There is a trope we in South Korean drama-watching circles call “noble idiocy.” It’s basically what happens when Character A decides all on their own that Character B should not be with them for Character B’s own good. Maybe Character A is ill. Maybe they’re a soldier on the front lines of a war. Or maybe they just don’t think they’re good enough for Character B. Whatever the reason, the result is that Character A pushes Character B away (usually in a particularly brutal manner), and then… yeah, you guessed it: they’re just as or more miserable apart than they are together, and we the audience are left pulling our hair and hoping they get over themselves ASAP so we don’t have to suffer through any more separation than is necessary.
Now. Like all tropes, Noble Idiocy is not always bad. In specific circumstances, with the write kind of writing, it can make sense for the characters and be compelling, even. And after all, who ever said emotions are rational? But nine times out of ten, Noble Idiocy, sadly, is just an excuse to contrive extra drama… often in circumstances where it’s totally unnecessary because it would actually be more interesting to watch the couple work through their issues together. So yeah. Not a favorite trope of mine, if you couldn’t tell from the rant (sorry!). All this to say… both of this week’s romances use the Noble Idiocy trope. And it was exhausting.
The Perfect Stranger (“Merridew Sisters” #3) by Anne Gracie: Sadly, this is the first Gracie novel I’ve read that fell a little flat. I guess it had to happen sometime. It’s not that I didn’t love the characters – I did – but Gracie uses a lot of tropes here that I dislike, such as noble idiocy, stereotypes, misunderstandings, and yes, a “miracle cure.” It’s not terrible. Just not as much “for me” as her others have been. But that said… I love how Gracie has consistently given us not one but two ships in every “Merridew Sisters” book, so far. As someone who grew up reading authors like Jane Austen and L.M. Alcott, who shamelessly pair off their characters, that is something I can get behind – and happily!
The Five Red Herrings (“Lord Peter Wimsey” #6) by Dorothy L. Sayers: It’s right there in the title, so you really shouldn’t be surprised when I say this case is confusing! Lord Peter finds himself investigating a murder in a Scottish village full of artists and fishermen… who all seem to have had a motive for offing the victim. While the case itself muddled me a bit (so many suspects and possible timelines to keep straight!), both the familiar and the new characters are entertaining. I especially enjoyed the petty politicking among the policemen.
My Darling Duke (“Sinful Wallflowers” #1) by Stacy Reid: I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, noble idiocy (which passes quickly, thankfully, but STILL) and florid prose. On the other hand, lovable characters, all around. Not a single villain in the bunch. I do think there’s an essay to be written about the representation of Alexander’s disabilities, but I am not the one to write it. I can speak from experience about chronic pain and mental health however, and while Reid gives it a good shot, there were still moments that didn’t quite ring true for me. All the same, it entertained me and was a diverting time-pass novel, though I don’t see myself reaching for the next book, when it comes out.
So, that’s my week in reading! A bit of a mixed bag, but I still managed to have some fun. Let’s just hope next week has less of the noble idiocy though, eh? In the meantime, tell me what you’re reading!
–b
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