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The Gaslight Journal (The Gaslight Series)
 
 

The Gaslight Journal (The Gaslight Series) [Kindle Edition]

Carla René
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Digital List Price: $2.99 What's this?
Kindle Price: $2.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet


Book Description

November 22, 2010
When Isabella Audley returns home to Fairtown, NY from Radcliffe for the first time in three-years she learns that her family is now poor. To this contemporary woman of 1881 high-Society whose secret desires are to abolish all rules of Society that dictate how the affluent should behave, *and* marry a filthy-rich husband, she realizes to be dead would be the more desirable option.

Excited to finally spend time with her mother, Lilly, see cherished friends, and step back into the life of privilege she's always known, her bliss is cut short just moments after returning to town.

While rummaging in the attic, "Izzy" finds her deceased father's journal. When she learns that Lilly tried to hide the secret hidden in its pages (a secret that’s already set the course for their family’s destruction), their relationship deteriorates.

Only Thomas, a childhood friend, whom she soon discovers has a secret of his own, has it in his power to pull them from ruin.

But as Izzy finds herself falling for him, it's apparent that their difference in stations, caused by her slip in status, may prevent them from finding the happiness they were meant to have.

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Product Details

  • File Size: 510 KB
  • Print Length: 212 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: GlitterCat Studios (November 22, 2010)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004DI7K12
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,082 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a delight to sink into the life and times of Isabella Audley, a young Victorian woman ensconced in the rituals of the English gentry, the constraints of social class, the expectations of propriety. From the opening sentences of The Gaslight Journal, the reader immerses in the formal language of those long-ago days when bustles adorned the ladies, servants joyfully attended their needs, and society's taut structure challenged a thoughtful woman's quest for romance and fulfillment. Fans of Jane Austen will enjoy Carla Rene's atmospheric novel.

It is well worth spending time with the author's Introduction, as well. Where Isabella, the character, copes with the nature of her Victorian times, Rene has coped with the nature of her times, pushed to lowest reaches of America's economic social strata by the hard economy. A woman forced to live in her car out of economic necessity is to be pitied. A woman who slept in a car with her cats and still had the courage to write this fine novel is to be admired. Courage, in the book, wore a corset. Courage, in Meltdown America, wears jeans.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Storyline: And I mean that in the best way possible! The Gaslight Journal is an excellent foray in the Jane Austen and Charles Dickens' style of writing.

It is the early 1880s, prime Victorian age in the United States and propriety and society is the end all be all of any young lady's existence. Miss Isabella Audley is a member of that same high society and while home from college for Christmas, she learns what it truly means to be shunned and to be loved by people she would have never expected to do one or the other.

After a strange comment upon her arrival in town, Isabella begins to see that things aren't what she originally thought them to be. After she finds her father's journal, the ugly truth changes her life forever.

Grammar/Spelling: I noticed some slight errors - very slight issues. For example (and this might be one of 3 errors that I noticed): "She continued to struggle; he continued to stared." Correct these small instances and The Gaslight Journal is perfect!

Character Development: Ms. Rene's characters each fulfill their part in the grand scheme of the era: social climbers, snarky socialites and the occasional genuine good soul that manages to look past social status.

Isabella is a smart, out-spoken and vivacious young woman and is hard-pressed to keep her thoughts to herself. As much as she bucks against the tradition of the Victorian Age of thinking, she enjoys her status as one of affluence. Though, somehow (through sheer talent by Ms. Rene, I'm sure!), she is still quite likeable even with her sometimes shallow outlook on the world around her.

Izzy is quite easy to relate to because as a modern woman (read: I'd have been burned at the stake back then!), I too have a hard time keeping my thoughts to myself and refuse to let society dictate how I should interact with those around me.

Writing Style: As I stated before, The Gaslight Journal could easily fit into a collection of stories written by Jane Austen or Jane Eyre (Must have been a very popular name for the era!). The only thing that it lacks is the considerable length that is normally associated with their great works. Though, in these modern times, the length was perfect!

Continuity: There were no issues with continuity.

Overall Rating: 3+

I have to admit, I would have never chosen to read this novel on my own as this style isn't really my cup of tea (hardee har har!). But, I'll be darned if I didn't end up really liking this work!

Ms. Carla Rene's The Gaslight Journal would make an excellent "starter" novel for even younger readers to help pique their interest for other books in this genre.

Ms. Rene has even included some splendid short stories at this end of this book and these only add credence to her mastery of this style of writing.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
This book plunks you right in the middle of a situation reminiscent of the Brontes or Austen. I loved how Carla Rene evoked the sensibility and mores of that generation, without need to do any explaining. I just found myself back in time because of Izzy, the heroine's, thoughts and dilemmas. This is the first time I've read a modern novel set in this era, and I totally enjoyed it. Three cheers for the spunky "poor little rich girl" and four cheers (is there such a thing?) for Carla Rene.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great read!
I really enjoyed reading this book! I like a book that pulls me in and makes me feel i'm right there with the main character and this book did just that.
Published 11 months ago by jen
Good Book Alert Review: Charming throwback to 19th-century novels of...
Part family drama, part romance, and part social critique, The Gaslight Journal is a charming throwback to 19th-century novels of manners. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J.A. Beard
Gaslight delight
With the swirling snowflakes illuminated by gaslight Carla Rene whisks us back to another time and place and we are caught up in the lives, relationships and secrets of her... Read more
Published 15 months ago by S M Senden
A good read for holidays
Being an Asian, this novel was more interesting to me as I got to imagine the Victorian times through which Isabella lived and survived. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Rafia Shujaat
A look back at Victorian times
Carla Rene's "Gaslight Journal" offers a glimpse back into Victorian times. Charming as those times seem now, back then there were cruel double standards and enforced social... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Alice M. Dinizo
Enjoyed the read!
Carla's writing is crisp and insightful. Her humor shines through in subtle ways at times and at others makes you laugh out loud. Truly a read for all seasons!
Published 18 months ago by Patricia L. Sands
Tun on the gaslights!
A review of Gaslight Journal, an ebook by Carla Rene, available now on Amazon.com.

You have a real pleasure awaiting you. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Alan Walkington
The Gaslight Journal
The title interested me. Then I started reading the story and loved it. Carla Rene' hits the details and leads the reader on a journey of the ups, downs and love of the characters. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Diane
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More About the Author

I write stuff. I am funny.

I'm on a mission to prove that my parents should've used birth control. I have two maniacal, whiny, co-dependent and I swear-they-drop-acid-behind-by-back cats who treat me as if I'm the hired help. I enjoy fluffing my pillow, laying out my clothes for the next day, and I'm hoping one day to meet the guy who designed the little plastic thingy inside women's wallets, so I can smoosh his face into one. I'm a simple folk, really. I don't ask for much.

But seriously. I love to write. It began in college when I had to write a paper for my Honours English class. The title? "Why I hate to Write". By the time the instructor laid that "A" on me and lectured me about how good the paper was, thus proving that I DID like to write, she had me convinced that I might be able to do this. I've been a TV/Stage/Film actress and stand-up comedienne for over 15 years, and part of what I've learned is that sometimes, you can't get cast for your own funeral, so, it's up to you to create your jobs. That's when I took writing seriously. I've published several short stories, am working on my first two novels, and have written and performed my own one-woman shows--comedies.

Please visit me at my official web-site: http://www.carlarene.com
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Carla-Rene
On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carlarenecomedy or @carlarenecomedy
On MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/carlarenestandup

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