Do you ever have books that you mean and mean to get to– and then finally do, a decade or so later?
Back in the early 90’s, when I was all about paperbacks with atmospheric looking houses on the cover, I picked up Alexandra Raife’s Drumveyn
— and when I saw that it was women’s fiction rather than a Gothic, promptly put it down again.
I read other Alexandra Raife novels over the years– Wild Highland Home
and Belonging
are old favorites– but I never got back around to Drumveyn until now.
It’s a bit like Monarch of the Glen
(complete with a young laird named Archie), but the protagonist is the laird’s mother, and it’s more heart-wrenching than madly comic. Alexandra Raife is brilliant at tugging the heart strings, as well as conjuring up the Scotland of twenty years ago, right down to the wet wellies.
What have you been reading this week?
The biography Elizabeth by J Randy Taraborrelli. I’m on an Elizabeth Taylor kick. It’s an OK book, kind of gossipy and superficial, with a bit of amateur psychology thrown in. Not really the serious biography of a major American film star that I was sort of hoping for, but not really expecting … but it’s a fun read so I’ll finish it.
After finishing up A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin, I read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, and now I’m reading Flame of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier.
The Dog Who Danced, by Susan Wilson…more about people than the dog, absolutely wonderful.
Julia Quinn’s latest, The Sum of All ,Kisses, very funny, as usual a terrific read.
Lauren I think you will love this. I just finished A Garden Intrigue and am most of the way through The Ashford Affair. I must say, I am loving it.
Was “Slains” a hat tip to Susanna Kearsley?
Loved the humor in The Rosie Project, The emotion in
The Round House, and the charachter at the center of The Funeral Dress, which I just started. Next up Christnas at Carringtons. Quite enjoyed Cupcakes At Carringtons last summer and the author,
Alexandra Brown has a kindle short titled Me and Mr Carrington. The books are also offerred as a set that I saw on Amazon.
Sad to read Diana Gabaldon’s, Written in my own Hearts Blood will have a delayed publication date, but looking forward to Takedown Twenty. Stephanie Plum will choose Ranger or Morelli someday, maybe. Then Faye Weldon’s third book in Habits of the house trilogy, The New Countess and Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen and Peter Rabnit’s Christmas Tale, not to mention A Summer Engagement are coming up!!
Oh, I’m so so excited for Lost Lake!!
I’ve had Stoker’s Dracula on my Kindle for over a year and somehow will get to it in the near future.
I’m reading The Gamester by the late Elizabeth Chater. I don’t know how many of you dear readers are familiar with her works but she is a hidden treasure. She writes regency romances with wit, great humor and unforgettable characters. This is my third read and definitely not my last.
I’m in the third book, Angels in the Gloom, of Anne Perry’s WW1 series; great series. I had just finished Catriona McPherson’s “As She Left It” – a standalone. Great twists and turns in her plot.
Also G M Malliet’s Pagan Spring, the further adventures of MI5 agent turned Anglican priest Max Tudor.
A friend recommended me Money Honey, by Susan Hey, a few months back, when I said that I loved Julie James, and so, I gave it a try. It was fun and not bad at all, but far from Love Irresistibly (I guess this book might have spoiled me for all the other FBI/US Attorny books).
If any of my fellow willig-maniacs-who-happen-to-love-Julie-James-too has any recommandation, I’D gladly accept it!
Right now, I’m in the middle of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, by Choderlos de Laclos. It must be the tenth time I’m reading the book and I still love it as much as the first time! 🙂
In the pile, I have The Girl you left behind, Jojo Moyes’ latest book (I had loved The last letter from you lover and Me before you) (and it’s about a painting, Lauren! :D)
I’ve been honored to become a beta reader for the upcoming Mary Robinette Kowal books, The Glamourist Histories, which everyone should read because they are soo awesome, Jane Austeny + magic!
Also read some Dr Who.
I just finished I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella. It was really sweet. And there were some laugh out loud moments.
Also finished Jagged by Kristen Ashley – love those alpha men.
A note for Jeffrey; READ DRACULA. I think it is one the most brilliantly constructed books I have every read and none of the movie or TV versions come close to capturing it. The descriptions are so vivid they dragged me in and I felt that I was there. The first time I read it I was on the train one evening on the way home from work. It was so engrossing I missed my station and it took me 2 hours to get home.
I agree Suzanne, as I just finished Dracula last week and commented in the reading round-up for last Friday – one great book!
I saw a mini series last month on the BBC- The Secret of Crickley Hall – and really enjoyed it. Noticed in the credits that it was based on the book of the same name by James Herbert. So I went to the library and grabbed it another by him – Haunted. Really enjoyed them both – they are a great combination of creepy & historic, ghost stories that have a story.