The Rules of Gentility

     As we all know, I love anything Jane Austen. I've read most of her books (save for two that I don't need to read to recite the entire story) and I often linger around the historical romance genre. I came across this book in Canada because I was desperate for something to read, and this was right there on the clearance table. So I picked it up, paid a Toonie, and finished the novel in the duration of my Toronto to London flight. It wasn't very long, but it was certainly very enjoyable and an easy read.
   The premise is Austen-esque: a young woman must get married and her mother is pushing her towards the richest and most socially esteemed suitor. However, the protagonist chooses one completely below her stature and must fight for him, go through the whole, "I never want to see you again!" phase (which includes other engagements and such shenanigans. Finally, the couple have respective epiphanies and run back to each other and blah blah blah romance the end. The novel is sort of like a Bridget Jones-Sense and Sensibility hybrid. What makes the book memorable and earn two re-reads from me, however, was how genuinely hilarious the story is! It's not forced comedy, and I do praise Janet Mullany for her ability to convey humour so effectively. Writing a comedy novel is truly an impossibly difficult task, which is why The Rules of Gentility serves as an excellent reference point for comedic writing.
   I looked into other Mullany books and I have to admit that they did not inspire much interest as The Rules of Gentility. I think I'll only read one more book by her, A Most Lamentable Comedy, next time I find myself on a London-bound flight.

Emma