Oh yeah, that part has not aged well, even apart from the fact that it's historical fiction and doesn't necessarily reflect the authors' actual opinion--which I don't think it does, but reading this time I was more aware of the fact that Mary and Holmes' prejudices in this case aren't really questioned or presented in a critical light at all...like, yes, they're from a different time, I wouldn't expect them to be magically enlightened on issues that people in their day wouldn't have thought about or questioned much, but there's other historical fiction I've read (Curious Toys most recently) that doesn't exactly comment on the characters' prejudices but has a more critical slant towards them...if that makes any sense. But I guess it does show how much things have changed even in the past few years--I think The Beekeeper's Apprentice was published some time in the 90s?
I know right?? Knowing the culprit makes certain passages so much more sinister! And it's still a pretty good solution to the mystery, I think, even though I come to these books more for the characters than the mysteries.
I'm so excited that you're still reading this and enjoying it! Btw, I just finished the second book in the series, and I'll try to write up my thoughts at some point soon--it's also very immersive, and I actually liked it quite a bit more this time around than I did as a teenager.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-05-11 10:33 pm (UTC)I know right?? Knowing the culprit makes certain passages so much more sinister! And it's still a pretty good solution to the mystery, I think, even though I come to these books more for the characters than the mysteries.
I'm so excited that you're still reading this and enjoying it! Btw, I just finished the second book in the series, and I'll try to write up my thoughts at some point soon--it's also very immersive, and I actually liked it quite a bit more this time around than I did as a teenager.