful, smarter-than-adults heroine found in most middle-grade novels. What really made Kat stand out is her relationship with her older sisters. Their relationships felt very authentic. Burgis captures the love, care, annoyance, anger, and all those mixed-up emotions of growing up with siblings.The history in the book isn’t incredibly accurate. It takes cues from Regency England, but isn’t afraid to break from historical accuracy. Because the setting is in an alternate world with magic, I gave any inaccuracies a pass as part of the world-building.The book starts out with a bang and ends with a bang (I couldn’t put the last 50-pages down), but the middle section falters. I wasn’t sure where the book was going. There is a vague quest to save one of Kat’s sisters from a terrible suitor, but I wasn’t sure HOW the book was going to get there. Everything clicked into place at the end, but the middle section, instead of keeping me guessing, had me floundering.The book doesn’t rise above middle-grade tropes such as the EEEEEEVIL older woman who is feminine and a bit sexual, the precursor to the EVIL! Blonde Cheerleader McSlutface in YA. However, most bothersome is the elevation of tomboyish characteristics over more traditionally feminine characters and traits. The more feminine and proper characters, such as Kat’s older sister, her step-mama, and the EEEEEVIL lady, were portrayed as negative because of their femininity as opposed to the more “modern” and “liberated” Kat. I’m tired of more feminine characters being somehow less competent or worthy than male characters or female characters who reject femininity. Someone can be badass and assertive while feminine at the same time. This is more of a fault with the genre than the book itself, but it is a disturbing trend (I do take off points for the EEEEEEVIL older woman).Overall, Kat, Incorrigible was a very cute book with memorable characters, dry wit and humor, and a wonderful exploration of relationships between sisters. While, not really bringing anything new to middle-grade or breaking the mold, it’s a frothy fun story. Perfect for any child (or adult) who likes history, spunky heroines, and a bit of magic.