What We're Reading in August

Joanna here:  Season of Mists and Yellow Fruitfulness it may be, but I'm not getting ANY reading done.  You will have heard this excuse before many times. I think I may be the least readingest of all the Wenches. I'm rereading the Lymond Chronicles of Dorothy Dunnett. I'm embarked on the Game of Kings just at the moment. Rereading it is very different from reading it for the first time which was full of "Wow. I want to write that," but also a good bit of "What?" "Huh?" Also beginning and not yet very far into The Natural History of Dragons, of which you have heard other Wenches speak. I'm enjoying it.

 

Here's what Nicola has to say:

I came back from the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference buzzing with ideas and weighed down with a pile of fabulous books I am now reading my way through. First was Here’s To Us by Elin Hilderbrand. I hadn’t come across her books before; here in the UK they aren’t as well-known as in the US but I am so glad I have found her because I didn’t want to put the book down. I loved the exploration of complicated family relationships, the twists, the tensions and the resolutions. I loved the characters and the way that they interacted and found the writing style so crisp and clear. Even more I loved her descriptions of Nantucket which were so rich and vivid that I felt as though I was there! I’m on the hunt for her other books now.

Next I picked up Midsummer Dreams by Alison May. It’s a clever re-imagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a contemporary setting. I’m only part of the way through but I am really enjoying the way that Alison has created characters who feel real and warm and alive. It’s funny and poignant and she really pins down the emotional conflicts. As it’s one of a series inspired by Shakespeare I can see myself reading the whole lot!

 

 

 

Anne says:

MY LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP, by Nina George

The story is about a man, Jean Perdu, who runs a bookshop— or what he calls 'a literary apothecary' in a lovely old restored barge on the Seine River in Paris. Jean has a gift for finding just the right book for each customer, a balm for what ails you. He can heal anyone except himself—he's locked in a frozen past (Perdu is French for 'lost')—until a new person arrives in his apartment complex and Jean's frozen present begins to develop cracks. What follows is an adventure of the heart — but be aware, this not genre romance. 

I savored it and, having read a lot of books, enjoyed recognizing the various titles Jean offered his customers. I loved the setting and the layered intrigue of the characters. It's an international best-seller.  I bought it as an e-book, but I'm buying the paper version, as it's a keeper. As Library Journal (who gave it one of their coveted starred reviews) said "if ever a book was meant to be read over and over, this gem is it.”

 

You get two covers for the price of one, because different

 TRUST by Kylie Scott

Kylie Scott is famous for her gritty rock star series, but this is a new area for her — YA (Young Adult.) TRUST has only been out for a week or two, but it already has several hundred reviews. I devoured it in a night.

Kylie Scott has a gift for putting two fairly ordinary young people in an extraordinary situation, and then showing them learn to cope, and grow stronger from the experience. She has a deep understanding of the pressures and conflict that young people today have to deal with. TRUST is a coming-of-age story, and also a romance. Highly recommended.

  

THE CHILBURY LADIES' CHOIR by Jennifer Ryan

I think I picked this up from a wenchly recommendation. Life in a small English village during WW2, when normal village life is challenged and disrupted and people discover new talents and strengths in themselves. I enjoyed it very much.

 

Andrea/Cara has two books for us, one by a fellow Wench:

I was so happy to receive my copy of Nicola’s The Phantom Tree from Book Depository recently. (It’s not yet out in the U.S. but Book Depository has free shipping worldwide so you to can snatch it up—which I highly recommend!) It’s a riveting time slip story, with the action moving back and forth between Elizabethan England and the present day. The plot revolves around the heroine seeing a small portrait in a modern-day antique shop that's just created a news buzz by being identified as a lost-lost painting of Anne Boleyn. But the heroine knows that’s wrong . . .

 

I’m not all that familiar with Tudor times, so I loved learning about the intricate politics and family connections as well as aspects of everyday life. The writing is beautifully evocative—the manor homes like Wolf Hall and the surrounding countryside come brilliantly alive. And the characterizations are richly nuanced, both with the actual historical figures and how they entwine with the fictional ones. Nicola creates a wonderfully provocative “what-if” story for Mary Seymour, who in real life was presumed to have died in childhood. I don’t want to give away too much of the mystery twists . . . But add to the plot the heroine’s former flame, a dishy modern historian who has his own hit TV show, and things heat up as they delve deeper into the mystery of the portrait—which brings about some other surprising revelations! It’s a wonderfully layered and engaging story, and I was up until the wee hours of the morning finishing it because I just couldn’t put it down!

 

On a very different note, I also enjoyed My Life With Bob, whose subtitle is: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues. It’s part memoir, part musing on books by by Pamela Paul, the editor of the New York Times Book Review. As a shy, introverted high school student, she started to keep a notebook of every book she read, and over the last 28 years, she's kept it up, hauling the tattered volume around the world with her as she goes on life’s journeys, both physically and metaphorically. I like the way the official blurb describes it: "It’s about the deep and powerful relationship between book and reader . . . It’s about why we read what we read and how those choices make us who we are. It’s about how we make our own stories.” There are times when she gets a little too self-consciously precious, but on the whole, it’s a fun, provocative read about how books shape our lives, providing solace, inspiration, escape, and often a prod to be better than we think we can be. And really, who among our Wench family here can resist a book about books!

 

So, what are you reading lately that delights, surprises, moves or intrigues you?

 

 

Comments

[Sonya Heaney]

I read Midsummer Dreams a while ago. I love anything to do with A Midsummer Night's Dream, (my first paid job ever was at age eight, playing the Changeling in the Queensland Ballet's production, and I went on to perform pretty much every role there was). People need to write more "Dream-themed" books!

I'm trying desperately to catch up on my review books before I go away. At the moment that means I'm reading lots and lots of Harlequin's Christmas ARCs, and it is *far too early* for that!

The Phantom Tree has a really pretty cover. :)

[Mary T]

I just finished reading A STARDANCE SUMMER by Emily March. It's the latest in her Eternity Springs series. I don't read a lot of contemporary romance, but I do enjoy this author and this series. Normally, I tire of a series after about six or eight books. And I think this is about the twelfth or thirteenth book in this series. However, each of these books, while similar, still seems fresh to me.

Just started AUNT DIMITY AND THE WIDOW'S CURSE by Nancy Atherton. If it's true to form, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I have also been reading a few of Mary Balogh's older books that are now available in e-book form. I can't say that I enjoy them as much as her more recent works - but I did enjoy them none the less.

[Joanne Bourne]

I love the Phantom Tree cover. Andrea seems to have all the lovely colors.

Good luck on reviewing Christmas books while the temperature soars outside. If I recall correctly, they used to make Christmas puddings far in advance (and saok them in brandy). Must have been something of the same "feel".

[Sue McCormick]

As usual, I have been doing a lot of rereading (for the usual reason — allergy attacks).
New books are: "A Natural History of Dragons" and "The Tropic of Serpents" — the first two of the Lady Trent novels, and recommended here at an earlier time, as Joanna mentions. I have started "The Strange Case of theAlchemist's Daughter" by Theodora Goss. I have read only one chapter; it has a fascinating narrative style.

During my rereading, I downloaded an ebook version of Stephanie Laurens' "Four In Hand"; it came bundled with "The Dissolute Duke" which I liked so much, I looked up her Penniless Lords series. So I have been enjoying those five new-to-me books.

[Sue McCormick]

I seem to have failed to name the Author of those five book: Sophia James, from New Zealand.

[Joanne Bourne]

How lovely to have a new Stephanie Laurens series to jump into. I'm always delighted when I find something I wasn't expecting. Serendipity.

[Anne Gracie]

Still it's cold here at the moment, Sonya, so reading all those chilly Christmas books will feel appropriate, even if it's not snowing.

[Anne Gracie]

Sue, Sophia James is a lovely writer, I agree. She's also a very nice person. I'll be going to the NZ conference later in the month and will be catching up with a lot of the very fine writers there, so I'll pass on your comment.

[Janga]

I'm adding titles from today's post to my wish list with great enthusiasm.

My recent romance reading has been largely devoted to ARCs--lots of Christmas books, as Sonya mentioned, but also Mary Jo's Once a Rebel, Mary Balogh's Someone to Wed, and Loretta Chase's A Duke in Shining Armor, all of which I loved. I've also been rereading a great deal. I bought Mariah Stewart's Enright trilogy for my Kindle when one book was on sale, and reading them reminded me that there was an Enright connection in her Chesapeake Diaries series. I am in the process of rereading that series; I finished The Long Way Home, the sixth book today. I picked up my copy of Eudora Welty's One Writer's Beginnings to check a quote and was seduced by that irresistible voice into rereading the full book. That in turn prompted a reread of Losing Battles, my favorite Welty novel. And a longing for Mary Oliver's poetry led me to my well-worn copy of her New and Selected Poems, which I have been rereading slowly. Today I read "Peonies" several times. It begins
"This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready
to break my heart
as the sun rises,
as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers"
I may reread it again.

[Michelle Athy]

I've recently been re-reading the Outlander books--well, the Roger and Brianna parts anyway. I'm excited to see them come to life when the next season starts.

Most recently, I finished "Let Us Dream" by Alyssa Cole and Act Like It by Lucy Parker--both were so good in different ways.

[Jan Clemson]

Anne, I loved 'The Little Paris Bookshop', definitely a keeper. I looked for more of Nina George's books but none had been translated. I recently found her 'The Little Breton Bistro' on iBooks. Can it be as good???

[Anne Gracie]

Janga, I'm envious of your advance reading books -- except for Mary Jo's Once a Rebel, which I've read and enjoyed and will interview her about when it comes out. *g* I'm particularly enjoying Mary Balogh's new series and am looking forward to Someone to Wed.

I don't know Mary Oliver's poetry — thanks for sharing.

[Anne Gracie]

Jan I saw the next book in the series in Readings Bookshop the other night, so it's landed here. But I'm flat out at the moment and don't have time for it. Yet.

[Nicola Cornick]

Thanks, Sonya! Yes, I love the cover of TPT. It's very atmospheric.

What fun that you performed all those different Midsummer Night's Dream roles! It was one of the first plays I ever saw and my favourite for so many years. I do enjoy Shakespeare-inspired books and loved Alison's version.

[Nicola Cornick]

Four in Hand was one of the very first of Stephanie Laurens books that I read, Sue, right back in the day when she wrote for Mills & Boon. In fact I still have the original paperback! I did enjoy it and I can already see her style developing in it but I wish it had been longer and the secondary characters given more space. That wouldn't happen in M&B at that time, though!

[Quantum]

I have various reading projects on the go at present:

Audio books
Working through available books by favourite authors:

Julia Quinn - Smith-Smythe series

Mary Balogh - Bedwyn Series

Nicola Cornick - Phantom Tree - completed - very enjoyable

Anne Gracie - Chance Sisters series - now on book 3 and having a lot of fun.

Mary Jo Putney - read them all now - would love to see more in audio soon!

Andrea Penrose - Murder on Black Swan Lane - made my own audio for this - just starting

Rosanne Bittner - love her Western Romances - finished them all now and wishing for more in audio

Non-Fiction
Thesis on many-body Green Functions - refreshing my memory before looking at some ideas for understanding the mind and remote healing using quantum field theory.

[Janga]

Anne, Mary Oliver is an award-winning American poet. I think you would enjoy her work. Her poems make me look at the natural world with a new appreciation. I know you are a dog lover, so I'm guessing you would take particular delight in her collection Dog Songs.

[Janga]

I;m reading Beauty Like the Night today.

[Joanne Bourne]

I went to read a few poems by Mary Oliver. They are splendid.

I stopped at three because poems are not meant to be gobbled. But I'll be back.

Thank you for the heads up.

[Joanne Bourne]

I read the Outlander books as they came out, one by one.
I've fallen a little behind in the last year or two. I must go catch up.

[Joanne Bourne]

Y'know how folks listen to audiobooks when they commute or when they exercise. I don't do so much of either of those, so I never seem to have time to listen to books.

I will keep trying. It's a whole 'nother way ofenjoying.

And I, too, love nonfiction. I'm finding it relaxing at a time when I need some peace of mind.

[Joanne Bourne]

(jo nods gravely)
... sounds like a great idea.

Hope you enjoy *g*

[Andrea Penrose]

How fun to have performed all those Shakespearean roles, Sonya!

And The Phantom Tree is everything the cover promises—and more! I promise.

[Andrea Penrose]

I'm not much of a contemporary reader either, but you have me intrigued, Mary!

[Andrea Penrose]

The Goss book sounds fascinating, Sue. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Vicki L.]

Still encountering a bunch of meh or yuck books. (Grin). But I did have 6 new to me books that I enjoyed...

Anne Gracie - Marry in Haste. Read it the same day I got it...no pacing for me! Very enjoyable.

Sabrina Jefferies - The Pleasures of Passion. It was good enough to pass on to my sisters.

Jennifer Ashley - 4 more in her Mackenzie series. Those were very enjoyable. I think I have most of what she has written in that series now except for an eBook. Though I think there are 2 more to follow but nothing definite yet. No links on Amazon or on the author website yet.

[Andrea Penrose]

Oh, you always have SUCH a great list, Janga. I'm looking forward to the new Loretta Chase. She's a great favorite of mine.
And love your mention of classics. Must look up Welty again.

[Andrea Penrose]

Quantum, is that your thesis you're re-reading or is there a book on mind/remote healing using quantum field theory? It would likely be WAY over my head but I have a good friend who would comprehend it, and find it very intriguing.

[Joanne Bourne]

I loved Anne's Marry in Haste. Isn't that a lovely cover?

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KGZVT5S/?tag=wordwench-20)

I think I read the Sabrina Jeffries book some time back, but I haven't got to the Jennifer Ashley books yet. Looking forward.

[Teresa Broderick]

At the moment I'm rereading Helen Carey's series of Lavender Road books. I've been a bit overwhelmed with life at the moment. I don't get a lot of reading time as it is. I read these back in the nineties and enjoyed them very much. She's just released books four and five in the series so I felt it was so long ago I needed to reread the others to refresh my memory. I'm enjoying the reread very much and I have a list as long as my arm of other books to read, including Nicola's Phantom Tree. I can't believe I haven't it read yet!!! My life will be changing slightly next month so I'm hoping I might get a little more 'me' time which basically means reading time!!

[Karin]

It took a while but I finally finished "A Lady in the Smoke" which I mentioned I had started a month or two ago. It was terrific, and it had a wonderful courtroom scene at the end. I LOVE courtroom scenes.
I read "The Black Angel" by Barbara Samuel, also a great book. How did I miss this author until now? She created such a fascinating family for the heroine, that I was heartbroken to find out that she didn't write stories for the two brothers, whom I adored. There is a sequel for the heroine's sister though, "Night of Fire" which I have to get hold of. The atmosphere is very Georgian, more lush and sensual and also more drama and violence than the Regency. And not just the women but the men get to wear great clothes, and have long flowing hair(swoons a bit).

[Joanne Bourne]

I won't exactly have 'free' time, but I'll be able to schedule my non-free time a little differently. I think this may be what you're doing. More "me" time. Yes.

It feels good. It feels very good.

So I'm looking forward to change, theway you are. And -- yes -- some reading time.

[Joanne Bourne]

Great recommendations !!

I love the Georgian period -- though with reservations. The clothing doesn't seem suited to adventuring, somehow.

I'll have to rethink that, about the clothing.

Barbara Samuel, btw, writes contemporary (http://www.barbarasamuel.com/)
and has won the RITA more times than is humanly possible ...

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Janga. I'll look her up.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks so much Vicki, glad you enjoyed it.
Jennifer Ashely is a favorite author of mine and she's amaaaazingly fast and prolific, so you wont have long to wait.

[Anne Gracie]

Very glad you're enjoying my Chance sister series, Quantum.

I don't do as much driving as I used to so I'm not listening to as many audio books, nor have I been tackling the dreary house chores where I also use audio books to whisk me to a different reality as I scrub. But right now I'm writing, so no time for distractions.

[Anne Gracie]

I'll be interviewing Joanne about Beauty Like the Night on Friday.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks Joanna. If you haven't read Jennifer Ashley, start with The Madness of Lord Ian McKenzie.

[Anne Gracie]

Barbara Samuel is a superb writer. She also writes as Barbara O'Neill and she used to write for Harlequin many years ago as Ruth Wind. I have most of her books under the various names. She's a writer's writer (like Joanna)

[Vicki L.]

What an odd coincidence you mentioned Ruth Wind, I recently picked up 4 Ruth Winds at a Friends of the Library sale. I'd never heard of her before but at 5 books for a $1.00, I couldn't go wrong.

I'm always a little skeptical of the depth of the writing since so many Harlequin's don't have much to them. However Ruth Wind wrote very well developed characters and plots. Very enjoyable.

I'll have to look for her in using her other names.

[Janice]

Lady Luck's Map of Vegas was genius :)

[Karin]

How interesting! I used to read and like the Ruth Wind books many years ago. And I'll have to look for "Lady Luck's Map of Vegas"