52 books in 2011
Apr. 17th, 2011 08:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lumineauxPeople often ask me how I manage to read so many books. Insomnia, my friends. Insomnia. To add to my natural inability to fall asleep, we didn't have power most of Saturday. After several extraordinarily busy weeks, doing nothing but sitting on my butt in candle light reading books was *delightful*.
Anyway, to recap the week's reading:
31. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett
This is a re-read and a re-review too. But for those just tuning it, this is a fantasy novel as written by Jane Austen or one of the Bronte sisters. Rather than the classic pseudo-medieval secondary world, the world is that of Austen and Bronte, with refined manners, a touch of gothic romance, and lovers separated by the gulf of social class. It's a clever, smart book, well worth reading multiple times.
32. The House on Durrow Street by Galen Beckett
The sequel to The Magicians and Mrs Quent. I don't want to say too much about it because I am about to loan it out to Rhi. I will say that this book suffers somewhat from the problems of being a second (middle?) volume. To a reader already familiar with the world, an awful lot of time seems to be spent on inconsequential things. However, when the plot finally kicks in, it's worth the wait. Much more information is revealed about the pending threat to the world, the mysterious Wyrdwood, and the various factions at play both politically and magically. I am eagely awaiting the next book to see how this all plays out.
33. Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
34. A Gentleman of Fortune by Anna Dean
In keeping with my Austen-esque theme, these are mystery novels set in the early 1800s in England, with a 35-year old spinster aunt detective who uncovers not only clues, but also may have found a man who wants to marry her. Our heroine is named Dido Kent, a name that just makes me giggle, even though it's completely authentic for the era. It is a name that sums up so much of the character of our heroine: a smart woman in a world that doesn't know what to do with smart women. Recommended.
P.S. A third Dido Kent book is already out in Great Britain; don't know when it will be available in the U.S.
Anyway, to recap the week's reading:
31. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett
This is a re-read and a re-review too. But for those just tuning it, this is a fantasy novel as written by Jane Austen or one of the Bronte sisters. Rather than the classic pseudo-medieval secondary world, the world is that of Austen and Bronte, with refined manners, a touch of gothic romance, and lovers separated by the gulf of social class. It's a clever, smart book, well worth reading multiple times.
32. The House on Durrow Street by Galen Beckett
The sequel to The Magicians and Mrs Quent. I don't want to say too much about it because I am about to loan it out to Rhi. I will say that this book suffers somewhat from the problems of being a second (middle?) volume. To a reader already familiar with the world, an awful lot of time seems to be spent on inconsequential things. However, when the plot finally kicks in, it's worth the wait. Much more information is revealed about the pending threat to the world, the mysterious Wyrdwood, and the various factions at play both politically and magically. I am eagely awaiting the next book to see how this all plays out.
33. Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
34. A Gentleman of Fortune by Anna Dean
In keeping with my Austen-esque theme, these are mystery novels set in the early 1800s in England, with a 35-year old spinster aunt detective who uncovers not only clues, but also may have found a man who wants to marry her. Our heroine is named Dido Kent, a name that just makes me giggle, even though it's completely authentic for the era. It is a name that sums up so much of the character of our heroine: a smart woman in a world that doesn't know what to do with smart women. Recommended.
P.S. A third Dido Kent book is already out in Great Britain; don't know when it will be available in the U.S.
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Date: 2011-04-18 02:08 am (UTC)I'm actually averaging one book every 3 weeks right now, so that's not too bad.
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Date: 2011-04-19 02:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-19 02:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-18 03:08 pm (UTC)FYI: I think you can order books from the UK from amazon.uk If you are willing tt pay for shipping. I did that once when i just couldn't wait.
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Date: 2011-04-18 09:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-18 10:55 pm (UTC)