READING (reverse chronological order)
Women of Letters, edited by Marieke Hardy & Michaela McGuire
Letters written by women to various themes. Fascinating to dip in and out of. As with all collections some pieces (letters) are better than others. Some are moving in the extreme while a few are a bit tedious. For my bookgroup's first book of the year.
Rivers of London, Ben Aaronovitch
Downloaded onto the iPad on the recommendation of Stomper, on the facebook Recent Reads group. Have only read the opening pages but it's gripped me already. Ok, just saw this as I updated another book entry and realised I never got back to this. I'm just not in the habit of picking up the iPad to "read". Will go read more now!
LISTENING
The Railway Children, Edith Nesbit.
Listening via Librivox while I knit a baby garment for my cousin's new babe. Somehow I missed out on reading this as a child. Delightful although the class and gender stereotypes are uncomfortable at times. I cried at the end. Read by the same Librivox narrator who read the Austens below. She's good, unlike some of the narrators I've come across at that site.
Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion. My annual Festival of Austen which I seem to undertake every January. Re-watched all the films and series too. Seems to be an unintentional annual ritual.
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2011
READ(reverse chronological order)
Self Possession, Marion Halligan
A quiet little coming-of-age novel, which while enjoyable, felt a little dated. The writing is lovely though. I have another couple of Halligan's novels on my bookshelf (from the oppy) so will read them too.
The Taste of Memory, Marion Halligan
Almost as much a gardening memoir as a food memoir. Halligan's writing is just delicious. Serene, quiet, enthused and engaging. Loved every minute of this little diary-like book.
State of Wonder, Ann Patchett
Nothing Patchett writes will ever live up to her masterpiece Bel Canto, but all her books are excellent and this one is no exception.
Caleb's Crossing, Geraldine Brooks
I'm a fan of almost every novel Brooks has written, with the exception of March which I found so tedious I couldn't finish it. Brooks takes an historical incident or fact and weaves an entire tale around it. (Much like Tracy Chevalier, another of my favourite authors). She did it beautifully in People of the Book, and Year of Wonders and now she's done it again. The writing is fluid and elegant, and of the era. Final chapter a bit rushed perhaps.
The Eve Tree, Rachel Devenish Ford
Simply and directly written, this is Rae's first novel. About a family trying to save their farm from fire, about mothers, daughters, wives, relationships, fragility, cheese, goats; the characters stay with you as you move about your day during the reading of this novel. Go Rae. I'm so proud of you.
Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow, Peter Hoeg
I'm not usually a thriller/crime reader but this totally floated my boat. Smilla is a flawed and fabulous protagonist. Learnt lots about snow, ice, Denmark, Greenland and ships. Compulsively turned the pages.
The Woodlanders, Thomas Hardy
Started this but faltered, with exams, essays and general end of semester madness. Haven't yet picked it up again yet.
If this is a man, Primo Levi
Memoir of a year in Auschwitz. Heartbreaking. Breathtaking.
Regeneration, Pat Barker
Tale of Seigfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen at Craiglockhart during WWI, being treated for shellshock by the famous W.H. Rivers. Coincidentally the mister saw it on my bedside table and announced he is listening to the audiobook in his car. It's the first in a trilogy about Sassoon's declaration against the war and his spell at Craiglockhart hospital as Rivers tries to turn his views around and send him back to the front. This is a lightly fictionalised account of the real events. Wilfred Owen is particularly heartbreaking to read about. Must track down the next two in the series. There's also a film of the book, titled 'Behind the Lines'. (*edited to add, see the 'Listening' section further down the page, as I listened to the 2nd and 3rd books on audiobook, and also watched the film).
Ransom, David Malouf
Gulped down in one afternoon. A retelling of Book 24 of The Iliad, in which Priam journeys to the Greek camp to ransom Hector's body. Stirring stuff. (I wrote an essay on Book 24 some years ago, when I was especially enamoured of fairy tales and quest/hero tales). Much ink has been spent on Book 24; nice to see Malouf's take on it - his language is poetic yet simple. I've renewed this copy from the library so Son #3, the 12 year old with the obsession with Greek mythology, can read it. (He's currently reading yet another children's version of The Tale of Troy, and the husband has literally just this now pointed out to me an ad for a new children's version of The Odyssey (note to self: Chasing Odysseus, Sulari Gentill) just released. Excellent.
The Adventure of English, Melvyn Bragg
Feeding my love of dialects, pidgins, accents etc. Borrowed both the book and dvd of the television series from the library at the same time and am having a wonderfully nerdy time each evening. Side effect: slight obsession with Mr Bragg's hair and his tireless hands.
The Mule's Foal, Fotini Epanomitis
I remember when this came out it had very good reviews. Hmm. Set in a Greek village, rural, superstitious, much magical realism etc. Hmm.
Journey to the Stone Country, Alex Miller
Essentially a romance together blended with a woman's journey to self knowledge but the landscape is almost a third character in the book. Kind of mediocre. A bit soapy, a bit sappy, I didn't really care about any of them, the end.
The Jane Austen Book Club, Karen Joy Fowler
Came from the op shop. Has gone back to the op shop. Bleh.
The Ancestor Game, Alex Miller
Ditched this halfway through. Couldn't care less about the characters and was bored. Doesn't bode well for his more famous book which is first on the list for bookgroup this year. Oh well.
+++++++++++++++++++
LISTENED
July onwards: Stopped listening to audiobooks, am now addicted to podcasts. Cast On, CraftLit (this podcast delivers the classics several chapters at a time, plus craft chat. I've listened to Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Bernice Bobs her Hair), Woman's Hour, Desert Island Discs, In Our Time, This American Life, The Moth. Good stuff.
False Colours, Georgette Heyer
Light listening.
The Ghost Road, Pat Barker
The third and final in the Regeneration series. In this one we learn more about Rivers' earlier life as an anthropologist in the Pacific, and about his childhood. His father was the speech therapist who treated Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and the fictionalised memoir is very interesting. Led me to Wikipedia's entry on W H Rivers. Oh, and I watched Behind the Lines, which is the film of Regeneration, featuring Jonathan Pryce as Rivers. Pretty faithful to the book, although the Siegfried of the film didn't match the Siegfried in my head, nor the Siegfried as voiced by Peter Firth in these audiobooks. Gosh he's a marvellous audiobook narrator. I'm not as irritated by Prior this time - I think this one has less Prior and more Rivers and is the better for it. Although there was an awful slitting of wrists in the bath scene and I had to pull the car over and put my head between my knees due to squeamishness. Fastforwarded the rest of that CD. Dangerous when driving! Sheesh. Ugh I'm getting all wobbly-kneed typing this. *Thinks of fluffy kittens*
The Eye in the Door, Pat Barker
Second in the Regeneration series. Didn't enjoy this one as much as the first as I was a bit tired of Billy Prior and his brattish behaviour. However someone told me the third one in the series is the best so I pushed on through. Billy Prior is the only fictional character in this series - all the others were actual people.
Regeneration, Pat Barker
Listening to the audio version of the book I've just read. I wanted to hear the voices read by Peter Firth. Have the sequel in my car awaiting its turn.
Started early, took my dog, Kate Atkinson
I read this last year when it first came out. Listening to it again is wonderful. So densely packed and finely plotted. Only disappointment is that the narrator is not the same chap who's read the previous three Jackson Brodie books so Jackson's voice sounds all wrong. Still wonderful though. Wonderful.
Mr Darcy's Dream, Elizabeth Aston
Austen fan fiction! The two main characters are nieces of Mr Darcy (Jane Bennett's daughter and Georgiana Darcy-Hawkins' daughter), both sent to Pemberley for the summer. Both find husbands (of course) and Elizabeth and Darcy make a brief appearance at the end (of course). Light and easy and a great driving companion on these dark autumn evenings.
An Infamous Army, Georgette Heyer
Yet more Heyer (time for a break now methinks) and yet again there are characters from the previous two books. This is set in the days immediately prior to the Battle of Waterloo, and during the battle. The woman's research is meticulous. The final two cds are just of the battle itself. The detail is incredible.
These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer
More Heyer, and some of the characters are the same as in the previous book, although it's twenty years earlier. I should have researched this and
Devil's Cub, Georgette Heyer
My very first Georgette Heyer (again on the recommendation of Stomper and Kate who went into ecstasies of delight at craft camp recently when they discovered their mutual enthusiasm for Heyer. They spent a happy hour dissecting all their favourites and I took careful note). This was the only Heyer audio book on the library shelves but I will definitely be ordering more. It's rather Jane Austen-like, full of humour and sarcasm, frills and furbelows, and features a young gel of impeccable taste and sensibility trapped in a family of illmannered buffoons (but with aristocratic ancestors, ensuring our heroine is a worthy match for the noble rake from whose clutches she rescues her foolish sister). The narrator is lovely; he does a great many voices and accents, and renders them equally realistic and authentic-sounding. There was a duel and a kiss. What more could one wish for?
Gaudy Night, Dorothy L. Sayers
My second Lord Peter story (I borrowed them at the same time, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with a second). This one had less Lord Peter in it and the break from the teeth sucking was a relief. Also a different actress played Harriet and she was quite lovely to listen to, thank goodness. Quite enjoyed this one and I didn't guess the culprit until just before the revelation, so, uh, bonus.
Busman's Honeymoon, Dorothy L. Sayers
Thought I'd try some Lord Peter Wimsy mysteries, on the recommendation of Stomper and Kate. Brief and annoying. I didn't realise this was a full BBC dramatisation complete with sound effects and many a What ho! in overly plummy accents and Yes m'lud s on a regular basis from the rude mechanicals. Slightly tedious. Couldn't bear the chap who played Lord Peter; sucked his teeth once too often, which doesn't go well on radio. The woman who played Harriet sounded nauseatingly horsey. Side effect: what ho.
The King's Secret Matter, Jean Plaidy
Henry VIII's project to declare his marriage to Katherine of Aragon null, void, illegal, or just divorce her like whatever. I like Plaidy's books mostly, despite the repetition. She does like to hammer it home, doesn't she?
The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield
Festival of Gothica. Loved this. I read the book a few years ago but listening to it again was very pleasing. I'd forgotten how elegantly plotted and written it is. Knowing the twist didn't tarnish my pleasure one iota. The narrator is Jenny Agutter and she is perfect as the voice of Margaret, the sad, quiet young bookseller/biographer/storyteller. Highly recommended.
The Distant Hours, Kate Morton
An interesting story. All very gothic - a castle, a mystery, sisters, madness, etc. Just like The Thirteenth Tale, now that I think about it. Even the narrator is a young woman publisher whose boss is a father figure, while in Thirteenth Tale the narrator is a young woman who runs an antiquarian bookshop with her father. However, how I wish audio book producers would think about matching novels with narrators. If a book is set in England, please select a narrator who can actually produce an English accent. This is embarrassing. Side effect: unsafe driving due to cringing.
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2010
READ
The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver
For bookgroup. I enjoyed this although I wasn't mesmerised as I've been with some of Kingsolver's other works. It set off a minor research interest in Frida Khalo, complete with digging out the film Frida for another viewing.
The White Queen, Philippa Gregory
Typical Gregory. Enjoyable and light. Pretty frocks.
After Elizabeth, Leanda de Lisle
Dry. Didn't finish it.
Look Who's Morphing, Tom Cho
For bookgroup. A big show-offy wank. I think all the sex was meant to be ironic but it was awful.
Dancing Backwards, Salley Vickers
Vickers doing what she does so well. Didn't grab me as much as her other books, all of which I think are brilliant, but it was still a great read.
Sacred Hearts, Sarah Dunant
Love love love. I met the author, got my book signed and had a big girly gush about how I adored her book. I love* all of Dunant's renaissance Italy novels. Brilliant scene setting and capturing of detail, together with heartbreaking and/or breathtaking ripping yarns. Must re-read them all. Now.
* bonus magpie singing if you follow that link
Labyrinth, Kate Mosse
Interesting but clunky. Also too long - needs editing by a third I reckon (hark at me, the expert). I picked it up because of the Templar aspect. Meh.
The Darling Buds of May, E M Bates
Light reading.
Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel
The highlight of my reading year. Thrilled to hear Mantel is working on a sequel. The writing is just superb and I mourned when I finished it. I still miss hearing Cromwell's voice in my head.
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, David Mitchell
Loved this even more than I loved Cloud Atlas which was my introduction to Mitchell a couple of years ago. Interesting story, educational, absorbing and elegant. He's good.
Started Early, Took my Dog, Kate Atkinson
Another contender for the book of my 2010. I could not wait until this came out. I'm a die hard Atkinson fan and a Jackson Brodie tragic. Thrilled to hear the BBC (?) is making a tv series based on the first couple of the Jackson books. Atkinson's books are brilliant - she writes about dark disturbing events with a light touch and manages to make you laugh out loud while simultaneously sobbing. She had better write more Jackson Brodie or I will be
Stones from the River, Ursula Hegi
I took months to read this. Kept reading other things in between (and writing end of semester essays), but always came back to it. An interesting story about a dwarf living in rural Germany during the early twentieth century and then WWII. My copy was a gift from dear Babelbabe.
The Facts of Life, Graham Joyce
The husband put me onto this author. He picked up a couple of Joyce's books at the library and insisted I read them too. Set in Coventry during WWII. Elements of fantasy/magical realism, and thoroughly enjoyable. I now want to work my way through everything Joyce has written.
Skippy Dies, Paul Murray
Supposedly the It book of late 2010. Confronting and well written, great story. Aaargh, teenagers. BoardingSchoolTeenagersSexDrugsPaedophilia. Confronting.
The Limits of Enchantment, Graham Joyce
More Joyce. Set in a village in England in the 1960s, featuring pagans and midwives and healers. Excellent. Lent it to my mother while staying at her place; she wolfed it down in two days but declared it meh.
Thames: Sacred River, Peter Ackroyd
Full of gems and some fascinating anecdotes but irritating. Ackroyd makes grand statements as if a) they're fact and b) they proceed logically from his previous factual statement. They don't. Also some parts are just tedious lists of places or dates or events without any explanation or context. Frustrating. Pretty cover.
also in 2010 ...
(lots of books, articles and papers for my
LISTENED
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
Mr Rochester is such a dick. Listening to this again (I read it many years ago) led to me watching every film and tv version of Jane Eyre I could get my hands on. Jane Eyre now has the added bonus of always making me think of Sara's unintentionally hilarious blog post. Read what she wrote and then make sure you read the comments.
The Captive Queen of Scots, Jean Plaidy
Ditched this after one or two cds I think.
People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks
Splendid. This was a re-read and I enjoyed it all over again although the main character still irritated me.
Girl with a Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier
Another re-read. Love everything Chevalier writes. LOVE. (Did I read Remarkable Creatures in 2010 or was that 2009?)
The History Boys, Alan Bennett
I hadn't realised this was recorded onto audiobook as a play, with different actors playing each role, and sound effects and all. Took me a while to get the hang of who was speaking (too many voices to keep track of and some sounded similar) but it was enjoyableand moving. I do like Alan Bennett. Brother of Gordon, presumably.
The Lady and the Unicorn, Tracy Chevalier
Love Chevalier. I think this one, about the famous 15th century tapestries, is my favourite of all. A re-read/listen. Then I lent my copy of the paperback to shadygrey because she had just been to Paris and seen the tapestries in the flesh. Jealous.
Teatime for the Traditionally Built, Alexander McCall Smith
One of the Mme Precious Ramotswe series. A bit tedious but listenable. Writing this now some months later I can't remember a thing about it except for the fact that it does insist Mme Ramotswe is traditionally built, over and over. (Point. Laboured).
La's Orchestra Saves the World, Alexander McCall Smith
Bland.
When will there be good news? by Kate Atkinson
Hooray for Kate Atkinson and Jackson Brodie. This was a re-read and was every bit as good as the first time. Each Jackson Brodie book is better than the last. Side effect: huge crush on
Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
2009 and 2010 saw me on a bit of a Hardy kick. When I finally find and upload my list of '09 books you'll see that I read Tess, The Return of the Native, and um, something else. Oh yes The Mayor of Casterbridge. I also watched as many film versions of them as I could get hold of through my library, and those that I couldn't get I watched on YouTube in 10 minute increments. I did enjoy Far from the Madding Crowd. Bathsheba is an interesting character (fab name) and oh ... that stoic, patient shepherd.
The True Darcy Spirit, Elizabeth Aston
Does this count as Austen fan fiction? It's set a generation or two later and Lizzie and Darcy are only mentioned once or twice. Apparently they have five children, and the heroine of this story is a cousin or great-niece or something. Light and enjoyable. Sometimes you need light to get you through yet another traffic jam on the ring road.
Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
A re-read. It's an excellent book, but don't make the mistake of watching the appalling film version. Okay? Okay.
Good Wives, Louisa May Alcott
I'd forgotten I'd listened to this! (But the list never lies). I've read the book several times although not for many years. Amy! Jo! Laurie! Meg! TWINS!! Oh ... Beth ...
The Mayor of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy
Most excellent. Watched the movie version with Ciaran Whatsit after listening to this.
The Daughter of Time Josephine Tey
Another re-read, and a convincing argument regarding Richard III and the princes in the tower. Shows how "history" is so manipulated yet carried on down the line as if it's the gospel truth.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J K Rowling
Getting ready for Part 1 of the final film, I needed a refresher course of the last few books. Watched all the films too. This is the one where Sirius snuffs it.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J K Rowling
See above. Heaps of people snuff it. Mrs Weasley swears. Children around the world sob over Hedwig.
The Lambs of London, Peter Ackroyd
Uses historical people and events to weave a story. A good yarn; London, books, forgeries, Shakespeare. What's not to like?
