Weekly Reading Round-Up
Hi, all! Sorry for the weekly reading hiatus last week. I was, in the truest sense of the term, getting my beach reading in. Since I was staying at a place with a book swap shelf (I love book swaps), it’s a rather long and varied list. Among the books I read were:
— The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield.
Gothic, with a literary twist.
— The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams.
Who would have thought the end of the world could be quite so amusing?
— Midshipman Hornblower, C.S. Forester.
The first of the swashbuckling adventures of Horatio Hornblower during the wars with France. Did you know that when they first came up with the idea for Star Trek, it was pitched as Horatio Hornblower in space?
— The Apprentice, Tess Gerritsen.
I have a guilty addiction to Criminal Minds, into which genre this book falls. Plus, it’s set in Boston, where I lived for… well, a while.
— The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde.
A terribly clever excursion into an alternate England where books and their characters are brought quite literally to life.
— Gone Tomorrow, Lee Child.
A gripping thriller set in my native heath, New York.
— Ten Things I Love About You, Julia Quinn.
Happy, bouncy Regency fun in true Quinn style.
— The Fall of the House of Borgia, E.R. Chamberlin.
Okay, that one wasn’t in the book swap shelf; it was part of my own private stash. Fun, old fashioned narrative history. Also, proof positive that truth generally is stranger than fiction.
What have you been reading?
This week I finished Crocodile on the Sandbank, Die Twice, and The Help. All of them were pretty good, but The Help was awesome. If I didn’t have to go to work, I would’ve stayed up all night reading it.
Yesterday, I just finished listening to “The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book 1: The Mysterious Howling” by Maryrose Wood, which is listed as a book for children, but is an absolute hoot. It is read by Katherine Kellgren (she is the voice of Steve Hockensmith’s “Dawn of the Dreadfulls”). It is sort of a gothic mystery, and very funny. It is the start of a series, however, and leaves several things up in the air.
And thanks to Lauren for the recomendation of Loretta Chase! I am enjoying Mr. Impossible, and have read previews of several more on her website, so I have to go out & get some more of them.
Besides reading a whole lot of comics this week, I read the Haunting of Andrew Sharpai, which was quite good, kind of reminded me of 70s horror films. I also read the first Daisy Dalrymble book which I enjoyed, kind of like a nice blanket.
right now I’m reading The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Currently reading Liberty: The Lives and Times of Six Women in Revolutionary France by Lucy Moore. Very interesting (and well written), I could definitely see any of them making an appearance in a Pink book set in France.
Jane Feathers’ “All the Queen’s Players” was okay, but not great. I’m not a fan of books where even the “hero” has questionable ethics. Just didn’t find the characters likeable.
The GH’s “These Old Shades” this past week, too. Very cute. GH’s ability of character development is tremendous. I feel like I truly know them.
Oops..forgot I also read “A Rogue of My Own”. Grabbed it from a grocery store and it was an easy read while sitting at my mom’s yard sale. 🙂
You read the eyre affair?! I wanted to read that book since someone recomended it to me! Lucky you, Lauren!
My current read is Runaway by Meg Cabot. I just finished Radiant Shadow by Melissa Marr and all I have to say is that the dissapointmnet for some charatcers (cough Seth cough) really gets to me. But whatever. Anyways, Runaway? Great so far. ^.^
I just read A Silent Ocean Away by Deva Gantt, it was very good, historical fiction novel. I highly suggest it. It’s late 1830s of an american-french family.
I have just finished The Three Musketeers (Dumas) and The Convenient Marriage (Heyer). I am now starting Richard III (Shakespeare) because the KC Shakespeare in the park is doing it this year and I like to read them before I see them. I’ve also just finished reading The Indian in the Cupboard with my 5 year old twins and have just started Little House in the Big Woods with them. Reading makes for quite the economical summer.
I read “The Thirteenth Tale” last year and really liked it..
I’ve read “The Winter Rose” by Jennifer Donnelly and “The Fire” by Katherine Neville. “The Fire” wasn’t as amazing as its predecessor “The Eight,” but it was still good.
I finished the Spymaster’s Lady. I picked up because it was supposed to help ease my anxiety until Mistletoe comes out, but alas, it fell well short of the Pink Carnation books. Oh well.
Also reading Mrs. Adams in Winter, which is about John Quincy Adams’ wife who was traveling from Russia to Paris in 1815. Really enjoying it so far.
Will be starting Married by Morning as well. That ought to live up to expectations!!
I just finished Jacquelyn Winspear’s The Mapping of Love and Death- which is the latest in her Maisie Dobbs series. I loved it! I’ve also been enjoying a few of the books Lynn Kurland’s time travel/historical fiction series. Lastly, I also finished Kelly McCullough’s Spell Crash which is part of a Greek myth inspired fantasy-cyberpunk series. I love summer break!
Isildur by Brian Crawford. Definitely for people who never want to leave Middle Earth no matter how bad it gets…the premise of the book is interesting. For all that we’ve heard about the Sauron still existing because Isildur wouldn’t destroy the Ring, no one has ever really written anything about Isildur the man. An interesting excursion!
Two books recommended by Lauren & Co.
And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
and Ten Things I Love About You
Well, yetserday I finished Border Lord by Haywood Smith. It was cute. It was a pretty okay historical romance novel. I happened to find it randomly looking for books on Google.
Right now I’m reading Emma by Jane Austen. I just have Emma and Northanger Abbey to read and then I offically have read EVER novel written by Ms. Austen. It’s okay so far.
Also, I’m reading Solider of the Mist by Gene Wolfe. It’s sort of a mystery book, but mostly adventure; so far I’m liking it.
*every.
This week I’m trying to read more from Deborah Smith. She writes modern fiction, usually about families. Some are just heart wrenching, like Blue Willow. When Venus Fell and A Gentle Rain are also good.
I would also recommend Sweet Hush and On Bear Mountain.
Just to Catch up, In the last two weeks I have re-read, Nora Roberts Donovan Books (Captivated,Entranced, Charmed & Enchanted), Joanne Dobson’s Quieter Than Sleep, the last two books in Jude Deveraux’s James Rver Trilogy (Lost Lady & River Lady) and started reading a Biography, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman
Reading Wuthering Heights, because read Jasper Fforde, The Eyre Affair, plus the others in the Thursday Next series and he inspired me to go back to the classics. Plus found a 6 classic book set with The Scarlet Pimpernel, among Jane Austen, Charlotte & Emily Bronte, and others for $30!!! Danced in the aisle like a little kid:)
Just finished the first two in the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins (third one due in August). Not my usual fare–easiest described as a melange of young adult/ post-apocolyptic/ reality TV/ bread and circuses themes–but could not put them down.
Now on to Anne Perry!
Just finished Patrick O’Brians “Master and Commander”, first book in the series. At times I had trouble following all the nautical stuff but I find myself scheming to find the next book in the series.
Woohoo! I loved both Hitchhiker’s Guide and The Eyre Affair – Have you read Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde? It’s just as amazing. I’ve been intending to read The Eyre Affair sequels, but I haven’t yet.
I’ve been reading a lot too:
My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
The Sugar Queen, also by Allen
Garden Spells, also by Allen
I recommend them all to anyone who needs a new book!