Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity by Suzanne Moss is a historical, coming-of-age romance set in the late 1750’s about living up to expectations while wanting the dream of happiness.
Thea Morell is a lady, an heiress and according to most of society not normal, a fact that she has come to believe as truth. She spends hours studying natural history, collecting fossils, insects, dead fish, and spiders, she even collects bones, the more she finds out, the more she loves it, much to her mother’s distaste. Thea has managed to keep her mother’s wish for her to end the very un-lady-like behavior at bay.
The pressure to find a suitor seems to have increased this year. Thea’s love of science sparks the realisation of a most inconvenient truth about herself, something that she has pushed down whenever the thought has entered her head. While watching and then taking part in an experiment, a spark from electrical Venus’ lips leads Thea to allow the smothered flames of desire towards the fairer sex to ignite and burn brightly. A new friendship with Lady Eleanor stokes those flames and has Thea questioning whether her obsession with the male-dominated world of natural history is causing these uncontrollable unnatural tendencies and she is torn on what to do about it.
Thea has a choice to make between being true to herself or being honorable to her family. But Thea is an exceptionally intelligent lady so maybe she can work out how to obtain both?
Narration
The narrator of this book is Allie Rose, and she did a fantastic job at bringing Moss’s world to life.
First, I have to say that not only does this book have a lot of scientific language, it also has a total of thirty-six characters. Rose gave all those characters a voice (think Downton Abbey) and pronounced all the scienc-y stuff like it was part of her daily vocabulary.
I adore the voices she gave to Thea, Ella, Martha, and Mrs Morell. Especially, Martha, I loved how her voice changed depending on the company she was in, and without spoiling anything later in the book, when Martha is softer, her voice reflects this and takes on a huskier timber. It’s beautiful.
I thoroughly enjoyed this audio, it took me a few chapters to settle into it, but I soon realised that it was because the pace was a little slow for me. Once I sped it up, I was hooked. The narrator captured all the anguish and joy that these characters go through perfectly and with mannerisms true to the period in which the book is set.
The audio of Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity is fabulous and one I’ll listen to again and again.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
I need to tell you about all the things I love about this debut novel without causing spoilers! This is going to be tough!
The setting is stunning and so well described, the subject of natural history is interesting and explained and explored in-depth and the characters are so well developed that I felt as if I was watching a film. The amount of research that has gone into this book jumps off the page.
Thea Morell is the oldest of three daughters, this requires her to choose a wealthy suitor in order to add to and secure her own family’s wealth. As a woman in Georgian times, she is unable to inherit her family fortune without a husband. It falls to her to ensure that she, her mother, and her sisters are looked after if anything were to happen to her father. You can feel how heavy a burden this is for Thea to carry.
Thea is a young, complex, unconventional Georgian woman who not only loves science and learning but also has no romantic interest in men. She has managed to keep this fact hidden deep within her and for a while she had herself convinced that what she felt towards women was nothing more than a fleeting fancy. Thea Morell is braver than she thinks and stronger than she ought to be. Thea won my heart very quickly, but the more I got to know her the more I fell in love. She broke me with the sheer hopelessness of her situation and how she was resigned to the fact that no matter how much she wanted it to be different, the duty to her family came above her own wants and happiness. That’s not to say she gave in, rolled over, and submitted! Thea is a fighter and throughout this story, her strength and sense of fairness shine through.
Thea has strong opinions, a fantastic mind, and a thirst for knowledge. Luckily, she has a small group of people with whom she can be herself. Her youngest sister Ursula is one of her closest friends, Ursula also loves the sciences, and together they help their father with his work as well as further building the collection that he started. Ursula is a wheelchair user which in this time period means she is deemed unable to marry. She is reliant on her family to look after her for the rest of her life. Thea’s father also encourages her learning, much to her mother’s displeasure. Lady Martha Smilgrove, Countess of Foxmore, a widowed family friend whom Thea has a deep admiration for and shares a passion for scientific discovery, is also a staunch ally.
The Society to which Thea belongs has its usual bigots and gossips, there are people in this book that will make your blood boil, but also some that restore your faith. Navigating her proper place within this society is Thea’s biggest struggle. The author helps you understand the turmoil she goes through while she’s battling against whom she wants to be versus what is necessary and expected from her. There were times when my eyes stung with tears and at one point my lip was quivering, and I had to stop reading. The anguish and unfairness are a lot in this book, but it’s all there to make you understand Thea and the time she lived in, and it makes the joyful highs all the more sweet.
There are so many characters that come and go in this book, but at no point did I lose who was who or what their role was. The author’s vision of the society that Thea belongs to is so well written, she introduces characters throughout the story and allows the reader to get to know them and their purpose without causing information overload. It’s brilliant!
The romance in this book has more roadblocks than most, but this makes it all the more delightful, it’s truly swoon-worthy! The risks taken are huge! But love is love and Thea falls head over heels, and that love took my breath away. Arrgghhh I want to say so much but I don’t want to spoil it. Thea’s love story is one the most beautiful I’ve read but have the tissues handy because you’re going to need them.
Moss writes about a lot of sensitive but relevant topics in this book, they are all important to the time period and are there to explore the struggles that some went through. At times it is hard to read, but even though this book is a fictional romance, it feels real and like it represents the times. Some facts are soul-destroying! I learned a lot from this book, some things I knew but didn’t like to think about, I’m grateful for the reminder, and it made me all the more grateful for the life I lead.
The language is absolutely delicious and helps emerge you in the story, think ‘pride and prejudice’ and you won’t be disappointed.
As I said above, I don’t want to spoil anything for the readers, but I do want to say that the characters in this book will take up residence in your heart and stay there. You will cry a lot, but also be unbelievably happy with their highs.
Cons And Heads Up
There is a discussion about suicide but no graphic descriptions.
This book tackles the subjects of slavery, homophobia, and negative views about people with disabilities all relative to the time period.
The Conclusion
If you like historical romance, then this ones for you! If you like period drama, then this ones for you! If you like anguish-filled romance, then this ones for you!
Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity is one of the best historical novels I’ve read. It has it all! It is swoon-worthily romantic, dramatically devastating, and will leave you wanting more.
Thea Morell is a fascinating young woman and her journey is equally filled with euphoric moments and crushing lows.
I couldn’t put this book down, it stayed with me even when I wasn’t reading it. So buckle up and get ready for an emotionally satisfying ride! I cried, then laughed and was unbelievably happy, then I cried some more. This book has won a place in my heart.
Excerpt from Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity by Suzanne Moss
Thea couldn’t suppress a grin as Mr Wade and Mr Croft pulled the covers off the glass cases in the cabinet museum. Now that Mr Morell had built a grand library in the space adjacent, the natural history specimens could spread out to where all the books had been crammed in. Morning light lit the south-facing windows, illuminating artefacts and glinting off glass. Some shelves were crammed to bursting with items of the most eclectic nature, many now had plenty of space left over for – who knew what. She had stopped trying to guess what oddities might come off the boats next. She shivered at the potential of it. The assemblage at Milford was so familiar to her, and yet, objectively, very strange. Items of wonder her grandparents had collected for the look of the thing, a few more choice specimens added by her father before his attention had been diverted by plants and books, and then her own additions, limited as they were. She considered the shelves with fondness. Compact but beautiful. The mundane to the wonderful. Collected together in the relentless march towards enlightenment.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts and Thea joined her father and Ursula at the large table in the centre of the room. Mr Wade, the Butler, entered. ‘Lady Foxmore for you Sir, Miss Thea and Miss Ursula. I brought her straight through, I hope that is acceptable.’
‘Of course!’ exclaimed Thea.
Martha Smilgrove, Countess of Foxmore entered the room, regally. She couldn’t really help it, it was just the way she moved. The Countess was tall and slim with broad shoulders and exquisite posture. Light-chestnut hair was piled on her head underneath a small, grey hat, perfectly toned with her dress. Her deep brown eyes had a serious, severe look and her faintly rouged lips were pressed into a thin line. The perfect picture was only interrupted by a red gash under her left eye, a jarring interruption to her usually flawless, unpowdered skin.
“Mr Morell, Miss Morell, Miss Ursula.” She greeted them formally and nodded to them all in turn, before her face cracked into a broad smile as she bent to meet Thea’s embrace. When Thea finally let her go she hugged Ursula tightly and kissed Mr Morell on the cheek.
‘I hope you don’t mind me calling so early, I was simply too eager to hear what you got up to in your final month in town.’
‘Of course not, Martha, it’s wonderful to see you,’ replied Mr Morell genuinely. The Morells and the Smilgroves were old friends and when the Earl of Foxmore died more than ten years ago Martha had almost become part of the family. ‘We were about to head out to the garden, would you care to join us?’ They made to leave but as he stood and pushed in his chair, the Countess stepped back towards the table strewn with specimens. Her head tilted to read the handwriting on one of the sheets of paper bearing an arching branch with impeccably pressed, ovate green leaves. She tapped the sample twice with a graceful yet purposeful finger.
‘This is butcher’s broom, not willow. The petioles are entirely different, Ben.’ Martha turned and made her way swiftly out of the room as Mr Morell stared after her, and then down at the sample, his mouth forming an ‘o’. Thea and Ursula suppressed another giggle as they trooped after the formidable Countess and through the hall to the garden.”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 979-8362189594
Publisher: Indie Author
Audiobook Publisher: Tantor Audio
Narrator: Charlie Albers
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