November has turned out to be a rather good reading month, in purely numerical terms I did well because two or three of the books I read were thin ones. Those of you paying particular attention may notice two books on the list that I haven’t reviewed here. The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy and The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman I read and reviewed for Shiny New Books – I think the next issue comes out at the end of this week, but I confess I’ve forgotten precisely. Quite a mix of things too; from the brilliant, Company Parade, a slow, thoughtful read but very impressive, to a book celebrating bookshops, Elizabeth Bowen’s second novel, complex and beautifully written for an online discussion group, Edith Wharton’s wartime observations and a sci-fi/dystopian novel for my book group, phew! 11 books in all completed and I’m half way through Radclyffe Hall’s The Well of Loneliness.
110 The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy (2014) Rachel Joyce (F)
111 Company Parade (1934) Storm Jameson (F)
112 The Bookshop Book (2014) Jen Campbell (NF)
113 Fighting Frace (1915) Edith Wharton (NF)
114 The Peculiar life of a Lonely Postman (2014) Denis Thѐriault (F)
115 The Hotel (1927) Elizabeth Bowen (F)
116 Temporary Kings (1973) Anthony Powell (F)
117 Aunt Sass Christmas stories (1941-1944) P L Travers (F)
118 Love in the Sun (1939) Leo Walmsley (F)
119 The Midwich Cuckoos (1957) John Wyndham (F)
120 Parson’s Nine (1932) Noel Streatfield (F)
My stand out reads for the month were:
Company Parade by Storm Jameson, a brilliant novel, a slow read, but I loved this introduction to her writing.
Temporary Kings by Anthony Powell – the 11th book in the Dance to the Music of time sequence, I found it really very compelling.
The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham, was a big surprise to me, really didn’t expect to love it quite as much as I did, hard to put down and gave me lots to think about.
Parson’s Nine by Noel Streatfield – although not frothy or silly, this does fall slightly into the cosy reading category and it kept me company through a busy, tiring week, loved spending time with these characters.
So on to December – the final month of 2014 – goodness how time does fly.
The start of the month will all be about Willa Cather week, I will start early after I have finished with the brilliant Radclyffe Hall. I am so looking forward to reading a couple of Cather back to back. Still haven’t finally decided which to read, I suppose I will surprise you. Though I am also looking forward to seeing what everyone else decides to read, and what you think. This week on the blog I might be a bit quiet – I’ll see how things go (it’ll depend on work) – but plan on posting a few Cather related things the following week.
After that I will wait to see where my mood takes me. I will naturally be reading the final Anthony Powell, Hearing Secret Harmonies – though later in the month than I usually do. I have a couple of Christmassy books set aside for Christmas week, Nancy Mitford’s Christmas Pudding, and The Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farejeon from the British Library Crime Classics.
As always would love to hear what you all plan on reading, especially if you’ll be reading Willa Cather. Please help spread the Cather word, on your blogs, on Twitter – wherever.
I’m very tempted to read Song o the Lark, if I can squeeze it in, though I’m so hopeless at challenges. Still, will look forward to see what you end up reading. I’ve committed to reading The Waves by Virginia Woolf later this week, in a readalong with one other reader, so that’s a start I guess!
Great guns in November for you! Bonne Continuation :
Thank you. Song of the Lark is brilliant but big. Would love to know your thoughts on it.
Big intimidates less when its read on the kindle, which what I’ll probably do, but the premise really appeals, so it’s definitely going to be read.
That was a lovely mix of reading – and rest assured that ‘Alexander’s Bridge’ is waiting for its moment on my bedside table!
I loved Alexander’s Bridge such a good first novel.
I am reading postman at the moment ….but the French version . I bought it in Paris and they were quite surprised to hear it was causing a fuss in UK !
I very much enjoyed it, unusual and memorable.
I have My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, The Repercussions by Catherine Hall and Nora Webster by Colm Toibin out from the library so will read them sometime in December. I have also chosen The Orenda for my book club book and haven’t decided yet whether I will re-read it or just go with the flow. I will join you for Willa Carther and haven’t decided whether to read My Antonia (which you seem to strongly recommend) or One of Ours which I had already downloaded onto my phone. I would also like to read something from my Mt TBR but like to leave that completely in the moment as to what I will chose.
Lots of great reading there. Which ever of those Cather’s you decide on I hope you enjoy, I liked both of those very much.
What a nice variety of books, Ali. I will do my best to join in the Cather week!
Great, I know how hard it is to fit these things in.
Looking forward to Willa Cather week! I have an omnibus edition of her later works from the library so I’ll see how many I can get through. I also realized/remembered that I now live 20 minutes from her gravesite (in Jaffrey, NH) so I am hoping to make a trip over there to see it and write a post. Alas, the scenery will not be very attractive at this time of year, but it will be interesting to spend a moment there and think of her.
I that will be a lovely thing to do, I am quite envious look forward to hearing about it.
I am always amazed by how many books you read. Well done 11 is a great amount and to have 4 stand out reads is great too. I also can’t believe its December already. This year has just flown by! I don’t really make reading plans but in December I will be continuing my read of Shirley by Charlotte Brontë my result from The Classics Club Spin #8. I wish you happy reading in December 🙂
Thank you, I read Shirley twice though many years ago. I don’t remember it in any detail but seem to remember it being very different to the other Charlotte Bronte novels. I know I enjoyed it.
Death Comes for the Archbishop will be only the second Cather I’ve read. Shame on me!
No shame at all, that’s one of the ones I have still to read, though whether it’s one of the ones I read next week remains to be seen.
I’ve read the Archbishop but I will try to pick one off the shelf next week to join in with. I only read 7 books last month, but I’ve hopefully got a slightly more relaxed December coming up and hope to get through a few more …
Some months are like that 🙂 it can be frustrating. Hope you manage to join in Willa Cather reading week.