What Are You Currently Reading?

[Abigail]

After The Women of Brewster Place I zipped through Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart and am now embarking on The Weight Of The Evidence by Michael Innes, the last of my group reads for February! Maybe I’ll have time to chip away at the TBR before the month ends.

[Marilyn]

I noticed this last night. The photo at the top of this group's page is Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet. I am currently reading The Winter People, written by her father John Ehle.

[Mary]

I’m just about half way through another Dorothy Whipple “ They were Sisters” .. it’s riveting ( and shocking in some parts .. Domestic abuse is always so hard to read about ) .
She’s a brilliant writer ..

[Abigail]

Oh dear, I may need to avoid that one. Thanks for the heads-up!

[Marilyn]

MaryE wrote: "I’m just about half way through another Dorothy Whipple “ They were Sisters” .. it’s riveting ( and shocking in some parts .. Domestic abuse is always so hard to read about ) .
She’s a brilliant w..."

Wish my library had more of her books. At some point in time I will have to do interlibrary loan.

[Mary]

Abigail , normally I avoid books with any hint of such sad topics but that part is dealt with quite quickly and Dorothy writes about it SO well . In my opinion it would be a shame to not read it .
But absolutely , I understand anyone’s reluctance.

[Mary]

Marilyn , that’s like our libraires . I finally gave up searching and am now a steady customer at Abebooks . I’ve gotten beautiful editions from them . One would never know that the books were used copies.

[Abigail]

Finished a very pleasing academic mystery, The Weight Of The Evidence by Michael Innes, and now reading volume 3 of D. E. Stevenson’s Dering Family series, Winter and Rough Weather.

[Abigail]

I finished my February reading list with a couple of days to spare—a rare occurrence! So it’s time to fit in a book written by a friend that has sat on my shelf for way too long: The Shadow of Celene by Carol Sanders. It’s an intriguing idea—the story of a woman in slavery-era USA who is dependent on, and dominated by, her slave.

[Elizabeth]

Having fallen in love with Sylvia Townsend Warner's writing after reading Lolly Willowes back in October, I searched out some of her other works. Just finished Summer Will Show. It is very different from Lolly Willowes, but with her recognisable flair for description and ability to evoke a familiar feeling with a wholly unique phrase.

[Abigail]

Good to know that Lolly inspired you! And now you’ve inspired me in turn because I haven’t read any other books by Townsend Warner. Thank you!

[Abigail]

Goodreads has been in a phase of bumping me off threads, so I’ve missed reporting a bunch of books here. Currently reading The Wind Off the Small Isles and The Lost One by Mary Stewart and Surfeit of Suspects by George Ballairs.; recently finished Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac and The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois.

[Mary]

Abigail I was a huge Michael Innés fan when quite young . I gobbled his works and those of Mary Stewart’s ; must go back and have a pleasant re read wallow.. :)

[Mary]

I’m back to Dorothy Whipple . I am determined to own and read as much of hers as I can .
This time it’s , They knew Mr Knight . It is so so good but it’s interesting as it has whiffs of A Fortnight in September and I’m wondering if it’s the time frame or if Dorothy was unconsciously influenced by RC Sherriff.

I’ve not read Lolly ; must give it a go !
I used to wish I had two heads , so I could read twice as much .. lol!

[Abigail]

MaryE, I’m reading both Michael Innes and Mary Stewart in publication order in Goodreads groups if you’re looking for company in your wallow! The group Madam, Want to Talk about Mary Stewart? is about halfway through its current read; we’re in the late 1960s. Reading the Detectives is reading at a slow pace, about one book every four months; we’re just out of World War II. And you mustmustmust read Lolly Willowes, one of my favorite books of all time.

[Mary]

Thanks Abigail ! Gosh it's hard to fit everything in..lol I will definitely try to join..., And Lolly will be read soon !! :)

[Abigail]

I know, I belong to about twenty reading groups and always feel behind!

[Janice]

Abigail wrote: "I know, I belong to about twenty reading groups and always feel behind!"

Me too, Abigail! Only I really am always behind. :)

[Janice]

Well, I just decided to put a book on my too-long TBR list, and it's not for any group; it's one of my favourite books, and this is the perfect month to read it. And I am reading it starting tomorrow. :) The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim.

[Abigail]

I just watched the film of Enchanted April a few weeks ago! Love the book.

[Jan]

The Song of the Lark
and
A Deadly Shaker Spring

[Mary]

I love The Enchanted April ; such a great book !

[Abigail]

Finished Surfeit of Suspects by George Bellairs with a sigh of relief, I thought it was awful, and rewarding myself with Love in a Cold Climate.

[Mary]

Aww one of my all time favourites; Love in a Cold Climate ! Enjoy( I’m sure it’s not your first read of it , Abigail?

[Abigail]

I haven’t read any Mitford books since I was in my teens so I honestly can’t remember!

[Mary]

I’m looking forward to your thoughts on it then! 🙂

[Abigail]

I won a freebie on Goodreads and it arrived yesterday so I’m going to read Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson.

[Abigail]

MaryE wrote: "I’m looking forward to your thoughts on it then! 🙂"

I’m afraid times have changed and I have changed too much to find Love in a Cold Climate an unmitigated pleasure. Triggering for me.

[Mary]

Abigail, it has happened for me too .
It’s a bit sad though , to see heroes fall.

[Abigail]

I know what you mean, I’m still sentimental about bad old England, in all its imperialist charm.

[Abigail]

I know this group has read quite a bit of Jane Austen in the past, so I thought I’d mention that another Goodreads group, The Readers Review, is starting a group read of Mansfield Park in May 21. It’s a group that does fairly deep literary analysis and they will be reading about 8 chapters a week.

[Mary]

Abigail yes..I'm a big P G Wodehouse fan and lately there are rumblings that some of his works will be redone..I mean made politically correct ..it's so stupid..

[Abigail]

Oh dear, that would certainly be a mistake! I hate this trend toward changing texts—that’s what introductions and historical notes are for, providing context.

[Mary]

Absolutely right !! Sigh….

[Charlene]

MaryE wrote: "Abigail yes..I'm a big P G Wodehouse fan and lately there are rumblings that some of his works will be redone..I mean made politically correct ..it's so stupid.."

The same thing is happening with Agatha Christie books too.

[Abigail]

Currently reading Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson. I certainly hope it’s not YA but it’s very well written.

[Mary]

Charlene wow , where does it stop … (🧐)

[Janice]

Abigail wrote: "I just watched the film of Enchanted April a few weeks ago! Love the book."

I would love to watch the film! I think it would be on my list of favourite films!

[Janice]

MaryE wrote: "I love The Enchanted April ; such a great book !"

It is such a wonderful book and always makes me happy when I read it! <3

[Janice]

I am rereading one of my favourite novels, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I had a bad case of Covid last week and am taking it easy. :)

[Abigail]

What a lovely way to deal with a case of COVID! I used to read it every December to deal with the holiday blues.

[Abigail]

Janice, I bought myself a DVD so that I can watch it whenever the need arises! DVDs are getting a lot cheaper as they start to disappear.

[Janice]

Abigail wrote: "What a lovely way to deal with a case of COVID! I used to read it every December to deal with the holiday blues."

That's a great idea! I love to read it any time of year! :)

[Janice]

Abigail wrote: "Janice, I bought myself a DVD so that I can watch it whenever the need arises! DVDs are getting a lot cheaper as they start to disappear."

I should look for it at my local consignment store. :)

[Abigail]

Now reading A Life of Her Own by Mary Zomparelli. Very well written Austenesque novel focusing on Margaret Dashwood.

[Mary]

I am back to Daphne Du Maurier ; this time , The Parasites

[Abigail]

Finished The Psychology of the Unwanted Child by Agatha Bowley; feel that The Annotated Mansfield Park, which I am reading with another group, is more insightful on the subject. Also reading The Castle of Otranto and Circe, and recently finished The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams.

[Mary]

Just finished the Unicorn by Iris Murdoch; really liked it. Now back to my fave Dorothy Whipple; High Wages.

[Janice]

Abigail wrote: "Finished The Psychology of the Unwanted Child by Agatha Bowley; feel that The Annotated Mansfield Park, which I am reading with another group, is more insightful on..."

I will start reading Mansfield Park tomorrow. :) (my second time)

[Abigail]

If you want to join the group read, it’s happening in the Goodreads group The Readers Review. We read about 8 chapters a week, and we’re just wrapping up Week 1.