THE GOVERNESS.

THE GOVERNESS by NOORILHUDA.

PRESS RELEASE BLURB: 

PAGES: 525.

GENRE: Family & Relationships, Death & Bereavement, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Religious and Inspirational, Historical Romance.

BOOK LINKS: ISBN/EAN 13:1500998567/978-1500998561
http://www.amazon.com/governess- Noorilhuda/dp/1500998567 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-governess-noor-il-huda/1122558769?ean=9781500998561

PLOT: In early nineteenth century English countryside, a scandal-ridden woman is hired to take care of a grieving nobleman's children. This is the story of how she mends the family and regains her life. A moving introspective character analysis of lonely people living through emotional abuse, guilt and ageism.

HEAT LEVEL/SCOPE: Written as literary fiction on women's issues and perceptions than a romance. It's a clean book that deals with dark subject matter of death, guilt and inability to move on.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter one}: Come, come! ..... you're hurting me....No... Make me the happiest man in the world.....you stinking witch....Stop!.....where do you think you're going?....Let me have a look, dear.... Do it....By God you'll never see him again, do you hear???..... 

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 79}: Her cherished tea room had been turned into a brothel. Sitting on the far side near the fireplace was The Dollymop her nephew was carrying on with, sitting with her legs on the antique breakfast table - it was a mahogany three-legged beauty and a gift from her late husband - prompting the old woman to say out loud 'Good God' and then holding her breath for a second before letting out the 'Well!'

SOURCE: Received for review from the author.

MY THOUGHTS: Having previously read Catharsis, a 'psychological thriller, mystery and suspense' novel, and learnt that Noorilhuda had also written a historical novel I had questioned whether it might be that she was better suited to historical fiction. The answer I can safely say being (in my opinion anyway) a resounding yes.

OK, so the book wasn't without its flaws. There were some typing/grammatical errors (which I am assured have been addressed). It wasn't without some 'historical' inaccuracies (ironically enough the use of the word 'Okay' being one of them) but then this is a work of fiction and as such surely some poetical licence is allowed. And the 'Americanisms' given that Jane (the governess of the title) was a nineteenth century English woman of some breeding could be irritating. BUT get past these and The Governess is actually an enjoyable read. The author speaking with some authority when it came to the central issues of love and loss, betrayal and redemption. The constraints felt by Jane (the governess of the title) because of her gender and class well observed, her struggles and triumphs (no matter how small) making for compelling reading.

Though not what I'd necessarily describe as a 'stream of consciousness' piece, the novel does rely heavily on inner thoughts and monologues. Not always something to my taste but it worked well enough here. However those who subscribe to 'less is more' when it comes to dialogue be warned you may well find the prose a tad tiresome, the lengthy introspection, the self absorption, the extended flashbacks distracting to the overall flow of the narrative.

Probably not one for the reader wanting an 'easy' historical romance. The strength in the story for me lying not so much in the period details but the social commentary, the psychological delvings into the characters (Jane in particular) and the fact that it had the makings of a great piece on early feminism.