“Espionage, Sophronia had learned, was tough on petticoats.”

I finished Waistcoats & Weaponry earlier this week. It is the third book in Gail Carriger’s Finishing School  series and the best one yet. I laughed out loud many time because the language is so sharp and witty.

‘“We are on the side of curiosity and evenhandedness. Once we know what’s really going on, then we choose.”

“That’s a very murky position,” objected Felix.

“So’s the weather. But this is England, we must learn to live with uncertainty.”‘

In one of my favorite  passages from early in the book, Sophronia is asked about the qualities she seeks in a young man. She has high standards and mentally lists things like understanding, intelligence and sensitivity. What she said out loud was “I want a man who stays out of my way.” Brilliant!

Goodreads Summary: Sophronia continues her second year at finishing school in style–with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown, of course. Such a fashionable choice of weapon comes in handy when Sophronia, her best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and the charming Lord Felix Mersey stowaway on a train to return their classmate Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. No one suspected what–or who–they would find aboard that suspiciously empty train. Sophronia uncovers a plot that threatens to throw all of London into chaos and she must decide where her loyalties lie, once and for all.

If you like historical fiction, but have never read any Steampunk, this would be a great series to pick up.

Into Overdrive

Up until this week, I have only listened to audiobooks on CD, usually in the car, but occasionally at home while knitting. Last week, desiring to listen to an audiobook that Multnomah County Library (MCL) only had as a downloadable audiobook, I decided to download the OverDrive Media Console so I could listen to  Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger.

It was incredibly easy and completely wonderful. This feels like one pod those life changing tech moments. I’ve been scouring the MCL catalog for others I can download. Here’s the downer part: I can;t download it onto my school laptop or iPad because it requires an administrator’s password. No one at y school has one, so I have to wait until the right authority is present and gives me permission.

I’m listening to Etiquette & Espionage for the HUB Challenge, so I’ll talk more about it on my next check-in.