Fans of British Writers discussion
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Currently reading anything by a British writer?
Maybe something by Doyle, such as The White Company, might be a possible choice for our group's annual common read next year?E.L. wrote: "It's summer now, so that means cloistering myself up in the library, and reading for hours at a time."
That sounds like a great way to spend a summer!
I would enjoy reading The White Company next year. I really enjoyed Doyle's Lost World too. I am glad he wrote so many books because I have all the ones I have read so far.
Rosemarie wrote: "I would enjoy reading The White Company next year."I've mentioned it over on the "Common reads" thread just now, Rosemarie!
I just read James Herriot's 'All Things Bright and Beautiful' and am now finishing 'All Things Wise and Wonderful'. The writing certainly is bright and beautiful and wise and wonderful! Recommended.
My dad loved the James Herriot books. I read the first one and I understand why. I loved the TV series.
My wife and I both loved all of Herriot's books, so I can heartily echo that recommendation. I've occasionally seen parts of the PBS TV adaptations, and definitely liked what I saw.
I'll be taking part in our group's common read of
Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis next month. Although I'm a day early, it's not practical to start on anything else at this point; so I'm going to go ahead and start on that one later this afternoon.
Peril at End House is a good one, Rita. And so is your review.
I am reading Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell and The Professor by Charlotte Bronte.
As part of my continuing program this year of reading the four Jane Austen novels which, as of Jan. 1, I still hadn't ever read, I've now started on
Lady Susan. This novella, written possibly as early as 1794 but not published until 1871, is untypical for Austen in some ways (it's her only work to use the epistolary format, for instance), and probably her least known work --I'd never heard of it until I stumbled on it some years ago in the BC library's copy of The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women: The Traditions in English.
I have read every Mary Stewart book over the course of the years, and was never disappointed.
In another of my Goodreads groups, there was some discussion recently of British travel writer H. V. Morton and his books, including
In Search of Scotland. I thought that might be the same book I read back in the mid-60s, but had forgotten author/title information for; and when I checked it out by ILL, it proved to be! Before I can do it justice in a review, I need to reread it; so, having a copy in hand, I'm proceeding to do that now. :-)
I marked it as TBR. Once I'm finished with Assassin's Quest I am going to start The Monarch of the Glen. My husband really enjoyed it, and I saw the sitcom years ago. I am a sucker for anything set in Scotland.
E. L. wrote: "I marked it as TBR."Whenever you read it, E. L., I hope you like it!
E.L., I liked the show Monarch of the Glen when I saw it eons ago. Sounds like an interesting read!
I like anything by Compton Mackenzie. One of my favourites is Whisky Galore.
Whisky Galore is after that. I saw the movie they recently made. It wasn’t bad. The book is probably better. :)
I have just started reading Graham Green’s The Quiet American.
Compton Mackenzie’s books are probably very different than the series which is okay by me. They seem like they’ll be a lot of fun. Thanks for letting me know about them E.L. Everyone reads such interesting books here!
The Quiet American is a book that has stayed with me. I think it is one of his most important books.
Have you read any of his other books. It is my first book by Graham Green , and I am loving it.
I read The Third Man, Our Man in Havanna and The Heart of the Matter in the past three years.
I just started The Porpoise by Mark Haddon. This is my 2nd book by Haddon, the first being The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
I'm reading an Agatha Christie mystery-Lord Edgware dies.
Closing in on my goal for this year of reading all four of the Jane Austen novels that, as of Jan. 1, I still had never read, I've now started on the last one (last one to be read by me, that is --not the last to be written, since I've read them out of that order!),
Mansfield Park. This one and Lady Susan are the only completed Austen novels that I've never seen an adaptation of, so I'm coming to it with relatively little previous knowledge.
Of the 7 books on my currently-reading list, only one is NOT by a British writer. I am reading
ShanDizzy, if Sherlock Holmes were here, I think he might deduce that you're a fan of British mysteries! :-) (You can tell that I've learned from his deductive methods....)
Werner wrote: "ShanDizzy, if Sherlock Holmes were here, I think he might deduce that you're a fan of British mysteries! :-) (You can tell that I've learned from his deductive methods....)"That's brilliant Werner! Hahahaha! I am an unashamed anglophile. Many of the American authors I've read are too macabre for my taste. It appears to be more about the violence in the mystery than the solving of the mystery itself.
Rosemarie wrote: "That is great, Shan!"Thanks Rosemarie.
Werner wrote: "I hear you, ShanDizzy! :-)"I am reading Holmes right now! Also, I am writing a book that takes place mostly in England and France. I think British literature has definitely rubbed off on me.
Best wishes for success with your book, E.L.!
I second that thought,E.L. I hope everything goes well with your book.
E.L. wrote: "...I am reading Holmes right now! Also, I am writing a book that takes place mostly in England and France..."I hope all goes well with your writing, E.L. That's an AMAZING undertaking!
I agree with you ShanDizzy about the difference between English and American literature. We seem to take far too much interest in the violence over the mystery itself. I tend to read more cozy mysteries than regular blockbuster mysteries these days anyway, but on occasion I am drawn in by a good one. That being said, I always I go back to the British mysteries as I am sure to be satisfied and enjoy them thoroughly.
Sarah wrote: "I agree with you ShanDizzy about the difference between English and American literature. We seem to take far too much interest in the violence over the mystery itself. I tend to read more cozy myst..."Thanks Sarah, British mysteries is my preferred genre, especially the GA authors. I am always grateful to GR friends when they mention a British mystery that I haven't yet read.
I am rereading or rather listening to Midnight Riot also know as The Rivers of London from the series of that name by Ben Aaronovitch. I don’t read a lot of paranormal or paranormal fantasy books anymore, but add an English mystery to it and it’s fascinating. There are seven books in the series and a few short stories, but since it was so long ago that I listened to it, and my memory isn’t very good, I figured I’d listen again before I moved on to the next in the series. This isn’t a cozy mystery; it’s got some gory bits to it. While I wouldn’t want a steady diet of that, every once in a while keeps things interesting and is a big change from the Alexander McCall Smith, Ladies No. 1 Detective series I am also reading and love. Smith is from Zimbabwe and Scotland so not completely a British writer.
Yes, I'd think of Smith as British, too. "British" is a broader term than "English" (Scotland is just as much a part of the British Isles as England is). And British children of British parents, born overseas but identifying as scions of the mother country, are still British; after all, Rudyard Kipling and Rumer Godden were both born in India, but nobody questions that they're British writers. :-)
I wasn’t sure if a writer born in Zimbabwe would count as African or English so I left it ambiguous. But as he lives in Scotland now we can let him have the distinction.
I liked Pullman’s books. They were exciting reads!
I started rereading War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. The first chapter is incredible. It really sets the stage.
I finished reading The 12:30 from Croydon by Freeman Wills Crofts late last night.
It was a suspenseful read because other than the first chapter, the book deals with the thoughts and actions of the murderer. Will he get away with it?
I've just started reading volume 1 ofA History of the English-Speaking Peoples
by Sir Churchill Winston.
Also, currently reading Endymion by Benjamin Disraeli.
It will take a while to get through them but it's so good to read words written so beautifully.
Just started listening to Graham Norton’s book Holding. It’s read by a properly so it flows well and doesn’t sound contrived like when someone tries too hard on an accent that isn’t familiar enough. There is a gossipy feeling to folks thoughts and the authors description of things. If feels like someone is telling you a secret that they’re not supposed to tell anyone but can’t resist a good natter.
Fans of British Writers
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Yes, E.L., I did! I gave it four stars, and ..."
I had no idea he wrote science fiction. I need to look into his other works. It's summer now, so that means cloistering myself up in the library, and reading for hours at a time. I think I've heard of The White Company.