Howards End is an excellent novel that is surprisingly difficult to write about, not because there's nothing to say but because there is so much. It's hard to know where to focus – or even how to summarize without getting out into the weeds of exposition and philosophy and writing mechanics. So instead of worrying … Continue reading Reading the Alphabet: H is for Howards End
That's right, folks, you're getting a bonus post this week, so I can tell you about my latest discovery: Katy Birchall's delightful comedy, The Secret Bridesmaid. This book was marketed to me as a romance, and love is certainly at its heart – but more than romantic love, this novel is mostly about celebrating love … Continue reading The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall
This reading week was particularly good – new discoveries, an old favorite, and the continuing delight of Victoria Thompson's "Gaslight Mystery" series. The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith: Did you know the movie 101 Dalmatians is based on a book? And that it's delightful? I did not, but now we both do! Smith's … Continue reading Reading Roundup #13: A Million and One Things to Love
Hello, reading friends! After a week without internet, I am back and ready to tell you about all the lovely books I read while buried under a mountain of blankets. Nothing like a little murder to heat things up, eh? The Widows of Malabar Hill (Perveen Mistry #1) by Sujata Massey: This one kept popping … Continue reading Reading Roundup #12: Round Up the Usual Suspects
We all have those comfort reads – the ones we reach for when nothing else will do, when we're blue, when we need the literary equivalent of a hug. Now, I have a few that fit that description, but The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is probably top of the list. It makes … Continue reading Reading the Alphabet: G is for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Oh, what a lovely week to be a reader! You may have noticed, I usually have good things to say about the books I review here, and there's a simple explanation for that: I know what I like, and if I try something new and don't like it, I drop it. It's a good way … Continue reading Reading Roundup #11: A Comedy of Manners by Gaslight
Who's ready for hijinks and shenanigans? That's right – it's Heyer time! Sadly, I'd never even heard of Georgette Heyer until late in 2019, when a friend picked The Grand Sophy for our book club. Naturally, I was an easy convert, and I've been happily working my way through Heyer's bibliography every since. Georgette Heyer, … Continue reading Reading the Alphabet: F is for Faro’s Daughter
A rather light post this week because I spent most of my weekend watching old movies (Three Cheers for the Irish, The Gay Sisters, and Julia Misbehaves, if anyone's wondering – and what a strange but fun combination that was!). But we're here for quality, not quantity! (Right?) The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: … Continue reading Reading Roundup #10: Ghosts of the Past
If you know me at all, you know that Rafael Sabatini's Scaramouche: A Romance of the French Revolution is among my very favorite books. I reread it often and think of it constantly, and I'm always eager to persuade others to give it a chance because so few have even heard of it, let alone … Continue reading Scaramouche: The King-Maker by Rafael Sabatini
After taking a week off (o, life, why must you interfere with books?), we're back with a vengeance! I finished the "Troubleshooters" series, finally checked out a book a friend's been recommending since forever, and immersed myself in historical mysteries and high adventure. In short, I had a lot of fun. The Gentleman and the … Continue reading Reading Roundup #9: The Lies of Gentlemen and Thieves
