February reads, and to be read soon.

February has been a great reading month for me. It’s very hard to pick my favourites, as everything has been so wonderfully memorable. Despite not often reading much non-fiction I read two amazing non-fiction books that are linked by poet Edward Thomas ‘The Old ways’ and ‘Under storm’s Wing’ which I can’t praise highly enough.
My two top fiction reads from this month then were:
A favourite of the Gods – Sybille Bedford – a beautifully written novel about three generations of mothers and daughters – I’ll be reading the sequel soon.
Guard your daughters – by Diana Tutton – which I finally got around to reading and loved every bit as many other bloggers before me had.

I have gathered together a nice pile for March which includes one book I had originally planned to read during February but didn’t get around to.
My current read – which I am enjoying very much despite the sometimes brutal nature of the story is The Blind Man’s Garden by Nadeem Aslam, I don’t expect I’ll finish it until the weekend – the writing is glorious. I stumped up for the hardback when I realised it had been released as I have loved Aslam’s previous books.
Up next will be The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy for my Hardy reading challenge – I remember loving it the first time around which was a long time ago.
Jane and Prudence – Barbara Pym, another re-read I’ll be reading for our Pym read-a-long.
The Death of Lyndon Wilder and the consequences thereof – E A Dineley – sent by the publishers.
Mr Brigg’ Hat – Kate Colquhon, a true life Victorian mystery which I am looking forward to.
Ruby’s spoon – Anna Lawrence Pietroni – who’ll be talking to a local meet up group I sometimes attend toward the end of the month.
A Compass Error – Sybille Bedford, the sequel to A favourite of the gods.
Taking Chances – Molly Keane – which is the book I had selected for the classic spin
Nightingale Wood – Stella Gibbons, which was part of my Librarything Virago group secret Santa gift.
These all look so good – I do hope I manage to find time for them all.

What will you be reading in March?

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Reading in February 2012

At the end of January I felt that I had a brilliant start to my reading for 2012 – I had read some lovely books and was looking forward to the ones I have still to read. Well February has also been great. I read 12 books in February only 2 non-fiction – and I see more than half of them published before the year 2000 – I really am reading fewer new books these days. However there are one or two recent books that have caught my eye – that I may be buying soon.

So in February I read:

12 Tom-All-Alone’s (2012) – Lynn Shepherd (F)
13 Palladian (1946) – Elizabeth Taylor (F)
14 The Corner that held them (1948) – Sylvia Townsend Warner (F)
15 Before I go to Sleep (2011) – S J Watson (F)
16 Counting my Chickens (2001) – Deborah Devonshire (NF)
17 Miss Buncle Married (1936) – D E Stevenson (F)
18 Debs at War (2005) – Anne De Courcy (NF)
19 Strong Poison (1929) – Dorothy L Sayers (F)
20 The Woman in Black (1983) – Susan Hill (F)
21 Fenny (1953) – Lettice Cooper (F)
22 Sovereign (2006) – C J Sansom (F)
23 The Heat of the Day (1948) – Elizabeth Bowen (F)

I usually pick three or four books for special mention at this point – only this month it could easily be six or seven- but I’ll stick to five though, in no particular order.

  1. Tom-All-Alone’s – Lynn Shepherd – a brilliant homage to Dickens and a massively readable novel, which I know will appeal to many readers.

 

 

2. Palladian – Elizabeth Taylor -a strange early little novel from Elizabeth Taylor, but brilliantly written as ever – with a couple of twists in the story.

 

 

3. Debs at War – Anne De Courcy – essentially what it says in the title, a great non fiction book about what those glamorous young Debs did for us during the years of the Second World War,  very readable and illuminating.

 

 

 

4. Fenny – Lettice Cooper – another Virago book – set in Italy during the 30′s – about a woman who goes out as a governess for a  short time but makes her life there, and grows considerably with her experiences.

 

 

5 Miss Buncle Married – D E Stevenson – the Sequel to Miss Buncle’s Book – and an absolute Joy I gulped it down and was bereft when it was finished.

 

 

Roll on March I say – I think I have some great books coming up – as well as a couple that may take me a little outside of my comfort Zone which is always worth doing.

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February reads

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12 The River (1946)	Rumer Godden  FEB  (F)
13 Thomas Hardy: the time torn man (2006)	Claire Tomalin (NF)
14 Life of Pi  (2002)	Yann Martel (F)
15 The Poisoned Chalice (1998)	Bernard Knight (F)
16 The Hotel on the Roof of the world (1998)	Alec Le Sueur (NF)
17 South Riding (1936)	Winifred Holtby (F)
18 Our Exploits at West Poley (1883)	Thomas Hardy (F)
19 Agatha Raisin and the Perfect Paragon (2005)	M C Beaton (F)
20 The Camel Bookmobile (2007)	Marsha Hamilton (F)
21 Where there’s Life (1985)	Kathleen Dayus (NF)
22 After Leaving Mr Mackenzie (1931)	Jean Rhys (F)

11 books read in February – 8 Fiction 3 non-fiction. Some fabulous books this month Special mention though must go to:

• Thomas Hardy: the time torn man – Claire Tomalin (NF) a wonderful biography, a must for Hardy fans.
• Life of Pi – Yann Martel (F) a brilliant book, hard to put down and though provoking,so surprised me.
• South Riding – Winifred Holtby (F) A wonderful classic, a great feminist novel.

• Where there’s Life (NF) a great memoir and social history of a Birmingham woman.

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February reads

12 The Golden Child	Penelope Fitzgerald (F)
13 The earth hums in B flat	Mari Strachan (F)
14 Pastors and masters	Ivy Compton-Burnett (F)
15 A lot to ask	Hazel Holt (NF)
16 Agatha Raisin and the terrible tourist	M.C Beaton (F)
17 Wolf Hall	Hilary Mantel (F)
18 Unnatural death	Dorothy L Sayers (F)
19 Beyond the Narrow Gate	Leslie Chang (NF)
20 Motherland	Vineeta Vijayaraghavan (F)
21 Coromandel Sea Change	Rumer Godden (F)

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February Reads

11 Seven Houses	Alev Lytle Croutier F
12 Iris	John Bayley NF
13 Falling Slowly	Anita Brookner F
14 Alas, Poor Lady	Rachel Ferguson F
15 Nancy Mitford	Selina Hastings NF
16 The Boleyn Inheritance	Philippa Gregory F
17 Bed and Breakfast	Lois Battle F
18 A Spy in the Bookshop	John Saumerez Smith NF
19 Unraveled Sleeve	Monica Ferris F
20 Earthly Possessions	Anne Tyler F
21 The Bone People	Keri Hulme F

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February Reads

14 Mango and Mimosa Suzanne At Albans
15 The Flight from the enchanter Iris Murdoch
16 Ghostheart Roger J Ellory
17 They were Sisters Dorothy Whipple
18 Autumn Bridge Takashi Matsuoka
19 The Lollipop Shoes Joanne Harris
20 Haloween Party Agatha Christie meet up
21 The Hand of Ethelberta Thomas Hardy
22 The Red Carpet Lavanya Sankaran
23 Between, Georgia Joshilyn Jackson

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