It was a really, really weird book in that it had two distinct subplots. There was the cute romantic comedy subplot, which I remember more clearly, and the weeeird space-opera-y lasers 'n' spells subplot. I can't remember which was the "main" plot, or even if they shared airtime, but the spacey one had something to do with finding the long-lost prince or princess or something of this kingdom that was falling apart. The hero was the one who was involved in all this, and the heroine was the one who didn't know about it (though she eventually found out).
The story flipped between the hero and the heroine's viewpoints. The first time they met, they hated each other. (Of course.) Then the hero went back to his house and realized that he'd fallen madly in love with her and was really angry about it. Then they somehow met later at a fantasy/sci fi convention (oooh, meta!) and wacky things happened, and somehow alien porn was involved. The alien porn sticks in my mind for some reason. The hero's ex-girlfriend popped in, but she was nice and not meddlesome like most exes are, and she was also involved in the long-lost-prince part of the plot. Then some Horrible Magical Sickness befell the heroine, and the hero wigged out because he'd realized that she was his True Luuurve, and some stuff happened that I forget and she got better and they got married and raised ducks. In a pond in their kitchen. The End. Oh, and they found the prince in the end, I'm pretty sure.
The really neat thing that I remember is that the heroine was really average-looking. She was fat and wore glasses, and she was a tough little cuss in general. That's all I remember, though.
I’m interested to see what book this is, too. Sounds interesting.
Diana Wynne Jones is the author. I need to research the title.
The title is Deep Secret. Description is here: http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/adults.htm#wild
I liked it too!
You had me at:
“...raised ducks. In a pond in their
kitchen.”
:)
Aww yay, “Deep Secret” by Diana Wynne Jones! Such great characters, and her crazy frenetic storyline!
You guys just knock me out! I read these descriptions of books and think, “there’s no way anyone will recognize that book” and then, wham...someone does!
Mark me IMPRESSED!
I second the astonishment and scurry off to order this sucker.
MANALIVE!
years92 —I was in England gettin myself learned up in 92.
And if you like smart but plain heroines, DWJ also has Millie, Christopher Chant’s wife. We first meet her in Charmed Life, where she’s described as being frumpy and plain and motherly, and it’s revealed through a series of stories that she’s just as powerful as her husband, spent her childhood being worshipped as the living incarnation of some goddess, and has always been quite cool. They met as preteens when Chant first started to come into his powers. Aw!
Or Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle, who is changed into an old frail woman for her inadvertent use of magic and goes off on an adventure that leads her to Howl and falling in love with him and he with her. And there’s her too clever sister Lettie.
DWJ does girl heroines right.
know what i think? i think y’all should start a sister blog, “Help a Bitch Out”. cuz, seriously, it’s like every day. and if you announced/linked it here, i’m sure TONS if not all of your readers would check it out. and then SBTB could get back to bitching. :-)
Also astonished.
Jeeze, another one I actually knew, and too late as usual. One of my fave DWJs, it must be said. Although they’re nearly all my faves. :-)
Bowing before all of you well-read bitches...I’m not worthy…
Well, the Bitchy blurb was more concise than the official one. The official blurb made me go, “WTF?”
Just for future reference, telling us WHEN you were twelve can be really helpful for these sorts of inquiries.
And if you’re in the US or Europe. It’s so funny--I remember I took this out from the Main Library popular library and I was working downtown the first time, so the US release must have been sometime between 1997-2002.
A website that reviews romance novels from a couple of smart bitches who will always give it to you straight. No bullshit. No gushing--unless the author really deserves it.
(I would have suggested “Romance For Dummies” but a gift like that--while possibly appropriate--would probably be in bad taste, given the circumstances).
LOL. Yeah, in that case. But hey, that’s an awesome book. That’s where I learned my romance…
Stupid question from a new convert—what defines a Harlequin romance (besides being published by Harlequin, obviously), and what is the actual definition of a bodice ripper? Since every time I’ve heard it used, it seems to be used incorrectly.
From Half Time Penalties
Speaking of cool gift ideas, I found one that will work for the DH, the MIL, my mom and the sitter...all in one.
Now if they show up half as cool as they…
From Fun Gift Ideas
Grrr...WTF? That blows. When is romance going to stop being the red-headed stepchild of literature and gain the respect it deserves? So irritating.
From Half Time Penalties
Shiloh, that was AWESOME! In fact, may I say, Bitchalicious. I can’t believe you just whipped that up!
Chrissie said on...
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willaful said on...
12.02.07 at 07:17 AM |