April Showers... and Tornadoes.

Lemon, I read straight through Sherlock back in my late teens and dreamed about cases at night.

I'm reading The Marx Sisters by Barry Maitland and absolutely loving it. Set in London with a neat detective team, so just my cup of tea. It is about a section of the city that time has passed by and a developer who wants to tear everything down and build offices. And the sisters who live in one of the houses happen to be the great-granddaughters of Karl Marx.

Lemon, reading IS life so don't worry about it.

I am STILL reading a non-fiction, 1491 by Charles Mann. It is about life in the Americas before Columbus. It is intresting but so fragmented that I cannot read many pages at a sitting. And sometimes I feel like he is skirting around the subject to lead me on... as if I am still reading the introduction. Then bam! he hits me with some really fascinating tidbits, facts or archaeological theories and I am drawn in again.

And I just picked up A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway from the library. I dislike Hemingway but confess that after reading The Paris Wife, I wanted to give this title a try. Have not started it yet.

PAM

PAM, "A Moveable Feast" is one of my favorite books of all time, although I am not a fan of Hemingway's writing, in general.

I just finished a wonderful novel that transported me so that I never wanted it to end: "The House at Tyneford" by Natasha Solomons. It begins in the 1930's, in Vienna, during the rise of Hitler. A young woman is forced to take refuge in a grand country house in rural England, for her safety. She becomes a maid in the house, but equally gets entangled in a romantic relationship with the son of the house. I don't want to give away the plot, but there are many surprising twists and turns along the way, with a surprise ending. Liz, I think you might like this one.

Carolyn I read The Marx Sisters last week and really enjoyed it and have already requested the next book in the series.

Yesterday I finished Rena's Promise by Rena Kornreich, it was based on the real life of Rena & her Polish/Jewish family during WWII. There is just something-for me-about periodically reading about the Holocaust. How these people ever survived their ordeals is absolutely beyond me.

Pat

Sherwood - Your post brings me to write about a book that I read recently which you might enjoy. It's one of most unusual books I've ever read: The Hare With Amber Eyes, by Philip de Waal. De Waal is one of England's premier ceramicists and Hare is the true story of what happened to his family over the course of almost 150 years.

The hare of the title refers to a netsuke (net-skee) - one of those tiny carved figures that is part of the knot on the cord that attaches a little purse to the belt around a Japanese robe. They are sturdy and delicately beautiful and now, very collectible. De Waal is a descendant of the enormously wealthy Ephrussi family, originally from Odessa, whose sons moved to Paris and Vienna and London in the 19th century. Charles Ephrussi, the Parisian son, a friend of Renoir, Monet and Proust - he was the model for Charles Swann, and was painted by Renoir - came to own a collection of 240 netsukes imported from Japan. The story of what happened to this Jewish family (although De Waal is a practicing Christian) is told via ownership of the netsukes - how they went, by inheritance, from Paris to Vienna to London, back to Japan, and then back to London.

How the netsukes survived is a metaphor for how the Ephrussis survived, while losing virtually all of their fortune and fabulous art collections to the Nazis. De Waal is a graceful and sensitive writer, just like his pottery.

Another book for you when you're in a WW2/Holocaust mood is Anya, by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer. I quit reading about the Holocaust long ago, couldn't take it any more, but this story, also about Polish Jews, is near and dear to my heart.

For April - just finished Michael Tolliver Lives and am going on to Mary Ann in Autumn, by Armistead Maupin. These are "updates" on Maupin's Tales of the City saga. They are not quite "meh" but with all the smiling going on, they lack the snap of the original series.

Last week finished Careless Love, vol.2 of Peter Guralnick's excellent biography of Elvis Presley. Looking beyond the tragedy, I really enjoyed Guralnick's detailed descriptions of the recording sessions, I learned a lot, and they sent me off on a YouTube binge of Elvis, Jerry Lee, the Golden Gate Quartet, and others of the era. Fun!

i am halfway through a wonderful novel called The Diaries of Jane Somers by Doris Lessing which is really two books in one, one the diary of a mid-life professional woman in London (I think) who meets an elderly woman and how that changes both of their lives. It's definitely not an easy read - both women are difficult and obstinate and all that, but I think if you liked "Stone Angel", then you would like this. Rather similar in that Hagar is difficult but when you know her background, it's more understandable. Both of the characters in this book are damaged, but this is still one of the best books that I have read this year.

The second half of the book I am just starting and is a continuation of Jane's life in diary form... I am really impressed with this, and will be looking for more Lessing at some point.

My non-fiction is Nothing Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbar Demick... Also very good as at times, it can be difficult to choose which book to read. What a great problem to have!

Oh, and then as an e-read, I am reading an Australian book from the mid-1800's called Gertrude, the Emigrant: A Tale of Colonial Life by Louisa Atkinson which was one of the first books published by an Australian-born female writer. Anyone heard of this? It's good so far...

I just finished a re-read of Pride and Prejudice prior to reading P.D. James' Death Comes to Pemberley for my next book group. I haven't read Austen since my 20's and it was absolutely wonderful -- to the point where I felt compelled to order the DVD of the Colin Firth / Jennifer Ehle BBC production of the same. I can't wait to see it.

Not sure what's next, as DCtP hasn't arrived yet. I think it's time to hit the TBR pile.

Have not been here in a while. With work and life, sometimes is hard to find the time to read. But the moment I read on on the back cover of The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry, "In an unnamed city always slick with rain, Charles Unwin ....", I knew I had to read it. I don't read many mysteries, but this sounded so much like the Pacific Northwest, I could see the city in my mind. I'm just beginning it and it's good so far.

Lemonhead,
Your comment:
Wow. All this reading gives the impression that I have absolutely no life, but I really do, I promise
reminded me of the quote by Logan Pearsall Smith:
"People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading".

Wonderful quote, Reader Intransit.

I started When Maidens Mourn by C. S. Harris today. I really like this mystery series set in the very early 1800s. This one has a strong female looking into a rumored King Arthur site, so it should be just up my alley.

Has anyone read any of her other books? The cover says she writes historical romances under the name Candice Proctor and coauthors comtemporary thrillers with her husband under the name C. S. Graham. He is Steven Harris, a former intelligence officer.

Still reading Middlemarch, I'm actually debating about continuing. It's dragging. Thinking about Hunger Games series.

Carolyn, I have read several of the C S Harris books and enjoyed them. I like Sebastian St Cyr very much, although I worry a lot about the correct way to pronounce his name. Saint Seer? Sincere (like Sin-jin for St John?) Saint Sigher? It's tricky!

woodnymph, I read the Solomons book, although here it is called The Novel in the Viola which I think is a much more intriguing title than the US one. I liked it more than Mr Rosenblum's List (Mr Rosenblum Dreams In English) too.

I am still on my Gabaldon re-read and enjoying it.

lemonhead, I have read The Diaries of Jane Somers and did enjoy, I also loved Stone Angel.

I am reading and just loving "The Unfinished Life" by Mark Spragg, next up will be a reread "The Fruit Of Stone" also by Mark Spragg, I just love reading about the American west.

sable, I gave my DD The Hare with Amber Eyes for Christmas and she say it is very well-written and is really enjoying it; I am lined up to borrow it next.

Kath,'Sigher' sounds right!

Kath, I would think 'Sarnt Seer'!
I am still on a DVD/book read and am now reading "Echoes" by Maeve Binchy after becoming aware there was a DVD out of a teleseries made years ago. The problem was that I went back to the UK in 1990-2003 and missed TV programs which had been broadcast there and also missed them by not being in Australia when they may have been shown there later. (Not necessarily of course!) I can relate to the struggle of a girl from a working-class family seeking a good education. When I won a scholarship to a Grammar School, my mother's parents refused to lend money for the school uniform as they thought I would be discontented with my "station" mingling with a better class of girl! Luckily my father's family had a different view about "bettering oneself". I passed that uniform on to my sister two years later by which time I had a grant for the next size!

FWIW, St. Cyr is a fairly common name here in Maine U.S.A. and is pronounced Saint Seer. Certainly in other part of the world it may be pronounced differently.

Veer - I hope that you enjoy Hare. I read it three or four months ago, and the story continues to haunt me, in a good way.

Lemonhead - You mentioned Doris Lessing. One of her best, IMO, is The Golden Notebook, which describes her adjustment to London, and is quite accessible. She was born in Rhodesia and attended university in South Africa, before finally fleeing apartheid and going to England. I loved her early books - the Martha Quest series - in which she describes, in roman a clef style, her life in SAfrica. She was a truly independent woman.

About the pronunciation of Saint Cyr: hasn't anyone heard of Lili St. Cyr, the very famous stipper of the mid-twentieth century? She was definitely Saint Seer!

For those of you who enjoy a memoir I would highly recommend A Daughter's Tale by Mary Soames.
She is the youngest and only surviving child of Winston Churchill and she describes growing up in the country home at Chartwell in Kent and the somewhat unusual arrangements of her upbringing. Her parents had to be away a good deal but a 'poor relation' became her nurse/nanny and she was surrounded by affection and lots of animals.
Of course she was 'exposed' to many famous names and intellectual and political figures of the day and once war was declared and the family moved to the Admiralty she was in the 'thick of it', especially after Winston became PM of the coalition Govt.
Lots of interesting information about the behind-the-scenes goings on especially the travelling that was undertaken by W to Africa, Quebec and Washington to get Roosevelt 'on-side' in the early '40's.
Mary joined the ATS as an ack-ack gunner/plotter and eventually accompanied her father as his ADC to many of the important conferences, then to liberated Paris and finally Berlin. This part of the story ends with her wedding in 1947.
Throughout the book runs a very strong and genuine love for her family but especially for Winston.
An excellent read.

I have sent The Yard by Alex Grecian courtesy of PAM on to Carolyn. Terrific book. I would describe it as eclectic - it is Victorian crime fiction, but is a bit of a police procedural, and bit of a mystery, loads of period detail and commentary on different and classes and how children were treated...I could go on, but it is best to just set aside some time and read the book. Sorry it took me so long but the end of the Lenten season ended up being extremely busy in a good way. Back to normal now - on to other projects -

This week, for my book club #1, we will be discussing a dystopian, YA novel called "Unwind." This book is a quick read, but, as the member who suggested the book said: "It left me feeling unsettled." I might actually use a bit stronger word to describe the feelings this book elicited in me. This was one of the most thought-provoking books I've read in awhile. It kept me reading late at night, and I thought about it throughout the day. The writing, though not excellent, is certainly good enough to get the story told. Plus, it got better as the story moved along. I think my bool club will have some interesting discussion about this. I'll put a link below if anyone is interested in learning more about this book

I'm supposed to read Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink" for my book group #2 next week. But I haven't yet picked up my copy from the library. It think it's going to seem pretty tame after "Unwind."

Meanwhile, I'm reading "The Haunting of Maddy Clare," a book that RPers brought to my attention.

Here is a link that might be useful: Unwind

I picked up The Haunting of Maddy Clare at the library yesterday. I've been on hold for it for a while and it's finally my turn. :)

I also picked up a couple more books that look interesting, My Year With Eleanor by Noelle Hancock and RinTinTin by Susan Orlean. Both are non-fiction which is odd for me as I usually prefer fiction. (I've mentioned this anomaly before; wonder what's going on! LOL)

I just finished The Crown, a first novel by Nancy Bilyeau. It is set in the middle of Henry VIII's marriage merry-go-round. The main character is a young woman descended from former royalty who is a novice in a convent whose prioress thinks it is too big for demolition. I can't remember if I heard about it here or somewhere else. It has a bit of mystery in it, too.

Hi all,

I read When Maidens Mourn, it was my first attempt at that author and series. I liked ier I plan on reading tthe others in order very much. It was a fun read. I felt like I was an observer, not "in" the story, but I do like it and this summer, I have plans to read the others in order.

STILL reading 1491. It is good although it does drag on and on. He inputs his own opinions smack dab in the middle of a factual account and it peeves me.

Now reading a new Mrs. Jeffries book by Emily Brightwell. She and Victoria Thompson are two of my guilty pleasures. The new one is called Mrs. Jeffries Defends her Own.

I am trying to find books (well written fiction or non-fiction) that are set in the 1930's England. Anyone have any suggestions, please? Thank you.

PAM

PAM:
"Cider with Rosie" - Laurie Lee
"Lark Rise to Candleford" - Flora Thompson
"The House at Tyneford" - Natasha Solomons

PAM, author of When Maidens Mourn please.

Do you want suggestions for modern authors writing about the 1930's or authors of the 1930's?
I always feel that modern writers don't always do an accurate job on settings outside their own period.
If you want to immerse yourself in 1930's writing there is a wonderful list to choose from.

To name but a few:

Graham Greene, George Orwell, Virginia Woolf, Elizabeth Bowen, Eric Ambler, Evelyn Waugh, Antonia White, Winifred Holtby, Daphne du Maurier, James Hilton, Aldous Huxley, Dorothy L Sayers, Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, John Masefield, Leslie Charteris, Wm Somerset Maugham, P G Wodehouse, C S Forester, John Buchan . . . and many more. Let us know how you get on.

PAM -

Fortnight in September by R. C. Sheriff (written in 1931, lovely quiet novel)

Molly Panter Downes is good. EM Delafield (Diary of Provincial Lady et al) was written in the early 1930's. The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery was written in 1926 (but perhaps not English-y). Nelle Larsen (Af-Am writer) wrote in the 1930's (such as Passing etc.)

Wodehouse was big around then as well.

You might want to look for titles that are published by the London company, Persphone. (See link for details.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Persephone Books (neglected classics by C20th women)

Thank you, thank you for the titles and authors for preWW2 books. I am going to go straight to the library and then straight to Amazon should the library not carry them. Please keep them coming should any more come to mind.

veer, My apologies. When Maidens Mourn was written by C.S. Harris. I have it around here someplace and would be happy to send it to you if you'd like. I think it is rather new.

Lemon! Persephone Books! I had forgotten about that wonderful catalog! Thank you for reminding me.

PAM

I like the books of Margery Sharp, some written or set in the 1930s. It is upsetting to read that single women often went jobless and hungry at that time. It was a state of affairs mentioned by a number of authors, including Agatha Christie.

Especially upsetting when we stop to think that the 1930s were a time of so very many single women. I once read the autobiography of author Elizabeth Goudge. A single woman herself, she mentioned that she would have loved to marry and have children. But many of the men that women of her generation would have married had died in the trenches of WWI.

rosefolly, I immediately thought of Elizabeth Goudge, also. I loved her autobiography, "The Joy of the Snow."

Didn't Muriel Spark write novels of the 1930's, set in England?

Finished The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry. A noir detective story with Kafkaesque elements begins to describe this novel, but there is more to it. It is surreal and hauntingly atmospheric: it rains almost the whole book, a good amount of it takes place at night, and all the city's alarm clocks have been stolen. The plot is convoluted.

Was trawling the TBR pile looking for something different (seems like I have been reading quite a few *serious* books lately so wanted something more light-hearted). I am itching to travel right now, so picked up The City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple. This has had really good reviews although it was published quite some time ago (1993). The author has a definite interest in India and lives there some of the time now, so this travel book is tinged with the voice of experience. I like this as everything is not so "new" and novelty is not the overleading point in the descriptions.

Also, covers a lot of the Raj period of time with which I am rather interested, and as it looks very unlikely that I will visit India, travel writing is the way to go. Dalrymple has a really good sense of humor and writes well so it's quite a treat to read this. Plus he has quite a few other books out there. (Just what my tottering TBR pile needs - more titles.)

Rather gave up on the Australian classic book... (Sorry Kath and Colleen and Annpan!) Now my ebook is looking through the Victorian household hints of Mrs. Beeton. (It's quite amazing just what's available on-line now.)

Lemonhead-have you read The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott? The books are sitting here unread. I bought them after seeing the magnificant series Jewel in the Crown on PBS.

I have been having difficulties getting into RP-haven't decided if RP doesn't like my computer-or-my computer doesn't like RP....today is the 1st time I have been 'allowed' to enter in days!

I just finished The Affair the newest Jack Reacher thriller by Lee Child. I really think it is time to 'retire' Reacher.

I am now reading All My Enemies the 3rd in the Barry Maitland series about DCI Brock & DS Kathy Kolla, I am really enjoying this series.

I am still on the waiting list at the library for the next Simon S. book The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill.

Pat

I have finished Kill My Darling, the latest Bill Slider by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. I so look forward to a new book in this series, but I found this one depressing--not the main characters, but the story itself.

I have begun a new Bryant & Mays book and read a few chapters in the Dickens bio by Claire Tomalin. The B&M ones are not favorites of mine except that I enjoy the obscure London information.

I just finished The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons. Woodnymph, thank you so much for mentioning it, I loved it. There were nice twists on what I was expecting, and I was an absolute puddle (in a good way) at the end. Totally satisfying.

Next up is Death Comes to Pemberley for my book group.

I was wondering about the C.S. Harris books and with good reviews I think I will read one-I have to be sure I get the first one and try them in order. I had never heard the name St. Cyr and wondered how to pronounce it-funny it is fairly common in Maine.
I am waiting for several books on order at the library-hope something is in by
tomorrow.
I did read my first D. Stabenow book-I think it is not the latest one but the one before that. Kate Shugak is the heroine. I wasn't too sure about it but ended up being engrossed in the story. Has anyone read her books? They take place in Alaska. She has written lots of them.

We have a large population of people with a French heritage here in Maine. Our governor's surname is LaPage, although the less said about him the better. Oddly enough, there aren't french restaurants or bars or books or the kind of shared heritage stuff you get from Italian, Irish, and Scottish descendants (to name a few).

pam53 - Years ago I read some of Stabenow's early books and enjoyed them. I haven't read anything by her in years, though.

I'm almost finished with "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." It's okay, not as good as some other recent reads. I don't think I'll be able to finish "Blink" before my book club meets to discuss it on Wednesday. I find it somewhat interesting, but not gripping enough to keep me reading as I should.

Pam53 - I've read several of the Kate Shugak series. I love the way she describes Alaska and sets each book in a different facet of the state's economy or culture. But I don't like Kate very much. She's a bit too Wonder Woman-ish for my taste. I do like Stabenow's secondary characters, though, and enjoy watching their lives unfold throughout the series.

Another female mystery writer whom I love is the often overlooked Kate Wilhelm. Her heroine is a woman defense attorney, Barbara Holloway, who lives and works in the area of Eugene, OR. Wilhelm also presents various facets of the PacNW through her plotlines. She gives Holloway real human frailties that humanize her. But the stories take off when Holloway cross-examines witnesses; she's like Perry Mason.

I like a lot of local atmosphere in my books - a major reason why I enjoy Wilhelm and also J.A. Jance so much.

sheri, glad you liked "The House at Tyneford" as much as I did. I've not been able to get enthused about any of the books I've read since. (I just read "Mortal Bane" and am now trying to get into an Ann Perry mystery set in the late 1880's, but don't like her repetitive style. I think she could have used some editing. The story is not moving along for me, and it's over 300 pages long).

Sable Ca, did you know that Kate Wilhelm got her start writing science fiction? She wrote a number of SF novels before she turned to mysteries. She was married to another noted SF author named Damon Knight. Her SF novels were quite good; quirky and original. I really enjoyed them. I may have to give her mysteries another try.

To celebrate April National Month of Poetry, I'm reading Risking Everything, 110 Poems of Love and Revelation, edited by Roger Housden. All of the poets are well known, some of the poems are translated (Rilke, Rumi, Neruda, among them). There is a beautiful poem by Pablo Neruda about how poetry arrived in search of him (his words), and a wise one by Marie Howe about how when she can't take a difficult decision, she asks her dead friends.

Does anyone read poetry anymore?

Pam53, I read the first Dana Stabenow book. With apologies to all of those who enjoyed the series, I tossed it firmly into the library bag with the vow to never pick up another one. Perhaps, as with most series, they get better with age and I should give the second one a try. But I have too many great recommendations for books just from this thread.

My first book club book is non-fiction this month. THe Man in the Rockefeller Suit by Mark Seal. The story is amazing but I do not care for the writing syle. In 2008, a man pretending to be a Rockefeller kidnapped his daughter. What enravelled was a lifetime of cons and fake identities.

My second book club chose that first Diana Galbaldon (sp?) book, The Outlander, and I am not even bothering to read it.

reader in transit, I, for one, do not read poetry. There are times when I wish I did, times that I wish I had the contemplative strength to think about a poem and its deeper meanings.

PAM

Not only do I read poetry, I write it, and just got notified that I have sold another poem. I was a bit surprised as I had almost forgotten that I had submitted some work to that particular publication. So that makes four poems and one very short story that I have had accepted since I started to send out my stuff last fall. (My mom is very proud.)

One way to possibly make poetry more accessible is to pretend that you wrote it. Those impenetrable lines can snap into focus when you view them as your own work.

William Carlos Williams is a great favorite of mine for many reasons, in the way he lived, in the way he approached poetry, in what he tried to achieve with it.

reader, I read poetry constantly and some of my own poems have been published. My favorite contemporary poet is Mary Oliver. Other long-time favorites are T.S. Eliot, Yeats, G.M Hopkins, A. Housman, Rilke,Sylvia Plath, and e.e. cummings. In general, I prefer to read blank verse (unrhymed verse.) Some finely-honed prose, however, is so exquisite that it veers into the realm of poetry.

RIT -

I read poetry, and in fact, have tickets to hear Billy Collins read some of his work on Friday.

Plus the local univ has lots of poetry readings, and one of our friends is a poet so we all go as a group. Very fun, although the quality does vary somewhat. But we want to support this type of event, and so we go.

Pat -

I did try to read the Raj Quartet, but it was a case of "wrong book at the wrong time for the wrong reader" so I put it back. I did absolutely adore "Staying On" though, so it would make sense that I would like the Raj books.

Just finished up "City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi" by William Dalrymple, who is a very good UK travel writer... Loved it, particularly as it went back much further than I had anticipated, going back to the Mughal Empire etc. Very interesting. Now I understand a bit more about Partition, Independence, and the different religions.

Now reading a 1933 exploring book written by Peter Fleming (bro of Ian Fleming as in James Bond). Peter is on a serious (but poorly organized and funded) expedition to track down Colonel Fawcett who had disappeared 7 years earlier in the Amazon forest.... (I think a more updated variation on this is "The City of Z"...) Good. Rather similar humor to Gerald Durrell in some ways. However, it's an ILL and due back on the 20th. Not sure I am get that read in time. I wonder how much flexibility you get with lateness on ILLs?

leomhead/liz. before you have your fill of India-themed books try Bhowani Junction by John Masters. Set at the time of 'partition' and concerning the doomed relationship between an English army officer and a beautiful half-caste girl who's family is involved in running the railways (one of the main occupations of Anglo-Indians at that time) It is probably better known as a movie by George Cukor staring Ava Gardner, Stewart Granger . . . and a cast of thousands.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bhowani Junction

I have started reading "Inheritance," the fourth book in the Christopher Paolini series. I'm not sure I will continue, though. It's just not gripping me.

Congratulations Siobhan and Woodnymph on your published poems! I knew that in this forum of omnivorous readers, there would be others reading poetry, but didn't know I was treading among poets... (big grin).

Lemonhead,
I knew you read poetry since you mentioned it in your "bio" in the "Let's introduce ourselves" thread. Hearing B. Collins read his work should add another dimension to his poems. Tell us how it goes.

Woodnymph,
Mary Oliver is a favorite of mine too. One of her poems, When Death Comes, is actually the 1st poem in this book that I'm reading. I'm sure you are familiar with it. The last lines are sublime, IMHO.

Siobhan,
Thanks for that piece of advice ("to pretend that you wrote it"). I think I see how it can help.
Years ago, I read some poems by William Carlos Williams and liked them a lot, but haven't read any since. Later I read that he wrote down some of his poems on his prescription pad. Being a physician myself, that has stayed with me, and now and then, when I'm writing a prescription I remember that and think of him, seeing all those sick children and writing poems on the side. Or maybe it was the other way around.

To read poetry more often is one of my 2012 resolutions. One of the easiest to keep.

Woodnymph, thanks for mentioning that poem. I have copied it for my Quotes and Poems notebook.

Speaking of poetry, saw this article on the BBC website about the London 2012 Olympics: looking for poets from worldwide.

It's a lovely idea, and is the second time this week that I had read the word Parnassus (which was curious, I thought.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Worldwide poets sought for Olympics

Rosefolly - I did know that Wilhelm wrote a lot of science fiction. I haven't read any of it, as am not a fan of the sci fi/fantasy genre. I've now finished her Barbara Holloway series, so sad! Do you know anything about her Constance and Charlie books? I think they're L.A. detectives? If she employs the same powerful atmospherics with C&C, I might try them.

Am now reading Last Train to Memphis, Vol 1 of Peter Guralnick's biography of Elvis Presley. He is such a very fine writer, sensitive, compassionate and gentlemanly. His knowledge of the way that blues, soul, gospel, and country music fed into rock'n'roll is exhaustive and for me, fascinating. There are three more biographies waiting in my TBR pile - Beatrix Potter, Ayn Rand, and Margot Fonteyn. Haven't decided on which one is next.

Sable, if you don't like SF at all, you may not like the Constance and Charlie books. I've only read a few, and those some time ago, but I seem to remember that they straddle the genres of mystery and SF.

I'm busy reading the second Flavia de Luce novel, and also a non-fiction book about roses through history. I was enjoying it, but as the narrative approaches modern times suddenly my interest has expired. It may go back to the library three-quarters of the way complete. You can do that with nonfiction so much more easily that with a novel.

Rosefolly

I finished P.D. James' Death Comes to Pemberley and found it very clever and well-written, but flat as compared to Pride & Prejudice. I'm interested to see what my book group has to say about it next week. Has anyone here read it? If so, what did you think?

Rosefolly, I adore Flavia de Luce, and IMHO the books get even better as they go on.

sheriz - I did read "Death Comes to Pemberley," and although I enjoyed it, it left me feeling disappointed. It's been awhile since I read it, but I think I was bothered by the author's attempt at deciding what became of each character - particularly at the end of the book. I guess you just can't rewrite -- or expand on -- Austen.

rosefolly -- Your comment about it being easier to return a non-fiction than a fiction book reminded me of the way my DH feels about TV shows. He will continue to follow sit-coms and dramas that have become completely inane or boring (I often found them that way from the start!), because he feels like they are "family," and he doesn't want to desert them. This from a man who will rarely sit and watch what I consider a quality movie with me.

I read my first Ann Perry mystery, "Twisted Root" and did not care for it. The ending was quite abrupt, not all threads of plot connected, and I felt the author just wanted to finish the long book and be done with it and move on.

Now, I've begun "Founding Mothers" by Cokie Roberts. She really makes reading American history lively and informative.

My favorite book of poetry by Mary Oliver is "Thirst." Luckily the poet is very prolific.

Rosefolly - Thanks for the heads-up about C&C. I'll check the reviews on amazon (if there are any). Her first Barbara Holloway novel dealt with chaos theory. Thinking about it, that book did veer towards sci-fi and was pretty good. It ended with the reader knowing that the children had caught whatever-it-was and that strange doings might be coming.

I also agree that one can usually walk away from non-fiction than from fiction. OTOH, I have been trying to read Willa Cather's Death Comes For The Archbishop for about 25 years now. Can't get past page 40, and it's such a slim book!

That's funny, sable. Why do you keep trying?

Woodnymph, you might like Anne Perry better if you read the first book in her series. She writes two: One is Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, and the other is Hester and William Monk. The one you read is about halfway through the Monk books. They do tend to feed off one another so that they make more sense if read in order.

Sable, I read once that Willa Cather writes beautiful books but forgets to tell a story, and that was my experience with her. (She is such a favorite of many that maybe that statement belongs on the Guilty Secret thread.)

I have just finished "Three-Day Town" by Margaret Maron. It features not one but two series characters! Deborah Knott and Sigrid Harald. I have been following Judge Knott from the first unforgettable short story but as I am not into police procedural mysteries, have never read a Harald one. I also tend to shy away from the "cast of thousands" type of book. I am glad to have a family tree included or I get lost! Are these books written by people with large families or teachers? I wonder sometimes! When I return this one to the library, I hope there is a requested book or two waiting. TV is terrible during the school holidays! I have read all my TBRs!

Rosefolly, what is the title of the book on the history of roses? As a fellow rosarian (one who is facing the sad decision to remove all my roses) I would be interested in reading the book.

Frances, the book is The Rose by Jennifer Potter. It might almost be described as the rose in history than the history of the rose. It is actually an informative book, and I seem to have recovered my interest in it. But I don't think that it would influence someone who was contemplating removing roses one way or the other. I'm sorry you're facing this situation. All your roses? Sounds dire.

Rosefolly

Carolyn, thanks for the tip re the Perry mysteries. I decided to give her another try and now have two more of the Monk and Hester series on my TBR stack/pile.

Sable, I've not read "Death Comes to the Archbishop" but I adore the writings of Willa Cather. "O Pioneers" is one of my favorites, as is "My Antonia."

Rosefolly, I'm removing my roses because of rose rosette disease and occasional visits from deer who manage to come often enough to remove the flower buds. I've been fighting this result for a couple of years but other flowering shrubs are looking good to me now. I'm interested in the book because I like history and roses.

Now that I've finished the excellent biography of Charles Dickens by Claire Tomalin I have the most difficult decision to make -- the new Harry Bosch book by Michael Connelly, a new C.J. Box book, or The House at Tyneford? I think Harry Bosch will win this time.

On audiobook I'm listening to the third Simon S. book by Susan Hill, Risk of Darkness. Thanks to everyone who mentioned these books and encouraged me to read them. So far, so good.

I've started Lev Grossman's The Magicians and I'm hooked. It's an odd (in a good way) Harry Potter / Narnia mash-up featuring very bright teenagers learning to focus their magical abilities at a mysterious boarding school in upstate New York. That said, it's not a knock-off of either series, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways. I'm having a hard time putting it down. I'm already tempted to pre-order the soon-to-be-out-in-paperback sequel, The Magician King.

Does anyone know---how many Simon Seraillier mysteries has Susan Hill written? I'm trying to figure our if I have read them all or not.

woodnymph, according to Fantastic Fiction, she has written six with a seventh to come out in October this year.

I believe there are 5 Simon S. books, but I may be wrong.
I am not a big poetry reader and kind of get in moods where I like to read it but I always love Mary Oliver!
I just finished a thriller that I read in 24 hrs. You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz. I could not put it down. I also finished The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny- a first novel about a 16th century "Doctoressa"; coincidently apparently Ms. O'Melveny is known for her poetry?
I have started Before the Poison-Peter Robinson's first book not featuring his beloved detective. I haven't read much but I hope I will like it. I really want to like it but so far I think it is slow moving.

Sarah_canary - Sorry for the delay in getting back. We had a sick kitty and my mind deserted the GW. Anyway, Death Comes For The Archbishop is one of those books that a person "needs to" read, and when we lived in the Southwest and visited Santa Fe, I was very taken with Bishop Lamy's story, and the beautiful church there. And when there we bought a silkscreen entitled "Lamy, New Mexico", of the surrounding hills and vales in delicate colors, and it's over our fireplace. So the good bishop looks at me reproachfully every day. Have decided to once and for all read DCFTA as soon as I've finished my current read.

I know that trying and trying to get into a book happens to most readers. We could all list books we've never finished (in fact, that's probably been a thread here) Two terrific outcomes for me were Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose. After many years of trying I finally did read it and what a rich reward! Another one was Nelson De Mille's The Charm School, which just sat there for 20 years, and then - a fantastic read that led me to his early books in a reading binge. Then, sadly, he lost his way and turned into a cruddy writer. But the earlier books are still there, as long as you know when to quit.

Carolyn - That is an interesting quote about Willa Cather, that she writes interesting books but forgets to tell a story. Perhaps that's what happens to certain strong writers-of-place.

sable- I feel like we had a thread about books we couldn't get into, but then did and loved them. If we didn't, we should have. I tried to read Mitchner's "Hawaii" on a plane ride and never got past the geology lesson. Then, years later, I did move past it and really enjoyed the rest of the novel. Same thing with "The Hobbit." It just did not grab me initially, but then years later, I zipped right through it and went on to the other Tolkien books.

Sometimes timing is everything.

I'm thinking about reading "Ready Player One." My daughter recommends it.

Sarah_canary, if you do read Ready Player One, please let us know what you think of it. The reviews I've read have intrigued me.

I finished The Magicians and have requested the sequel from the library. I thought the book was a thorny and more realistic riff on the Potter books, but at the same time it was quite original and had its own story to tell and points to make. Hard to explain, but I liked it a lot.

Today it's finally raining (we've been in near drought conditions all spring here), so I'm planning a nice, cozy, and long-overdue cull of the TBR pile.

we had our rain(we needed it) and woke up this a.m. to several inches of snow-ugh! The poor lilacs and other flowers and our crops. (Sorry, off topic)

My latest is "Willem's Field" by Melinda Haynes, and I am just loving it.

I've just finished The Archangel Project by C. S. Graham who also writes, as C. S. Harris, my beloved Sebastain St. Cyr books. This one is a CIA thriller and the first of three featuring the characters. I quite enjoyed it (and I usually don't read that type of book) and have requested the other two from the library.

I've been on a great reading jag for the past few weeks, I hope it lasts! I'm two-thirds through Lev Grossman's The Magician King and it is a very worthy sequel, no slacking on the author's part. His characters' adventures are original, though he keeps tossing in references to everything from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings to DiscWorld and Dungeons and Dragons -- it totally suits my inner geek and I love it.

I've also started another Austen, Northanger Abbey, which I've never read. It's quite different from what I expected, almost blatantly sarcastic, which surprised me.

It seems as though I have not been reading much, but a big chunk of time was spent reading Brazilian Adventure by Peter Fleming, which, then, I realized would not get finished due to ILL deadlines. So no book title to report there although there was some serious readin' going on. I think if you liked the title, The Lost City of Z, you might like this (earlier) version.

So then read Hunger Games which was a really good read and had an impressive lead female character. (Much stronger and more capable than the twaddle that was Twilight's female lead. I would be much happier if I had a daughter who read HG more than Twilight. Yes, it's about kids killing kids, but not out of pleasure and has a good female role model.)

And then watched a DVD (through ILL) of a PBS American Experience on the Amish. (Somehow got into the Amish recently.) And now really enjoying a quite quirky and funny read which lots of you have talked about before: No Idle Hands, a social history of knitting in the US. This author has a good sense of humor which is quite slyly thrown in every now and then. Love it.

One point I noted just this AM when I was reading: George Washington had moved out of the White House and was up in New York being Pres (or perhaps it was post-Pres). Anyway, he writes letters back to his plantation at Mount Vernon, and this former Pres and country leader whittles about how two particular slaves, Lame Peter and Sarah, aren't being kept busy enough and should be knitting more. Quite a few letters mention this, and for some reason, this cracked me up as here is this national leader, with a country all around in some disarry, and he's going on about a couple of slaves not knitting enough stockings. Just seems very funny to me. :-)

Anyway, good book so far.

I've just finished rereading Olivia Manning's Fortunes of War--The Balkan Trilogy and The Levant Trilogy. I first read these novels many years ago and wanted to find out if I still liked them. I did.

Now I'm starting in on To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.

Some people mentioned reading Holocaust material. I recently read In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke, an account by a Polish woman who very courageously helped Jews to hide or escape--a remarkable story and apparently true.

Here is a link that might be useful: Irene Gut Opdyke

JWT - You'll have to let me know how your reading of To the Lighthouse goes. I have only painful memories from reading it under duress during grad school, so I am curious is perhaps a reread isn't in order... :-)

And that Opdyke looks good as well. It's curious how some books get incredibly famous (like Ann Frank's diary) and some don't, even if both are about similar topics. I am not familiar with this author, but she looks v good... Thanks for bringing her name to the top of the pile.

Jwttrans - Have you seen the BBC miniseries of Olivia Manning's Fortunes of War? Stars Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh. I loved this unusual story of an unusual couple as they try to both report on the war and stay ahead of it. There were so many characters, with lives interwoven and unraveling, that we watched it twice. Ptobably I should buy it and then start reading the books. Thank you for the reminder!

Jwttrans, Manning's The Balkan Trilogy and The Levant Trilogy are two of my favorites that I've read several times. I really like the Pringles. Levant has one of the most enthralling sequences of the North African campaign that I think has ever been described, by a woman no less! I put the explanation point because the writer's facility seems to surprise a lot of readers because of her gender.

I also enjoyed the Thompson/Branagh adaptation of Fortunes of War.

Ha! I just noticed I used an exclamation mark in making my explanation above. I was not confused, but it could sure be interpreted that way. silly grin

Just finished 1491. It shares insights into the history of the Americas before Columbus. It states that the commonly held "truth" is that the peoples that lived here lived lightly on the land. This book shares archaeological evidence of why this could not have been so. It is a fascinating book but a bit slow. Heck, it is quite often a slow go but then he would toss out another fascinating tidbit and draw me right in again. It took a while to get through but I am very glad to have read it.

Also read The Man in the Rockefeller Suit. It was also non-fiction about a man who posed as a Rockefeller and when he kidnapped his own daughter, the truth started to come out. Not particularly well written, but interesting. It taught me not to be quite so nice to strangers!

I received The Gods of Gotham today, thank you. And I think I forgot to mention that Maddy Clare made it home as well. Thank you for taking such good care of them while they were "on tour". If I get anything else that I think is good, I will be happy to share.

PAM

PAM, The Man in the Rockefeller Suit sounds really interesting. I like true accounts when they're well done. I have a weakness for accounts of people who pull off successful deceptions but get caught.

sable_ca and friedag, I don't think I've seen the TV version of The Fortunes of War but oddly I was just thinking that Emma Thompson would be perfect as Harriet--which makes me wonder if maybe I have seen it, after all! If it happens around again, I'd definitely watch it, whether or not I've already watched it.

It's strange how few people know about Olivia Manning.

lemonhead, I hate to say how many times I've tried to read Virginia Woolf but just couldn't manage. This time around I'm finding her tough going but I'm determined to keep at it. I've read a few of her letters but never anything else, and I really should be more interested in what she had to say.

While continuing to read the Dickens biography, I have also begun 1Q84, which seems as if it will be good as well as quite different.

Siobhan, you wrote on April 9 that you had sent The Yard by Alex Grecian courtesy of PAM on to me. I have not received that book, although I did get the round-robin one about strange things found in old books and sent it on today. Would someone please tell me the name of it--I forgot to write it down.

Finished The Magician King and liked it so much I rummaged around to find the author's website and was rewarded with the news he's writing a third book in the series -- hooray! Still a two year wait, though.

In the meantime, Tricked, the next book in the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne has arrived and I'm looking forward to starting it.

JWT -

Life is short (as you and I are both well aware), so why struggle with Woolf?... I think if it's not fun and you're doing other stuff instead of reading to avoid it (which you didn't say, but you might be), then put it in the donation pile, and get on to something more enjoyable.:-)

(I am still working on this concept for myself though. DH can usually tell when I am not enjoying what I am reading as then I join him and watch TV!)

Another one who has tried to read VA Woolf, but just could not get into her work. I agree life is too short to pursue a lack of interest in a futile manner. That is why I gave away my volumes of Charles Dickens.

Just dropping in to say that GEORGE GISSING (aka MY George) wrote a great bio of Charles Dickens entitled The Immortal Dickens. It was considered THE bio of the man for many years.

PAM

Here is a link that might be useful: The Immortal Dickens Etext (can be downloaded to Kindle)

This time around I'm finding Virginia Woolf more interesting. Maybe I tackled the wrong examples of her work before--I can't remember the titles though I think Mrs. Dalloway was one.

Now I'm reading 1Q84 in conjunction with the Dickens biography. Talk about contrast!

I do think that there is a right time/right place situation for a lot of books in terms of how much one likes them or not. Perhaps it's the right everything for you and Woolf right now?...

I have just spent quite a few mins writing quite a detailed post about a book that I have just finished, and now RP (or IE) has just eaten my post and there is nothing.

This is quite possibly one of the most frustrating things to happen.

So - suffice to say, it was a long, thoughtful and quietly brilliant piece of writing. Ha.

Nah, I just finished The Joy of Less by Francine Jay, a book about voluntary simplicity (i.e. getting rid of cr*p in your house). Not too much new info, but some good reminders and did get me to go through some books and empty my pen mug. :-)

Lots more of the review on my blog if you want to delve deeper, but no pressure. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Just One More Page

Sheriz, I have just finished "Death comes to Pemberley". I don't normally read P&P inspired books but I thought I would try this one, not having much time to choose a library book and this one was handily displayed on the new books shelf! Such a respected author, too!
I thought I was going to enjoy it at first, with the tongue in cheek description of what the gossips thought about Lizzie's calculated pursuit of Darcy. As the book progressed, however, I got quite annoyed. Too much of the author's modern thoughts were creeping into it. Phrases that didn't seem right for the period and silly mistakes aggravated me. I finished it in a hurry to discover the mystery. No more Austen fan fiction, ever!
What did your group think?

Just finished a chapter of Patricia Meyer Spacks On Rereading that pertained to Austen's characters. For me, I had a lightbulb moment when she articulated that we use our past experiences and knowledge of real people to inform our understanding of literary characters (and the reverse applies).

Annpan, I agree with your assessment of Death Comes to Pemberley, somehow, it was just flat and (IMO) completely lacked that Austen sparkle of wit. My book group is meeting next week, I'll let you know what they think.

Oh, good grief! I just tried to recheck 1Q84 (925 pages) and the Charles Dickens bio (488 pages including the footnotes), both due Wednesday, and found that I cannot because both are on request by other people. Reading, reading, reading . . .