Perfect for Halloween

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah E. Harkness, an American historian, has been described as "Twilight for grown ups", and that is quite an apt description, although I would also say that there are similarities to the Harry Potter series too. I am a fan of all of them, and I did really enjoy reading this book, although I hadn't realised that it is the first in a trilogy, and I now have to wait until next June for the next installment! The story starts off in Oxford, and there are wonderful descriptions of the Bodleian Library. It focuses around a reluctant witch who is studying alchemy, and is desperately trying to avoid using her magic. However, she retrieves a book from the stacks, which is desired by daemons, vampires, and witches, and there the adventure begins. She gains a mysterious vampire protector, and as her magic struggles to reveal itself, other creatures come out of the woodwork. The story bounces from Oxford to France, from where the mysterious vampire hails, to America, where Diana, the witch comes from and where her Aunt and partner live in a wonderful house which has a personality of its own. This is a great story, really well told, and nicely researched. I think it is more of a cross between Twilight and Labyrinth, taking the illicit romance between creatures from other worlds, and linking it with the history of old France. There is a lot to enjoy in this story, and while I am disappointed that I have to wait for the next book, I am also glad that the author didn't try to cram all the adventure into the one book.

Three for the price of two

I took advantage of Waterstone's three for the price of two offer to try some new authors. The first book I read was The Legacy, by Katharine Webb, in which two sisters are left a house by their grandmother, a very unhappy woman, who leaves it with some unpleasant strings attached. The story focuses on two secrets; one which involves the sisters and one which involves their ancestors. It is so interesting because it is set in New York, Oklahoma, London, and Wiltshire, across two eras. The first secret takes place in the early 1900s, while the second secret is set in the childhood of the two sisters and takes us up to present-day. The first secret describes the lives of cattle ranchers setting up in Oklahoma and their relationships with the Native American Indians. It seems a very honest account of the hardships faced, but also the camaraderie of all those living there. The second secret focuses around the younger sister trying to unravel the secrets from their childhood without causing further stress to her stress who is battling her own demons. It was a very good read, and I am looking forward to more books by this author.

Fine just the way it is

Annie Proulx has such a distinct style, and her latest collection of short stories reflects this. Fine Just The Way It Is: Wyoming Stories, tells the stories of the lives of mainly cowboys, although there is one story about indians. She is quite blunt and covers topics including domestic violence and rape. But even when she is writing about these difficult subjects, she adds a strange sort of beauty. Her stories are really poetic and she has such a striking way with words. Even though the subject matter is hard to read about, her words are like a balm and her stories are an absolute pleasure to read.

New author alert!

I found this book quite by accident, and it turned out to be a three for the price of two, which was even better, and it was two books in one, so absolute bargain! Anyway, Christmas in Seattle by Debbie Macomber, is not an intellectual book, but it was a lovely read; gentle, romantic, and with fun characters. Both books were entirely predictable, and yet surprising. By that I mean, you knew which couples would become romantically involved, but when it happened, it was perfectly timed, and just made you smile. It was a really easy read, and very pleasant.

Different styles and new authors

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff was my risk book, the third choice in my three for two purchase. It was really quirky, and entertaining, revolving around a young archaeologist, returning home following a disastrous affair. However, once home, her mother drops a bombshell, and she spends her time discovering the mystery and working out the issues in her life. I really enjoyed this book.

I reverted back to childhood again after reading this book and read Little Grey Rabbit's Second Storybook, which was just lovely; gorgeous pictures by Margaret Tempest, and magical stories by Alison Uttley. Unfortunately, no longer in print, but I managed to get a copy from eBay.

Then, I read another Elizabeth Edmondson book, The Art of Love. This was similar in style to The Villa in Italy, but set in a different country, focusing on a girl about to embark on a marriage that she isn't quite ready for. Again, this book is about a girl who discovers that she isn't who she thought she was and has to find some answers. This was also a really good story, with beautiful descriptions, and interesting characters. I am now reading another book by the same author, although older, so I will let you know what I think in my next blog.

Too many books to remember!

Well, this is going to be a long post, because all I have done this Summer is read, walk, take photos, and embroider patterns. I have had a lovely time after devising a timetable to improve my work-life balance.

Now, I thought I had blogged about the House of Riverton, a book by Kate Morton, that I read before The Forgotten Garden. They are similar styles, flitting between eras, 1920s and the 1990s, tracing the history of a house and the characters that live inside. Absolutely, lovely story, with colourful characters, mystery, and love.

I had five books for my Summer reading, and only one failed. Unfortunately, the sequel to the Friday Night Knitting Club, Knit Two, by Kate Jacobs, was a disappointment, to the extent that I have disposed of it. I loved the first one and also Comfort Food, but this one just did not engage me. I didn't feel anything for the characters and it just felt rushed. Such a shame!

So, after that one, I read the American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld. I had read Prep and thoroughly enjoyed it, but when I read the back cover of this one, it just seemed completely different. Prep was about teenagers and based in a school, where as this is loosely based on the life of Laura Bush. It is a really interesting read, a love story about a couple who cope with life's ups and downs, and support each other right the way to the top! At the start of the book, you really cannot imagine how they might get there. Again, great characters, and a really interesting story about America, and the political system there.

Next I read, The Lost Book of Salem (known as The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, as of April 2010) by Katherine Howe. I thought it would be in the style of Da Vinci Code, eg a typical holiday read, but it was better. It was full of facts about the witch trials in Salem, with links to further information, and there was lots of reference to herbalism, which I found interesting. This book also travelled between time periods, and it was clever the way the author changed the dialects.

Finally, I read The Villa in Italy, by Elizabeth Edmondson, which was fabulous. It is about a group of four strangers who are sent to a beautiful villa in Italy as recipients of a will belonging to someone none of them seem to know. The story unravels as they face their demons, and learn more about themselves, and each other, aswell as the gorgeous location where they are staying. I really enjoyed this book. Such interesting characters, with unexpected sides to them. I am looking forward to reading more of this author.

In between books, I rediscovered a childhood favourite of mine, which unfortunately is no longer available in print - Little Grey Rabbit's Storybook by Alison Uttley. It is such a magical storybook. I love the pictures by Margaret Tempest, and the simplicity of the stories.

So that's it for now...time for another trip to the book shop. Although, with my new timetable, I am trying to do some writing of my own, although a non-fiction book, rather than fiction. I just don't have the imagination as these authors do.

New favourite author!

Well it is the Summer holidays and I have discovered a new favourite author, which is why I haven't been blogging. I had already read one of her books The Unfortunates, but then I read a write-up about Laurie Graham's The Importance of Being Kennedy, in the Sunday Times, and I could not resist! It was so interesting. I learnt so much about history, but in such an easy-to-read way, full of rich character, and stories about different lifestyles. It is about a country girl from Ireland who becomes nursery maid to a family in the United States of America, in 1917. The family turns out to be the Kennedy family and so begins a description about the development and roles of each member of the Kennedy family. The prelude says that these are the memoirs, published by her nephew, but the publishers say it is a work of fiction, and yet, it is so believable. A really good read. So, the next one that I bought was called The Future Homemakers of America. No famous family in this one, but again some brilliant characters, the main ones being the wives of US air force pilots based in Norfolk during the war, and what happens while they are in England and when they get back to America. Again, absolutely brilliant, and really good to read. The next one, by this autor, is Mr Starlight. Quite different, although focusing on particular characters, two of whom are musicians who move from England to America to become celebrities. As the title suggests, one makes it while the other doesn't or does he....there is so much to this book, and the ending has an unexpected modern twist, but in keeping with the times, 1930s onwards, through the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. My next on in the Laurie Graham series is "Gone With The Windsors". The title is ace in itself. Can't wait to read the rest... I did deviate slightly by reading Sepulchre and The Sonnet Lover, both by authors that I have read before. Sepulchre is by Kate Mosse and is set in 19th century Paris and the South of France. It is similar to Labyrinth, in that the story is set in two eras, but joined, and the main subject is tarot cards. It was enjoyable, although a bit harsh in places, but the story was very romantic and dramatic, and made me want to return to France again...one day! The Sonnet Lover is by Carol Goodman, who also wrote the Lake of Dead Languages, among others. This was set in Italy, and was also very romantic and dramatic, and the key focus was on Shakespeare's sonnets, and whether or not he had a romance in Italy. It was very good, beautifully written. So, this is why I have been so bad at keeping this blog up-to-date. There just isn't enough time in the day :-)