I’m having quite a slow reading week after all the excitement of Daphne Du Maurier reading week. However, I am looking forward to some extra reading time next week over half term.

I am not a blogger who accepts that many books for review – but despite not getting the piles some people seem to – I have rather let them pile up. Some I really have had a while – (another reason I don’t take on many is because I am so useless at reading them in good time). So, I am trying to get on top of those I have had ages – and those that have recently come in.

I am currently coming to the end of a lovely book (reissued next week) that I received for review, from Handheld Press called Blitz Writing by Inez Holden – a novella Night Shift and a memoir It was Different at the Time. Originally published in 1941 and 1943 respectively, they are both wonderful portraits of life in World War two. I know lots of regular readers love WW2 texts as much as I do – so I am looking forward to telling you all about it next week in my review.
Some other books that have sent to me for review have come into my house recently, and in case I don’t read them as quickly as they deserve to be read – I will tell you about them now. I’m always so grateful for the books I receive, I just need to get down to them. It’s all the other books I have waiting to read that’s the problem of course.
Life in Translation by Anthony Ferner – a novel by a lovely, literary writer I have been lucky enough to read before. Published by Holland Park Press – I believe that it came out last week. This novel describes the ups and downs of the life of a translator who dreams of achieving literary fame.
Noel Streatfeild’s Holiday Stories – which will be a must for all Streatfeild fans. I must admit I am not usually one to read children’s stories – though I love reading them to children. However, the blurb of this one assures us that this collection will delight Streatfeild fans of all ages – so I shall certainly be dipping in. Perhaps it’s a book adults will love to read to children, parents and grandparents fighting over whose turn it is to read them. I love Noel Streatfeild’s adult books – and this collection, illustrated by Peter Bailey – look very tempting. The cover art does make it look more like a children’s collection – but I don’t suppose it matters. Originally these stories were written for annuals and magazines between the 1930s and 70s. This gorgeous collection is published by Virago Modern Classics on the 20th June.
The Reading Party by Fenella Gentleman has recently come out in paperback – and I have a copy that I am looking forward to reading. It concerns a reading party of an Oxford college in the 1970s.
The Stranger by the Sea by Paul Binding has just arrived today. A dramatic re-imagining of characters from Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea, it is set in the late nineteenth century on the Kent coast.
So, I aim to do better with the books I get sent by publishers and authors – only I shall probably just carry on being a bit rubbish about them. Which of these would you read next?
It’s a bank holiday here in the UK this weekend – so let’s hope the sun shines and we all get some lovely, relaxing reading time.
I also don’t get sent review books – I’d never keep up! I really admire bloggers who manage it though. If i ever succeed in getting my TBR below 100, maybe then…
The Holden looks lovely, I’ll look forward to your review. I’ve never read Streatfeild’s adult stories but I’m planning to change this for the Persephone readathon and read Saplings. I have high hopes for it!
I would find getting too many review books stressful I think.
The Holden was very good, I finished it over breakfast this morning. Review on Monday all being well.
I like the sound of Blitz Writting. I also have a copy of The Reading Party that I need to get to.
The Reading Party looks very good, I’m hoping to get to it soon.
Ahem. I hope that’s not a reference to my huge review TBR!! 😉 It seriously is big and I don’t always request them (but am happy to receive them, even if it takes me a whle to read them – for example I had had The Devils hanging about for ages!) I’m hoping to make a dent in them over half term…. 😀
Ha ha, no. I hadn’t realised your review TBR was that bad. You make me feel a lot better.
And my huge review TBR too although half of mine is NetGalley and all my own fault … I would read the Streatfeild of course and The Reading Party because I do like a university themed book. Happy half-term reading and if we can have it nice and sunny everywhere but cool in Liverpool on Sunday for my marathon, that would be just soooooper, thank you!
I can always pass The Reading Party onto you, and you’re already down for the Streatfeild too. I will be cheering you on from my reading chair on Sunday.
Every one of those sounds so tempting. I think you’re in for a treat, Ali. I’m looking forward to hearing more as you work through them.
I think I might be in for a treat, it’s lovely to have them to look forward to.
I’m a sucker for anything to do with University life so I would probably opt for The Reading Party even if the title wasn’t so attractive. And, as you know, I do read a lot of children’s books and anything by Streatfeild is a must.
Yes, I imagine The Reading Party would be right up your street. Streatfeild is a lovely author, good and cosy/comforting reading.
Inez Holden YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have been wanting to read her for a long time but her books were out of print!!! going to preorder NOW! Also, I loved Streatfeild’s Saplings, and recommend follwing up with Laski’s To Bed with Grand Music, they have related themes. (i also like Woolf’s Between the Acts paired with Panter Downes’ One FIne Day as bookends to the war).
Glad you’re excited about the Inez Holden. Saplings was a lovely book, and I agree with you about those other titles. I love Marghanita Laski and One Fine Day is beautiful.
Blitz writing souns right up my street… Looking forward to your review
It’s a very good book. I hope to get my review up on Monday,
Life in Translation is calling to me from this list – I’m curious about the work of a translator and whether they ever find themselves frustrated by the poor quality of the work they’re asked to translate….
Yes, I have often wondered exactly the same. When I scanned the first page it also looked very well written too.
Well no wonder you need a moment to catch your breath: good luck with your “quiet” reading, now, and your latest review books. (The Streatfeild does intrigue me – I still love reading children’s books. A welcome antidote to political news, IMO.)
I think the Streatfeild will be a very welcome distraction, things are about to go even more nuts, so I shall probably need it.