Henry "Monty" Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven't been able to curb any of his roguish passions--not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.
But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family's estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.
Still, it isn't in Monty's nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic …
Henry "Monty" Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven't been able to curb any of his roguish passions--not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.
But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family's estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.
Still, it isn't in Monty's nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty's reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.
Review of "The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue" on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
I mean.. it was fine. I don't think there was anything that was exceptional about this, but I didn't dislike it. The main character was unlikable, but never became likable, the other characters were one dimensional and underdeveloped. The story was interesting and definitely not what I expected, which was a pleasant surprise, but I found myself spacing out for long stretches and not actually missing anything.
Review of "The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue" on Goodreads
3 stars
Ich mochte den Anfang gerne, heiter und gut zu lesen. Das Buch macht auch wirklich so viel richtig. Diverse Charaktere, nicht völlig vorhersehbare Story, wenig *ismen (und wenn doch wird erklärt warum sie schlecht sind), Charaktere die sich wirklich weiter entwickeln und ihre Fehler einsehen. Könnte ein locker flockiges und empfehlenswertes Jugendbuch sein. Leider bleibt es nicht so unterhaltsam wie am Anfang, die Geschichte zieht sich einfach zu lang, das macht der Spannungsbogen nicht mit. Auch das unnötige, nur auf "ich lasse dich nicht ausreden" und Missverständnissen beruhende Hin- und Her zwischen den Liebenden brachte mich zum Gähnen, nicht zum Mitfiebern. 40-50% weniger Seiten und ich hätte es echt gut gefunden.
Review of "The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue" on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Monty can't wait to leave on his Grand Tour with his best friend Percy, his last year before he must settle down and be the son his abusive father wants him to be. He should deliver his sister Felicity to her finishing school and see the sights and sounds of Europe, and drink all the drink. Oh, and Monty is hopelessly in love with Percy.
Monty is a high born scoundrel and Percy is mixed race, raised by his aunt and uncle. Felicity wishes to study medicine but as girl, finishing school is the best education she can hope for. None of them is particularly pleased with their situation in life. Their tour should be fun but Monty's father appoints a serious bear leader, with strict rules. If there's any hint of Monty messing around with boys, his father will disown him.
Monty can be pretty insufferable, arrogant and self-absorbed. …
Monty can't wait to leave on his Grand Tour with his best friend Percy, his last year before he must settle down and be the son his abusive father wants him to be. He should deliver his sister Felicity to her finishing school and see the sights and sounds of Europe, and drink all the drink. Oh, and Monty is hopelessly in love with Percy.
Monty is a high born scoundrel and Percy is mixed race, raised by his aunt and uncle. Felicity wishes to study medicine but as girl, finishing school is the best education she can hope for. None of them is particularly pleased with their situation in life. Their tour should be fun but Monty's father appoints a serious bear leader, with strict rules. If there's any hint of Monty messing around with boys, his father will disown him.
Monty can be pretty insufferable, arrogant and self-absorbed. I found the "he has no idea I love him" arc a bit too drawn out. Percy gives plenty of signs and Monty goes on to pretend he's only interested in having fun. I know that at the time (18th century) it was incredibly dangerous to be openly gay, so a bit of reluctance can only be expected, but it retrod a lot of ground. Monty's the narrator and his tone and attitude can be quite abrasive. I gave him the benefit of the doubt that it was an act to hide his true self, but honestly, could could have done with a few more slaps at times.
Percy was very accepting of his friend, even if they do fall out a bit. Monty often makes matters worse for Percy, not really understanding his privilege. I did like Felicity though and she is getting a book of her very own (which I'd be more inclined to read than a direct sequel). She hides her medical textbooks in trashy romances and secretly educates herself. She's not really allowed a Grand Tour, but when things go awry she gets an adventure along with the boys.
It's mostly a fun romp across Europe with loads packed in. It covers not only the attitude to homosexuality but also epilepsy, the fear and superstition associated with it as well as the slow change in medical opinion. There are the courts of Louis XV in Paris, highway robberies, pirates, sinking islands of Venice and an alchemy based supernatural element.
I'm glad an author's note was included because I was a little sceptical on the historical accuracy of somethings, but each point is explained. It's well-researched historical fiction even if it does have some modern inclinations.
One of the drawbacks to ebooks is that the length of a book can be somewhat of a surprise. I liked it well enough, but for this type of fun book I just thought it was far too long. I wanted something short and snappy and I was a little fed up of Monty by the end.
