Book one of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. A Great and Terrible Beauty is a young adult book, which is industry lingo for lots of teen angst. The angst is alive and well but in a different way because the novel is set in the early 1900's, when women were mostly another possession. Instead of the normal teenage girl problems the majority of the angst is about being married (sold) off to an older, pudgy husband. The majority of the story takes place at Spence academy, which is a finishing school for girls. Not an educational school but rather a school that will teach young ladies how to snag a proper husband. God it is any wonder people managed to make babies in this time period.
Anyway, the story revolves around Gemma and her mysterious new ability to reach the realm of lost souls. Of course in order to fit in she brings along her friends and there is always that one girl who is power hungry and things get out of hand.
The writing was lacking unless the author was speaking about emotions, then the writing came alive with the fears and triumphs of these poor girls. One line I particularily loved was one girl wanted to not be beautiful any longer - her reasoning - because people (especially men) always want to possess beautiful things. Very true.
The book was alright, I did put the other two novels in the series on my hold list at the library - mostly to find out what happens in the end. I am sure it is going to be pretty melodramatic but sometimes it is nice to have a little fluff book that isn't too serious.
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