Rochester Reader

An Unexpected Lull

2011-06-11T00:00:00.000+01:00


Woman Lying on a Bench - Carl Larsson (1913)

I am so sorry for the quiet that has descended upon Rochester Reader recently and rather unexpectedly. Studies and other distractions were in full flow at the end of last month and the beginning of June and I have lately developed a particularly nasty cold which has had me confined to bed.

As a result I have been unable to respond to your comments or visit your blogs but I hope to very soon. The May Roundup will be posted in the next few days and I hope to get back into the swing of things with a few reviews of some fantastic books.

I hope that June turns out to be a wonderful month for you all. Happy reading!

The Shooting in the Shop

2011-05-29T13:18:00.000+01:00

I read this Christmas-themed murder mystery shortly before Christmas last year. It's nice on occasion to read books that reflect a current season or holiday as it helps to get you into the spirit of things... especially when you're having a hot South African Christmas after having years of cold (and occasional snowy) English Christmases.

Jude and Carole, our unconventional amateur sleuths, find death on their doorstep when the body of a young woman is found in the cinders of the new boutique shop in the village of Fethering. The Police think the death was an accident but when it is revealed that the victim was shot, our intrepid sleuths' noses start twitching.

There is a host of interesting and nasty characters in this novel and Simon Brett's writing appears to be taking a turn for the contemporary. I've noticed in this and the previous novel that certain expletives have crept in and that a few unattractive loutish characters are being included. Is Mr Brett trying to reflect current day reality a little more, I wonder? Personally, I could do without the extra grit and grime (however small it may be) in the narrative but it doesn't detract from the overall style of the series, which is a nod to golden age mysteries.

I have been a fan of the Fethering mysteries for a few years so this book did not disappoint but I do feel that the last couple of books lacked a certain warmth. I have the next instalment lined up and look forward to revisiting Fethering soon. If you're fond of English mysteries with a cosy feel to them and with intelligent prose and sympathetic characters, I heartily recommend this series.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for kindly providing a review copy.

Enthralled (and Terrified) by Miss Brodie

2011-05-26T13:35:00.005+01:00

"'It has been suggested again that I should apply for a post at one of the progressive schools, where my methods would be more suited to the system than they are at Blaine. But I shall not apply for a post at a crank school. I shall remain at this education factory. There needs must be a leaven in the lump. Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life'

The Brodie set smiled in understanding of various kinds. Miss Brodie forced her brown eyes to flash as a meaningful accompaniment to her quiet voice. She looked a mighty woman with her dark Roman profile in the sun. The Brodie set did not for a moment doubt that she would prevail. As soon expect Julius Caesar to apply for a job at a crank school as Miss Brodie. She would never resign. If the authorities wanted to ger rid of her she would have to be assasinated."

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

Blogger Glitch when Leaving Comments

2011-05-25T20:14:00.006+01:00

Waiting for the Writer by Sharon Kearns

I have had an infuriating problem with leaving comments on my own blog and on that of other blogs (Blogger only) since last night. A quick Google search confirmed that there is something amiss with Blogger and that they are working on it but I, along with many others, were still unable to leave comments.

The problem is that Blogger doesn't recognise you when you try to leave a comment and puts you down as Anonymous. When you try to sign in to your Google account, so that you can leave a comment with your details, you end up in a login loop from which there is no escape.

For anyone who tried to leave a comment since yesterday, I am sorry if this has inconvenienced you and even more sorry if you are unable to reply to comments on your own blog...

But I think I have hit upon a temporary solution, garnered from the many Blogger Help posts. When you log in to Blogger, UNTICK the Stay Signed In box and hey, presto, Blogger recognises you again and you can post your comment.

I hope this helps. Fingers crossed they'll sort this out properly soon. If you need any help please do not hesitate to e-mail me at rochesterreader@gmail.com and I'll do my best.

Given what happened to Blogger not so long ago, I am now making weekly backups of my blog by using the Blogger export function and storing it on my PC. Just in case.

UPDATE: The problem continues and it seems that it is particular to embedded commenting on Blogger. So, as an extra measure, I have changed the way you add a comment to the page; instead of comments appearing embedded below the post, it will now take you to a separate page. This seems to solve the problem without you having to do anything else on your side. Thanks to Bev for passing this on.

A Conspiracy of Friends

2011-05-19T22:47:00.000+01:00

This is happily the third installment in Alexander McCall Smith's charming online serial novel, Corduroy Mansions, that is published around September each year in the Telegraph. McCall Smith already had a very successful serial going in The Scotsman which centred around a handful of Edinburgh inhabitants and he has replicated the formula and set it in Pimlico, London - where, happily, anyone with Internet access can enjoy his daily chapters online.

I must admit that I was not as in love with the inhabitants of Corduroy Mansions as I was with those of 44 Scotland Street but that changed after reading the second book, The Dog Who Came in from the Cold. The more time you spend in their company, the more invested you become and I look forward to following their everyday - and in some cases extraordinary - lives as I would with old friends.

A Conspiracy of Friends reintroduces us to the Corduroy Mansions inhabitants and the people in their world: William French, Master of Wine (Failed) and his (formerly vegetarian and MI-6 agent) Pimlico terrier Freddie de la Hay; the only unpleasant Lib-Dem, Oedipus Snark; Barbara Ragg (of the Ragg Porter Publishing Agency - publishers of the Yeti's Biography); Berthea Snark (psychotherapist and reluctant mother of Oedipus) and her New-Age, Porsche-driving brother Terence Moongrove... to mention a few.

This book is filled with McCall Smith's light and sympathetic touch with dashes of humour and human observation. I found it engaging and fun, especially since a large dose of interesting new situations are foisted upon our group of friends. Perfect pick-me-up or calm-me-down reading.

Thank you to Birlinn/Polygon for kindly providing a review copy.

In My Book Bag (2)

2011-05-15T01:58:00.002+01:00

[In My Book Bag highlights library loans and book purchases (second-hand, new or e-format) that make their way into Rochester Reader HQ.]

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Since acquiring a Sony Reader in March, I have been steadily building up an e-library of various books that I have been wanting to read for a while, along with a few obscure titles that appealed. I am especially happy to be able to access humourous books from the early 20th century as well as lesser-seen classical works. Darlene kindly reminded me about Girlebooks who have a mouth-watering range of ebooks written by women, many of which I haven't been able to find in paper format in my neck of the woods. Books like Louisa May Alcott's 'Little Women' series (I had no idea there were quite a few sequels) as well as books by American and British humourists.

So my current book bag is virtually laden with a number of e-books and a smaller selection of hard/paperbacks.

A few weeks ago I received a lovely new edition of Mary Stewart's first novel, Madam, Will You Talk?. I ordered this from the Book Depository as soon as I learnt of the stylish new publications from Lyn. I read a handful of Stewarts in High School and enjoyed then immensely. I haven't read this one and hope that it'll be great escapist literature for a rainy day.

The Winds of Heaven by Monica Dickens is a free e-book version I found on the Web so sadly not a luxurious Persephone edition. I'm looking forward to reading this especially after all the great reviews I've read by fellow bloggers.

Roast Beef, Medium by Edna Ferber is not a title that would usually appeal to a vegan but the write-up was humourous and entertaining and how could I refuse a book about a travelling saleswoman in the early 20th century with a wry sense of humour?

Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers is the third novel in the Lord Peter Wimsey series and my next read on the road to advancing in the As My Whimsy Takes Me Challenge. I've loved the previous two so can't wait to visit Lord Peter's London again.

The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith has been in my wish list for a few years and it's now residing in my Reader, patiently awaiting my attention. I love books with illustrations and these look promising and entertaining.

I have a few classic comic novels in reserve for days when I need a lift. They include well-known works as Three Men in a Boat... books that I have heard about all throughout my life but that, for some reason or other, I haven't yet read. There's a great sense of anticipation and expectation with these books and it gives me a warm feeling to know that I'll finally have read them and be 'in on the joke'.

Bones under the Beach Hut by Simon Brett is the latest book in the Fethering Mysteries set on the beautiful West Sussex coast. This series has become an annual staple after I discovered it a few years ago and made my way through all the then available books in order. The detecting duo consist of two ladies in their fifties who have a keen nose for murder...

That's all for now... I have a couple of books winging their way to me from the Book Depsitory and I am seriously considering buying my second Whipple soon... but can I stand the two-week wait?! In the meantime, there's thankfully plenty to read but sadly less time to devote to it whilst I am in the midst of studying for next month's exams. Oh for more reading hours in the day!

One Book, Two Book, Three Book, Four... and Five...

2011-05-07T15:58:00.003+01:00

Simon over at Stuck in a Book has come up with a fun little game surrounding the status of five books that have come into your life recently. My response is as follows:

1 - The book I'm currently reading:
Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson - I'm nearing the middle and certainly enjoying it so far. It is a little different from the first book but Miss Buncle is exactly the same (except better dressed, a little more confident and happily married). It's been fun to meet her and her husband again and it makes a snuggy read in the chillier Autumn nights over here... especially when I'm nursing a hot cup of tea and a biscuit.

2 - The last book I finished:
The Eliza Stories (a.k.a. Eliza) by Barry Pain - I came across a free e-book copy of this collection of short stories on Project Gutenberg and thought it might be a delightful read as it had glowing reviews spanning a number of decades. It is a short book published in 1904 with stories narrated by Eliza's husband - a self-satisfied, pompous man whose observations about life and marriage can be quite funny, especially as he is usually unaware of his wife's sarcasm and wit. I found it quite a pleasant read - humourous in places - although not laugh-out-loud funny as you can forsee some of the outcomes (which I guess are familiar to us now as modern comedy may have borrowed from it). It was still enjoyable and a light, urbane read - and heartily recommended.

3 - The next book I want to read:
Aunts aren't Gentlemen by P. G. Wodehouse - Lyn at I Prefer Reading wrote an excellent post about this book recently and it got me hankering after some more Wodehouse. I think this later Jeeves and Wooster novel will be perfect and it will be my first J&W read. I'm really looking forward to it!

4 - The last book I bought:
Angel with Two Faces by Nicola Upson - I purchased this today! It is the second instalment in the Josephine Tey murder mysteries (where she is the main character) and I hope that it will live up to the first. I quite like the cover and the different shades of blue.

5 - The last book I was given:
Bones in High Places - Suzette A. Hill - My dear friend T. treated me to this book very recently and I can't wait to read it. This series is a real gem of a find... it always puts a smile on my face.

Thank you Simon for coming up with such a great game! I had fun putting my responses together and it makes you think about where your book tastes (or moods) are at the moment.

April Roundup

2011-05-01T20:52:00.000+01:00

Woman Reading in a Garden by Richard Emil Miller (1875 - 1943)

April was a more productive month reading-wise with the majority of the books completed by the middle of the month. I kicked off the month with my first Read Cornwall challenge book, Manna from Hades which I I quite enjoyed and was very pleased with being transported back to Cornwall after such a long time.

I also attempted a couple of new-to-me M. C. Beatons with mixed results. You can read my thoughts on Emily goes to Exeter here and I hope to put up a short review of the latest Hamish Macbeth mystery.

I also finally managed to read an Edith Wharton for the first time, which also counted as my first completed classic for the Classics Challenge 2011. The Age of Innocence was a rewarding read and set in a time in America that I don't usually encounter. I enjoyed it but felt that the ending was bitter-sweet and left me unsatisfied. I shall definately be searching out more Wharton though as her prose is rich and her observations of upper-crust New Yorkers at the turn of the last century biting yet slightly sympathetic.

I felt like reading something a little lighter after that and who better that Suzette A. Hill to cheer me up and give me a warm, comforting feeling? Bone Idle is the third book in the Francis Oughterard series and I continue to be delighted with it. I hope to post something about this unusual, humourous and thouroughly English series soon.

And now I'm on an extended visit to Corduroy Mansions in Pimlico, London. I completed the second book in the series and enjoyed it so much that I proceeded onto the third, A Conspiracy of Friends, which is officially released today in the UK. Although the Scotland Street books by Alexander McCall Smith is my favourite of his series, I find that the Corduroy Mansions serials are fast becoming a favourite too.

I hope everyone had a comfortable and peaceful Easter and holidays. How was your April?

The books:

1. Manna from Hades - Carola Dunn
2. Emily goes to Exeter - M. C. Beaton
3. The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
4. Bone Idle - Suzette A. Hill
5. Death of a Chimney Sweep - M. C. Beaton
6. The Dog Who Came in from the Cold - Alexander McCall Smith

Persephone Biannually Spring/Summer 2011

2011-04-13T18:28:00.007+01:00

Cover: Alice Ashley on a Green Seat by Donald Towner (1937)

It's arrived! Well in the UK at least and a very good friend has sent it winging its way to me in Africa. I should have it in my hot little hands in 5 working days along with the colourful book mark that goes with The Sack of Bath. The Biannually is one of the few catalogues I look forward to receiving and I find it such a shame that Persephone no longer publish it on a quarterly basis (alas, I never experienced the anticipation of receiving the Quarterly as I only learned of Persephone Books a few years ago).
I love the cover of this Biannually... a lady sitting outside on a comfy swing seat doing her knitting whilst having a newspaper on her lap and a book beside her... a glass of lemonade nearby with an opened letter next to it... is it news from a dear friend? Such a relaxing and tranquil scene that lends itself to a story.

Some of the items that I look forward to reading in this edition include articles Persephone in Sicily and Battered Bath: the Case for Freezing a City, as well as an article by Maureen Lipman. There is a short story entitled The Real Thing by Diana Athill and info on the three books for Spring/Summer:

Miss Buncle, Married by D. E. Stevenson
Midsummer Night in the Workhouse by Diana Athill
The Sack of Bath by Adam Fergusson

Forthcoming events that I wish I could attend include an afternoon walk in Bath, a lunch talk with Felicity Jones (star of the film adaptation of Cheerful Weather for the Wedding) and the good news that Persephone are reviving 'Possibly Persephone' which is being held on 25 May and where you can put forward suggestions for future Persephones!

I hope that they will eventually publish ALL of Dorothy Whipple's novels as I so enjoyed High Wages that I have a feeling she is going to become a favourite author. I wish I could get hold of a beautiful Persephone copy of Miss Buncle, Married - which is silly since I have a 1970's paperback with me here. Sadly it just doesn't feel as luxurious as a Persephone... I may read it yet and I hope that it is as good as the first novel.

Have you received your Biannually yet and what are you looking forward to reading? Have you placed an order for any of the new publications?

High Wages

2011-04-09T00:20:00.001+01:00

I finished this beautiful Persephone book early last month as part of Persephone Reading Week and have been meaning to share my verdict for quite a while. The plot and my initial thoughts on the novel are chronicled here. This novel has been a perfect introduction to Dorothy Whipple and this is now one of my favourite Persephones.

It is a charming, heart-warming read with enough daily ruptures and minor occurrences to keep things interesting. The main protagonist, Jane, is a worthy heroine - head-strong, independent, hungry for knowledge and graced with a kind heart. The novel started off very cosily with Jane fortuitously securing a position at a draper's and we learn of her ambition to own her own clothing store. The characters surrounding Jane are all realistically and skilfully drawn so that you feel as though you are right there with Jane.

Source

The book progresses through Jane's friendships and her ultimate independence but then it takes an unusual turn with an unexpected and complicated romance. I wasn't too sure about Jane's choice (I can't say more or I'll ruin the surprise element) and I found myself feeling quite anxious for her and hoping that she would come to her senses. There is also one character who appears a little creepy in the beginning but he improves as the novel progresses, although I think that Whipple was a bit harsh with him by inflicting quite an injury. Whipple certainly manipulated my emotions towards the end, which just goes to show what a superb writer she is.

I find myself wanting to read more Whipple but I am without any other of her novels... I must try to remedy that. I have a copy of Someone at a Distance in the UK (the beautiful Persephone Classics edition) but I fear that I shall be in for constant heart tugging with that one. Any suggestions on what should be my next Whipple fix?

Dorothy Whipple

The Travelling Matchmaker

2011-04-06T12:29:00.000+01:00

Being a fan of M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin and Edwardian Murder Mysteries series, I thought that the attractively reissued novels from the Travelling Matchmaker series might be fun. These were originally issued under the pseudonym of Marion Chesney in the 1990s but have recently been reissued by Constable Robinson this year. I started with the first in the series of 6 novels.

These novels follow the matchmaking (or meddling) adventures of Miss Hannah Pym, a housekeeper of the 1800s, who inherits a substantial sum of money after her employer passes away. Miss Pym has always dreamt of travelling on the Flying Machine - the stagecoach - and realises her fantasy once she finds herself a gentlewomen of independent means.

Each book appears to deal with a different heroine that Miss Pym encounters on her travels and your usual dashing male hero. The first novel is fairly light with a few touches of humour and the prose is superior to some of Beaton's current Agatha Raisin offerings but I found it a little predictable. I was also disappointed not to actually read much about Exeter as most of the novel is set in an inn en route to that town.

On the whole, not a bad novel and probably a decent low-key historical romance but without much substance and certainly without the whimsy that I anticipated. There were nuggetts of historical information about travelling in England in the 19th century as well as inteteresting descriptions of dress and household concerns. It was a quick, undemanding read that helped pass the time whilst waiting to been seen to in hospital (just a routine appointment for my Mom). I'm not sure if I'll follow the series through as I read this more for the ambience of the titular towns but I doubt that much of the books actually deliver in this regard. I was particularly looking forward to getting to the second book, Belinda goes to Bath, but alas that also appears to be thin on the Bath front. I read this on my Sony Reader after purchasing it from Amazon at a discounted price... a nice way to try out an unfamiliar series.

Manna from Hades

2011-04-05T00:42:00.006+01:00

Set in a fictional north-Cornish village, with a pseudo-sixties timeline, this cosy mystery novel is the first book in a new series by prolific author Carola Dunn. This novel introduces us to Eleanor Trewynn, a widow who previously travelled the world working for an international charity, who has returned to Cornwall and has settled in the picturesque village of Port Mabyn. Eleanor lives above a charity shop with her charming West Highlands terrier Teazle and spends her days driving around her corner of Cornwall collecting donations and items to sell in the charity shop.

Port Isaac, Cornwall

It is during one of these outings that she discovers that a briefcase filled with jewellery has been deposited in her car. Later she discovers the body of a teenager in the charity shop's storeroom and realises that the briefcase is gone, although she had the foresight to stow away the jewellery in her own safe. The mystery revolves around identifying the victim and unravelling the motive for murder, not to mention the mystery behind the generous donation of jewellery.

This is a smooth, comforting read with enough references to Cornish places to please and create the appropriate atmosphere. It is peopled with likeable characters such as the indomitable vicar's wife, the dotty vicar, a witty artist as a next-door-neighbour and Eleanor's niece, Megan, who works for the Cornish Police in Launceston. The grumpy Superintendent Scumble's frustration and sarcasm in dealing with Eleanor's constant forgetfulness and woolly thinking raises a few chuckles. We are also reminded that women police officers were not the norm at that time and it is interesting to observe how Megan deals with prejudice and misogyny as she goes about her duties.

Source

The adorable dog Teazle is beautifully drawn and her antics and personality shine through. I found the dialogue and description of the countryside and people's movements and day-to-day tasks quite evocative and I found it an enjoyable read. The only criticism I have is that Eleanor's constant lack of locking doors and her revealing information to the police piece-meal was a bit irritating, especially since you are several pages into the novel and you just want to shout at her to get on with it and tell the police about the pertinent clues she found but forget to mention. I found that this stretched my patience a bit but it did eventually get better.

I read this novel as part of the Read Cornwall challenge devised by the lovely Fleur Fisher and will be seeking out the second instalment in the series. Although it's set in the sixties, without mobile phones and other modern-day conveniences, I found that it worked quite well and I did picture myself in Cornwall throughout, which is a lovely bonus.

March Roundup

2011-04-01T19:16:00.000+01:00

Man Reading - John Singer Sargent

Manic March is over and I fortunately managed to complete a few books towards the end of the month. Poor Pickwick is still on my bedside table awaiting another reading session but I did manage to read my second Lord Peter Whimsy novel to add to the As My Whimsy Takes Me challenge. I also took part in Cornflower's Book Group for the first time by reading the first Brother Cadfael novel by Ellis Peters.

I acquired a lovely midnight-blue Sony Reader in the middle of the month which has been a boon in terms of enabling me to read novels that I am finding difficult (or too expensive) to acquire here in South Africa. The McCall Smith novel was my first ebook read on this device and I was quite impressed! This won't replace the luxury of books but it is invaluable when you are struggling to get hold of a book that you've been pining for. And it's great to take with me on long journeys.

So not a fantastic month for me but not bad... certainly better than this time last year. There just aren't enough reading hours in the day!

The books:

1. High Wages - Dorothy Whipple

2. Clouds of Witness - Dorothy L. Sayers

3. The Charming Quirks of Others - Alexander McCall Smith

4. A Morbid Taste for Bones - Ellis Peters

The Charming Quirks of Others

2011-03-30T23:42:00.002+01:00

This book is indeed charming! Fans of the Isabel Dalhousie series, set in Edinburgh, will not be disappointed with this latest offering. Isabel, philosopher and editor of an ethics magazine, continues to ponder on life's moral questions and tries to assist people in predicament along the way. Her latest request for help involves investigating the origin of a note, warning of an undesirable incident that occurred in someone's past. Three men are in the frame to replace the outgoing headmaster of a private boys' school and Isabel has to look into their backgrounds to uncover a less than ethical candidate.

This is a very gentle read with delicious descriptions of Edinburgh, sprinkled with the odd real-life Edinburgh citizen and set in actual Edinburgh establishments. I always have a hankering to visit again after reading these novels and this one had the added bonus of leaving me quite content and serene.

Alexander McCall Smith and Augustus Basil (me thinks)
Source

Click here to listen to a short interview with Alexander McCall Smith discussing his latest book, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (No. 12 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series).

Brother Cadfael

2011-03-26T22:42:00.001Z

I am quite enjoying reacquainting myself with the worldy-wise and enigmatic Brother Cadfael, thanks to Cornflower's current Book Group pick. I was first introduced to this series whilst in school (but I only read one book, The Devil's Novice) and years later I watched most of the episodes of the TV adaptation with Derek Jacobi in the lead role.

Edith Pargeter (a.k.a. Ellis Peters) and Derek Jacobi (Source)

I'm half way through the first novel in this series and I was pleasantly surprised at the subtle humour to be found in this book. Brother Cadfael is a Benedictine monk in 12th century Shropshire who is of Welsh descent and who lived a very full and worldly life before taking his orders. There are lovely descriptions of his tending his herb garden and the medicinal uses he has for each plant that he cultivates. He seems to be a shrewd observer of human behaviour which comes in handy when he finds himsef in Wales bent over the body of a prominent landowner. Suspicion is cast upon his prior as the murdered man opposed the removal of a Welsh saint's bones to Brother Cadfael's church in England. A finger of suspicion is also pointed at an Englishman who worked for the murdered man and who had been seeking to marry the murdered man's daughter.

Shrewsbury Abbey

It's a smooth, pleasurable read with rich descriptions of North Wales and Shrewsbury. Fortunately, I have forgotten most of the plots used for the TV series so I can enjoy this novel on its own merits. I must say that the Cadfael in my mind looks and sounds nothing like Derek Jacobi and Shrewsbury seems brighter and greener than that portrayed in the series. Oddly, it seems that the TV series was filmed on location in Hungary! I think that this will be a mystery series that I will seek out in future especially since I picked up a second-hand book a few years ago of Ellis Peters' Shrewsbury. I only had a glimpse of Shrewsbury once and that was mostly of the castle and the lush countryside. I am now aware that there is a Brother Cadfael walk and museum so I would love to visit again to do this historic town justice and to follow in the footsteps of Cadfael.

Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England

Currently Hooked on... Laurel and Hardy

2011-03-23T00:00:00.027Z

There's nothing like watching an L&H short to swiftly chase away the blues! I've been re-watching some of these since the end of last week and it never fails to make me grin - if not splutter with sudden laughter. I've also come across a few that I hadn't seen before - thanks to my brother - which is such a pleasant delight.

Twice Two (1933)

One of my favourite shorts is Brats wherein Laurel and Hardy also portray their own offspring, who obviously take after their fathers. Clever, cute and comical to see these two grown men behave (legitimately for once!) like little children, surrounded by giant furniture to add perspective.

Brats (1930)

I just love these men. So gifted... they excelled equally at slapstick, word-play and subtle humour. Even a cocked eyebrow from Hardy or a silly shrug from Laurel makes me smile. Hardy's musical interludes are sublime and watching them dance together or do a little spontaneous twirl is sheer joy. This is truly comfort watching and I have them on in the background sometimes just to cheer things up.

Towed in a Hole (1932)

L&H Jeep Die Cast Model - A gift I gave my Dad a few years ago - it still sits on top of his monitor.

For Japan with Love and Animal Rescue

2011-03-18T00:00:00.001Z

Photo source

Thanks to Rachel at Book Snob, I've just been made aware of a blog-based movement who are collecting donations to provide necessary equipment and supplies to those affected by the terrible disaster in Japan. Like everyone else, I have been concerned and moved by this tragedy and have been thinking of helping in some way. Rachel's post has provided a nudge. Please visit her blog for more information as she has investigated this charity and found that our donations will be getting to those in need. If you'd like to donate, please click here.

The plight of humans and animals are interlinked on this earth and my heart goes out to companion and other animals that inevitably suffer during these times of crisis but who do not always get the help required. This prompted me to search for animal charities in Japan who try to rescue and rehome animals who have been caught up in this disaster. It's a race against time as Japan's shelters have a kill policy and 72 hours in which a guardian can claim their companion animal. I've seen the Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support mentioned several times in news stories concerning abandoned and lost dogs and cats being rescued. They are a coalition of three animal charities and no-kill rescue centres with track histories and experience so I think making a donation to them will help ensure that they can rescue, treat and rehome dogs, cats and any other animals in distress without their lives being placed in further jeopardy.

If you'd like to donate, you can do so by PayPal here. Please be patient as it sometimes takes a while to load. You you may need to click the arrow in the top right-hand corner for English if the PayPal page appears in Japanese. HEART (one of the animal groups involved) is collecting the donations and donations are in US Dollars. There are regular updates on the coalition's Facebook page here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for your help.

Manic March

2011-03-16T12:34:00.000Z

The White Rabbit - John Tenniel (from The Nursery Alice)

I can't believe that we're already in the middle of March and that it's turned out to be a bit of a hectic month. Is it just me or is time going by quickly again? I feel awful at not having posted in two weeks and that my reading ambitions for this year have shifted into a lower gear (for the moment!).

I've recommenced studying (home study for an accounting qualification) and it demands a lot of time each day so less time for reading. My body clock's also been a bit out of kilter for some time and I tend to go to bed late which completely throws out the next day and leaves me feeling a bit like Alice's White Rabbit at times... "No time to say Hello, Goodbye, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!"

This being the Year of the Rabbit and my Chinese horoscope sign being the rabbit, I was promised a smooth and productive year but I have yet to see it! Fingers crossed, things will get better as the year progresses. At least matters are drawing to a close with regards the handling of my father's estate and I'm planing on returning to the UK in a few months. It'll be a wrench, though, as it always is.

So, I have to take myself firmly in hand and apportion time to all the vital daily tasks, especially reading and blogging. I have two reviews to post (the charming High Wages and the first Wimsey for the As My Whimsy Takes Me Challenge) and I'm currently enjoying my second foray into Sayers' wonderful work. Thank you to you all who have signed up for the challenge. I look forward to receiving your links and reading your thoughts.

I hope you all have a lovely March... Spring is in the air for some and for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, autumn is getting closer. Have a lovely week!

February Roundup

2011-03-01T23:00:00.010Z

Reading (1884) - Julius LeBlanc Stewart

Well, February has not lived up to my hopes of reading a fair amount of books. I managed to finish only three - perhaps the shorter month has something to do with it? Instead, I seem to have a number of books on the go.

I have Pickwick Papers on my bedside table to dip into at a leisurely pace. I've covered the first three chapters and am enjoying the company of the Pickwickians and Dickens' descriptions of Rochester.

I am part way through my first re-reading of E. F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia, brought on by a fit of nostalgia after posting about the lovely Wordsworth and Vintage editions published this year.

I have yet to complete the last Virago book that I started during Virago Reading Week, Pirates at Play, and I'm currently reading and savouring High Wages, which I started during Persephone Reading Weekend.

I don't think I've juggled so many fiction books at once before - at least not for pleasure! Looking to March, I hope to tackle a few of the challenges that I signed up for. I have my next Lord Peter Wimsey lined up and I hope to make a sizeable dent in Pickwick Papers. Then there's the Edith Wharton to look forward to, an Ellis Peters (for the Cornflower Book Group) and hopefully room for something fun and frivolous. How has the shortest month of the year fared for you?

The books:

1. Mrs Ames - E. F. Benson
2. Bones in the Belfry - Suzette A. Hill
3. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding - Julia Strachey

High Wages: Initial Thoughts (Persephone Reading Weekend)

2011-02-27T22:00:00.001Z

My first Whipple has proved to be an utterly charming read. I'm 100 pages into the story and am absolutely captivated by Jane's independent mind, quiet determination and hunger for life. Jane is almost nineteen and she is fortunate to secure a job as an assistant in a draper's shop in a market town in Lancashire. There she makes friends with fellow assistant Maggie and her boyfriend Wilfrid, who works at the Free Library, and who develops a crush on Jane. Wilfrid reintroduces Jane to the world of books and she finds her spirit and courage expanding through reading. Jane also befriends Mrs Briggs, the wife of one of the partners of a cotton mill in the town, and we can see how the people around her are starting to shape her and open her up to a world that had previously appeared restricted.

I love the way Dorothy Whipple writes, the dialogue she uses and the dialects (which are not at all intrusive) that are sparingly interspersed. She is skilled at painting a picture of a cotton mill town after the turn of the century and in portraying the different classes. We are not only privy to Jane's thoughts but also to the thoughts of others in a higher social circle.

I can already tell that this book is going to be a favourite of mine. It is evocative and entirely gripping. I feel as though I am following Jane around during her morning duties or her ablutions at night. I now finally understand the Whipple attraction and fully comprehend what other readers meant when they said that it was her writing style, rather than what actually occured, that captivated them.

I was hoping to have moved on to another Persephone today but I don't want to rush this beautiful book. I want to savour it slowly and enjoy every minute that I spend in its company. As the highly enjoyable Persephone Reading Weekend draws to a close I would like to thank all my fellow bloggers for such fantastic posts and recommendations. And a special thank you to Claire and Verity for hosting yet another successful event. It's been bliss!

Pop over to the Persephone Reading Weekend host blogs for interesting posts and fabulous competitions. Hosted by Claire and Verity.

The Aesthetics of Persephone (Persephone Reading Weekend)

2011-02-26T22:00:00.022Z

I must confess: I'm a little shallow when it comes to certain books, especially Persephone Books. I pass judgement on appearances and texture, colour and font and I covet the book for its looks. The content is sometimes secondary to considerations but I find that a beautiful Persephone boosts the reading experience and cements a memory of a happy reading session.

I felt this when I held Miss Buncle's Book in my hands for my first ever Persephone reading event. It was smooth, it was substantial... the pages were clean and white and crisp. It had a pleasant 'new book' smell inside - a signature scent particular to Persephone books - and it seemed to add to the pleasure of reading the text.

It was a tactile experience and a feast for the senses when I opened the smooth dove-grey covers to reveal a symphony of colour and pattern within. It was a cosy read, thanks to
D. E. Stevenson, and Persephone made it even cosier by its exquisite taste in printers.

So thanks to that first experience, which is being repeated as I hold my first Whipple, I long to engage as many senses as often as I can. A little shallow but I think I am among friends who understand...

Happy Persephone Reading!

Pop over to the Persephone Reading Weekend host blogs for interesting posts and fabulous competitions. Hosted by Claire and Verity.

Cheerful Weather for the Wedding (Persephone Reading Weekend)

2011-02-25T20:30:00.054Z

This novella, written by Julia Strachey, is a bit of a conundrum and it is difficult to describe exactly what sort of a book it is. It is domestic, it is humourous, it is silly but it is also serious, dark and sad. It starts out light, takes you around an emotional corner and deposits you back again as if nothing had happened. Quite a strange little book.

It examines the greater part of a day when Dolly is about to marry Owen and is set entirely in Mrs Thatcham's (Dolly's mother) house. Dolly gets cold feet and imbibes the larger part of the contents of a bottle of rum. An old flame (or over-passionate friend, which is it?) lurks about the house unsure of his feelings. The wedding guests (a small circle of friends and family) and servants come and go during the day. The guests and servants are an assortment of odd-ball characters, some with peculiar eccentricities or manners - in short as occurs in most families - and their portrayals are comical and fall just short of being over-the-top. The most difficult character to peg, in my mind, was Dolly's mother - Mrs Thatcham - who seemed to be losing her short-term memory or perhaps suffering from something even worse. She also had an odd way of speaking and became quite infuriating towards the end of the book.

Julia Strachey

I was expecting a cheery, amusing read but got so much more than that... confusion! Motives and actions are unclear in this book and every apparently humourous action or word has darker undertones. I've since learned that readers are divided with regards to Cheerful Weather - some find it funny, some find it underwhelming and others find it dark. I found it curious - worth the read but it left me with more questions and with a vague sense of disappointment (largely due to the characters). Perhaps I feel this way because it is a close reflection of real people and the messy relationships that inevitably develop through one's life. Overall it is a worth-while read and skillfully written with comical characters tinged with a dark streak. The title is ironic and is a reference to Mrs Thatcham's view of the day. She declares it fine weather if the sun is shining, regardles of the freezing cold wind and discomfort that everyone feels when outside. Quite a good reflection of the book's contents, I think: sunny on the surface but bitterly cold beneath.

A still from the film - is that a bottle of rum in the background?

There is a film currently in production based on this novella with an air date for later this year. I will be very interested to see how the script writer stretches such a small, tightly-wound and very domestic story into a feature-length film and also how the actors will convey little nuances in character.

Pop over to the Persephone Reading Weekend host blogs for interesting posts and fabulous competitions. Hosted by Claire and Verity.

And the Winner is...

2011-02-25T10:20:00.000Z

The draw for the Mapp and Lucia Vintage edition giveaway took place today at 09:55 UK time. A number was assigned to each person who left a comment and the range entered into a random number generator. The winning number is... lucky number 7....

CONGRATULATIONS DARLENE! Please e-mail me at rochesterreader@gmail.com with your name and postal address so I can get your prize dispatched to you as soon as possible.

Thank you to everyone who participated and left such interesting and lovely comments! Sadly, there can only be one winner but I hope that you will be able to get hold of a copy of Mapp and Lucia and be introduced to the wonderful world of Tilling!

Book Giveaway Reminder

2011-02-22T11:11:00.000Z

A quick reminder for those of you who haven't entered yet that the giveaway closes this Thursday at 23:59 UK time. I will draw a winner at random using a random numbers generator on Friday morning and will post the winner's name on my blog, so please do check back to see if you were lucky!

You can still enter by leaving a comment here - this giveaway is open to all and if you don't have a blog, please leave your e-mail address in the comments too. Thank you to all who have left such kind and interesting comments so far. Good luck!

Preparing for Persephone

2011-02-22T00:00:00.028Z

Narcissus (1912) - John William Waterhouse

Persephone Reading Weekend is fast approaching and I have gathered the only unread Persephone Books that I have with me and thought that I'd share them with you. I hope to make a start on the first book tomorrow so that a review will be ready by Friday.

My first selection is Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey. This is a short novel (novella?) and should hopefully be a quick read to help jump-start the reading weekend. It is described as a domestic comedy and revolves around a couple's wedding day. I absolutely love these end-papers with the butterflies and subtle tones.

Next, I hope to read Dorothy Whipple's High Wages and, being my first Whipple, I am really psyched about it. I have heard such good things about this title from fellow bloggers so I look forward to following in the protagonist's footsteps in setting up her own gown shop.

And if there's still time, I might finally crack open my 1950 copy of Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski, which I was lucky to spot last year in a second-hand book shop. It's a Persephone title that people have raved about and that deals with a man's search for his son who was lost in France during WWII. It sounds like quite an emotional ride but I'm sure it'll be worthwhile... as long as I don't start blubbing.

So those are my selections and I hope I will get through most of them this week. I look forward to seeing you all over at Claire and Verity's blogs to exchange thoughts, opinions and recommendations.

For those of you new to Persephone Reading Weekend, please do visit these blogs for more information and to participate... it's always so much fun and there are 10 Persephone books to be had as prizes as well as a special prize for Persephone first-timers.

What will you be reading?

In My Book Bag (1)

2011-02-21T02:05:00.001Z

[In My Book Bag highlights library loans and book purchases (second-hand and new) that make their way into Rochester Reader HQ.]

****

This past week saw a trip to my local library and an outing to a couple of second-hand book stores. The hauls are modest as I am trying to read through the books I have on my shelves although I am always tempted to bring back Viragos and other books that I know I probably won't get to read for a long while.

First up are the second-hand books. I found a Penguin edition of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark with a cover that I haven't seen before. It has a photo of the beautiful and graceful Geraldine McEwan (a.k.a Lucia and Miss Marple) who played the titular role in a 1978 TV serial adaptation. I've been wanting to read this for a long time and, quite frankly, given what a well-known book this is, I'm surprised that I haven't come to it sooner.

I also picked up a new copy of Ellis Peters' A Morbid Taste for Bones as I remembered that it is the next title for the Cornflower Book Group. It is the first novel of the Brother Cadfael mysteries. I've only read one ages ago and it was half-way through the series but I enjoyed it. I am also a fan of the Derek Jacobi adaptations so I think this may be an interesting read, especially as it's set in the beautiful Shropshire countryside during the middle ages.

Then there's a copy of The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot by Anne Hart, although I have a copy on the other side of the world! This is a non-fiction book containing interesting nuggets of information about the famous sleuth. It is now a little out-of-date in terms of its list of screen adaptations but it is an excellent 'biography' of the detective and a great reference book for the enthusiast. I thought I'd like to dip in and out of it during my Agatha Christie Challenge.

Next up are the three library books... I picked up a copy of Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers whilst I await my new copy to arrive in the post... just in case I get too itchy and simply have to immerse myself in Lord Peter Wimsey's world. This is book two in the series and part of my As My Whimsy Takes Me Challenge.

I also brought home Somerset Maugham's Cakes and Ale simply because I liked the title and I recall reading and enjoying his short stories in school. It's an old Penguin edition and it appears to be regarded as Somerset Maugham's best novel which is "a delicious satire of London literary society between the Wars". I really like the Vintage cover for this book (pictured above) - simple and elegant.

And finally, I was happy to spot a pretty Dover Thrift Edition of Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence. I've been wanting to read Wharton for months ever since listening to an engaging BBC radio play of The Custom of the Country. This book will fit nicely into my Classic Challenge. I love the charming cover depicting various flowers and birds. It reminds me of the Persephone endpapers and I thought that it might be taken from a fabric but the back cover informs me that it was designed by Teresa Delgado. Sadly I couldn't find any information on this illustrator but I am quite looking forward to reading this book.

Serial Anticipations for 2011

2011-02-20T01:45:00.008Z

February

08 - A Red Herring without Mustard (Flavia de Luce 3) - Alan Bradley

Still haven't started on this series but the first book got mostly favourable reviews by bloggers.

22 - One of Our Thursdays is Missing (Thursday Next 6) - Jasper Fforde

I really enjoyed Fforde's first novel in this series (The Eyre Affair) when I read it last year so I am glad that there are now another five waiting to be read. Witty sci-fi with a bit of mystery and lots of literary references thrown in, this is certainly worth reading.

March

03 - The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (No. 1 Ladies' 12) - Alexander McCall Smith

I enjoyed The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency TV series and loved playing 'Spot the South African actors'. The African backdrop was breath-taking and the series really took off after the pilot (the pilot had a few cringe-worthy moments!). I am still not sure if this is an AMS that I'll enjoy or not as I have yet to dive in... but I'll take the plunge soon. Any fans out there?

04 - Bones Under the Beach Hut (Fethering Mysteries 12) - Simon Brett

This is a light and breezy mystery series set in the South Downs in West Sussex (one of my favourite places) and I am glad that Brett continues with it, especially since he seems to be quite busy with talks and writing another series (Blotto, Twinks and...). Looking forward to getting my hands on this one as I have exhausted all of the Fethering novels.

April

01 - A Lesson in Secrets (Maisie Dobbs 7) - Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie Dobbs is truely a treasure and an exemplarary female protagonist. I have read up to book 5 so far but can't help gazing at this cover. If you have not yet met Maisie, you're in for a treat. The first novel is more psychological than mystery and deals with back stories and establishing her character but the books thereafter get better and better. If you enjoy strong, independent heroines as well as reading and learning about the inter-war years, this is for you.

15 - The Complete Mapp & Lucia Volume One and Two - E. F. Benson [Wordsworth Classics]

What can I say about the Mapp and Lucia series that hasn't already been said by so many? Please read them... they're great and this edition is attractive and very generously priced.

May

01 - A Conspiracy of Friends (Corduroy Mansions 3) - Alexander McCall Smith
Book 3 of McCall Smith's online serial novel from the Telegraph. I tend not to read these online anymore as I like to go through it in book form. It's still online if you'd like to read it here - plus Andrew Sachs also narrates these on the same site - available for download or as a podcast.

26 - A Bedlam of Bones (Francis Oughterard 5) - Suzette A. Hill
The latest exploits of the Rev. Francis Oughterard, Maurice the cat and Bouncer the dog. This is an unusual mystery (although there isn't always one) that is very well written and witty. Set in a 1950's Surrey, it has a very cosy feel to it despite the reverend's unexpected shenanigans.

June

09 - Rack, Ruin and Murder (Campbell and Carter 2) - Ann Granger
The first book in this series following two Cotswolds police officers was promising and it's taken two years for its sequel to appear. It's a good read and fans of Ann Granger's other series should hopefully agree.

July

01 - The Herring on The Nile (Elsie and Ethelred 4) - L. C. Tyler
These are brilliant! Light spoofs of golden age crime with wit, fun and quite a lot of deceit thrown in as you follow crime and romantic writer Ethelred Tressider and his opinionated agent Elsie Thirkettle. I have enjoyed these immensely and look forward to this very Christie-like title. The covers are always a delight!

01 - Heartless (Parasol Protectorate 4) - Gail Carriger
Ah... the Parasol Protectorate... this is a truly escapist, laugh-out-loud and grin from ear-to-ear read. If you haven't read this series - please avoid reading any blurbs, reviews or write-ups on book sites as each book after book 1 contains big spoilers. If you're looking for an entertaining read, pick this up. It has paranormal elements and a parallel Victorian London but the prose is good and the author's humour is refreshing.

September

06 Sep - Pirate King (Mary Russell 11) - Laurie R. King
I've only read the first book so I have quite a few to look forward to. This series has been growing from strength to strength and gathering a lot of fans. It follows Holmes' apprentice and how their relationship and equal partnership develops. Again, another series to be savoured in order.

October

06 - Unusual Uses of Olive Oil (von Igelfeld 4) - Alexander McCall Smith
Another AMS! The advent of this book has been announced by the author and his publishers for years now and the publication date keeps getting pushed back. Fingers crossed this will be the year. I've listened to the first two instalments of the wacky Prof. von Igelfeld's adventures narrated superbly by the multi-talented Hugh Laurie. Highly recommended in audiobook form! Laurie's various foreign accents are side-splitting if sometimes a little wonky. His English, though, is smooth and silky.

11 - The Forgotten Affairs of Youth (Isabel Dalhousie 8) - Alexander McCall Smith
Isabel Dalhousie - sleuth or nosy parker? Set in a beautifully-evoked Edinburgh, this is not really a crime mystery but AMS' philosophical ramblings and love-letters to Edinburgh keep me coming back for more.

What series books do you follow and what are you looking forward to in 2011?

Keeping Calm...

2011-02-19T23:38:00.002Z

I'm quite fond of the Keep Calm and Carry On WWII posters that were 'rediscovered' a couple of years ago and have since been everywhere. It's a great credo to live by in difficult times and I have a teal poster on my wall above my desk, thanks to my dear friend T. who reminds me to KCACO in times of stress.

Recently I've seen Keep Calm and Drink Tea (so pertinent and such good advice!) on a few blogs and this led me to investigate some other Keep Calm variations that might apply to me. Here are a few that I found at the etsy Keep Calm Shop that I think are applicable to this blog and that might strike a chord with fellow bloggers and readers. If you pop by the shop you'll find a plethora of different sayings in a large selection of beautiful colours.

New Collections of Mapp & Lucia and a Giveaway!

2011-02-17T00:00:00.076Z

I was very happy to discover these new editions of the Mapp and Lucia sextet recently. They're only due to be published on the 15th April but at a super-economical retail price of £1.99 (and currently on pre-order at the Book Depository at £1.49), I thought it was worth a mention.

Wordsworth Classics have always striven to provide access to classic literature at an affordable price and I'm so glad that these witty tales have been added to their illustrious ranks.

I quite like the cover art as it appears to depict the river in Rye (a.k.a. Tilling in some of the novels). The first volume reminds me of Lucia's first home in Tilling, Grebe, located among the marshes and the second volume appears to be a view of the canal from a vantage point in the town.

I'm tempted to buy these, even though I have the lovely Black Swan paperbacks, the Penguin volumes and the exquisite Folio edition (an extra birthday present from a very special friend). Naughty, I know, but at such a wonderful price I think I might not feel guilty for too long.

So... as a celebration of the enduring appeal of Benson's Mapp and Lucia novels (and as a belated blog birthday gift), I'm holding a Giveaway. The prize is a brand new copy of the gorgeous recently published Vintage edition of Mapp and Lucia.

To entice those of you new to Mapp and Lucia, the blurb below (from the Prion edition) gives a humorous outline of the series and this book is an excellent place to begin:

"Mapp and Lucia is the centrepiece of E.F. Benson's series of Lucia novels - bringing together for the first time the eponymous middle-aged doyennes of polite 1930s society, Miss Elizabeth Mapp and Emmeline Lucas (Lucia to her friends).

Lucia, recently widowed, is the newcomer to the village of Tilling and eager to wrest the reins of social supremacy from the incumbant Miss Mapp and install herself as its benevolent dictator. In their polite acts of sabotage and ruthless jockeying for the position of cultural arbiter Mapp and Lucia tear up the conventions of drawing-room bridge evenings as their deadly weapons.

Things finally come to a head with Miss Mapp's audacious attempt to steal her rival's celebrated Lobster a la Riseholme. E.F. Benson's charming satrical bent turns the pretensions and snobberies of English village life into a vicious comedy."

Anyone can enter - whether you'd like to read M&L for the first time, simply covet this edition or would like to add it to the rest of your collection - everyone is welcome! To enter, please leave a comment and I will hold a random draw on Friday, 25 February 2011. I am happy to post anywhere in the world (to be fulfilled by the Book Depository) so please don't hesitate. Good luck!

"As My Whimsy Takes Me" Reading Challenge

2011-02-15T01:22:00.003Z

I read Dorothy L. Sayers' first Lord Peter Wimsey novel this year for the first time (review to follow soon) and I loved it! Prior to that, I was already a great fan of the BBC's radio adaptations of her novels starring the wonderfully charismatic Ian Carmichael as Lord Peter. I also had the great pleasure of viewing the three television adaptations with the graceful Edward Petherbridge and the admirable Harriet Walter. I therefore resolved to make my way through the whole of the Lord Peter books in chronological order. There are only 11 complete novels and 4 short story collections but I thought that it would be fun to set up an informal challenge. This will hopefully keep me focussed and will also serve as a place for a review of each book as I complete it.

If you'd like to join me, the more the merrier! Help yourself to the button above and link your reviews and/or posts back to this page (http://rochester-reader.blogspot.com/p/as-my-whimsy-takes-me.html) as well as a comment at that page so I can add your review. You will find updates at that link or you can click on the page above (in the menu bar) entitled "As My Whimsy Takes Me".

Update: I've added a Mister Linky to the "As My Whimsy Takes Me" Challenge page to keep track of participants. Please pop over to add your name.

You can join me in a chronological reading/re-reading of the books or just dip in and out during the year. It's quite informal but a review of the books you read would be appreciated.

I hope to learn a lot more about Lord Peter - and to savour the wit and intelligence of Sayers' prose - by reading these novels. I look forward to sharing thoughts and opinions with you and to enjoy a crime writer who has so far elluded me.

Dorothy L. Sayers

Books (in order of publication):

1. Whose Body? (1923)
2. Clouds of Witness (1926)
3. Unnatural Death (1927)
4. Lord Peter Views the Body (1928) [Short Story Collection]
5. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1928)
6. Strong Poison (1930)
7. Five Red Herrings (1931)
8. Have His Carcase (1932)
9. Hangman's Holiday (1933) [Short Story Collection incl. non-Wimsey stories]
10. Murder Must Advertise (1933)
11. The Nine Tailors (1934)
12. Gaudy Night (1935)
13. Busman's Honeymoon (1937)
14. In the Teeth of the Evidence (1939) [Short Story Collection incl. non-Wimsey stories]
15. Striding Folly (1972)

Optional (books by Jill Paton Walsh):

16. Thrones, Dominations (1998) [unfinished manuscript completed by Jill Paton Walsh]
17. A Presumption of Death (2002)
18. The Attenbury Emeralds (2010)

Ian Carmichael as Wimsey and Glyn Houston as Bunter (circa 1972)

Duke Of Denver: Armorial Bearings

Arms: sable, three mice courant argent
Crest: A domestic cat, crouched to spring, proper
Supporters: Two Saracens armed, proper
Motto: I Hold by my Whimsy or As my Whimsy Takes Me
Badge: a noose

Source for above: http://www.museumstuff.com/learn/topics/Duke_of_Denver::sub::Armorial_Bearings

Edward Petherbridge as Wimsey (circa 1987)

A Big Hug to All My Lovely Readers

2011-02-14T10:20:00.000Z

May you have a soothing cup of what you fancy and a very cosy read. Have a great day!

Picture source: http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/big-love-blue-12-pint-mug/invt/1sts010002

Mrs Ames

2011-02-13T23:36:00.004Z

Mrs Ames is a delightful novel dealing with the dynamics of married life and the usual social one-upmanships that have been wittily portrayed in Benson's Mapp and Lucia novels. However, this novel delves into the more serious topic of marital infidelity and Benson's touch is therefore more sympathetic and introspective. Published in 1912, it predates the first of the highly popular Mapp and Lucia novels by eight years but one can already see Benson's trademark observances of day-to-day petty preoccupations and rivalries between neighbours.

This novel is set in a hilly Kentish village named Riseborough and we are introduced to a group of characters (indeed mostly all married couples) who are largely retired and who fill their days with the three G's: golf, gardening and gossip - and relentless stabs at social supremacy. The undisputed doyenne of the village social scene is Mrs Amy Ames, a fifty-something lady married to a Major ten years her junior. With a son at Cambridge, and obscure connections to royalty, Mrs Ames sets an example which all follow... until the recently arrived doctor's wife, the dubiously shy Mrs Evans, takes an interest in Major Lyndhurst Percy Ames and unintentionally begins to usurp the throne.

The book opens sedately on a scene of domestic life between perhaps the only couple in the book who are truly comfortable and happy with each other. It proceeds at a gentle pace as we are acquainted with the main characters and tension slowly begins to build as events unfold. I found Benson's treatment of middle-age quite touching as he seems to understand women's preoccupation with greying hair, wrinkles and so on and Mrs Ames' endeavours to turn back the clock were humorously though sympathetically portrayed. Indeed, all of the main woman characters are quite solidly portrayed whereas the men appear a little more like caricatures and regarded with greater mirth. It is a tribute to his writing that I started out liking all the characters (whilst having luke-warm feelings about Mrs Ames) but by the middle of the novel I could not stand Mrs Evans and was wholly on Mrs Ames' side!

There are quite a few surprises in this book - for its time - such as a comic portrayal of a suffragette uprising and one or two schemes that go awry, including a farcical fancy dress party. The novel is delivered in beautiful prose - such as I have come to expect from Benson - and is peppered with witty phrases and portraits. This is not of the same sharp quality of the Mapp and Lucia novels but it is a worthy read. If you are new to E. F. Benson, and are not sure if this is your cup of tea, I would highly recommend starting with Mapp and Lucia or even his excellent stand-alone novel Secret Lives, before acquanting yourself with the indomitable Mrs Ames.

Recent Arrivals and Acquisitions (a.k.a. the Immediate TBR Pile)

2011-02-08T22:36:00.072Z

I am currently between two personal libraries and find that it is quite irritating to find myself longing to read books that are sitting on a shelf on another continent! Sadly, South African libraries are not as well stocked as British ones and they certainly do not have any Persephones or quirky reads that I may have an interest in.

Fortunately, I have a very good friend who obliges my bookish hankerings by posting a few packages of my books from the UK. The two Persephones above are from such a parcel - sent in anticipation of Persephone Reading Weekend (25 -27 Feb). Otherwise, I have access to the handy free worldwide postage provided by the Book Depository (highly recommended to all those outside of the UK) and occassional forays into well-stocked new/second-hand book shops in Melville and Rosebank, Johannesburg called Bookdealers. They stock economically-priced new books and several second-hand books in fiction and non-fiction. I found quite a few Viragos there one day!

Anyway... onto the books! The two Persephones are what I hope to read for the Persephone Reading Weekend coming up. I've been meaning to read High Wages by Dorothy Whipple ever since it was republished and I aim to at least make a start on it then. I intend to start the weekend though with a quick read of Cheerful Weather for the Wedding.

Bones in the Belfry by Suzette A. Hill is a current read and book two in the Francis Oughterard mystery series - quite hilarious and well-written and I shall be writing a review on the first two books once I've completed this one.

I also hope to make a start on my first Dickens in years, Pickwick Papers. I was absolutely charmed by the 1985 television adaptation starring a twinkling Nigel Stock as Pickwick and a fabulous Patrick Malahide as Jingle. I am eager to reacquaint myself with the members of the Pickwick Club with such cheery names as Winkle, Snodgrass and Tupman. At 800 pages, I think that I will be with the Pickwick Club for a few weeks but I'm sure that it will be quite enjoyable.

A Better Quality of Murder is the third book in the Lizzie Martin/Ben Ross series which I have enjoyed very much so far. It is a mystery set in Victorian England that is written by the excellent Ann Granger. This is the second series of hers that I have attempted and I haven't been disappointed. Her period details are spot on and the writing is pitched perfectly. Highly recommended!

Blameless by the effervescent Gail Carriger was kindly sent to me a little while ago by Orbit and is the third instalment in the hilarious and oh-so-cultured Parasol Protectorate series. This series is billed as steampunk fiction with fantasy elements (such as werewolves and vampires) and is set in an alternate Victorian London. But it's really not just a vampire/werewolf series... it is difficult to classify but it is a fun, suspenseful, intelligent read and it's one that I'm looking forward to.

And finally, The Unexpected Mrs Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman is the odd one out in this pile as it is set in the US. It was published in 1966 and is the first in a series of novels following the exploits and adventures of Mrs Pollifax, a retired lady who unexpectedly finds herself employed by the CIA. I must have come across this series a year ago on the excellent Cozy Mystery List when I was searching for my next read. Although I'm not really a reader of spy fiction, reviews have been positive and it has been billed as humourous and delighful. I believe a couple of film adaptations were made which I sadly am unable to get my hands on... they seem to be cheerful viewing.

Reviews of these books will be forthcoming and I hope that they won't disappoint.

January Roundup

2011-02-01T22:02:00.005Z

January has seen an excellent start to the new reading year, especially since I decided to try to read more books than in past years. I completed seven books in January - which is a recent personal best - thanks in no small part to Virago Reading Week.

The books I chose were largely comfort reads (and how I still need those!) and were made up of books that I had been meaning to read for ages (such as Henrietta's War and Excellent Women), an old favourite series that I had not visited for two years (Jacqueline Winspear's beautifully executed Maisie Dobbs series) and a new author, Suzette A. Hill.

Suzette A. Hill is a joyful discovery! I first came across her Francis Oughterard novels last year whilst perusing a Constable Robinson catalogue and was very happy to have secured the first two books at a fairly reasonable price (for a hardback). It took a few months for me to eventually get on with ordering them but I am so glad I did.

Reading Dorothy L. Sayers for the first time was a definite hit. I was unsure of whether it would hold my attention as I have listened to all of the BBC's radio adaptations of the novels with the excellent Ian Carmichael. But I was not bored at all and was still enthralled and enchanted by Wimsey and Sayers' sublime prose.

All of the books were satisfactory and highly enjoyable, with the exception of the Elizabeth Taylor, which was a little less gripping than I expected but nevertheless an enlightening read. I shall be putting up reviews for some or all of the January books soon and I hope that February will be as productive!

The books:

1. Miss Buncle's Book - D. E. Stevenson (started at the end of December 2010)

2. An Incomplete Revenge - Jacqueline Winspear

3. A Load of Old Bones - Suzette A. Hill

4. Henrietta's War - Joyce Dennys

5. Excellent Women - Barbara Pym

6. The Wedding Group - Elizabeth Taylor

7. Whose Body? - Dorothy L. Sayers

Pirates at Play: First Impressions (Virago Reading Week)

2011-01-30T22:27:00.001Z

The first ever Virago Reading Week is almost over and, I don't know about you, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you again to Carolyn and Rachel for organising this and making it happen. Their roundup posts were a delight to look forward to each day and I have enjoyed reading fellow bloggers' reviews and thoughts on Viragos. I look forward to participating again the next time around! I think you will all agree that it was a howling success.

I've done quite a bit of reading this week... two Viragos, my first Lord Peter Wimsey (continued a few chapters in a coffee shop when I was without a Virago) and today I decided to start on my third Virago of the week, Pirates at Play. I will hopefully be finishing this during the coming week but I thought I'd make a few notes of my impressions so far.

I picked up this book in a second-hand store because of the Cornish surname and the fact that pirates were involved in the title. Intrigued, I was surprised to learn that it is set in the 1920s, largely in Florence (a place I long to visit!) and England. It is a romantic comedy revolving around a young aristocrat named Elizabeth Caracole (pronounced 'Crackle') who is sent to Florence to learn Italian and to teach English to a family of five brothers and a sister. The head of the family has the honour of having been dentist to the Pope and has been suitably rewarded with a title.

The first chapter was a little confusing as there are no natural breaks between paragraphs and dialogue and descriptions tend to flow into each other. Once I got the hang of this, it settled into a pattern and the following chapter was a little more delineated. It already presents the reader with snippets of wit and humour and sets up the two families nicely for what is to come.

I had never heard of Violet Trefusis but fans of Vita Sackville-West may well be familiar with her name. She was Vita's lover and their affair caused a great scandal at the time. Violet Trefusis was trilingual - and this is already evident in the use of French and Italian expressions in this novel - and had novels published both in English and French. She appears to have been very popular and very much a creature of society, something perhaps inherited from her mother (Alice Keppel) who was Edward VII's mistress and a prominent lady in Edwardian society. So, Violet Trefusis seems to have been quite a colourful character not shy of causing a ripple or two in the calm waters of genteel Society. I hope that I shall be entertained by my choice!

Pop over to the Virago Reading Week host blogs for a final roundup of this exciting week and for the results of the various competitions. Good luck!

Hosted by Carolyn and Rachel.

The Wedding Group (Virago Reading Week Review)

2011-01-30T02:38:00.000Z

Virago Reading Week is sadly drawing to a close but it has been a fun and inspiring time with so many interesting posts and reminiscences from the blogging world. Carolyn and Rachel have been absolutely charming hosts and I've really enjoyed getting to know more about this iconic publishing house.

I recently finished reading my second book for this week and my fourth Elizabeth Taylor novel to date (not counting having watched the film adaptation of the touching Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont). Although it has the trademark sharp and observant style that I have come to expect from Elizabeth Taylor, along with the melancholy and disappointment inherent in most relationships, I felt that this novel was a little 'quieter' than what I was used to and the characters didn't really stir my sympathies as much as in her other novels.

The Wedding Group is a portrait of stifled families and overbearing parents who refuse to relinquish their parental hold over their adult children. It centres around Cressy, a young woman who rebels against a very enclosed way of life, created by her grandfather - a famous artist. Cressy is an only child and lives with her parents and extended family in a Catholic commune of sorts that shuns all influences from the outside world. The period is the late 1960's and Cressy yearns to embrace her generation's passion for television, fast foods, off-the-peg clothes and disposable conveniences. She manages to find a job and a small room and is content with her freedom, regardless of being naive and unable to care for herself properly.

She eventually becomes involved with David, a journalist who she met at the commune when he was writing a piece, and finds a friend in his mother. Despite David's more advanced age, he is very much a mommy's boy and a bachelor at heart and his mother only lives for him. Both David and Cressy are incomplete adults, immature and still tied to the parental strings and unable to embrace adult responsibilities and duties. The relationship becomes strained as Cressy is continually unable to assume domestic duties and becomes more reliant upon her mother-in-law, whose motives are to keep them both dependent upon her. Without them, she has no purpose and no life. David's father (who is separated from his wife and nurses an old aunt) is also an unfulfilled soul dependant upon someone else to give his life purpose.

It is an absorbing study in family dynamics and the Catholic commune was as interesting as it was repressive. There is unfortunately not much passion within these characters and Cressy becomes quite irritating as the story progresses. David becomes an annoyance too as his enmity grows but perhaps this is how we are supposed to feel about these two characters. There are very lucid observations about growing older and struggling to find meaning and purpose in living that are handled superbly.

Overall, I found it an interesting read but there was no wit or humour to puncture the feelings of repression. I would not recommend this as the first book to read if you are new to Elizabeth Taylor as it has less happening in it than the others I have read. Never-the-less, I am always glad to read another Taylor and this book, on the whole, does not disappoint when taken as a study in human relationships.

Pop over to the Virago Reading Week host blogs for exciting posts and competitions.

Hosted by Carolyn and Rachel.

Pirates at Play... Sort of

2011-01-27T19:54:00.001Z

I'm still very much enjoying Virago Reading Week and we have been asked to show our collection or provide an interesting photo of the Virago reading experience. So, inspired by the multi-talented Deacon over at Roses Over a Cottage Door (who soooo deserves to win the photo contest), I thought I'd throw in a couple of felines...

Ginger and Georgie are my two little pirates (well, little devils, actually, especially Ginger - don't let those big round eyes fool you) and they don't think much of my tiny Virago collection. They're semi-feral youngsters (brother and sister) who are not best pleased at having been made to wear a collar for the first time. Ginger is especially mutinous and keeps growling and moaning all the day long. At least he likes to cuddle up next to me on the bed during Virago Reading Week :-) Unfortunately my three alsations don't rate pirates very highly...

Pop over to the Virago Reading Week host blogs for exciting posts and competitions.

Hosted by Carolyn and Rachel.

Excellent Women (Virago Reading Week Review)

2011-01-25T23:15:00.063Z

I've just finished my first Virago Modern Classic for Virago Reading Week and, incidentally, my first Barbara Pym novel. It was an entertaining read with beautiful prose and insights into human foibles and frailties.

Excellent Women is written in the first person by our protagonist, Mildred Lathbury, and is set in 1950's London. Margaret is a spinster in her early thirties and is known as one of the "excellent women": women who are likely to remain spinsters and fill their days by being of service to others.

This is a subtle and poignant read with episodes of gentle humour scattered throughout as we follow Mildred through a year in London when her normal day-to-day life is altered by the arrival of her dashing new neighbours. Mildred finds herself drawn to the married Rocky Napier whilst at the same time having ambivalent feelings about his wife and her friendship with fellow anthropologist Everard Bone (a surname that tickled me, especially since he dabbled in archaeology).

Mildred is also firm friends with her vicar and his sister and much of her life is dedicated to assisting these two in their church activities, whilst she works part-time at a charity. The arrival of the Napiers works as a catalyst in terms of Mildred's love-life (or lack thereof) and she finds herself increasingly involved in their matrimonial problems and asked to bear more than she should.

This novel started out quite light and pleasant, painting a picture of a cosy little area in London and the people that live and work there. However, as the novel progresses, complications develop, alliances are made and broken and everyone seems to take Mildred for granted. Mildred is intelligent, though shy and self-doubting, and is aware of the irony of her status in society, i.e. "excellent women" are used and relied upon by men but matrimony is not forthcoming. Women with her brand of domestic and social skills are not chosen for marriage; 'attractive' and flirtatious women are, despite their domestic unsuitability. When domestic suitability is considered by some men, it is done dispassionately and love does not seem to be a part of the matrimonial equation in this regard. Never-the-less, Mildred is always keenly aware of everyone’s actions and questions their motives. She is an observer, as one of the characters points out, although our hopes are raised more than once that she might actually become a participant!

Although wise and inwardly witty, she lacks forcefulness and confidence and several times throughout the novel I felt like exclaiming to her, “Mildred, dear, put down the teapot and let’s have a little heart-to-heart!”. It annoyed me how people kept walking all over her and using her - especially the men - and always making assumptions about her future. This is reflective of the times when, after the World Wars, there was a surplus of women who would not marry due to there being a shortage of men. In those days, married women possessed a greater status than those who remained unmarried and spinsterhood was not a desirable state.

Although things have changed considerably, I feel that the novel and its themes are still very much relevant today. Human relationships and interactions remain essentially the same over the centuries and I can imagine a great number of Mildreds living in today’s more technologically advanced - though more socially detached - age. Such women (and indeed men) may not be stigmatised for being single but the awkward, shy, introverted individuals – who find it difficult to stand up for themselves and to express their own desires and dreams – are still out there.

I have another two Pym novels on my shelf and I shall certainly be reading them and more. I understand that her heroines are mostly ensconced near vicarages and with ties to anthropology departments and that they are also spinsters... I am therefore curious as to how the other novels compare to this one, particularly if any of her heroines transcend the "excellent women" phase.

My next Virago Modern Classic for this week is Elizabeth Taylor's The Wedding Group and I hope to make a start on the lyrically and enticingly named Pirates at Play by Violet Trefusis - I have never heard of this novel or author before so it will be a surprise!

Pop over to the Virago Reading Week host blogs for exciting posts and competitions.

Hosted by Carolyn and Rachel.

Virago Reading Week

2011-01-24T01:11:00.001Z

Happy New Year to you all! It's been a while since I last blogged. Sadly, Life has not run smoothly and daily stresses and frustrations were particularly trying in 2010. I can only hope that we begin to turn a corner in 2011.

I have continued to find some solace and distraction - as well as instruction - in reading and I have quite a few reviews that I'd like to share. I aim to read even more this year and to reacquaint myself with the classics - especially Dickens!

If you don't already know, today is the first day of the first Virago Reading Week which is being hosted by A Few of My Favourite Books and Book Snob. Do pop over to each of the blogs for some interesting posts. I have 'Excellent Women' by Barbara Pym lined up... this will be my first Pym even though three of her books have been sitting quietly on my shelves for a while now. I also hope to make a start on Elizabeth Taylor's 'The Wedding Party', which was recently republished by Virago. I have only read three Taylors to date - and watched the film adaptation of 'Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont' - but I fell in love with her writing, sharp observations and quiet grace from my very first book ('In a Summer Season').

I hope you will have a lovely reading week!

Lucia in Wartime and Lucia Triumphant

2010-09-21T01:29:00.000+01:00

During my absence on this blog, I turned to a number of comforting reads - two of which form part of the wonderful Mapp and Lucia saga. Lucia in Wartime and Lucia Triumphant were both penned by Tom Holt in the mid-eighties and continue the story about the inhabitants of Tilling where the original author, E. F. Benson, left off.

For those of you not yet acquainted with the delicious sparrings of Miss Elizabeth Mapp and Mrs Emmeline Lucas, E. F. Benson wrote six exquisite novels - most set in Tilling (based accurately on Rye in East Sussex) revolving around its inhabitants and the constant battle for supremacy in social circles in this picturesque town.

I have read all six original novels and also read Major Benjy by Guy Fraser-Sampson, which is another addition to the saga that was published in 2007. I only had two short stories by Benson to look forward to and re-readings of these cheerful, witty novels. So it was, with a hopeful heart, that I turned to Tom Holt's novels, which several Benson enthusiasts had proclaimed were as good as the originals. My expectations were therefore quite high and my anticipation at re-entering Tilling with fresh stories was palpable.

Lucia in Wartime plunges Tilling into World War II - a brave move as previous novels only ever hint at the legacies of the First World War - and embues all Tillingites with a strong dose of patriotism. Not surprisingly, the social sparrings are concentrated around the war effort. Both Mapp and Lucia try to outdo each other in terms of 'doing their bit' and each tries to gain prestige by assisting the army and country, although by very social means. Major Benjy seizes control of the Home Guard and Georgie finds hidden talents in educating the nation on how to entertain in style by using modest and rationed ingredients. Indeed, Georgie's ascending star threatens to eclipse Lucia's and even Mapp takes advantage of this momentary weakness.

Although this novel tries to mirror Benson's style and writing, I felt that it fell short in achieving this. Perhaps it was the war setting that, although treated in a light-hearted way and only used as a device for Mapp and Lucia's social climbing, weighed down the atmosphere of the book. I certainly did not like Mapp's portrayal and her constant defeat in battle against Lucia. I think that all the characters, Mapp in particular, were not painted with the touch of fondness that Benson sometimes employs. Benson's characters are largely self-involved, catty and underhand but you like them all the same as he pokes fun at their foibles whilst inviting us to laugh at them and admire their grace and wit. In this novel, the main characters simply feel shallow and selfish and Mapp's portrayal was a little depressing for me as she is constantly thwarted and belittled. I have a softness for Mapp and Benson skillfully nurtures this feeling in us when she does battle with Lucia on occassions when Lucia is patently in the wrong.

By contrast, I found Lucia Triumphant a much better offering and feel that Holt hit his stride in this novel. The descriptions of Mallards and various Tilling (Rye-based) landmarks and houses are superbly described and successfully transport us to this enchanted town. The tone and dialogue of this novel are so close to Benson's style that I quite often forgot that I was reading a pastiche. The characters are all well-drawn with Lucia and Mapp sharing centre-stage in more or less equal quantities. The fondness for the main characters was present and they were all largely successfully portrayed with wit and charm.

Set in in a familiar war-free Tilling, Lucia is seeking a new outlet for her energies and questioning what the future holds for someone who has accomplished everything. Mapp is on hand to spur her onwards and upwards and the lances are out for another round of social jousting. Lucia dreams up an inspired and ambitious project to be known as the Tilling Tapestry which initially has all of Tilling (except Miss Mapp) at her beck and call. Mapp naturally retaliates and succeeds in producing a new obsession to replace sewing and bridge... the Monopoly board. I found this particular weapon quite inspired and entertaining whilst adding a modern feel to the novel. Imagine it, all of Tilling held inthrall around a Monopoly board with each Tillingite appropriately represented by a Monopoly piece!

I highly recommend these two novels as a pleasant addition to the Mapp and Lucia sextet. Although I personally found the first instalment weaker than the second, it is still an entertaining read and Lucia Triumphant certainly makes up for it. Mr Holt successfully hit the mark with his second offering and it's such a shame that he stopped there. May we please have some more?

Agatha Christie Week

2010-09-16T12:43:00.005+01:00

It's Agatha Christie Week and the 120th anniversary of this famous author's birth! I first discovered Agatha Christie in my school library in my early teens and was hooked ever since. I have probably read about half of her mystery novels (the Poirots being my favourite) but have been quite lax in reading any more. This is probably due to the love that I have for the wonderful adaptations with David Suchet (although the current episodes are not my favourites). I know most of the stories by now... but this year I decided to read Agatha Christie in chronological order and to reintroduce myself to some of her other sleuths along the way.

Do pop over to the excellent Agatha Christie site as they have lists of events at the Torquay Agatha Christie Festival (if you're lucky enough to be in that beautiful spot) and also have several competitions going on. Our local libraries in Kent usually have an interesting display of Christie books so that is also a good place to check out if you're interested.

If you're in London, Brown's Hotel in Mayfair are having a special Christie-themed tea which sounds quite delicious and fun. If you're an established fan, or would like to sample her works, why not enter this fabulous competition to win each and every Christie book in your language?

I'm off to re-read the very first Christie (and Poirot) novel... The Mysterious Affair at Styles and am looking forward to working my way through all 80 plus books.

Return to Corduroy Mansions - Next Week!

2010-09-08T22:34:00.002+01:00

Yes, it's that time of year again when Alexander McCall Smith turns his attention to his perennially popular online novel, Corduroy Mansions. The third instalment - A Conspiracy of Friends - commences on Monday, 13 September 2010 and runs until December 2010.

I hope to read the second instalment in book form soon and I'm tempted to rush into the third online. It's quite cheering to visit the Telegraph page each morning to enjoy Iain McIntosh's comical drawings first thing... and then taking in the hilarity of the chapter headings before you even begin to read the chapter.

I'm used to following these novels in Autumn and Winter in the UK - a cosy antidote to the darkening days - but this time I will be following its initial progress in a very hot South Africa. It'll feel strange but it should allay some of my homesickness.

You can follow the daily chapters online here or opt to receive daily podcasts of the audio version - read by Andrew Sachs - further down on the same page.

I only hope that he'll find time to continue with the lovely Scotland Street series in the Scotsman this year, so that I'll be able to read it next year when it is published in book form. Fingers crossed!

Between Two Continents

2010-09-02T22:51:00.000+01:00

Hello to all my dear readers and friends. I have missed you all and missed following your postings and comments. I hope to be resuming with this blog now, with a greater emphasis on book reviews and bookish things. I would like to thank you all again for your kind and touching words of condolences. This has been even harder than I could imagine and the pain continues, made worse by the unbelievable bureaucracy and costs that accompany such an event.

My life is currently suspended between the UK and South Africa and I'm not sure when it will return to normal. I have found some comfort in reading and hope to have some reviews up in due course. I have received a few review copies and would like to thank the publishers for their generosity. I shall try to read these and review them as soon as I can.

I have decided to give the blog a makeover and simplify things. Although I liked the design of the previous incarnation, it wasn't suitable for all monitor resolutions. I hope that the current style does the job and conveys a little warmth and simplicity.

I look forward to hearing from you all again and to dip in and out of your comments and blog postings.

A joyful Spring to those of you in the South and a mellow Autumn/Fall to those in the North. Whatever the hemisphere, the latter part of the year holds a bounty of new publications. Happy reading!

Heartbroken

2010-05-01T13:14:00.002+01:00

My dear friends... late yesterday afternoon I was told that my dear Dad had passed away. I am going back to South Africa in a day or two to be with my Mom and brother and may have to stay there a while to look after my Mom.

My darling Father died unexpectedly and he was only 65. I feel desolated and lost and still can't believe it. This blog may be silent for a little while but I may well visit yours when I feel able. I have enjoyed all your comments in these short few months that Rochester Reader has been operational and I hope to see you again soon.

Serial Anticipations for Summer 2010

2010-04-30T11:25:00.007+01:00

May 2010

1 The Importance of Being Seven (44 Scotland Street 6) - Alexander McCall Smith
At long last! The latest book instalment of the charming 44 Scotland Street serial. The last book was published in 2008 (eek!). This is my favourite McCall Smith series so I have been bereft for a while. I am really looking forward to reading this in the (hopefully) sunny May days ahead.

June 2010

10 Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse 10) - Charlaine Harris
I am a little ashamed to admit that I actually enjoyed the popular American TV series True Blood, which were based on these novels. I say ashamed as I was quite shocked at the excessive and gratuitous sex scenes and constant profanity used (which annoys me greatly), however the storyline was highly addictive and I persevered through all two seasons of the series. I have been informed by fans of the novels that there are great differences between the TV series and the books themselves so last year I purchased the first book... but gave up reading it after 60 or so pages. Somehow the first-person narrative did not click with me and I get bored if I am aware of the story line in advance. However, I will try again as the TV series will take a while to spin out 10 books and it has already strayed from the originals (not to mention that I can only stand so much use of the F-word before my ears rust and my brain explodes!).

Did anyone else watch the TV series or read the novels?

July 2010

1 A Colourful Death (Cornish Mystery 2) - Carola Dunn
The second instalment in Carola Dunn's newest mystery series set in a Cornwall reminiscent of the 60s. I have added this to the list to see how the series develops... A short review of the first book will be up soon.

5 The God of the Hive (Mary Russell 10) - Laurie R. King
I became interested in the premise of this series a couple of years ago and have the first three instalments sitting on my shelves. Sherlock Holmes... retired and married to a young lady who is his equal in intelligence and in the art of detection... and she is the hero of the piece... sounded promising. I was thrilled to see that Laurie R. King has continued adding to this series (she writes at least one other mystery series) as these books have received very enthusiastic reviews.

29 Blotto, Twinks and the Dead Dowager Duchess (Blotto and Twinks 2) - Simon Brett
The second in a new comical mystery series by Sussex-based author Simon Brett. I am a fan of his Fethering mysteries and love the Mrs Pargeter series too so thought I might look into this one. Simon Brett likes to add dollops of humour and wit to his mysteries and this one promises to have a more liberal dose.

September 2010

2 Blameless (Parasol Protectorate 3) - Gail Carriger
Ah, those pesky vampires again! I have just finished the first in the Parasol Protectorate series (love that name!) and have ordered the second so very happy to see that a third is not far away. Like the Sooky Stackhouse/True Blood series, this involves vampires and werewolves who live openly among mortals but it is set in an alternate version of the Victorian era. It is funny, fantastic, clever and has sprinklings of romance thrown in. I hope the sequels hold the momentum and originality that I enjoyed in the first novel.

2 The Charming Quirks of Others (Isabel Dalhousie 7) - Alexander McCall Smith
As usual, Mr McCall Smith continues to conjure up three or four novels a year to the delight of his fans. This is the next instalment in the Isabel Dalhousie novels that are sent in Edinburgh and have a large philosophical bent. Indeed, a great part of these novels engage us in the moral musings and philosophical pontificating that Isabel (philosopher and editor) is prone to... all executed in a charming and gracious, gentle manner. I have a couple of books to read in this series before I am up to date.

Are there any series that you follow and are anticipating reading this Summer (or Winter if you're in the Southern hemisphere)? Please let me know as I always like to add promising series to my TBR list. I find that there is something warm, comforting and a little exciting about looking forward to a new book release and immersing myself once again in the company of well-loved characters and settings.

A Cupcake, A Latte and a Lot of Sun

2010-04-26T10:53:00.000+01:00

Saturday: Enjoying a vegan cupcake and latte on the balcony of the elegant 30's De La Warr Pavilion building in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.

Snapshot Sunday

2010-04-25T15:27:00.000+01:00

A display with foxes in a garden centre in South Africa. My apologies for the size of the photo but my mobile camera loves to play tricks on me and reset the resolution when I'm not looking!

Persephone in Spring: The Biannually has Arrived!

2010-04-22T13:47:00.004+01:00

The postman has just delivered the latest Persephone Biannually on this beautiful, sunny Spring day and the cover is fitting. Included was a charming bookmark to match the book Dimanche and Other Stories by Irène Némirovsky.

As you may already know, the two books for Spring/Summer 2010 are that mentioned above as well as Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon. Being a knitting enthusiast, I also adore the bookmark for Still Missing which is a closeup of a sophisticated-looking ribbed knit. The Persephone Books website reveals that they will be publishing another Monica Dickens novel in Autumn/Winter as well as the very first Persephone diary! Entitled The Persephone Ninety, it will feature the ninety endpapers along with details of each and the first line of each book. I'm tempted, very tempted...

A quick perusal of the Biannually reveals a number of interesting articles and tidbits such as information and reviews of the two Spring/Summer books and the short story Dimanche. There is also an article about the Blitz and a piece about a Norwegian island. As usual, the magazine is punctuated by gorgeous and colourful pictures from the period and plenty of reviews including blog reviews from my favourite bloggers.

Of particular interest is the news that the Persephone Forum will be launched on the 1st June and the first book up for discussion will be William - an Englishman, followed by Mariana in July. The forum sounds like a wonderful opportunity to interact with other like-minded readers and to exchange views and opinions on each book in the Persephone line.

I'm looking forward to Persephone Week, although I may only be able to contribute for part of the week as it falls upon my birthday. I'm off to enjoy the sunshine and sip a cup of freshly-picked mint tea with my Persephone... I hope you have received yours (or will do soon) and will enjoy it too.

Still Here!

2010-04-19T19:38:00.000+01:00

My apologies for the latest silence! I am still here and back in the UK... blogging will resume very soon.

Dig In and Grow Your Own

2010-04-02T21:51:00.000+01:00

I was happy to note that the Grow Your Own 'movement' that began last year has continued into 2010 and is being embraced by more businesses and individuals. Last year, I succeeded in growing delicious tomatoes, runner beans, strawberries and spring onions. This was my first proper foray into Grow Your Own (I had previously grown baby tomatoes years ago on a tiny scale) and I thoroughly enjoyed it (bar a few worries about whether I watered too much or too little). I also planted radishes, carrots, and beetroot but they were miniscule and underdeveloped due to ignorance on my part (and too tight a spot for the carrots). The garlic I planted became poorly so I shall try again this year along with potatoes, more tomatoes and onions, various herbs, beans, carrots and more. I look forward to really digging in and tucking in!

I missed out on the BBC's Dig In campaign for free seeds last year but I was informed yesterday by a friend that my seeds for 2010 had arrived! Here is a photo of some of the seeds I planted last month... they are growing strong but it is all a learning curve for me (thanks to a kind friend who is watering in my absence!). I shall have a load of seeds to plant when I return - both crops and flowers and wild flowers for our bee and butterfly population.

For anyone in the UK who may be interested, you're still in time to request the Dig In seeds if you fill out your details here. Be quick as they ran out of seeds very early last time. Hopefully you'll get your pack (with 5 different veggies) within three weeks as I did mine. If you have never done this before, this is a perfect way to learn and to try your hand at growing something you can eat... it's true: it does taste so much better if you grow it yourself!

Another bit of good Grow Your Own news is that there is a new programme due on BBC2 next Wednesday with gardener Alys Fowler entitled The Edible Garden. The description sounds promising and involves an interesting way of weaving in food crops with flowers and roses.

Are you trying your hand at growing your own this year? Or are you an experienced gardener who delights in growing tasty crops? If you're outside the UK... does your country run similar campaigns? I'd love to hear from you as I find this quite exciting and my aim is to gradually become more self-sufficient, healthier and more knowledgeable about the food that I eat.

Foyle's Back!

2010-03-31T17:52:00.002+01:00

At long last, one of my favourite television series returns on Sunday, 11 April on ITV (20:00). Any other fans out there? I think that Foyle's War is one of the best TV series made in a long while: entertaining, provocative, atmospheric, supremely well acted and with a mystery thrown in. When I was reading interwar novels a few years ago, a lot of what I learnt through fiction was confirmed and expounded upon in this series. I learnt a lot about Britain in the World Wars through novels and this excellent programme. A bonus is that it is set in Hastings, a place I know and love. I had great fun searching out Foyle's home and other locations in Hastings. I do hope they'll commission another series... it is definitely worthy. For more on Foyle and pictures of Hastings, visit this entertaining site: http://www.foyleswar.com/

McCall Smith Madness in May

2010-03-29T21:44:00.002+01:00

There are no less than three - yes three! - Alexander McCall Smith books being published in May. Two brand new ones (The Dog Who Came in from the Cold and The Importance of Being Seven) and one paperback copy.

Although I am quivering with anticipation at being reunited with the residents of 44 Scotland Street in The Importance of Being Seven, it was the new cover of the paperback edition of Corduroy Mansions that caught my eye. It is an illustration by the excellent Iain McIntosh and those of you who read this book online at the Telegraph site or in hardback will recognise some of the scenes and icons from the novel. I think it's quite clever and Freddie de la Hay looks ever so cute (and regal) with his outstretched paw.

Snapshot Sunday

2010-03-28T14:39:00.002+01:00

Nessie is alive and well at Scotney Castle, Kent!

(More about this charming house and grounds during the week)

Apologies

2010-03-28T14:00:00.015+01:00

My apologies to you all for the current silence here at Rochester Reader. Life has been a bit hectic these past two weeks with the consequence that no reading or blogging has been done. I am currently in South Africa for a few weeks but hope to start posting (and reading!) again now. I also have a lot of blog reading to catch up on and I look forward to exchanging comments with all you lovely people once again :-)

Wodehouse Competition at The Book Depository

2010-03-16T22:56:00.003Z

The Book Depository is holding an exciting competition whereby you could win all 70 of the Everyman edition of Wodehouse books! All you have to do is to answer three Wodehouse-related questions. The competition closes on 31 March 2010 and you can enter it here.

How spiffing it would be to own all of these!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

2010-03-15T23:41:00.005Z

This is a charming novel written by first-time novelist Helen Simonson - a native of East Sussex, England who has resided in the U.S. for over twenty years. Her website is an interesting read and includes a breath-taking header picture of the white chalk cliffs of this region.

The novel opens in East Sussex and concerns a 60-something retired major - Ernest Pettigrew - who is grieving the recent loss of his brother Bertie. Major Pettigrew lost his wife not many years before and continues to reside in their pretty English cottage in the village of Edgecome St Mary. Although he has a son, extended family and several golf buddies and neighbours, it is clear that he is lonely and the death of his brother brings this to the fore. It is on the day of his receiving this news that he begins to view the village shopkeeper, Jasmina Ali, in a new light. She too recently lost her husband and they begin to bond over their love of poetry, Kipling and the beauty of the English countryside. Mrs Ali awakens a slow burning passion in the Major and inspires a new love of life and friendship.

The novel's main focus is this gentle love story but it skilfully introduces various subplots and brings them each to a satisfying conclusion. There is the matter of the twin Churchill guns - given to Major Pettigrew's father by the Maharajah - with one gun bequeathed to the Major and the other to his brother Bertie. Upon Bertie's death, both guns were to be reunited and passed to the Major but Bertie's family have other ideas. There is the friction between the Major and his self-involved son Roger and his new girlfriend. Roger is only concerned with profit and prestige and is rarely able to communicate successfully with his father.

Mrs Ali has her share of recent problems, involving her nephew and her husband's pushy family. Added to this, the village seems to be under threat by property developers who mean to transform the calm and character of the Major's home.

I found this a highly enjoyable read and an excellent first novel. Indeed, it is so polished and well executed that it is hard to believe that this is Ms Simonson's first effort. All of the characters are well drawn and their actions and dialogue believable. I became fond of the Major (except for his duck shooting!) and Mrs Ali early on and really despised his son Roger for his shallow nature. East Sussex is beautifully and lovingly portrayed and the seaside town of Eastbourne is easily recognisable in the guise of Hazelbourne-on-Sea with its beautiful long manicured lawns filled with bright and vibrant flowers. Ms Simonson's descriptions of English locations and English characters are spot on and many a dialogue is spiced with a hint of humour, particularly with the Major's dry wit.

I took my time in reading this story and found it to be perfectly paced. It is not a short book at 358 pages but I found the author's juggling of the various plots enjoyable and I let her take her time in leading me to the happy ending. It is a delicate love story building to a passionate revelation and the tempo seemed to fit the grace and poise of the main protagonists.

The lovely Penelope at Bloomsbury very kindly sent me this review copy and I was happy that I got to spend time in the country with these quirky, warm characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves gentle humour and a well-written tale of English village life and its foibles.

RATING:

Snapshot Sunday: Dickens' Chalet

2010-03-14T00:00:00.001Z

This beautiful swiss-style chalet now stands in Rochester High Street just behind Eastgate House. There is an appeal to raise funds in order to restore it as it is in danger of being lost. Anyone who is interested in donating - or of spreading the news - can write or send a cheque to the following address:

Dickens Fellowship (Chalet Fund) 27 Amethyst Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME5 9TX

Thank you to Book Psmith for bringing this to my attention.

And the Winner is...

2010-03-06T20:56:00.004Z

Firstly, thank you to all you lovely bloggers who participated in the competition. My trusty assistant Angus placed the names into a 'hat', shook it well and drew a winner (no peeking!).

Congratulations to Cottage Garden! You have won a copy of The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith. Please e-mail me at rochesterreader@gmail.com with your address so I can pop this into the post early next week.

As we had such few entries, I would also like to give a small Rochester-related consolation prize to Book Psmith and A Bookish Space. Could you each please e-mail me at rochesterreader@gmail.com with your addresses.
Thanks again for your participation and I hope that Cottage Garden will enjoy the book as much as I did.

World Book Day! (and Giveaway Reminder)

2010-03-04T02:23:00.001Z

It's World Book Day today! Celebrate by giving a relative/friend/colleague/aquaintance a book to promote the joy of reading or check out the website for events near you.

Don't forget to enter my book giveaway by the end of Friday. You can enter by leaving a quick comment here. Good luck and happy reading!

Miss Pettigrew: Puttin' on the Savoy

2010-03-01T15:35:00.006Z

Just a quick post about my thoughts on the film Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. It was a light, short film which does nicely to pass the time and the locations and interiors were dazzling. I especially loved the jazz and big band music. However, don't expect a faithful adaptation of the novel as plots and characters are quite altered.

I stated before that I didn't warm instantly to the character of Miss Lafosse in the novel but I'm afraid that I didn't like her at all in the film. She was even ditzier and her instant warmth and protectiveness towards Miss Pettigrew in the novel is not to be found in the film. Miss Dubarry - my favourite supporting character - is greatly changed and is indeed an adversary of sorts rather than being the woman who teaches Miss Pettigrew about the art of 'self-improvement' (in the looks department, that is). The bond between the two was completely lacking.

The men in the story are also greatly changed, for example, Michael is near penniless and in Nick's employ and he comes across as less feisty and headstrong than his original incarnation. Still, it was entertaining to see Lee Pace (of Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies fame) playing the role of Michael with an English accent (of sorts). Joe was played by the great Ciarán Hinds but was alas also not as robust and hearty as the book's depiction.

My favourite character of the film was, of course, Miss Pettigrew as portrayed by Frances McDormand. Her acting was excellent but it was that of a more downtrodden and penniless (indeed starving) Miss Pettigrew. I think that the film underplayed her gumption and also muted her physical transformation while at the same time removing her naiveté concerning matters of the heart. The film exaggerated the frivolity in each character but then contrasted it sharply with the threat of World War II, which seemed to hang over all the characters and served as an impetus for them to live a more purposeful life.

It was an entertaining film but I felt that the novel had more charm and they could have included more of it. I believe that all of the characters would have translated quite well to the screen without the need for personality transplants. I was surprised to learn that Winifred Watson sold the film rights as long ago as 1939 and that it was to be filmed as a musical but WWII intervened. I am therefore grateful that it was produced after such a long time and that it helped the sale of Persephone Books and created greater awareness for them and Winifred Watson. Enjoy it as a movie that bears some resemblance to the book and you shouldn't be disappointed.

Snapshot Sunday

2010-02-28T18:00:00.020Z

A view of Lamb House (the house on the right with the black door) and its adjoining garden as seen from the top of St Mary's Church in Rye, East Sussex. This is the house (Mallards) and secret garden that is featured in the Mapp and Lucia novels where Miss Mapp climbs to the top of the church tower and spies the 'apparently' flu-ridden Lucia exercising in the garden. The crooked chimney belonging to Mallards Cottage, where Georgie lived, is visible in the forefront.

World Book Day and a Giveaway

2010-02-27T20:02:00.022Z

It's World Book Day on Thursday, 4 March 2010 and it is a day to promote, share and enjoy the pleasure of reading books. This year sees events taking place in various areas around the UK. You can visit the World Book Day website for a list of events or check out your library, favourite bookstore and local newspaper for additional events, promotions and talks.

To celebrate World Book Day, and in anticipation of the next book in this series to be published in July, I am giving away a brand new, unread hardback by one of my favourite writers, Alexander McCall Smith. The book is The Unbearable Lightness of Scones and is the fifth instalment in the 44 Scotland Street series.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this series, it was originally published in The Scotsman newspaper in daily instalments and follows the comings and goings of a group of people who share an address in Scotland Street. It bears McCall Smith's characteristic humour and charm with a dash of philosophical musings (usually witty) and each chapter is a self-contained gem, making it easy to read in small bites if required.

Edinburgh is a beautiful character in this series and many places are featured in the book. Check out this link for a free location guide to 44 Scotland Street - a handy little guide (which opens in pdf format) for when you're next in Edinburgh and hoping to place the book in context.

Whether you're a McCall Smith fan, or McCall Smith curious, please feel free to enter your name in the draw by leaving a comment on this post. I am happy to post anywhere in the world. This draw is open until the end of Friday, 5 March 2010 (UK time). The winner will be drawn from a hat and announced on Saturday, 6 March 2010. Good luck!

Capuchin Classics

2010-02-26T23:49:00.001Z

Today I received one of the loveliest catalogues. Capuchin Classics is a publishing house that concentrates on "reviving great works of fiction which have been unjustly forgotten or neglected" and they have created a strong, identifiable brand within the aesthetics of their books. Each book appears with an attractive sketch on a paperback with serene green bands across the top of the book. I was surprised to find that the 'book' in my package today was in fact the 2010 catalogue; a collectable in itself. The catalogue devotes two pages to each of their publications with plot outlines and brief bios of the authors and foreword writers accompanied by a sketch and a quote pertinent to each book. A charming compilation. I came across a few books that entice me, particularly The Unbearable Bassington by Saki, Juan in America by Eric Linklater and Highland Fling by Nancy Mitford. They are currently doing a 3 for 2 on online orders and also invite suggestions for books for publication. Their website and blog are well worth a visit.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

2010-02-24T23:05:00.106Z

This novel is Persephone Books' best selling item and reviews are bountiful on the Internet, along with reviews about the film that was released in 2008. I won't repeat the plot, as I'm sure most readers are aware of it, but I will touch upon my impressions of it. I also hope to post a short review about the film soon and to briefly compare the two.

I found the book on the whole to be charming, diverting and fun although there were doubts about its frivolity along the way. I don't think that I am over-the-moon about the book (as I expected to be after reading a few reviews) but I did enjoy it. I liked Miss Pettigrew's character and loved it when she found secret reserves of courage within herself and took charge of a volatile situation. She is a downtrodden woman who lacks experience in love and the "finer things in life" but she is self-reliant and independent, even if she struggles to pay her way in the world. Her experience of life may be limited but it is solid and useful and underpinned by her intelligence and integrity.

The funniest scenes in the book are right in the beginning when she mimics people from her past in order to get the better of an adversary. Her newfound friend, Miss LaFosse, is her opposite. She is frivolous and completely devoted to leading a pleasurable life at the expense of others (she relies on men to buy her things and keep her in a luxurious apartment). A few characters within the book rely upon Miss LaFosse's judgement and intelligence but I found no evidence of such astuteness in her actions. I'm afraid that to me, she came across as empty-headed and lacking in self-worth as she was easily led astray by men and their influence. Perhaps I am being prudish, but near the beginning of the book I felt my interest wane as it was revealed that she had a couple of lovers on the go and was tempted to try cocaine. I persevered and things got better... she did display a kind and giving nature but I felt that this was tinged with her lack of loyalty towards her lover(s) and her failure to be an independent women. It may be a mark of the times that women were dependent on men and marriage in order to be financially secure, but I found it ironic that the sexually liberated Miss LaFosse was the one who was entirely dependent upon the generosity of men and that the conservative and sexually repressed Miss Pettigrew was the one who (out of necessity) relied only upon herself for her daily bread and butter.

The book is perhaps a peep into the social mores of the time in the late thirties (which makes references to promiscuity and drugs even more shocking to my mind - what did readers of the time make of that?) and as such is interesting from that point of view. Although set in London, it had a bit of an American flavour to it with its slang and Chicago-style nightclubs. But it is ultimately a Cinderella story and has a happy ending for our heroine, Miss Pettigrew, which I found the most thrilling bit of all.

I adored the vivid illustrations by Mary Thomson, which add to the richness and gaiety of the book, and help to bring the various characters to life. One of my favourite characters is the indomitable Miss Dubarry who is confident, successful and happy to help other women in bettering themselves. Although she too initially relied upon a man in order to make her way in the world, she took the initiative to learn about matters of business and ends up owning her own company. It is thanks to her that Miss Pettigrew is given a glimpse into the life of the chic and graceful sirens when she is transformed into a beautiful swan by Miss Dubarry's skilful hands. Miss Dubarry is also quick to assure our Miss Pettigrew that beauty is not always based upon substance and that any woman can improve upon nature... something that a lot of women still practice today. The book is therefore peppered with dark and light moments and little moral tales, if you ponder upon it long enough, but it is ultimately a happy and comforting read, to be approached lightly and without over-analysis (which I am afraid I am sometimes guilty of!).

This is my second Persephone book and I possess both a copy in the classic grey cover and the colourful Classics edition. I was fortunate enough to find them each in a charity shop over the course of a few months. The end papers in the grey edition are graceful and warm and suit the book perfectly. Persephone books are truly a tactile pleasure as they feel so solid and comfortable, yet light and smooth between your hands... a perfect reflection of the story within this particular book.

RATING:

Snapshot Sunday

2010-02-21T13:42:00.002Z

"We met next day as he had arranged, and inspected the rooms at No. 221b, Baker Street, of which he had spoken at our meeting. They consisted of a couple of comfortable bed-rooms and a single large airy sitting-room, cheerfully furnished, and illuminated by two broad windows."

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Jane's Home

2010-02-18T14:00:00.000Z

Thanks to the entertaining Jane Austen Today blog, I revisted parts of Jane's home via slideshow on the PBS website. I was fortunate to visit Jane Austen's home in Chawton, Hampshire in 2005 and it was a special feeling to walk through the rooms that she inhabited so many years ago. It is today a museum and it houses a number of her family's furniture, including her writing table and bed, and other bits of personal items, writing implements and letters.

Jane's kitchen has only been open to the public since last year and that seems a good enough reason to me to make another trip to the area soon. It is a beautiful village, with a teashop opposite the house and it is quite glorious in Summer. I should also pop over to 'nearby' Bath to visit the Jane Austen Centre and to once again enjoy the setting of 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion'.

Please do pop over to enjoy the slideshow here.

Latest Library Loans

2010-02-17T23:00:00.001Z

It was a really beautiful day here in Kent with a wide blue sky and enough sunshine to make you feel as though Spring had sprung. But alas, it is now freezing again and I just hope that the little primroses I planted outside today will survive. They were given a protective layer of mulch but I could feel the sweet little petals were quite icy this evening. I thought planting a few coloured blooms were in order to cheer things up and today was the ideal day. Above is a photo of milk-white Thalia Narcissus - quite elegant and heady with a strong masculine fragrance. All the blooms are now open and they bring a little of Spring indoors .

I've been meaning to blog about my latest library acquisitions from a week or so ago and a new addition to the pile. I'm terrible at getting through library loans - I always find so many books of interest to take home and then take ages to read them, having in the interim added to the pile yet again. Not fair on other library members that may want to borrow it on a whim. So this year I am trying to increase the turnaround time for reading these and you'll see from my left sidebar that two of them are on my bedside table waiting to be read.

The Girl with Glass Feet - Ali Shaw

This sounds like a fairy tale for adults and I made a special trip to the library yesterday to collect it for the Not the TV Book Group meeting that is being held this Sunday over at Savidge Reads. I hope to read it within the next few days in time to take part in the online discussions. I'll post a review of the book shortly after.

A Walk with Jane Austen - Lori Smith

This a work of non-fiction and the title and the cute photo caught my eye. I hope it's not too focused on searching for Mr Darcy and instead concentrates on visiting Austen's literary and real-life landmarks. Taking a year out to explore Austen country whilst in search of yourself sounds like a dream!

Silent in the Sanctuary - Deanna Raybourn
This is the second book in the 'Silent in the ...' series. I really enjoyed the first one after a slow start and will publish a review sometime soon. These books are described as historical mysteries with a bit of romance thrown in and they are set in Victorian England. The first one was well written and quite atmospheric and rich in period detail as well as possessing an interesting (though bizarre) murder weapon.

Manna from Hades - Carola Dunn

This will be my first book this year for the as yet unofficial Reading Cornwall challenge that was conceived by Fleur Fisher. The challenge is to read books set in Cornwall, although I'm not sure what the parameters for the challenge will be, I have been inspired by her posts and those of Verity at The B Files to read this sooner rather than later. It is a murder mystery set in Cornwall and is the first book of an intended series.

Sick of Shadows - Marion Chesney (a.k.a. M. C. Beaton)

I love these Edwardian Mysteries that are penned by M. C. Beaton of Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth fame. I find the writing quality of these much higher than the Agatha Raisin stories and the period detail is entertaining and instructive. M. C. Beaton used to write under other names and initially wrote an impressive number of historical romances. This knowledge and research seems to have been combined with her new chosen genre (crime). Sadly, M. C. Beaton only published four books in this series and she confirmed that there would be no more. This was due to them not selling as well as her other books and the limited time that she has to write. I have therefore been saving this title as there is only another one left for me to enjoy. They are light mysteries with a very soft touch of romance laced with humour: a perfect cosy read.

Shades of Grey - Jasper Fforde

I am the first borrower of this book and I do love to read a pristine copy, its inner pages untouched by fellow reader's hands. I greatly enjoyed The Eyre Affair and I will be sampling its sequel soon, although I am very much tempted to dive into this novel first... but then I fear I may disturb the space-time continuim.

The Meditative Art of Knitting

2010-02-15T00:00:00.004Z

I rediscovered knitting a little over a year ago when I came across a few bloggers who blogged about their knitting endeavours. Somehow, I started to get itchy fingers and felt as though I wanted to knit again. The last time I knitted was in primary school and that was a very small but fashionably purple vest (a. k. a. tank top) as prescribed by our Home Economics curriculum. We little girls were quite impressed with the act and I recall knitting a few other things at home for fun but I can't remember what they were.

Many years later, I found myself on a day out in London and I sought out a trendy little knit shop and purchased a couple of pairs of needles and three balls of yarn that appealed. I tried the yarn with the needles when I got home - without consulting the Internet or a book - and I found to my amazement that my fingers remembered how to cast on and how to knit the basic garter stitch. Wow! Not being someone who is naturally gifted with her hands, I was impressed. Strange how your body can recall actions from years ago even if your brain doesn't.

My first item was a thin, whispy multi-coloured scarf knit in garter stitch (the most basic there is: just knit every row) on thick needles. I did it in a few hours that evening and was quite happy at having created my first item of clothing! After that, I tried a thick scarf (are you beginning to spot a theme here?) in a red chilli colour in a ribbed stitch (a sequence of knit and purl stitches). I had to look up how to do the purl stitch as, alas, my fingers had amnesia on that one.

I have since progressed onto other types of scarves, a couple of hats and mittens, and last year attempted my first sock on double-pointed needles. Yikes! I was scared of those for a while... but it is working out and is still a work in progress. The Internet is an invaluable tool (thanks, You Tubers) for self-instruction and there isn't anything that you can't do.

So at the moment I am busy on a very simple scarf - knitting every row - simply because I like knitting scarves and I love this teal colour. This is taking much longer than my other scarves did as it's thinner yarn but I like the calming repetitivness of the act and the colour cheers me up. Knitting is great for thinking and contemplating and your mind can wander if your pattern isn't too complicated - an advantage of this simple scarf.

Sometimes, though, you might just want to give your mind a rest. Although knitting can take away from precious reading time, I've found listening to an audio book or a radio adaptation a great substitute and much better than knitting and watching TV. You can keep your eyes on your work and enjoy the story.

I love the texture of yarn and the smoothness of needles and I usually rub fragrant hand lotion onto my hands before knitting and the uplifting or calming scent is transferred onto the item. Once the garment or item is complete, and I wear it again months later, I can strangely recall what I was listening to, pondering or watching whilst knitting... as if my thoughts and emotions were woven into each stitch. The light scent of the hand lotion also acts as a trigger.

I'm still a beginner but I enjoy the act of knitting. Sometimes I pick it up out of a creative urge; sometimes out of a meditative urge. Either way, it's a great way to keep occupied in these chilly dark days and you can also get a set of lovingly-made hat, mittens and scarf out of it.

The cute little cats above were created by the talented Sheila Sargent based in Sevenoaks, Kent.

Snapshot Sunday

2010-02-14T00:00:00.003Z

Low trees (?!) in Bloomsbury, London

Book Lust

2010-02-13T00:12:00.005Z

Serendipity strikes again and tugs at my heart (and purse) strings. This week my thoughts turned to E. F. Benson's glorious Mapp and Lucia novels after reading an excellent post by Desperate Reader. Shortly after, I was excited to learn from Library Thing that The Folio Society have recently reissued the boxed set of the Mapp and Lucia novels, first published by Folio in 1994.

I have been coveting this beautiful box set for over a year but could not afford the second hand price tag that ranged from £60.00 to £100.00! I think it's wonderful that there is now the option of possessing it in a freshly printed condition... although now it costs more... £120.00.

This new edition appears to be identical to the previous one with the exception of the slipcase being a pastel blue instead of pink, and the books are not in individual shades. But the graceful and witty illustrations of Natacha Ledwidge are present on each cover and this is part of the attraction for me. I have yet to peruse an individual book and have only been able to gaze at the photographs that proud owners have been kind enough to share. Sigh!

Above photo's borrowed from the excellent E. F. Benson Page

Do You Wodehouse?

2010-02-12T00:52:00.003Z

P. G. Wodehouse is a name that has lingered in the back of my mind through the years yet I never picked up a single book of his until last year. I wonder if anyone else is in the same boat? Wodehouse is usually credited with being the most popular English humourist of all time and he has a legion of fans both in this country and abroad so I did feel a little embarassed at not having read any Wodehouse all these years. I hadn't even seen the Jeeves and Wooster television series until a couple of years ago! Crikey!

It was, in fact, the television series that got me into reading my first Wodehouse. Stephen Fry (Jeeves) and Hugh Laurie (Wooster) were superb and thoroughly entertaining and I loved the banter between the two. I watched the whole series over Christmas with friends (what a jolly way to spend it!) and simply breathed in the jazzy notes of the theme-tune and the set pieces and costumes of the thirties. I even managed to get my hands on the very rare soundtrack, which in itself is hilarious, and features may songs of the era sung by the multi-talented Hugh Laurie.

Well, what was my first choice when a year later a Wodehouse book finally caught my eye? Sadly, the excellent television series spoilt the Jeeves and Wooster stories for me as - upon checking out Wikipedia et al - I discovered that the series took heavily from the initial books. The plots were still fresh in my mind and I confess that all the constant engagements and dis-engagements in the series grated after a while. Indeed, a lot of the plots seemed to usually revolve around someone getting engaged to the wrong person (a lot of the time Wooster) and then trying to comically get themselves out of it. So when in a bookshop, I spied the freshly printed covers of a line of Wodehouse novels published by Arrow Books, I was inspired to read him. The cover and plot of The Adventures of Sally took my fancy and seemed to promise a light and cheerful read. This is a standalone novel and I was charmed in the initial parts of the book and then the famous Wodehousian complications took off. I enjoyed it and have since read another stand-alone Wodehouse entitled Quick Service, which was also fun.

I have a teeny tiny collection of Wodehouse (pictured left) and have tried to read the first short stories about Jeeves and Wooster without success, as I know how the stories will end. Perhaps I need to give it more time? Wodehouse was immensely prolific and created various worlds and recurring characters, as well as several stand-alone novels. The worlds of Psmith, Blandings, Ukridge as well as Jeeves are revered in many circles and I feel the need to enter them and experience the magic that so many others speak of. I confess that the TV series and books I read have not delivered entirely to this degree but they have been pleasant. I keep thinking that I'm missing something and that I should read on... Anyone else feel this way or still having to really get into Wodehouse? To date, I consider E. F. Benson to be my favourite English humourist and I took to his Mapp and Lucia novels instantly. I feel that I have to work a little with Wodehouse as so many of the plots I've picked up for perusal have revolved around couples in love trying to get married or get out of the wrong engagement. What say you?

The Eyre Affair

2010-02-11T00:25:00.001Z

The Eyre Affair is my very first Jasper Fforde novel and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised and suitably wowed. In it, Fforde creates an alternate time to ours which, at first introduction, appears like ours except that there are small (and big) things that take this world into the realms of fantasy - or science fiction - depending upon how you look at it.

The time is 1985 in England - an England that is still at war in the Crimea and in which Wales is a republic. There are time rippers, dodos have been brought back from extinction and a multinational corporation called Goliath seems to have its finger in every pie. Society is virtually obssessed with literature and dead authors are regarded as uber celebrities. The written word seems to rule in this time and prose and poetry is highly regarded and is considered the backbone of society.

Enter our heroine, Thursday Next, a Literatec (literary detective) working in SpecOps 27, who has been called in to investigate the theft of Dickens' manuscript of Martin Chuzzlewit. The suspect is a super-villain named Acheron Hades who appears to be invincible and destroys all in his path - except for Thursday, who knows how his mind works and manages to survive his initial attack.

Throw into this mix Thursday's time-jumping Chronoguard father and her eccentric inventor uncle and we have a story that begins to take you into the fantastic. Her uncle and aunt are kidnapped and literary characters start to disappear from important works of fiction. Only Thursday has the intuition and determination to track down Hades.

The Jasper Fforde novels are very prominent in bookstores and libraries and the interesting blurb of the first book in the Thursday Next series ensured the book made it to my TBR pile, even if I had a few reservations about a world with dodos and Jane Eyre running around in it. But these reservations were unfounded. Fforde pulls this off in a masterly way and successfully creates a believable alternative world with wit, fast-paced action and lots of word play. Devoted readers will love how he plays around with established cannons and eminent figures such as the Bard and there are puns and literary quips aplenty that will entertain and amuse.

Sweet little touches like keeping dodos as companion animals and having access to Will Speak machines - arcade-type dummies quoting Shakespeare when you insert a coin - just add to the colour of this world and make you smile. I thoroughly recommend this book to any lover of literature who wants an entertaining, sometimes thrilling - sometimes fast-paced, witty read.

RATING:

Snapshot Sunday

2010-02-07T23:33:00.003Z

Only in London! A cosy restaurant in Soho operating from a retired Routemaster bus serving freshly cooked vegan organic food. http://www.veganroutes.co.uk/

Bloomsbury Group 2010

2010-02-03T23:50:00.001Z

Early last year, I learned of the Bloomsbury Group from the blogosphere. Bloomsbury Publishing had decided to bring back into print a number of early twentieth century books that they regarded as "lost novels" and that were "recommended by readers for readers, being brought back into print for a new audience". They asked friends, colleagues, authors and book bloggers for suggestions of favourite books that could be revived. The result was a release of a total of six books in 2009 (staggered from July to November) with charming silhouette pictures against pleasing pastel-shaded covers, creating a strong brand and making a literary impact. These books are beautiful to look at, to hold and to read and sometimes I just want to caress them. The quality is that good and pleasing to the eye inside and out, especially my Henrietta which boasts delightful sketches by the author.

I purchased two at the time, Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys and Mrs Tim of the Regiment by D. E. Stevenson, after reading about these on the blogosphere. I became acquainted with

D. E. Stevenson via the blogosphere's praise of the sublime Persephone Books and after falling for the premise of Miss Buncle's Book. Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing, I discovered Stevenson's Mrs Tim and, as with Miss Buncle, looked for and found that sequels were written! It amazed me that such charming books have been forgotten but thanks to publishers such as Persephone and now Bloomsbury, these forgotten classics are being appreciated by a new generation.

Believe it or not, I have read neither of the two novels as I know (based on respected bloggers' reviews) that these two are going to be wonderful reads and I am trying to savour them. Henrietta is waiting to be read very soon and after snooping around Amazon a few days ago, I discovered that the sequel is to be published as well!

According to Amazon UK, there are four lovely Bloomsbury Group novels set to be published this July. The Bloomsbury Group page still shows the previous six novels but you can find information on the individual additions under the search button on their site. They sport the same beautiful silhouette images but on a bolder colour cover, with the same recognisable branding of the Bloomsbury Group novels.

I am quite excited by these new novels as three of the four authors are favourites of mine. I read Paul Gallico's Mrs Harris Goes to Paris when I was in high school and have fond memories of that novel. I will love reading it again and will have the added bonus of reading Mrs Haris Goes to New York, which is also included in this edition.

Even more exciting is the prospect of an E. F. Benson novel! I am a great fan of the Mapp and Lucia series as well as his wonderfully delicious Secret Lives. I have Mrs Ames in a Hogarth imprint but am seduced by the Bloomsbury edition!

As mentioned above , Henrietta returns in Henrietta Sees it Through and I know that quite a few bloggers (myself included) will be pleased that Bloomsbury have decided to publish this sequel so soon after resurrecting the first book.

Lastly, Let's Kill Uncle, is by an author who is new to me... so another new discovery! The plot sounds a little macabre but Bloomsbury promises that it's "playful, dark and witty... a surprising tale of two ordinary children who conspire to execute an extraordinary murder – and get away with it". I'm intrigued.

I think I'll be ordering all four books come July, as they are too much of a temptation. Oh the agony of waiting...

Serial Anticipations for Winter/Spring 2010

2010-01-31T23:16:00.015Z

A few years ago, I fell into a reading routine that included seeking out book series, particularly British cosy mysteries. I read blogs and reviews of such books and got into the habit of following a set of characters through a series of novels. This can be quite a comforting exercise if you enjoy the style of writing and the world created by the writer and you are always (more or less) assured of another instalment in a year or so (once you've binged on the whole available oeuvre).

This year, I am looking forward to the publication of quite a few novels. Some of these authors publish an instalment in a series annually, whilst the amazing Alexander McCall Smith manages to publish four or more books a year!

There are other anticipated novels that are due to be published later in the year, and I shall place those on the blog as the cover art becomes available.

Are you a series reader? What series novels do you look forward to reading each year?

February 2010

25 Precious and the Puggies: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case - Alexander McCall Smith
This is a children's book about Mma Ramotswe and is published in Scots, ahead of an English publication in 2011. A glossary is provided and I am sure that adult fans will find it a thrilling enterprise.

March 2010

4 The Double Comfort Safari Club (No. 1 Ladies' 11) - Alexander McCall Smith
I have tried to get into The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency but have had to put it on hold as the prose does not click with me. I have, however, enjoyed the film series and still enjoy discovering the lyrical and whimsical titles of each new novel. I will attempt the first book soon...

5 The Shooting in the Shop (Fethering Mysteries 11)- Simon Brett
Ah... one of my favourites. I devoured the whole series in less than a year and love the Sussex setting. I had to take a break from it two years ago to let the instalments accumulate. I hope to reacquaint myself with the village of Fethering and its inhabitants again this year.

April 2010

6 The Mapping of Love and Death - Jacqueline Winspear
An excellent series set between the wars that is written beautifully and with great psychological and historical insight. The first novel, Maisie Dobbs, was less of a mystery novel and more of a psychological one as it sketches out Maisie's war-linked history and lays the foundations for future novels. The sequels are more crime focused and have been clever and highly enjoyable. I learnt a lot about Britain between the wars from this inspiring work of fiction. Highly recommended!

15 The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag (Flavia De Luce Mystery 2) - Alan Bradley
I have read promising reviews about the first in this series, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, so look forward to embarking on this series.

May 2010

1 The Dog Who Came in from the Cold (Corduroy Mansions 2)- Alexander McCall Smith
I love this cover! This book, and the first instalment, was written as daily chapters that were published online with the ability for readers to comment on the story as it unfolded. Fans (and newcomers) can still read this book on the Telegraph website here. There are 78 chapters in total and also access to an audio version read by the wonderful Andrew Sachs. Hurry as these are likely to be removed from the website shortly before the book's publication.

Agatha Raisin on CD

2010-01-25T23:26:00.004Z

I have been a fan of the Agatha Raisin mystery series for a few years now, ever since I snuggled down with The Quiche of Death during a bout of flu. It was comforting to melt into the village of Carsley and follow Agatha bulldozing her way through a murder investigation in the calm of the Cotswolds.

The book first caught my interest after I heard a couple of episodes of the series on Radio 4. It was a dramatisation of the books adapted by David Semple and featured Penelope Keith in the title role. I have a fondness for Radio 4 plays and dramatisations and this snippet stuck in my head when I later came across the book series in my library.

The Agatha portrayed by Penelope Keith differs from the Agatha in the books (she's not so man-mad for a start!) and the dramatisation changes quite a few characters and plots but it is never-the-less an entertaining who-dunnit.

The radio series concluded in November 2006 and was described as being the last of the radio series. This spanned three series over a period of three years and the BBC have slowly been releasing the episodes on 5 audio CDs. The final CD was recently released this month and I think that it is the best of the lot. Even though the location in the final story is moved from Norfolk (in the book) to Cornwall (in the radio series), and characters are changed etc., it is still an enjoyable listen and the version of Agatha in these CDs has a happier ending than our Aggie does in the books.

The books currently stand at 20 with There Goes the Bride released in October 2009. I devoured most of them in succession and am now doomed to wait patiently each year for the latest offering, which is usually released each September/October. I think that these will continue for a little longer and I hope they do. The quality of writing throughout the book series varies, with the earlier books being stronger in writing, characterisation and plot, but I feel obliged to keep following Aggie in her quest for self-fullfilment.

I highly recommend the radio series and the books to all lovers of English cosy fiction. The stories are light and humourous and the cantankerous character of Agatha Raisin makes a refreshing heroine. Recurring characters and interesting backdrops make it a smooth and entertaining read, along with some original crimes. Fans of Penelope Keith may also like to know that she is the reader in the audio versions of the books.

Grimy Cosy Crime

2010-01-22T23:39:00.055Z

The first read of the new year was by an author who is new to me. I am aware that Ann Granger has written a number of different crime/cosy series (with the Mitchell and Markby series appearing to be the most popular) but I was first drawn to this one as it is set in the Cotswolds.

I love reading cosy crime books (or any other books for that matter) that are set in places that I have visted or that spur me on to travel to those places. I first visited the Cotswolds after reading a few of M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series so this book promised to conjure up familiar images of that pretty, rolling countryside.

And it did! albeit initially in a muddy way. We are introduced to Lucas Burton, a shady businessman, who initially discovers the body of a young woman at his rendez-vous point in an abandoned barn on Cricket Farm. He panics and flees from the scene but not before being spotted by a local and scraping his silver mercedes on a post. Jess Campbell (a thirty-something police inspector) is called in to investigate the discovery and we are introduced to a number of characters who all seem to have something to hide. Throw in an old family murder on Cricket Farm, and the only surviving relative talking to ghosts, and we have an interesting setup.

Mud, Muck and Dead Things is the first instalment in the Campbell and Carter series and as such is a good, solid introduction to the new characters. I found it to be well written with colourful descriptions of the Cotswold countryside and country folk. It seemed perfectly paced and we don't get too bogged down in police procedure. I was a little reticent at diving into this book at first as the protagonists are part of the police force and I prefer my detectives to be amateurs, enabling them to snoop freely and break all kinds of rules that bobbies are usually restricted by. Never-the-less, this novel is not a police procedural and fits firmly into the cosy genre.

This novel tends to portray more of Inspector Jess Campbell than her new boss, Superintendent Ian Carter, and I assume that Granger will be developing his character and their relationship in upcoming novels. Sadly, a quick search on Amazon did not reveal any forthcoming Carter and Campbell novels on the horizon although Granger has another instalment in a different series lined up for this year.

I will look out for the next instalment and may even try the first book in her Lizzie Martin series, set in Victorian London, as the heroine of the piece appears interesting and a bit if a trail blazer.

RATING:

New Year, New Blog!

2010-01-22T23:38:00.002Z

Welcome to my new blog! I enjoy reading and reading about reading and anticipating new reads. I used to read a lot years ago but I'm hoping that 2010 will be the year of more reading for me.

This blog is a place where I can write about the books that I like and where I hope to share thoughts on books with others as well as a cosy place to blog about other pleasant things.

I hope you will enjoy your visit and come back again as this blog grows and develops.