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What non-mystery books are you reading? (2021-2022)
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Susan
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Feb 22, 2021 12:35PM
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My current reads: A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs The first book in the Mars (Barsoom) series.
Moonraker by Ian Fleming The 3rd James Bond novel, which is way better than the movie. I am at the 83% completed mark.
I have now started The Birth House by Ami McKay This is a new to me author, but I have heard a lot of praise for her.
I'm reading The Chalet School and the Island. The fourth Chalet school book that I've recently read. As a child this series passed me by (not sure how or why, as it's very like lots of other books I was an avid reader of). Gentle escapism, which is quite soothing for these times!
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I've never read them either, but after reading The Swiss Summer by Stella Gibbons, I thought I would like to, (I think Judy, it was you who suggested them).I'm reading Rhododendron Pie, Margery Sharp's first, and until recently, impossibly rare novel. I've also started The Benefactress by Elizabeth von Arnim
The Sharp looks good Tania, will wait and see what you think of it though...
Judy wrote: "I used to love the Chalet School books, Tracey, but I don't think I have ever read that one. I wonder if they would appeal to me so much now? I loved the Alpine setting and the sprinkling of French..."This one is post-war. I think they first moved from Tyrol to Guernsey, then Wales, now to an remote Welsh Island. I've missed the war years, and now Joey is married with a big brood. I am finding them quite charming to read, though it's such a big series, reading them all would be quite an undertaking!
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The ones I remember best after all these years are the very first one, The School at the Chalet, and Carola Storms the Chalet School, where a girl runs away *to* the school!
I am reading Timothy Snyder's Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary, before we knew about the pandemic he was in the hospital with someone who had Covid. And it was at the very start of covid's race through our population. I go for my shot on Tuesday! Just hoping I don't have too much of a reaction.
Hope all goes well with your shot, Jan C!I love the Chalet School books, I have a whole box of them somewhere and I should try rereading them at some point.
I am busy with Barchester Towers and Happiness at the moment.
Alwynne wrote: "The Sharp looks good Tania, will wait and see what you think of it though..."Alwynne, I did enjoy Rhododendron Pie, but not as much as I'd expected to. It sounded similar to The Fountain Overflows or I Capture the Castle, but didn't quite match their brilliance. There had been a lot of excitement about it's release, but I've not read any of her books before and think this was probably not the best place to start. I've also bought The Stone of Chastity which looks like really good fun, so I'm looking forward to this one.
this actually is a murder mystery if you ask me but just finished Iron Kissed the third in a paranormal series. I thought it was fantastic - could NOT put it down.
I rather enjoyed that series Jackie, but I haven't got round to the latest one yet.
Tania wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "The Sharp looks good Tania, will wait and see what you think of it though..."Alwynne, I did enjoy Rhododendron Pie, but not as much as I'd expected to. It sounded ..."
That's a shame I thought that too when I read the description, the Dodie Smith is an all-time favourite, but have a copy of the West so may try that instead and see what you make of the next Sharp novel.
My current non-mystery reads:
Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews Edwards
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
I am currently reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and have reservations about a man alone being allowed to adopt a baby with no family link. I very much doubt it would be the case in the UK. Having said that it is holding my interest.
I am currently reading The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. I love historical fiction, collected a few used editions of this author’s books, but hadn’t gotten to them yet. A GR group decided to read this book in April in honor of the author’s recent death, but as it is a doorstop (900+) pages, I figured I’d start early!
Susan in NC wrote: "I am currently reading The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. I love historical fiction, collected a few used editions of this author’s books, but hadn’t gotten t..."I have this author's three Welsh Princes books but dare not start them until I have read more of my other books.
Jill wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I am currently reading The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. I love historical fiction, collected a few used editions of this author’s books,..."Same here, she had been recommended to me so often, and I wanted to understand more English history (especially the Cadfael period, Stephen and Matilda civil war), that I picked up several of her books over the years at my local used book store. Over the years while my son was growing up, I accumulated so many big, fat books that looked interesting, or were recommended, but I never started them because I’d doze off once I sat down! Now I have more time, I want to break them out and dive in (if the teeny tiny print doesn’t defeat me!)
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Judy wrote: "This reminds me, has anyone read any good non fiction about the Stephen and Matilda civil war period?"Well, I have When Christ and His Saints Slept, but no nonfiction - I’d definitely be interested in any nonfiction titles any one can offer, if they’re accessible to laypeople.
Closest I have read was She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth by Helen Castor, but that was about several female rulers, Matilda and others. I’d be interested to read more about just the Stephen and Matilda period.
Susan in NC wrote: "I am currently reading The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. I love historical fiction, collected a few used editions of this author’s books, but hadn’t gotten t..." I've heard so many good things about that book, I'd love to read it sometime, but my library doesn't have it, and the size is daunting. One day...
I've just finished and loved The Native Heath by Elizabeth Fair. I'm going to start They Knew Mr. Knight by Dorothy Whipple; I've loved all I've read by her so far so should be in for a treat.
Jill wrote: "I am currently reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and have reservations about a man alone being allowed to adopt a baby with no family link. I very much doubt it would be the ca..."Jill, had a few probs with this plot also. Thought it would be a fun quirky book judging from other readers comments but sadly it felt a little flat for me, and it just wasn’t as charming as I hoped.
Icewineanne wrote: "Jill wrote: "I am currently reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and have reservations about a man alone being allowed to adopt a baby with no family link. I very much doubt it wo..."I have finished now, and agree with you. It felt flat for me too. Not the book I was expecting.
Working may way through Wicked Beyond Belief
the Hunt For The Yorkshire Ripper. So far an impressive effort by author Michael Bilton.
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was an excellent book about The Yorkshire Ripper, Laurence.
Reading Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, Paul Theroux's 30 year redux of his The Great Railway Bazaar journey. Clearly lots of differences in technology, politics and life experience which effectively create an entirely different trip. Very much enjoying the narrative about a third of the way through.
I'm reading The Musgraves by D.E. Stevenson, one of her harder to get hold of books, it would be nice to see this one re-published one day. Also reading One Pair of Hands, Monica Dickens memoir of life as a cook general.
I haven't read The Musgraves yet, but I want to read everything by D.E. Stevenson. I feel lucky that my library system has a lot of the older books that are hard to find.
Tania wrote: "I'm reading The Musgraves by D.E. Stevenson, one of her harder to get hold of books, it would be nice to see this one re-published one day. Also reading [book:One Pa..."Interested to hear about the Stevenson, I've read her Buncle books which I really liked and the first Mrs Tim book which was very entertaining.
I really like it, they're a pleasant family. Scott at Furrowed Middlebrow reviewed it and some others recently. http://furrowedmiddlebrow.blogspot.co....
Jackie wrote: "I haven't read The Musgraves yet, but I want to read everything by D.E. Stevenson. I feel lucky that my library system has a lot of the older books that are hard to find."Libraries are fantastic, you never know what might turn up. It's very enjoyable.
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I recently read D.E. Stevenson's Bel Lamington (and it's sequel) and really loved it. I lead a buddy read of it in the Retro Reads group and was disappointed so few people posted in the threads but I think they had planned to read it and just ended up not having time.
My point is, if you like her writing I haven't found a bad one yet.
I agree, I love her books for a bit of simple escapist pleasure, you know what to expect and she never lets you down.I read Bel Lamington and it's sequel, Fletchers End; the Musgrave family from this book crop up as minor characters in Fletchers End. She seems to do that quite a bit.
I'm currently reading Regeneration by Pat Barker. I only really remember from school war poetry by Wilfred Owen, this book is making me want read Siegfried Sassoon. And it also is really making me yearn for a trip to Edinburgh (fingers crossed that will be possible very soon).
Surprised with a library book that I must have requested pre-covid that just became available. Less a book proper, but more of a compilation of food-related musings on various topics: Choice Cuts: A Savory Selection of Food Writing from Around the World & Throughout History by Mark Kurlansky. At 500 pages it would normally be the kind of book I would muse over for a while, picking it up randomly for pearls of wisdom, but instead it is feeling like a bit of burden as I need to return it in 3 weeks. Hoping that won't effect my enjoyment too much.
Tara wrote: "Surprised with a library book that I must have requested pre-covid that just became available. Less a book proper, but more of a compilation of food-related musings on various topics: Choice ..."</i>Sounds interesting. I've read a couple of his books and have a couple to finish. I liked most of them, except [book:The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell - but I think that's because I can't eat oysters anymore since gout reared its painful head.
Jan C wrote: "Tara wrote: "Surprised with a library book that I must have requested pre-covid that just became available. Less a book proper, but more of a compilation of food-related musings on various topics: ..."My favorite is Salt, although I did enjoy Oyster and Cod as well. Milk was okay, but had a lot of interesting recipes. Sorry to hear about the gout, I suspect that limits quite a few food items.
Tara wrote: "Surprised with a library book that I must have requested pre-covid that just became available. Less a book proper, but more of a compilation of food-related musings on various topics: Choice ..."</i>I hear you, this is how [book:The Sunne in Splendour feels at times! Still slogging along - when I dip in for an hour or so it’s very enjoyable, but there’s a sense of unreality with a huge ebook, you’re never quite sure how far you’re getting! I check the page count, and it feels glacial- I’ll never be done! Glad I started so far ahead of the group, we’re allowing several weeks, but I have to take breaks, read other books at times or I’d go bonkers! The writing is very good, and not being English or having learned the War of the Roses in school, I was never quite sure who was with who - I’ll never make that mistake again! So, that’s good. I just prefer an audiobook to listen to, read along with for a book this size, but wasn’t available...live and learn!
I had a book come through I requested months ago from the library, Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy. I had seen him on news programs, and knew he was up for Surgeon General, and he seemed very compassionate and wise, so I requested the book. Don’t know when I’ll get to it, but I would like to try!
Tracey wrote: "I'm currently reading Regeneration by Pat Barker. I only really remember from school war poetry by Wilfred Owen, this book is making me want read Siegfried Sassoon. And it..."I do want to read that, but I want to finish the Siegfried Sassoon trilogy it's based on first. So far I've only read Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, I must move Memoirs of an Infantry Officer up the TBR pile.
Tara wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Tara wrote: "Surprised with a library book that I must have requested pre-covid that just became available. Less a book proper, but more of a compilation of food-related musings on va..."Mostly seafood I can't eat. Which, of course, was my favorite food. Just have to drink a lot of water. There are pills that can be taken. I just can't take them. Sent my blood pressure through the roof.
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"... inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened"
True, every time my body doesn't perform as I expect it should.
Sandy wrote: "I'm reading Moving Pictures from the Discworld series. It is not my favorite entry in the series, but I found a great quote:"... inside every old person is a young person wondering ..."
Oh, that is an eternal truth!
Started my first Margery Sharp for an upcoming Retro Reads group read: Rhododendron Pie
. I like her style!
I enjoyed that one recently too. I followed it up with The Stone of Chastity
another of hers that I also loved.I have just finished
by Ann Bridge which I loved. I thought it had a similar tone to
, which I'd now like to reread.
Reading the Detectives
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