What non-mystery books are you reading? (2021-2022) Showing 701-750 of 1,030

[Judy]

Rosina, oh yes, I've heard about that book somewhere - possibly it came up in the group before, or maybe in a podcast? It sounds as if it would be very interesting to read.

[Rosina]

It is one of my favourites - the Tommy Hambledon series is variable, but that one is excellent.

[Susan in NC]

Rosina wrote: "I find it interesting to read books set before WW2, unfiltered through later revelations. One that I read when I was much younger was A Toast To Tomorrow, a spy story, published in 1..."

Wow! I imagine the part after he recovers his memory, after the Reichstag fire, was quite dramatic!

[Abigail]

Another interesting window on the way Europeans perceived the Nazi Party before the war began may be found in A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor. He was a young British man who took a walking trip in Europe in the late 1930s. Of course, he published the book many years later but he claimed it was based on the journal he kept at the time.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Good to hear you are enjoying Apricot Sky, Susan. I am hoping to catch up with more Furrowed Middlebrow and similar books. I feel for you keeping track of all those characters, as I..."

Thanks, Judy, it’s one of those books with lovely descriptions of the summer weather and Highland scenery, some sly humor in the characterizations (like a hypochondriac house guest who’s just arrived), and some delightful scenes where she gets inside the heads of her young characters, and you suddenly remember those blissful summer memories of feeling just the way they do - not a care in the world, the warm sand or rock under your back, the sound of the waves, the delightful warmth of the sun on your drenched swimsuit!

I wondered at her ability to capture young characters so vividly, and looked at her author’s page - she also wrote several children’s books, apparently. Makes sense! I’ve got some library books to get through, so Apricot Sky may have to wait a bit for me to finish; luckily, it’s one of those books, for me at least, where you enjoy sinking into it for awhile, but don’t feel any urgency to rush back.

[Rosina]

Susan in NC wrote: "Wow! I imagine the part after he recovers his memory, after the Reichstag fire, was quite dramatic!"

Hitler appoints him to the position of Deputy Chief of Police, to investigate it ...

[Jill]

Just starting The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken. Looks in the nature of a good old-fashioned children's book.

[Abigail]

I read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase a few years ago, Jill—it’s very interesting, a blend of fairy tale and psychology. If I’d read it as a child, it would probably have given me nightmares.

[Judy]

I loved The Wolves of Willoughby Chase as a child. I believe the same author, Joan Aiken, wrote a couple of Jane Austen sequels.

[Abigail]

She did, but they’re pretty bad.

[Judy]

I think I quite enjoyed one of them, Mansfield Revisited (just looked up the title!) but it was a long time ago.

[Abigail]

I didn’t mind her novel Jane Fairfax, mainly because I have considerable sympathy for the character, but disliked the rest. But then I’m a heavy reader of Austenesque fiction and a stern critic of the genre!

[Judy]

Abigail, you've just reminded me that I think I own a copy of Jane Fairfax but have never read it - I'm not even sure where it is now! I will try to have a look for it. I know you are the GR expert on Austenesque fiction and will have a look at your shelves for tips if I feel like reading some. :)

[Sid]

Jill wrote: "Just starting The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken. Looks in the nature of a good old-fashioned children's book."

Joan Aiken's children's fiction and short stories are all wonderful, I think. I'm less keen on her adult books.

[Abigail]

Oh, I’m hardly the GR expert on Austenesque fiction! You should check out the Austenesque Lovers TBR group to see the real fanatics—they read hundreds every year.

[Judy]

Well, I think you are *an* expert anyway, Abigail - and wow at the description of that group. I've only ever read a handful of Austenesque fictions but have been thinking I might try one or two more.

On Joan Aiken, I agree with Sid that I also really liked Aiken's children's fiction - Wolves of Willoughby Chase is the one I liked best, but I remember enjoying the sequels too.

[Susan]

I just finished Scandal at Dolphin Square: A Notorious History which was fun.

[Susan in NC]

Rosina wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Wow! I imagine the part after he recovers his memory, after the Reichstag fire, was quite dramatic!"

Hitler appoints him to the position of Deputy Chief of Police, to investiga..."

Wow!

[Ellen]

Jill wrote: "Just starting The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken. Looks in the nature of a good old-fashioned children's book."

Judy wrote: "I loved The Wolves of Willoughby Chase as a child. I believe the same author, Joan Aiken, wrote a couple of Jane Austen sequels."
I received Wolves of Willoughby Chase from the Weekly Reader Book Club in the 1960's. I expect I have reread it a dozen times. One of my all time favorites. They must have been well made for though it is very grimy it is still in one piece.

[Susan]

A Toast To Tomorrow is currently 99p if anyone is interested. It appears to be the second in a series and the first, Drink to Yesterday is also 99p.

In non-fiction books, I have just finished Agent Sonya: Moscow's Most Daring Wartime Spy and have started Not Far From Brideshead: Oxford Between the Wars

[Susan in NC]

Just started Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds byThomas Halliday from my library, nonfiction, but lovely writing!

[Abigail]

Currently reading (for the second time, for a book club) The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. I quite liked it the first time, though as a student of Austen I kept trying to correlate the history I knew of the founding of the JA Soc with the fictional story here.

[Wayne]

As usual I have quite a few on the go: The Jewel in the Crown (Last bit of an excellent book on the end of empire in India); The Seed Is Mine: The Life of Kas Maine, a South African Sharecropper, 1894-1985 (Reread of a great social history of the struggles of a Black farmer in the middle decades of 20th century South Africa); Slowly Down the Ganges (A giggle-inducing account of Mr. and Mrs Newby's boat trip down the Ganges); Les Misérables: Volume One (Victor Hugo is a storyteller in love with words, so this will take a while); The Bone People (will start this reread from the land of the long white cloud) and last but not least The Long Earth (will start this soon, no idea, but looking forward. After al it is Mr. Pratchett.)

[Abigail]

That’s a lot to juggle, Wayne! But they’re all very different so I suppose you can suit your mood.

[Wayne]

Yes, my serialised reading also helps with "slow" books. I take it in small doses.

[Susan in NC]

Wayne wrote: "Yes, my serialised reading also helps with "slow" books. I take it in small doses."

I’ve started doing that the last few years - I can only juggle about three books at a time, but generally a nonfiction book, a mystery, and something light and entertaining on audiobook to listen while knitting, if I have a project on the go. I was listening to Thank You, Jeeves today, always appreciate a visit with Wodehouse! Jonathan Cecil is a delightful narrator.

[Wayne]

I want to reduce the batch to six, which works for me. When I access audiobooks, I always listen to it in bed, because, without fail I fall asleep. I haven't listen to one in a while.

[Sandy]

Wayne wrote: "I want to reduce the batch to six, which works for me. When I access audiobooks, I always listen to it in bed, because, without fail I fall asleep. I haven't listen to one in a while."

That is my problem as well so I seldom listen in bed. If I forget to set a timer the book can finish without me.

[Wayne]

Sandy wrote: "Wayne wrote: "I want to reduce the batch to six, which works for me. When I access audiobooks, I always listen to it in bed, because, without fail I fall asleep. I haven't listen to one in a while...."

That has happened on a number of occasions to me.

[Susan in NC]

When I was in hospital several years ago, the audiobook of Bleak House put me to sleep! Never made it past the first couple hundred pages, until I finally finished it last year. Yes, I think the key is to listen anywhere but in bed, or guaranteed sleepy time. ;)

[Jill]

I am a short way into Bomb Girls: Britain's Secret Army: The Munitions Women of World War II by Jacky Hyams. I have been surprised by a few things mentioned. I hadn't realised how many factories there were, and their locations.

[Wayne]

Susan in NC wrote: "When I was in hospital several years ago, the audiobook of Bleak House put me to sleep! Never made it past the first couple hundred pages, until I finally finished it last year. Yes, I think the ke..."

I used to drive long distances as part of my work, and audiobooks would have been perfect accompaniment. Instead I entertained myself with sing-along performances (Bob Dylan, Waterboys and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes among others), or sharp dialogues with myself.

[Wayne]

Susan in NC wrote: "When I was in hospital several years ago, the audiobook of Bleak House put me to sleep! Never made it past the first couple hundred pages, until I finally finished it last year. Yes, I think the ke..."

I used to drive long distances as part of my work, and audiobooks would have been perfect accompaniment. Instead I entertained myself with sing-along performances (Bob Dylan, Waterboys and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes among others), or sharp dialogues with myself.

[Jan C]

Wayne wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "When I was in hospital several years ago, the audiobook of Bleak House put me to sleep! Never made it past the first couple hundred pages, until I finally finished it last year...."

When I take a long trip in the car (which, admittedly, I haven't done too much of late) I listen to audiobooks. They keep me more alert listening to music.

[Susan in NC]

Wayne wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "When I was in hospital several years ago, the audiobook of Bleak House put me to sleep! Never made it past the first couple hundred pages, until I finally finished it last year...."

That sounds like fun, too - nothing like a good old singalong to make the miles pass! Be glad it was before ubiquitous cell cameras, you wouldn’t want to find yourself being filmed while belting out tunes! ;)

[Susan in NC]

Jan C wrote: "Wayne wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "When I was in hospital several years ago, the audiobook of Bleak House put me to sleep! Never made it past the first couple hundred pages, until I finally finished..."

My mom tried that on a long drive several years ago, she was driving to a neighboring state to visit family. She told me she didn’t think out her audiobook choice - she chose some law enforcement thriller, a detective chasing a serial killer, scared herself silly when she stopped at a rest stop for a bathroom break, kept checking under all the stalls of the empty restroom!

[Jan C]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Wayne wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "When I was in hospital several years ago, the audiobook of Bleak House put me to sleep! Never made it past the first couple hundred pages, until I fi..."

I choose a couple of comedic ones and came close to driving off the road, I think one was a Nora Ephron and another was Martin Short.

[Susan in NC]

Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Wayne wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "When I was in hospital several years ago, the audiobook of Bleak House put me to sleep! Never made it past the first couple hundr..."

Ok, that would be me…🤦🏻‍♀️

[Tara]

On the audiobook discussion, they are great to listen to while cooking, cleaning, or doing walking errands in my neighborhood (although I find my mind tends to wander when I am grocery shopping and I often have to rewind to spots I miss). They are excellent to fall asleep to as well--my mind is too active for things like ocean waves or falling rain, so I will put on an old favorite with a timer, and I'm out like a light!

[Tara]

Inspired by a series of cooking videos by a YouTube channel I follow, Tasting History with Max Miller, I decided to finally pick up The Last Night on the Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining, and Style as the anniversary for the sinking is coming up. I plan on cooking a first-class style meal, and perhaps mix a cocktail or two.

[Rosina]

Tara wrote: "my mind is too active for things like ocean waves or falling rain, so I will put on an old favorite with a timer, and I'm out like a light!"

I agree - I am listening to Piranesi, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor. It's only a short book, so over the last few months of using it as a sleep aid, I've become very familiar with the story, so I don't need to stay awake to see what happens next. Sometimes, I fall asleep within a few words!

[Jan C]

Tara wrote: "Inspired by a series of cooking videos by a YouTube channel I follow, Tasting History with Max Miller, I decided to finally pick up [book:The Last Night on the Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining,..."

I found his channel this past week. It has been fascinating. Plus he brings experience of having worked on a ship.

[Gary]

Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Gary wrote: "Currently listening to [book:Make Something Good Today: A M..."

HGTV is a refreshing break from the news. New episodes of Home Town will be back later this year. Sunday is the usual new episode night. They run older episodes at various times.

[Gary]

Started listening/reading Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews Edwards. I am doing her life backwards as I read/listened to the second volume of her memoir last year.

[Abigail]

Reading, not loving, Five Windows by D. E. Stevenson. Pleasant enough but I’m not much engaged with the hero.

[Jackie]

Abigail wrote: "Reading, not loving, Five Windows by D. E. Stevenson. Pleasant enough but I’m not much engaged with the hero."

I'll be interested in your final verdict, Abigail. I hope it gets better!

[Abigail]

Maybe I’m just more accustomed to the plucky female main characters who are standard in the genre! But the protag is a bit of a prig.

[Tania]

I read that one earlier this year. I didn't like him at first and also thought he was a prig, but I did warm to him and really enjoyed it in the end; it did take me a while to get through the first bit though.

[Abigail]

Thanks for the encouragement, Tania!

[Susan in NC]

Finished “Jeeves”, a few days ago, still enthralled with, getting close to end of Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds, another patron wants it, no renewing so must finish. It is fascinating, I’d love to own a copy, I’m slow because the author’s descriptions of past creatures are so fantastic, I find myself constantly googling them - some great info, pics available of these critters on the interwebs. Slow going, but fascinating, and boy, this young man (looks young in his jacket photo) can write beautifully.