Weekly Reading Round-Up
This week’s weekly reading round-up was brought to you by my college roommate, who came bearing a large package of books the week before last. Among the haul:
— Lois McMaster Bujold, Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance
Bujold’s fantasy novel, The Curse of Chalion
— Clare Darcy, Allegra
Also on the list of books my college roommate has been telling me I have to read: Clare Darcy’s Regency romances. And, yes, she was right again. The arch tone and the keen amusement at human foibles reminded me a great deal of Georgette Heyer. I’ve got three more in the stack, so I’ll let you know how they hold up….
— Barbara Michaels, Shattered Silk
Not one of the roommate haul, but a favorite summer re-read. This is the follow up to Michaels’s Ammie, Come Home
Right now, I’ve gone back to the roommate book bonanza, and am reading a very satisfying 1980s Victorian gothic. (Complete with creepy old house, amnesia plot, and, of course, a scarred hero.)
What have you been reading this week?
Just started The Aviator’s Wife, by Melanie Benjamin. A fictionalized first-person account of Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s life from her first meeting with Charles.
I finally read Elizabeth Peters “Crocodile on the Sandbank.” You were right, Lauren – it’s really good!
Now I’m reading “Robin Hood – Prince of Outlaws” by Alexander Dumas. I’m really enjoying Dumas’ version of events.
Finished the first Elizabeth Speller Laurence Bartram book, “The Return of Captain John Emmett” and I adored it, I’ve already foisted it on my mom and she’s loving it as well. I followed that with the second book in the series, “The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton” and was not so entralled, it didn’t feel as original, and oddly enough, because of what Jessica is reading in the post above, very Charles Lindbergh baby kidnapping… now after seeing Neil Gaiman on Tuesday (amazing presentation and man, totally worth the 4 hour wait in 90 degree heat) I am starting on “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” can not wait to be sucked into it!
I re-read The Castlemaine Murders, the 13th Phryne Fisher mystery by Kerry Greenwood, and one of my favorites. It takes place in 1928, but the main mystery has to do with a murder victim killed in the Australian goldrush of the 1850s, and a shipment of gold that disappeared at the same time (in July 1857). My favorite parts are when Phryne and Lin make their separate and varied attempts to get information by interviewing several different witnesses (all between 80 and 100 years old) to different events in 1857. The characters are wonderful!
I am about halfway through a Miss Silver mystery (by Patricia Wentworth) that I have not read before. It was written in 1947, and is titled The Case of William Smith. It already has amnesia, embezzlement, several attempted murders, and a suspicious death. Who IS William Smith??? And is there more than one person who wants him dead?
Am in the middle of the third Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mystery Series, “The Fourth Horseman.” This is a great series by Sarah Woodbury. Also finished “The Last Camellia” by Sarah Jio. I really enjoyed it!
Every once in awhile, an extraordinary book flies into my life under the radar and keeping a low profile. A Jane Austen Daydream by Scott Southard is such a book. The tale does not fit neatly into a particular category of J.A. fan-fic and that is only the beginning of my recommendation to read this. Trust me, dear readers, from one who has probably read near 100 Jane Austen fan-fics. This one is on a superior plateau in all categories.
In anticipation of the release of The Passion of the Purple Plumeria, I’ve decided to re-read the series. I just finished The History of the Pink Carnation yesterday and started on The Masque of the Black Tulip today. I started a little later than I wanted but I have every expectation of finishing in time to start Plumeria on release day. Yay!
Clare Darcy rocks! So glad you enjoyed her. She’s not Heyer, but she’s as close as I’ve found. Cressida is one of my favorites of her. Georgina, Regina, and Lydia are also fab.