Etiquette & Espionage

Finishing School, Book 1

By: Gail Carriger

Narrated by: Moira Quirk

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

This young adult steampunk series debut set in the same world as the New York Times best-selling Parasol Protectorate is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail Carriger's legions of fans have come to adore.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners - and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage - in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

©2013 Gail Carriger (P)2013 Hachette Audio

surprised

the narrator was awesome. all the different voices for the characters... wow! Pleasantly surprised how much I liked the story line.

Juvenile Steam Punk Fun!

WOW, who would have thought when I started this book that I would love it this much! It took me a little bit to get past the super snooty and strange names of the characters but once I did, oh did the fun begin. Sophronia is a fourteen-year old girl who is the youngest in her family and is a complete tomboy. So when Sophronia's mother is approached to send her to finishing school, she jumps at the chance to limit the possible destruction and embarrassment that Sophronia could cause to her sister's coming out season. As Sophronia gets on her way to this school that she knows nothing about secrets start to be revealed and tomfoolery takes place. By the end of this story I was excited to get to the rest of the series to see what else the adventurous Ms. Sophronia could get into. I also think this is one of those low key books that I can recommend to friends that have kids in the age range of 10-16, who are looking for a super fun, action-filled story.

This specific video review will be included in the November 2018 wrap-up.

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Hoopskirts and Happiness

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Mix together a bit of Sherlock Holmes-ness with the academia setting of Harry Potter and wire it up with such cutting edge technology as steam power - oh, and bladed ladies accoutrements... and you will find yourself close to the wonderfully whimsical and sometimes moving world of Carriger's elite Finishing School for women of Qualitaaaaaayyyy.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Characters span a range of archetypes from friends to foes and the ones who change sides. Add in werewolves, vampires, automatons and beyond and you'll get the picture. There are some moments and character development that may test the more sensitive palette when attempts at handling issues around identity are dealt with particularly careful language in some spaces today. Had a couple coworkers picking things apart as I spoke of the book. Carriger's books beyond this one feature characters of varying gender identities, race and sexual orientation. Call me shallow, I was more caught up by the household bots and vampire politics... And I was star-struck by the language elements crafted by Gail Carriger enlivening each character and performed with flair by Moira Quirk.

Have you listened to any of Moira Quirk’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my introduction to Quirk's performance and I loved every moment of it. I have listened to all of Carriger's Finishing School series... Um - at least twice... because they are such a well done un-reality check. Other titles performed by Quirk await purchase in my wish list.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I can't pick out one specific moment to highlight as a favorite. The whole book is specked shamelessly with gloriously bad puns, fancifully overly dramatic mundanities and poorly behaved household accessories. Moira Quirk treats every such happening with dramatic surprise, distain or delight as if it just happened.

If you can get past the narrator its great

I struggled to get past the narrators loss and change of accent. Have the time you cant tell what character it is because it the all end up sounding the same.

Lovely story, slight narrator problems

I fairly adore this series, and Moira Quirk did a mostly wonderful job narrating. However, I had some issues with voices and pronunciations throughout. The Finishing School books are prequels to the Parasol Protectorate series. Those books have audiobooks as well, meaning there are established voice patterns and pronunciations. It was not only disconcerting, but disappointing that a narrator of Moira Quirk's abilities apparently did not listen to them to get that. That is really the only reason that I did not give 5 starts to her performance, which was in all other ways delightful.

a delightful diversion

I didn't really expect to like this. I chose it to fit a category in my reading challenge. But, in the end, I found the story enjoyable, the writing witty, and the narration excellent. The various absurdities (normally a deal breaker for me) were actually delightful and really well executed. I might try the next in the series.

Superb storytelling

A wonderful mix of steam punk and mystery, manners and mayhem. I'm starting the second book immediately.

Great for what it is--targeted to teenagers

A fun listen, appropriate modesty in actions and language, violence is not gratuitous. Wholesome fun in a slightly different universe from what might be expected.

New to this author-now a huge fan + loved narrator

Any additional comments?

I was intrigued by the description of this book and got it to see if it was a good read for my 12 year old daughter. Instead I myself immediately fell in love with the story and the characters, and the narrator's reading just made it perfect. It left me wanting more! So I was delighted to see that in fact the title said Book 1 and was so excited to find Book 2 here in Audible. I'm starting it tomorrow! I hope I can get my daughter to read these, though the Victorian dialogue may be a little weird to her. I recommend this for anyone wanting a fun listen!

Lovely little story

YA is not always my thing, but I really enjoyed this audio book. The writer is very funny and I found myself laughing out loud many times. The characters were interesting and the plot engaging. Loved the narrator. Her accents and intonations really made the book come alive. If you want a funny, clean story, this is an excellent pick.