Joanna here with a look at What the Wenches are Reading this recent little time here.
Me -- I’ve got a couple of books toI recommend. First off is the non-fiction Jane Austen’s Guide to Good Manners by Josephine Ross. While it’s one of many books that look at Regency customs and manners through the lens of Jane Austen’s works, this one is particularly readable and correct.
Second book up for a recomment is Catherine DeLors’ For the King. Historical Fiction, here, rather than Historical Romance. It’s an atmospheric novel set in 1800 based upon an attempt on Napoleon’s life. Fun even for those not fascinated by the period.
And, finally, a bit of an outlier. I’m reading a new-to-me paranormal author, Ben Aaronovitch. (You will probably find him in the upper left hand corner of the bookshop shelves.) The work is titled Midnight Riot which seems to have nothing to do with the plot at all. This is a police procedural set in Modern day London when part of police work is dealing with murderous magic. Very funny voice. Well done.
Andrea says:
I’m finally settling back into a normal routine after all the upheaval of moving earlier this summer. And as usual, I’m doing my ying and yang style of reading. For fiction, I’ve gone back to a book I set aside the first time I tried it—the backstory on that is I recently spent the day with my roommates from college, and as we’re all avid readers, the book recommendations were flying fast and furious (As were our fingers! Everyone was busy typing TBR lists on their i-phones!) Wolf Hall was mentioned, and I said I had given up on it, whereupon I was implored to give it another go, and assured that I would end up loving it. So I am. I want to love it—and I’m warming up to it, but the style/voice is still hard going for me. But I vow to stick it out. (How did everyone else feel about it?)
For non-fiction, I’m reading a very entertaining history of the Age of Fighting Sail entitled Broadsides, by Nathan Miller, which covers the time period between the American Revolution and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. It’s very well-written, and along with detailed descriptions of the battles, it highlights the personalities of the captains and admirals, and gives a fascinating picture of life aboard a British warship.
From Nicola we have:
This month I have been reading The Silkworm, JK Rowling’s second crime novel under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. I enjoy a good old-fashioned whodunit and the first two books in the Cormoran Strike series have been great – intricately plotted, clever, and with some well drawn characters. I am enjoying the way that the relationship between Cormoran, the rather eccentric PI and Robin, his feisty sidekick, is developing and the hints of romance between the two of them. The Silkworm is particularly fun as it’s set in the writing world and contains some very sharp observations about authors, agents and publishers!
In contrast I’ve also been reading Prince Rupert, The Last Cavalier, a biography of Prince Rupert of the Rhine by Charles Spencer. It’s background reading for my current book and although I’ve read it before I’m finding it equally interesting the second time around. Charles Spencer paints a vivid picture of a fascinating man.
Pat says:
Argh, I’m reading old manuscripts, attempting to ready them for e-book production. I think all that editing late in the evening has jaded my reading for pleasure. I picked up Susanna Kearsley’s The Winter Sea, a fabulously written book with meticulous historical detail, set in Scotland in both contemporary time and early 1700s. But once I saw where the history was headed, I skipped to the end because there was only one way that story was going to unfold. Apparently I’ve lost the ability to lose myself in the story.
So now I’m reading a Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line mystery by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham. If you’ve never seen the TV show— it’s about a teen struggling with some serious angst while helping her father in his private detective work. I wish we had more shows where the sex and violence is minimal, and the characters and stories are so well developed. The book starts ten years after the TV story, after Veronica has earned a law degree. It sounds just like the show, catches us up on old characters, and is a good strong mystery. Now I need to hunt another distraction that I won’t be editing in my head ...
Anne here:
First up for me is Eloisa James's Three Weeks with Lady X. I think it's now my favorite of all her books, just beating When Beauty Tamed the Beast. The banter between the hero and heroine is witty and delightful, with some laugh out loud chuckles along the way, and the sizzle builds beautifully to a delicious climax. My only problem with the book is that I bought it as an e-book and now I'll have to get it in hard copy as I know it's one I want on my keeper shelf.
Another historical I enjoyed recently was Mary Balogh's A Secret Affair. On the plane home I devoured Juliet Marillier's Raven Flight, the second in her YA fantasy series that started with Shadowfell. I can't wait for the third in this series. After that I read Kristan Higgins's Waiting For You, a lovely, fun, contemporary small town romance.
Susan here: Like Nicola, I'm also reading The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (aka JKR), and very much enjoying it. The first one, The Cuckoo's Calling, was a great read, and turned me into a Cormoran Strike fan. I love the flaws in this British gumshoe, his honest if chaotic lifestyle, his laid-back wit and depth of intelligence, and the novels have many interesting layers of character and story.
I'm also reading The Moor, another in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King. I'm way behind in reading this series, and I've only just started this one so don't have much to say, except that I liked the first three Russell-Holmes books (Beekeeper's Apprentice, A Monstrous Regiment and A Letter from Mary) so much that I am continuing. While that's hardly unusual for some, it's highly unusual for me. I am not much for keeping up with a series - but so far, so good! King likes King. What can I say. ;)
So that's the reading round-up for this month.
What are you reading? What are you excited about in the world of literature.
One reader drawn from the comment thread will win any one of my books they desire, (including the not-yet-released Rogue Spy ... though you'll have to wait six weeks or so till they send me my copies.)
On Hilary Mantel, the voice is odd. It took me half way through it to turn off the tense critic and go with the story. What takes my breathe away with it and Bring Up the Bodies is that the villain of A Man For All Seasons can be portrayed as a likable hero.
I loved the letters in Lady X. I'm going to have to go back and re-read it someday when I need a comfort read.
My rave of the month is Mary Jo Putney's Not Quite a Wife. I loved the heroine's dark moment and redemption.
Grace Burrowes The Traitor also caught my attention. Some books endings just make my heart go pitty-pat, especially when a secondary character almost steals the show and my heart.
And I've started on my work reading. Yes, I made it through Afghanistan, Aid, Armies, and Empires. It is the depressing story of how the British, the Afghans, the Soviets, the U.S., Pakistan, etc have screwed up Afghanistan time and again. I hated the underlying theme that wanting to empower women with education is culturally unacceptable, and it is imperialistic to pursue such a goal. (End rant.) Hopefully Airpower in Small Wars is just boring, not irritating.
Posted by: Shannon | Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 08:22 PM
The UK title of Midnight Riot was Rivers of London. I think the US publisher may have been afraid that people might mistake it for a nonfiction book.
Posted by: Lcalvin | Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 09:46 PM
I am glad I'm not the only person to have trouble with Wolf Hall. I hated it and am not interested in trying again. I'n not usually so opinionated and haven't been able to pin down what is wrong but maybe it is the voice. That said, I have to say how much I enjoy the "what we are reading columns". I have found many new favorites from your recommendations.
Posted by: Ann | Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 11:35 PM
I loved Wolf Hall, but it took me until about a quarter of the way into the book before I settled to it, it's a very different look at Thomas Cromwell.Bring Up the Bodies is even better, and I really do hope that she does write that third book and complete the story.I'm still slightly stunned that the great villain turned into a really rather likeable hero!
Ben Aaronovitch is such a talented writer, Rivers of London(why do US publishers persist in underestimating their readers ?) was a total page turner, and the other books in the series are just as good.
As for me, I have Janet Chapman : The Highlander Next Dooe, Jayne Ann Krentz:Hot Zone, and some bird called Mary Jo Putney lined up on my Kindle all ready for my weekend away :)
Posted by: Cate | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 12:05 AM
I've just read Pamela Clare's entire Blakewell/Kenleigh Family series, which was incredibly good. It was so rich in history, so well-researched and had so much action and adventure.
I want to read her other series, but they're not available on Kindle where I live, and I can't take paperbacks when I'm travelling until mid-October!
Posted by: Sonya Heaney | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 12:36 AM
I've been rereading a bunch of Marion Chesney oldies that recently came out for kindle under her other name of MC Beaton - comedy at bedtime is a good thing. Just finished See No Love by Monette Cummings, and now finishing a reread of Autumn Rose by Marjorie Farrell, for review. I am partway through the Bushkin book about Johnny Carson, and I have a huge tome about the Bronte family that I haven't cracked yet, probably because it hurts to lift it. I too am waiting for amazon's drone (the human one who comes at 7 am on Sunday morning when no one is around to take the package) to bring me Mary Jo's latest. After that, I dunno what.
Posted by: Janice | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 01:55 AM
Thanks for all the thoughts on Wolf Hall. I found it unlike anything I'd ever read before and I had to work pretty hard at it. Like Shannon I was intrigued that Hilary Mantel was able to make Thomas Cromwell such an attractive character. I have Bring up the Bodies to read on my holiday.
Such an interesting selection of books this month - I am going to take a look at Broadsides and Midnight Riot - and thank you for all the other recommendations!
Posted by: Nicola Cornick | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 02:10 AM
The voice IS odd, Shannon. That "in the moment" present tense really is hard slogging for me. But I'm getting a little more comfortable with it. I'm told Bring Up the Bodies is a lot easier.
Sigh on the Afgan history. What a mess has been made is right. You would think government would learn. But no.
Posted by: Andrea Penrose | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 07:26 AM
I just read Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's written for teenagers but I found it a very interesting read as an adult. It's based on the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic.
Posted by: Jackie | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 07:28 AM
Ann, I just WANT to like Wolf Hall, so am pushing through. (Oh, what we do for friends.)
So glad you enjoy the monthly WWR as much as I do. I've gotten lots of wonderful recommendation from both the other Wenches and from our readers. Great fun to share!
Posted by: Andrea Penrose | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 07:28 AM
Cate, I heard Bringing Up the Bodies was even better, too, which is another reason I'm pushing through on Wolf Hall. It does take some getting used to.
Posted by: Andrea Penrose | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 07:29 AM
Yes, really enjoy all the comments on Wolf Hall. And you recommendation on Prince Rupert looks fascinating!
Posted by: Andrea Penrose | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 07:31 AM
I just finished Not Quite A Wife by Mary Jo. It was a perfect end of summer read for me. While it contained the weighty subjects of religion and violence they were intertwined in such a way as not to be preachy or depressing. A lovely story of finding each other again......I think I might need to read the earlier "lost lords" again.
Posted by: Samantha | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 09:31 AM
I stayed up much too late last night finishing The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. 2:30 a.m. is much too late when I have company arriving this evening and spare beds to be made up and seldom used bedrooms to freshen up.
It was a great book, a kidnapping story where you know from the beginning that the victim was rescued, but I didn't "get" the big picture until it was laid out for me.
I'm choosing between Catriona McPherson's The Day She Died and Amy Bloom's Lucky Us for my next read.
Posted by: Sharon | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 10:15 AM
I read "That Scandalous Summer" by Meredith Duran. She's a very talented writer, because even though I had trouble warming up to the heroine at first(she had a couple of unattractive character traits), I ended up really enjoying it.
I am looking forward to the sequel, "Fool Me Twice", because I'm curious how Duran will turn the brother of the hero in TSS, who was a total jerk, into the hero of the the second book.
Posted by: Karin | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 12:05 PM
What have I been reading...not much since I was traveling and working on a stressful project. When I did pick up a book I was reading old comforts. Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Song and DragonSinger. The Duchess of Asherwood by Mary A Garrait (love that book - I read it every year or two.) Witty, sparkly, an interesting premise.
Waiting for me are Jayne Anne Krentz's Hot Zone, Lori Foster's No Limits, Grace Burrowes The Captive and Mary Jo Putney's new one - Not Quite a Wife.
Hmm, now that I look at what I wrote, that does show a rather diverse selection of book types, doesn't it!
Luckily for me, it is going to be TOO hot to be outside much this weekend so I will have a good excuse for sitting inside, in the AC, reading all my new books.
Posted by: Vicki | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 12:57 PM
I am reading the Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure.
Posted by: Raquel | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 02:28 PM
I like the British title better and wish the publishers had kept it.
It is estimated there are one million words in the English language. I do not know how many two-word combinations this makes, but somewhere among them must have been a better choice.
(jo, who really wonders about the whole business of naming books.)
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 03:18 PM
I will keep an eye out for this in my local library. Sounds interesting.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 03:19 PM
I've read most of Chesney's Regencies. Years ago, my library didn't carry many Romance novels, but did carry Chesney because she also wrote mysteries. She's always been a good solid writer.
Mary Jo's newest, Not Quite a Wife, is just lovely. A fine, intelligent characterization of the heroine -- both strength and sensitivity.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 03:23 PM
Huh. Nice to see an American YA historical tackling such a difficult subject.
Not her first 'difficult' book. She wrote 'Speak'. My daughter read it in school and was greatly impressed and moved.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 03:27 PM
Totally in agreement here. *g* A great book.
Posted by: Joanna Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 03:39 PM
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. A suspense and mystery story, looks like. Looks interesting.
Posted by: Joanna Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 04:09 PM
Meredith Duran is one of my auto-buy authors. I admire her most excellent technique and characterization. "That Scandalous Summer" is on my to-be-bought list. She writes difficult and interesting heroines.
Posted by: Joanna Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 04:13 PM
ALL of your reading list sounds wonderful Just great.
Mary Garrait is unfamiliar to me. Seeing her in this company makes me determined to give her a try.
Posted by: Joanna Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 04:17 PM
I looked this one up. Sounds a touching and important book.
Posted by: Joanna Bourne | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 04:23 PM
I am reading the new Johanna Lindsey book, Stormy Persuasion. It's a Malory novel!! Ms. Lindsey is one of my favorite authors, besides, of course, Jo Beverly that is.
Posted by: Sheila | Friday, August 29, 2014 at 06:32 PM
I didn't know there was a new Johanna Lindsey out. Thanks for mentioning it. I'll have to go pick it up next time I'm in a bookstore. Yes.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 06:52 AM
I'm reading Vikings by Neil Oliver. Loved the documentaries, so I wanted to read the book, as well.
Posted by: Minna | Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 10:22 AM
I saw the documentary and loved it. I'll look around for the book. Often these books-based-on-documentary have the most wonderful illustrations.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 12:34 PM
Shannon, I'm so glad that you found NQAW worthy of a rave! No matter how much good Laurel did for others, she had to learn to love herself before she could accept being loved. But what would a story be without a black moment?
Posted by: Mary Jo Putney | Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 02:05 PM
Samantha--I've always loved "Lost love regained" stories, where there is so much love but also so much conflict. It's rewarding to bring such a couple together again. I'm glad you enjoy Kirkland and Laurel.
Posted by: Mary Jo Putney | Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 02:12 PM
I also enjoyed Marion Chesney's books many years ago.
I tried her MC Beaton books, but because I'd already fallen in love with the TV series of Hamish Macbeth, I found it hard to bond with the original version. Perhaps it's time for another read of them.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Sunday, August 31, 2014 at 01:03 AM
I have to admit tht I've never made it through a Hamish Macbeth book, but I love her Agatha Raisin series. I like that she's not afraid to create a lead character who is crazy, flawed, impulsive, emotional, not always entirely likeable and has little bear eyes but is still sexy at 50. You go, girl :)
Posted by: Janice | Monday, September 01, 2014 at 01:41 AM
Have you seen the Hamish Macbeth TV series, Janice. Wonderfully funny.
I havent tried the Agatha Raisin books, but theyre at my local library, I think, so Ill give them a go.
Thanks.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Monday, September 01, 2014 at 04:37 AM
I saw a bit of one once, didn't stick with me. Maybe I should give Hamish another go. I think one of the things that put me off originally was having to wade through Scots dialect spellings. It was a long time ago.
I'd start with Agatha #1, AR and the Quiche of Death. They can be read out of sequence, especially the recent ones, but there is some development to her friends and her men.
Posted by: Janice | Monday, September 01, 2014 at 02:30 PM
Thanks, Ill try them. Love that title, Agathat Rasin and The Quiche of Death.
And you need to watch Hamish Macbeth from episode 1, too, I think.
The quiet deadpan humor is delicious, and the Scottish accents lovely and not too hard (IMO) to understand.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Monday, September 01, 2014 at 03:05 PM