Weekly Reading Round-Up
I have to confess, between Turnip’s love scene (sixteen pages and still going… because Turnip just won’t stop talking), Q&A for the expanded e-book version of that Austen anthology, and some other random bits and pieces, there’s been a lot of writing going on here but not a lot of reading.
What have you been reading?
I just finished Rainbow Valley, the second-to-last installment of L. M. Montgomery’s Anne Of Green Gables series. Ms Montgomery has such a way with describing scenes, setting moods, and is especially brilliant at capturing the charming behavior of children. Right in the middle of this book is the most unusual and compelling romance. Why unusual? Because certain young children of the widower-hero are right in the middle of it trying to convince the lovely object of his romance to say “yes!” It is just so endearing. I’m also just starting on my 16th Georgette Heyer novel called False Colors. Next up, I’m about to read a concise history of the French Revolution to understand it more in the context of many historical novels. That’ll keep me out of trouble.
I read 10th Anniversary by James Patterson (those Women’s Murder Club books were really atrociously bad for a while but have been getting better) and Sisterhood Everlasting (the follow-up the the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books), which some people have panned as overly depressing, but I loved it. I’m currently reading The Trinity Six.
I finally started Fellowship of the Ring, which I’ve been saying I was going to do for years. I really love it so far, despite not being very far in.
I also read the first Dragonriders of Pern book by Anne McCaffrey, called Dragonflight, at the insistence of my mom who read them when she was young. That was a good read, I look forward to the rest.
At the beginning of this week I finished up A Storm of Swords (book 3 in Game of Thrones) by George R.R. Martin. It was quite thrilling.
I also read Vixen, the first in Jillian Larkin’s Flapper series for young adults. I love the 1920s, it was such a fun time with it’s great music and crazy slang. I needed something fun after Storm of Swords and this did not disappoint.
Last week, I read, among other books, My dearest ennemy and The Spymaster’s lady, following your recommandations… and I’m now making my way through A Storm of Swords. And I have to agree with you, Virgina, it’s really thrilling! 🙂
When not pawing barehanded through piles of 16th/17th century documents (does no one in this archive use gloves?? The horror..) I’ve been knocking back some embarrassing chick lit. First was Miranda’s Big Mistake by Jill Mansell, which had its comedic moments but was a little too overwrought and its breezy heroine just too twee for me. (Magpie hair? No.) Now I’m starting Persuading Annie by Melissa Nathan.
Taking a break from historicals: Hell’s Corner by David Baldacci
Virginia, also into Storm of Swords, thought I started it earlier this week. Really enjoying it too.
I read The Help, which was great, and am getting ready to start Honolulu.
Well I finally read A Knight in Shining Armour. Can’t say I liked it as much as everyone else seems too.
By…I love the fact that you are writing a love scene and Turnip cannot seem to stop talking. 🙂
I’m making my way through the Sherlock Holmes canon. I read “The Dying Detective” and “The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax” yesterday.
In the last week I read all of LM Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series. I also stumbled into reading Percy Jackson and the Olypians, the Lightening Thief, which I enjoyed surprisenly enough.
Turnip – less chatting, more kissing!
I have been reading the whole of the wonderful Napolean spy series by Nita Abrams (which starts with A Question of Honor). I’ve also devoured two excellent series by Dana Stabenow, one featuring Liam Campbell and the other Kate Shugak. Both series are contemporaries set in Alaska, mysteries which are strong on characterisation and depiction of place. I found these because some were free on Kindle, a marketing ploy which certainly worked with me because I liked the freeboes so much that I bought the rest!
*freebies
I just finished reading Kate Ross’
series, the last two were incredible!
Last weekend I read C.S Harris’ series,
they were okay, she managed to combine incest and cannablism in one book! I kid you not! This weekend I’m reading Beth Patillo. Thanks Susan N. for the reconmendations.
Just got into the George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series – read Game of Thrones (now watching the HBO mini-series – love it!) And reading A Clash of Kings. So far really good. I also recently picked up a book called “For the King” by Catherine Delors – Which has a quote from you Lauren on the cover 🙂
I just started the Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn, it finally arrived in New Zealand yeah – loving it so far. Also finished Kristan Higgins All I Ever Wanted which was fantastic loved the humor and the hero, thanks for the recommendation Lauren.
Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. North and South was wonderful and so far I like this one. (The BBC mini-series for both are great!)
I just finished the fourth Julian Kestrel mystery by Kate Ross. And I am depressed. What a fascinating character and, except for a short story in an anthology I just ordered, no more stories about him. Even more depressing is the fact the author died at such a young age and her novels were so well researched, the characters so interesting, and the plots so twisty.
I am just a few pages away from finishing The Inheritance of Beauty by Nicole Seitz. It is a beautiful love story of two people who have spent a lifetime together and now in their last days as she can no longer communicate are revisiting the past and breaking free of it. I highly recomend it and anything else she has written. Ms Seitz has a wonderful voice and is a very nice person. I have had the pleasure of meeting her a few times and hearing her speak. Now I am trying to decide whaat to read next. It will either be This Body of Death by Elizabeth George or The Bargin by Mary Jo Putney. Any suggestions?
I just finished The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen. I nearly gave up on it but am glad I didn’t. Next up is Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax.
re-reading the Pink Carnation =D
For some reason, I just got around to reading Gail Carriger’s latest (Heartless). She does love her cliffhangers!
Mary Lydon Simonsen’s Mr. Darcy’s Angel of Mercy–one of those P&P redos set just after WWI. Very short. Found it more interesting for its post-WWI theme than the P&P theme. Liked the Vera Brittain/Charles Todd vibe and would like to find other similiar books.
Got Joan Aiken Hodge’s (and didn’t I used to just love her books when I was a girl!) bio of Georgette Heyer in the mail and I’ve been thumbing thru it. (All these years and I never knew I’d been mispronouncing her last name!) So far, what interests me most is GH’s now-dispersed reference library and notes. Wow.
Nothing else notable. . .
Pat–The Lullabye Cheat, the Kestrel short story, is definitely worth a read, but is not as satisfying as the books, of course. I did love learning what the title meant, tho, and I’ve since come across that term, at least in part, in other books.
SusanN-Thanks for your comment. I like Charles Todd books quite a bit. I suggest Barbara Cleverly’s Joseph Sandilands mysteries; I’m reading through them now. They are set post WWI, first in India, then back in England. Also for something light, Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness books are fun. They are set in the 30’s around the time Wallis Warfield Simpson was getting her hooks into Edward.
Thanks so much, Pat. I’ve read the first Sandilands book, The Last Kashmiri Rose, and want to continue the series. I’ve only put it off because I’m hoping they’ll release the whole series on Kindle so I don’t have to keep buying the PBs. I’m glad to hear it’s worth continuing, tho.
Love the Royal Spyness books, too! Lighthearted, with darker undertones.
Maybe Lauren will do one of those Monday “if you liked” thingies sometime so I can get even more WWI reccies! 🙂 (In addition to the 2 Todd series, there is a WWI series by Anne Perry, Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs, and Dorothy L. Sayers’s Peter Wimsey which come to mind quickly.) I love all the new ideas I get here.
Oh I practically missed the reading round-up.
So last week I read Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts, second of her Bridal Quartet The begining was sweet and lovely, the middle got silly, and the end was contrived, ridculous, annoying and souring. I was excited for the next one so I am waiting to read it later.
Next I read Naked in Death the first Eve Dallas, It was good, the mystery was good, I liked Eve, but not Roarke (who was kind of a daydream but not my daydream)
Finally Meljean Brook’s The Iron Duke. Awesome, complex, impressive and emotional read. Not perfect, but Highly recommend it.
The Iron Duke is steampunk and Naked in death is futuristic. They are very different books.
The Iron Duke and Naked in Death are oddly similiar. Alt. universal utopian society, broken yet fighting police det. who is the heroine, former criminal turned legit hero who is domineering yet protective, starts with the murder of one person which becomes something bigger, heroine has tramatic past, the investigation is dangerous and hero with connections he has to use.
I was working at Hampton Court for a week, during a flower show, so in celebration, I read ‘The Constant Princess’ by Phillipa Gregory, and ‘The Lady Elizabeth’ by Alison Weir. Tudor Time! Once I got back, my pre-ordered copy of “A Dance With Dragons’ was waiting for me, so I’m working my way through the biggest book I’ve ever seen! 😀 SO amazing and worth the wait.
In a previous WRRU someone recommended the Blood Rose Trilogy by Kaki Warner…just finished Pieces of Sky and I am hooked!! Picked up the first book of Ms Warner’s next series at Border’s – romance novels are 30% off due to the liquidation. Being from Michigan, we are very sad to see our Border’s Book Stores closing! On tap this weekend – reading I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming and watching the second episode of Zen on Masterpiece Theater!!!!!
Oh yes! Go Aurelio Zen! If you like modern Italian police detectives read the Nic Costa series by David Hewson. Intricate plots and great character development. Love those books.
Diana – I love Wives and Daughters. There is a pretty good TV adaptation, full of good English actors who pop up in other BBC literary adaptations.
This week I read A Dance with Dragons, the most recent book in the Song of Fire and Ice series. It was absolutely fantastic – George RR Martin at his best (and most frustrating!!!). The wait for the next book is going to be torture!
Also re-read Persuasion (my second-favourite Austen after Emma) and started on The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I’m 1/3 through and hooked – a great read
@Gina — I loved Anne McCaffreys Pern series! I also enjoyed “Killashandra” for a change of pace.
Still making my way through “The Haj” by Uris.
Anyone remember Phyllis Whitney? And Victoria Holt? I read every Whitney I could get my hands on when I was a young woman.
Lotsa good ideas here~
Amy in high school I read every Victoria Holt I could get my hands on in my schools library. I really need to reread her stuff its been a long time.
Heather, ditto here! I was mildly obsessed. My fave was “Secret for a Nightingale”.
My fave was “The Black Opal” I also loved one I can’t remember the title of it was about a woman who had her own school. I really believe it was a Victoria Holt because she was one of the first romance writers I read with a passion.
I don’t think I read “Secret for a Nightingale”. I think I may be making a trip this week to one of my favorite UBS so I will have to see what they have. The B&N near me does not have a great romance selection.
Amy N.– never much cared for Phyllis Whitney, but I loved Victoria Holt. You’re making me want to reread those books (along w/ her Philippa Carr and Jean Plaidy titles).
That was also the era of all those big historicals (Taylor Caldwell, Susan Howatch, etc.).
Heather–I don’t recall offhand a VH title where the heroine had her own school, but in The Time of the Hunter’s Moon (?) the story starts w/ the heroine as a schoolgirl, and she later becomes a teacher.