What non-mystery books are you reading? (2021-2022) Showing 101-150 of 1,030

[Tara]

Just started A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which takes place in my neighborhood over 100 years ago. So far highly enjoyable! I was inspired to read this after learning it was a favorite among American soldiers during WWII. You can see how it would have made them reminisce about the life they left behind.

[Abigail]

I'm reading another Elizabeth Cadell novel, The Golden Collar. My favorite of those I've read so far.

[Carolien]

Abigail wrote: "I'm reading another Elizabeth Cadell novel, The Golden Collar. My favorite of those I've read so far."

I love Elizabeth Cadell, I inherited a large pile from my mother and grandmother and dip back into them often.

[Abigail]

I just found out about her recently and she has become my favorite COVID escape reading!

[Carolien]

Abigail wrote: "I just found out about her recently and she has become my favorite COVID escape reading!"

She's perfect for escape reading, gentle, and I love her characters.

[Alwynne]

I recently finished Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Aurora Floyd a Victorian ‘sensation’ novel, not strictly a crime novel, it starts out with events overshadowed by the heroine’s terrible secret, and later features a murder mystery . I won’t add any more details because of potential spoilers.

Link to my review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Alwynne wrote: "I recently finished Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Aurora Floyd a Victorian ‘sensation’ novel, not strictly a crime novel, it starts out with events overshadowed by the heroine’s terrible ..."

I have not read that title, but have enjoyed other of Braddon's work. Not every 19th Century publication is a challenging read.

[Tara]

I recently finished The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon, about a journalist's journey to learn about the fate of early 20th century British explorer Percy Fawcett. I love travel and adventure tales, particularly to far flung places that I will never visit. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the author had spent less time talking about his own journey to the Amazon, and more time on the polarizing, larger than life Fawcett.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Tara, have you read Candice Millard's The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey? Early exploration of an uncharted river by Roosevelt. There is plenty about the Amazon itself (once they get going).

[Sandy]

Tara and Elizabeth, I am also an armchair traveler and have read and enjoyed both those books. I have been to the Peruvian Amazon a couple of times (once for birds, once for fish) and the local airline at that time was Faucett. Not sure if it was named for the lost explorer, though misspelled. A bit like naming luggage for Amelia Earhart which I always thought was asking for trouble. My trips were wonderful, nothing like those in the books.

I have a book written by a Victorian lady traveler in Egypt that I hope to read along with our read of Amelia Peabody.

[Sandy]

The Egyptian travel book:

A Thousand Miles Up the Nile

GR description:
Amelia B. Edwards wrote this historical, egyptological, and cultural study in in 1877, and it became an immediate best-seller, reprinted in 1888 at home in England and abroad. She travelled throughout Egypt at a time when most women didn't leave home. One of the pioneering Egyptologists of the age, she established the Edwards Chair of Egyptology, occupied first by the great Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie.

This book is in a sense a seminal work, known to have influenced the modern writings of Elizabeth Peters in her Amelia Peabody Emerson murder-mystery series.

[Susan]

Sounds a perfect companion volume, Sandy. It is available on kindle in the UK too - there is a free edition, plus an edition for £3.04 which contains the original illustrations and is annotated with updated information. Sounds a great read.

I started Agatha Christie: First Lady of Crime which is a collection of essays, written shortly after Christie's death.

[Tara]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Tara, have you read Candice Millard's The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey? Early exploration of an uncharted river by Roosevelt. There is plenty about the Amazon i..."

I have not Elizabeth, although it looks very good. I have Through The Brazilian Wilderness: The President's Last Great Adventure on my bookshelf, and I hope to get to it eventually. I've also read River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana's Legendary Voyage of Death and Discovery Down the Amazon which was excellent.

[Tara]

Sandy wrote: "Tara and Elizabeth, I am also an armchair traveler and have read and enjoyed both those books. I have been to the Peruvian Amazon a couple of times (once for birds, once for fish) and the local air..."

How exciting Sandy! I don't deal very well with either heat/humidity or insects, so the Amazon is definitely not on my short list of travel destinations.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Oh, Tara. those both look good. My library does not have the Buddy Levy title, but has instead his Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition. I recently read of another Arctic expedition by Hampton Sides. Both Sides and Millard write narrative nonfiction in a very readable style. I'll have to see if Levy can match them!

[Tara]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Oh, Tara. those both look good. My library does not have the Buddy Levy title, but has instead his Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition. I recently re..."

I love artic exploration too, so I will have to check out his book on that topic. And it goes without saying that the best non-fiction are the books that read like fiction.

[Annabel]

I read Robert Harris's V2 at the weekend. It's about the V2 rockets in WW2, as you might guess. As always with Harris, it was well-researched but I often feel these days that he prioritises historical accuracy over thrills, so it was perhaps a little dry.

Now reading Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I adored Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell so I've been waiting impatiently for her to write something else. This is ... shorter and more fantastical. I won't know whether I like it until I reach the end.

[Sandy]

Annabel wrote: "I read Robert Harris's V2 at the weekend. It's about the V2 rockets in WW2, as you might guess. As always with Harris, it was well-researched but I often feel these days that he prioritises histori..."

I have a Strange & Norrell on my kindle but never seem to find time for such a large book. Someday! And I loved Harris' book about the Dreyfus case.

[Susan]

I loved Harris' book about the Dreyfus case, but find him a bit hit and miss at times.

I am reading Milkman which is set in the Troubles. Very clever and well written.

[Ellen]

I just finished Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis by Gina Dalfonzo. Since I am a big fan of both of these authors it made for a fun read. The book is not long either so it was also a fast read.

[Tara]

Ellen wrote: "I just finished Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis by Gina Dalfonzo. Since I am a big fan of both of these authors i..."

This looks interesting Ellen. Is it a collection of their letters, or more of a biographical work of their friendship?

[Susan in NC]

I’m back to Decision at Delphi for a group read.

[Ellen]

Tara wrote: "Ellen wrote: "I just finished Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis by Gina Dalfonzo. Since I am a big fan of both of t..."

It is not a collection of their letters although she quotes from them extensively. Their friendship began when Sayers wrote him a fan letter.

[Tania]

Annabel wrote: "I read Robert Harris's V2 at the weekend. It's about the V2 rockets in WW2, as you might guess. As always with Harris, it was well-researched but I often feel these days that he prioritises histori..."

I'd love to hear what you make of this, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is one of my all-time favourite books, and I loved The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories. This seems quite different in some ways, from what I hear.

I'm currently reading The Woods In Winter by Stella Gibbons, Really good so far.

[Susan in NC]

Just started audiobook reread of These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer for the Heyer Fans Group. Very entertaining while starting to knit Christmas projects!

[Judy]

Susan in NC, I remember loving These Old Shades as a teenager - I should really revisit it more than 40 years on! :)

[Roman Clodia]

These Old Shades is the book that made me a Heyer fan - utterly delicious!

[Alwynne]

Tania, look forward to seeing what you thought of the Stella Gibbons, liked Westwood and loved Cold Comfort Farm but not sure what others of hers to try. I've just finished Jo Walton's Among Others coming-of-age story which combines a girls' boarding school narrative with elements of fantasy and folklore. I really enjoyed it, far more than I expected I would...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Susan in NC]

Roman Clodia wrote: "These Old Shades is the book that made me a Heyer fan - utterly delicious!"

Yes, it is fun! Made me a fan, too, Judy - come on over to the Heyer Fans group and join in!

[Judy]

Susan in NC wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "These Old Shades is the book that made me a Heyer fan - utterly delicious!"

Yes, it is fun! Made me a fan, too, Judy - come on over to the Heyer Fans group and join in!"

Thanks Susan - I'm tempted but somewhat swamped in books at the moment :)

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "These Old Shades is the book that made me a Heyer fan - utterly delicious!"

Yes, it is fun! Made me a fan, too, Judy - come on over to the Heyer Fans group..."

I hear you!

[Alwynne]

As usual I'm reading several books at once but just finished my Victober challenge non-fiction choice William Morris's The Collected Works of William Morris: Volume 8. Journals of Travel in Iceland: 1871-1873 which was strangely compelling considering it mainly consisted of descriptions of local landscapes:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And a Halloween choice, as I love to read unsettling tales around this time of year, Melissa Edmundson's Women's Weird: Strange Stories by Women, 1890-1940 which I enjoyed, and particularly the chance to read some authors unavailable elsewhere like Margery Lawrence. Also the vintage entries meant there was nothing too horrific:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Alwynne]

Just finished Cold Earth by Sarah Moss, blend of ghost story and literary thriller set on an archaeological dig in Greenland, pretty compelling although some awkward passages - typical for a first novel - with elements of mystery, link to my review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And starting on Plain Bad Heroines which looks as if it will be great fun, and it has pictures!

[Susan]

Alwynne wrote: "Just finished Cold Earth by Sarah Moss, blend of ghost story and literary thriller set on an archaeological dig in Greenland, pretty compelling although some awkward passages - typic..."

I love Sarah Moss, Alwynne. Cold Earth is a great read.

[Alwynne]

That's good Susan, the reviews on GR seem quite mixed but I really liked it, it was also an accidental tie-in with the William Morris, Nina references his journals as part of talking about her studies and the sagas come up a few times which was a nice surprise.

[Sandy]

Lots of coincidences with William Morris and Sarah Moss and Iceland. The only Sarah Moss I've read is Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland and here is my review from several years ago (I was there for a wedding and their son must be 5 or 6 by now):

I read this book because I'm about to make a short, limited visit to Iceland in June and vacationed there 25 years ago. I wish the author could have spent more than a year there as her only free time was spent moving - first to and then from Iceland. She seemed more at ease by the end of the year and the next year she might have talked to strangers ... and perhaps the economy would have been better. I think the family could have used a summer off to enjoy the country. I wondered if her husband would make it thru the dark of winter: she had a job, the kids had school but if he had anything interesting to do it was never mentioned.

I enjoyed the book and got several insights: drive with a great deal of care, never go outside without coat, hat and gloves, avoid tunnels, and I may know why our friend Disa has an entirely different formal name. I also have an urge for an Icelandic sweater.

[Alwynne]

Thanks for that Sandy, that's the only other Sarah Moss I've read, and I found it interesting too, although I'm a bit vague on the details now...part of why I'm trying to write about what I read now.

[Susan]

I haven't read her book about visiting Iceland, but have a lovely time, Sandy. Let's hope travelling is easier by June! I have visited Sweden and Denmark. We joke about the weather in the UK, but I've never known cold like that before!

With Sarah Moss, I loved Night Waking
My children were quite young when I read it and it just felt SO true. I can still, probably, recite The Gruffalo word for word...

[Sandy]

Susan wrote: "I haven't read her book about visiting Iceland, but have a lovely time, Sandy. Let's hope travelling is easier by June! I have visited Sweden and Denmark. We joke about the weather in the UK, but I..."

Just for clarity: I visited 5 - 6 years ago for a wedding, and 25 years before that for a more extensive visit. Interesting scenery, very expensive. No travels plans now.

I also visited Scandinavia over 40 years ago in June and we have coats on in all our photos. I kept waking up in the wee hours of the morning, in bright sunshine, thinking our clocks had stopped and we had over slept.

[Sandy]

I've read a few non-mysteries lately. I finished A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You, a quick and interesting look at life on earth, and Harriet the Spy as I was too old when it was new. I am currently reading City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris, actual history set in at Louis XIV's reign. I know very little French history. Then I have two 'filler' books, A Devil's Chaplain: Reflections on Hope, Lies, Science, and Love and 1000 Miles Up the Nile, background for Amelia Peabody.

I have a couple of mysteries from the library, last year's #1 Ladies to read before this year's arrives, and our first two November reads on request so I'm trying to clean up the back log.

[Laurence]

Sandy wrote: "I've read a few non-mysteries lately. I finished A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You, a quick and interesting look at life on earth, and..."

Sandy,
I will be very interested in your comments on City of Light, City of Poison.
LG

[Carolien]

Sandy wrote: "I've read a few non-mysteries lately. I finished A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You, a quick and interesting look at life on earth, and..."

That's quite a pile. A Series of Fortunate Events looks interesting.

[Carolien]

I finished Homegoing which is very well-written although quite a hard read as it deals with the impact of slavery and colonialism on individuals. The premise is similar to The Old Drift which I read earlier in the year. Both use a structure where they describe events from each branch in family trees. The Old Drift covers about a century and three family trees, Homegoing covers about 3 centuries and two family trees. Both well-written and thought provoking.

[Tania]

Sandy, I've just finished 10 in the no 1 ladies series, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built. Such a warm series and the safest was to travel at the moment. I always enjoy my trips to Botswana.

[Sandy]

Laurence wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've read a few non-mysteries lately. I finished A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You, a quick and interesting look at life..."

I found City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris interesting, informative and enjoyable (if you skim the torture scenes). It focused on Louis XIV's court, particularly his relationships with his mistresses, and the new chief of police that was charged with cleaning up Paris, both literally (sweeping the streets) and figuratively (reducing crime). Both are very portrayed sympathetically. It builds to the police chief's war against a plague of poisonings.

Things I knew but had reinforced: Louis had such a lot of money, torture does not work as a interrogation device and I am very glad I did not live in that century, even in the wealthy class.

I learned why Paris is called the City of Light.

[Tara]

Sandy wrote: "Laurence wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've read a few non-mysteries lately. I finished A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You, a quick and interes..."

This sounds really interesting Sandy.

[Susan]

Yes, sounds a great read, Sandy. Added to my TBR list!

[Laurence]

Sandy wrote: "Laurence wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've read a few non-mysteries lately. I finished A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You, a quick and interes..."

Good enough for me. Thanks for the information.
LG

[Laurence]

Having Pillars of the Earth on the TBR shelf for a long time I thought the "precursor" to the Kings Bridge series The Evening and the Morning would be a great motivator to finally begin.

[Susan]

Supposed to be a great read, Laurence. A book that I have also meant to read for ages - let us know how you get on.