Avevo una paura tremenda di questo libro e invece ha finito per farmi fare pace con i romance storici: un’altra conferma del fatto che il problema non sono i generi, ma chi scrive brutti libri pieni di stereotipi. Ammetto che con il romance storico questo è più difficile: come essere credibili con una storia d’amore moderna in epoche nelle quali certe riflessioni non erano ancora state fatte o erano in uno stadio embrionale?

Chiamate Jude Lucens e fatevelo spiegare perché è stata bravissima da questo punto di vista: sono rimasta colpita dalla sua capacità di introdurre poliamore, femminismo e classismo in maniera assolutamente credibile per il 1906. Ho ancora gli occhi a cuoricino davanti a cotanta intersezionalità, alla dimostrazione semplice e pratica di come una persona potrebbe essere discriminata in un ambito, ma privilegiata in un altro.

Ho amato tutti i personaggi principali, Henrietta, Rupert, Audrey e Lucien, così come quelli secondari come Ben e Cath. Potreste trovare seccanti le lunghe discussioni tra i membri delle varie relazioni, ma parlare è uno dei capisaldi del poliamore, quindi io le ho trovate molto realistiche – oltre a essere molto interessanti, finalmente dei modelli relazionali sani dove è importante il benessere di ogni componente.

L’unico difetto per me è stata l’inesperienza: Lucens non è riuscita a gestire nella maniera più efficace per la narrazione tutte l’intersezionalità che ha inserito: intendo dire che, ai fini della storia, aver inserito la questione del suffragio femminile non ha grande rilevanza e sembra che sia stata messa lì un po’ a caso. Diciamo che il mio lato femminista era comunque contento, mentre il mio lato di lettrice ha pensato che si potesse fare di meglio.

Ma questo è solo l’esordio di Lucens: mi toccherà tenerla d’occhio... ( )

I tend to read few historical novels, including romances. This one's set in 1908 London, but it was recommended as a great polyamory romance - and it is!

I tend to avoid historicals because they're slower - it just takes more words to give the detail required. The relationships Aubrey has in the beginning are well established, which is an excellent place to start - and it is only the beginning of what Lucens explores in the story. From the dangers men who have sex with men faced in 1908 London, to how blinding privilege is, it's an extraordinarily good read. I read the last third nearly in one sitting. Loved every character, with an extra star for Henrietta's fierce independence and loving support of her men, even Aubrey's new one.

I've lived with my polyamorous family for over three decades. The points Aubrey makes, eventually, are absolutely perfect and good, and won my stamp of approval. :) ( )

What a gorgeous, lovely, heartfelt, political book. ( )

I'll tell you plain: I read this because of Wollstonecrafthomegirl's review I have kindle unlimited for a week or so more, so I wanted to get this read in before it was up.

The whole time I was reading this, I didn't know how I felt. I got Audrey's emotional sensitivity. I got why you would love Lucien. I got Rupert and Henrietta. All of whom, it seems, are central romantic characters-this isn't to take away that there are several, several other characters. But something about it was so sad. And most of my brain didn't think this ended up as a satisfactory ending for anyone. It was more of...a compromise.

Look, writing polyamory and queer romance that is historical is always a challenge for a HEA. I just want to trust the resolution better than this. And that I can't point to any single central character or romance is somewhat problematic. I know who they were supposed to be, but I don't know if that's how it ended up. I honestly added b/c of Wollstonecrafthomegirl's review, read the first paragraph a couple times, and recall vaguely a sense of ambivalence. I think I echo that here. This book is well-written. It's realistic, honestly, and it's bogged down by heavy obstacles and a lot of unhappiness. In the end, I don't know if anyone in the book will end up happy. And while I think that-to echo her review again-doesn't mean this isn't worth reading, I would go in knowing that it's a delicate dismantling of a polyamorous main character, his new love interest, and his love interests spanning more than a decade.

I will add the criticism that while well-written and reflective of the serious issues, there was very little to no humor. There was a lot of angst. And a lot of the conversations reflected angst and feelings and get-to-know-me or rehashing-relationship information dumps (necessary, but tedious to me). In the end, I just don't think it worked for me. It felt weighed down, and I didn't really buy into the characters till around 60%, feeling more at home in certain relationships than in others. (Including and not limited to friendships). I'll add the note that I like polyamory in romance. I have no trouble with it, will jump at the chance to read it, nor a lack of sexual exclusivity between characters. But in the case of several of the dynamics here, I'm not quite convinced. ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2019/07/201973-behind-these-doors-jude-lucens.htm... ( )