So when I am reading that, I am mostly sighing about how the book misrepresents the reality of living with disability and chronic pain which inevitably involves big losses and compromises. The “I am the hero who will learn to do everything despite the pain – whether it is to use utensils or to ride, and I need love to finish it so that I can even paint” is an attitude to recovery that is not plausible for a lot of people in pain, despite well know exceptions. For example, for me Sydnam Butler in “Simply Love” is not inspiring – he is unrealistic and demoralizing. It’s something that I only became aware of when I developed a disability myself. There was a discussion about this on AAR, though I am having trouble finding it quickly in the archives. And yet, the way she treats disability is problematic, especially in her full-length romances.
I love Mary Balogh, she is on top of my favourite authors. If you didn’t like Wulfric’s story, I hope you will try it again and not place too many preconceived ideas to ruin the beautifully written story. I think Christine would not be able to love him as much as she does if he felt the weight of his responsibilities any less. If you read Eleanor’s story (Can’t remember the name, but the short story is in a collection), you see Wulfric allowing Christine to be Christine just as she allows Wulfric to be Wulfric. She is an unexpected joy in the life of this man who never expected to be loved or to love just as he is the accepting and caring bonus for Christine whom she never expected to have. I don’t think Wulfric loves Christine in a flawed way I think he loves her in the only way he knows how. To have him totally break free from the duty driven man he has become would not be true to the character Balogh has created or to the expectations of the times. That boy is released to live again when he falls in love with Christine. Here is a man whose basic character was forced out of him by adults who believed the position was more important than his person. If you read the previous five books, you will realize Balogh has built his identity from the beginning with Aiden’s story. I don’t think he dislikes Christine he dislikes not living up to his expectations of himself. Part of what makes him very lovable is that he is a hero in conflict.
While I do find some idiosyncrasies annoying, the use of “had had” comes to mind and phrasing and plot devices are nearly a copy of Jane Austen, for the most part, Balogh’s writings are just good light reading.Īs for Wulfric, he is simply a man who feels the weight of his responsibilities. I taught English Lit for years, and I was seldom as severe a critic as many of the commentators here. I have read nearly all of Mary Balogh’s works, and I cannot think of one I actively disliked. The comments on this thread are fascinating to me.
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