I needed a book not serious at all and I was served. I actually laughed out loud at several points in reading this book. Vicissitudes of Charlotte, certainly, but also its totally crazy expressions. I love the genre of "I-don't-take-me-not-to-seriously," from time to time. And this book has given me exactly what I wanted, when I wanted. So I read later, "Lie of a Summer Night" by the same author, and I also loved. So if you feel like paying you a pint of good time, go ahead cheerfully and inflate your spleen! Excellent for health. To consume without moderation. ;-)