gavreads's review
I’ve never been to Whitby, and if it’s anything like the place the Paul Magrs describes, I’m not sure whether to jump in the car or lock the doors and stay at home. There are more than a few strange goings on there.
Luckily they’ve got Brenda and Effie investigating them. The immediate thing is that Magrs doesn’t forget the events that took place in Never the Bride. Not that you need to have read the first one.Magrs does a good job of brining you up to date, and even teasing, on the events that happened. But knowing what happened in Never the Bride does add certain edge to events.
This time it starts with poison pen letters being sent to some of Whitby’s residents. Then there is Jessie the Zombie Womanzee, a problem left over from Never the Bride. And don’t mention the past that comes back to Brenda by being unlocked from her memory. Oh and then there are wickerwork gods, and professors of Icelandic History.
There is so much to love here it’s hard to know where to start. There is a very clear sense of place. This isn’t any seaside town, this is Whitby with Cod Almighty, The Christmas Hotel and Brenda’s own B&B with its luxurious bedroom to name a few places.
It’s not only the place but Magrs has managed to make the extraordinary seem natural. I was going to say normal but that would imply that its boring and it’s anything but that. It is certainly quaint and has gentle English horror, so more is left to the imagination. No need for gore and blood to shock the reader. And it’s not that kind of horror story.
Magrs does approach Lovecraftian darkness and the otherworldly danger Whitby faces though the human’s are just as dangerous as some of the other more monstrous residents.
What you end up with is a couple of old ladies who end up solving mysteries though the focus in this one is Brenda and a section in the middle involves her remembering her forgotten past, which has a bearing on current events but also puts new light on the events of Never the Bride.
It’s not perfect though as Magrs does sometimes over indulge himself and it feels that he’s not quite in control of events letting the characters lead things. This is alright for the most part but there were a couple of moments where things were dismissed and underplayed by the characters when they should have been focused on more.
But those are really small niggles. Magrs strength might not be the plotting as it is little mad but he certainly makes up with through his cast of characters and that’s what makes Something Borrowed a joy to read. I really do care about Robert the same way Brenda does and want to protect him and for him to be my friend. I can understand why Effie has this cast iron front to hide behind but most of all I want Brenda to be safe and happy even if she isn’t technically human, she’s more human than most.
I’m greatly looking forward to Conjugal Rights quickly followed by Hell’s Bells, which is released next month. Reviews soon.
Luckily they’ve got Brenda and Effie investigating them. The immediate thing is that Magrs doesn’t forget the events that took place in Never the Bride. Not that you need to have read the first one.Magrs does a good job of brining you up to date, and even teasing, on the events that happened. But knowing what happened in Never the Bride does add certain edge to events.
This time it starts with poison pen letters being sent to some of Whitby’s residents. Then there is Jessie the Zombie Womanzee, a problem left over from Never the Bride. And don’t mention the past that comes back to Brenda by being unlocked from her memory. Oh and then there are wickerwork gods, and professors of Icelandic History.
There is so much to love here it’s hard to know where to start. There is a very clear sense of place. This isn’t any seaside town, this is Whitby with Cod Almighty, The Christmas Hotel and Brenda’s own B&B with its luxurious bedroom to name a few places.
It’s not only the place but Magrs has managed to make the extraordinary seem natural. I was going to say normal but that would imply that its boring and it’s anything but that. It is certainly quaint and has gentle English horror, so more is left to the imagination. No need for gore and blood to shock the reader. And it’s not that kind of horror story.
Magrs does approach Lovecraftian darkness and the otherworldly danger Whitby faces though the human’s are just as dangerous as some of the other more monstrous residents.
What you end up with is a couple of old ladies who end up solving mysteries though the focus in this one is Brenda and a section in the middle involves her remembering her forgotten past, which has a bearing on current events but also puts new light on the events of Never the Bride.
It’s not perfect though as Magrs does sometimes over indulge himself and it feels that he’s not quite in control of events letting the characters lead things. This is alright for the most part but there were a couple of moments where things were dismissed and underplayed by the characters when they should have been focused on more.
But those are really small niggles. Magrs strength might not be the plotting as it is little mad but he certainly makes up with through his cast of characters and that’s what makes Something Borrowed a joy to read. I really do care about Robert the same way Brenda does and want to protect him and for him to be my friend. I can understand why Effie has this cast iron front to hide behind but most of all I want Brenda to be safe and happy even if she isn’t technically human, she’s more human than most.
I’m greatly looking forward to Conjugal Rights quickly followed by Hell’s Bells, which is released next month. Reviews soon.
rex_libris's review
3.0
The second offering in Margs Brenda and Effie series was just as enjoyable and satisfying as its prequel. The writing continues with the same enjoyable whimsy and charm though Something Borrowed is a bit heavier with the gothic and supernatural themes. There is also a marked improvement of threading the story together throughout the novels length as it feels far less episodic than it's predecessor.
This novel offers set up the continuing series well as it does a good job of fleshing out a number of the locals and location of Whitby (and setting a mould for future characters). Though it links in nicely with Never the Bride it still offers itself as an enjoyable stand alone story.
The story chugs along nicely offering plenty more 'sexagenarian gone wild' action in a gothic vein. while it is still a lightweight offering it there is a bit more excitement through the inclusion of mild gore and violence. It offers more monster troubles, odd interpersonal relationships and some Lovecraft-style ancient gods issues. Further avenues are opened through extensive use of flashback into Brenda's life.
This novel offers set up the continuing series well as it does a good job of fleshing out a number of the locals and location of Whitby (and setting a mould for future characters). Though it links in nicely with Never the Bride it still offers itself as an enjoyable stand alone story.
The story chugs along nicely offering plenty more 'sexagenarian gone wild' action in a gothic vein. while it is still a lightweight offering it there is a bit more excitement through the inclusion of mild gore and violence. It offers more monster troubles, odd interpersonal relationships and some Lovecraft-style ancient gods issues. Further avenues are opened through extensive use of flashback into Brenda's life.
sadouglas's review
5.0
There are good ideas and there are great ideas.
Naming a band 'Dogs Die in Hot Cars' and my own plan to remake Seven Brides for Seven Brothers using only the music of 'The Smiths' are good ideas.
Tetris, naming a band 'The Jesus and Mary Chain', and Joss Whedon making his vampire slayer a hot young Valley girl are great ideas.
But Paul Magrs making his vampire hunter the Bride of Frankenstein? Now that's a superb idea.
Not that I'd want to give the impression that Magrs' series of books about Brenda (Whitby B&B woman and wonderfully human creature of the night) is in any sense a mere extension of Whedon's earlier TV series. As any number of poor tv shows demonstrate, trying to copy Joss Whedon leads only to crass scenes of alien sex in toilets and tedious yawnfests aplenty - and Paul Magrs isn't the pinching ideas kind of writer in any case. Other writers work isn't so much grist to his mill as an odd kind of mulch fermenting in his head, being subsumed and broken down to its constituent parts before being launched back into the fresh air as something virtually unrecognisable (that sounds a bit arty-farty, I know, but this is my literary review head:)
Which brings me neatly to Magrs new book, 'Something Borrowed', the sequel to 'Never the Bride', in which all manner of dark and forgotten creatures come burrowing back into the light of day to menace our heroines, Brenda and Effie.
Opening a little after the events of the first novel in the series, Something Borrowed features (as you would expect) many of the cast of that book but also - to the delight of this reader at least - Henry Cleavis, Reg Tyler and the rest of the Smudgelings, as seen in both Magrs' Doctor Who novel, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and his more recent 'real world' novel, To the Devil - A Diva.
Fresh from the discovery that Whitby hosts its very own Hellmouth, Brenda unexpectedly hooks up with old flame, centenarian academic and Smudlgelings' founder member, Henry Cleavis and in doing so awakens long repressed memories from the past. Meanwhile, someone is sending poison pen letters round town, Effie and the Womanzee get shot at, Sheila Manchu turns to the ladies for help and Brenda has some very unexpected visitations in the night.
This is, quite simply, the best book of 2007 - a marvellous mix of an Alan Moore comic and an Alan Bennett play, packed with the odd, the perverse and the fabulous, stuffed with memorable characters and over-flowing with incident, both humorous and otherwise. Where else but in a Magrs novel would you expect to see both the Bride of Frankenstein rescuing her 100 year old lover from Goomba the Wicker(work Chair) Man and a genuinely human and touching tale of the strengths which bind friends together?
Nowhere, that's where.
Which is why Magrs is an author to be treasured in these days of writing by rote and publishing only the plastic and the puerile. Do everyone a favour - don't bother buying whatever the latest formulaic Garth Nix fantasy yawnfest is called and buy 'Never the Bride' instead. Then go to Amazon, ignore the adverts for The Bejewelled Sword of Wizardry in the Land of Implausible Unicorns and Other Faintly Chirpy Foolishness and buy S'omething Borrowed'.
You won't regret it, I guarantee it.
Naming a band 'Dogs Die in Hot Cars' and my own plan to remake Seven Brides for Seven Brothers using only the music of 'The Smiths' are good ideas.
Tetris, naming a band 'The Jesus and Mary Chain', and Joss Whedon making his vampire slayer a hot young Valley girl are great ideas.
But Paul Magrs making his vampire hunter the Bride of Frankenstein? Now that's a superb idea.
Not that I'd want to give the impression that Magrs' series of books about Brenda (Whitby B&B woman and wonderfully human creature of the night) is in any sense a mere extension of Whedon's earlier TV series. As any number of poor tv shows demonstrate, trying to copy Joss Whedon leads only to crass scenes of alien sex in toilets and tedious yawnfests aplenty - and Paul Magrs isn't the pinching ideas kind of writer in any case. Other writers work isn't so much grist to his mill as an odd kind of mulch fermenting in his head, being subsumed and broken down to its constituent parts before being launched back into the fresh air as something virtually unrecognisable (that sounds a bit arty-farty, I know, but this is my literary review head:)
Which brings me neatly to Magrs new book, 'Something Borrowed', the sequel to 'Never the Bride', in which all manner of dark and forgotten creatures come burrowing back into the light of day to menace our heroines, Brenda and Effie.
Opening a little after the events of the first novel in the series, Something Borrowed features (as you would expect) many of the cast of that book but also - to the delight of this reader at least - Henry Cleavis, Reg Tyler and the rest of the Smudgelings, as seen in both Magrs' Doctor Who novel, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and his more recent 'real world' novel, To the Devil - A Diva.
Fresh from the discovery that Whitby hosts its very own Hellmouth, Brenda unexpectedly hooks up with old flame, centenarian academic and Smudlgelings' founder member, Henry Cleavis and in doing so awakens long repressed memories from the past. Meanwhile, someone is sending poison pen letters round town, Effie and the Womanzee get shot at, Sheila Manchu turns to the ladies for help and Brenda has some very unexpected visitations in the night.
This is, quite simply, the best book of 2007 - a marvellous mix of an Alan Moore comic and an Alan Bennett play, packed with the odd, the perverse and the fabulous, stuffed with memorable characters and over-flowing with incident, both humorous and otherwise. Where else but in a Magrs novel would you expect to see both the Bride of Frankenstein rescuing her 100 year old lover from Goomba the Wicker(work Chair) Man and a genuinely human and touching tale of the strengths which bind friends together?
Nowhere, that's where.
Which is why Magrs is an author to be treasured in these days of writing by rote and publishing only the plastic and the puerile. Do everyone a favour - don't bother buying whatever the latest formulaic Garth Nix fantasy yawnfest is called and buy 'Never the Bride' instead. Then go to Amazon, ignore the adverts for The Bejewelled Sword of Wizardry in the Land of Implausible Unicorns and Other Faintly Chirpy Foolishness and buy S'omething Borrowed'.
You won't regret it, I guarantee it.
krisrid's review
5.0
This is a very unique, unusual and clever story. It's an entertaining combination of dark and gothic humour with eclectic and odd characters, and a truly Machiavellian plot!
For anyone who ever thought small seaside villages were quiet and boring, they need to visit Whitby! There are more demons, vampires, mind-controlling gods, and zombies in this one town than in all of Anne Rice's books combined!
The shenanigans and machinations going on in this seemly ordinarly little hamlet will keep you on the edge of your seat, and, more importantly laughing your head off at the absurdity of the situations.
The main character/protagonist - Brenda - is an extremely likeable, smart character, and her determined attempts to save . . . well, just about everyone, will keep you glued to your chair until you reach the last page.
The only caveat I would mention, is that there is a large amount of references to the previous book (Never the Bride) written by Paul Magrs, which will be somewhat confusing if you haven't read it, so start at the beginning and read the first book before picking up this one. But DO pick them up - very entertaining!!
For anyone who ever thought small seaside villages were quiet and boring, they need to visit Whitby! There are more demons, vampires, mind-controlling gods, and zombies in this one town than in all of Anne Rice's books combined!
The shenanigans and machinations going on in this seemly ordinarly little hamlet will keep you on the edge of your seat, and, more importantly laughing your head off at the absurdity of the situations.
The main character/protagonist - Brenda - is an extremely likeable, smart character, and her determined attempts to save . . . well, just about everyone, will keep you glued to your chair until you reach the last page.
The only caveat I would mention, is that there is a large amount of references to the previous book (Never the Bride) written by Paul Magrs, which will be somewhat confusing if you haven't read it, so start at the beginning and read the first book before picking up this one. But DO pick them up - very entertaining!!
samothraces's review
The inclusion of Fu Manchu started giving off some uncomfortable overtones that I wasn't a fan of at all.
eleanorbdale's review
4.0
Brenda meets an old friend who returns some of her memories to her, and together they stop the bamboo god Goomba from sacrificing someone. Another cliffhanger ending. Very funny.
jwab's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jennjuniper's review
3.0
Knocked off a star because I haven't decided yet if I found it kind of racist or not.
More...