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)
