Helpful Score: 7
This book had such a delightful premise- a young girl growing up in a bed-and-breakfast occasionally frequented by literature's most beloved heroines- that its meandering and inexplicable plot line was even more of a disappointment.
The best parts are the observations of young Penny on the heroines that come to stay; as she plays dolls with Pearl Prynne, watches Madame Bovary mope and tries not to get in the way of the tempramental Scarlett O'Hara. But far too little of the plot is dedicated to the actual heroines.
Instead we are given an upsetting and overlong detour to a teen psychiatric ward where Penny's mother unfairly consigns her. Penny's infatuation with the mercurial hero in pursuit of the most recent escaped heroine is a charming and well-written case of a teenage crush, but offers no resolution or revelations in Penny's life. The storyline of the fictional hero and heroine sets off the action, but is too hastily tied up and shoved off-stage to make way for the tepid conclusion.
And the ultimate twist ending that attempts to pose the question "Is Penny herself a heroine? What makes a heroine?" is bizarre and unsatisfying. The relationship between Penny and her mother miraculously fixes itself, and everyone lives happily ever after, except Madame Bovary, Scarlett, Blanche DuBois, Lady Chatterly, Anna Karenina........
The best parts are the observations of young Penny on the heroines that come to stay; as she plays dolls with Pearl Prynne, watches Madame Bovary mope and tries not to get in the way of the tempramental Scarlett O'Hara. But far too little of the plot is dedicated to the actual heroines.
Instead we are given an upsetting and overlong detour to a teen psychiatric ward where Penny's mother unfairly consigns her. Penny's infatuation with the mercurial hero in pursuit of the most recent escaped heroine is a charming and well-written case of a teenage crush, but offers no resolution or revelations in Penny's life. The storyline of the fictional hero and heroine sets off the action, but is too hastily tied up and shoved off-stage to make way for the tepid conclusion.
And the ultimate twist ending that attempts to pose the question "Is Penny herself a heroine? What makes a heroine?" is bizarre and unsatisfying. The relationship between Penny and her mother miraculously fixes itself, and everyone lives happily ever after, except Madame Bovary, Scarlett, Blanche DuBois, Lady Chatterly, Anna Karenina........
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