March ended quite damply here, but I am still looking out for signs of spring. I had a few days away in a hotel earlier this month, which was a lovely change of scene, and I also became officially medically retired. It was also a good month for books, the number I read, not particularly dramatic. Seven books read in March, though a couple were fairly fat books – the quality was excellent.
I started the month with The Fawn (1959) by Magda Szabó translated from the Hungarian by Len Rix. It is a complex piece, narrated by Eszter Encsy, an acclaimed actress. Throughout the novel Eszter is speaking to her lover, explaining her past, seeking forgiveness, reliving key moments.
Despite being a large heavy hardback, I was excited to read Agatha Christie an Elusive Woman (2022) by Lucy Worsley, it was a Christmas present from Liz. It didn’t disappoint. I found this such a compelling biography, especially those sections detailing that infamous year of 1926, when Agatha went missing for eleven days, before being found in a hotel in Harrogate. We are given a tantalising glimpse of a woman who was very private and who as the title of the book suggests, remains a little elusive.
I read Cheating at Canasta (2007) by William Trevor on my Kindle, for #ReadingIreland month – but I haven’t managed to review it. I have loved several of his brilliant novels in the past, but this was my first collection of his stories. One of his later collections, it is predictably excellent with themes of opportunities not taken and memory, stories set in both Ireland and England.
Another Christmas gift was The Book of Form and Emptiness (2021) by Ruth Ozeki. I haven’t written about it because I felt I couldn’t – it is so brilliant. I perhaps over-thought it, but convinced myself I couldn’t do it justice, so didn’t try. There’s a wonderful cast of characters, a story that is poignant, often heartbreaking, some of it narrated by a book. It’s philosophical, wise and hugely compelling. I loved every word, and I will be reading more Ruth Ozeki on the strength of it. At around 550 pages it’s another bigger book than I often read, and this time, my hands objected strongly. I bought another copy for my Kindle, so I could carry on reading uninterrupted.
It was Simon’s review of Babbacombe’s (1941) by Susan Scarlett that prompted me to read it. My first Susan Scarlett, the alternative name under which Noel Streatfeild wrote. I absolutely loved it, such a cheery, delightful novel about a department store and some of the people who work there.
The British Library kindly provided me with one of their latest offerings, The Home (1972) by Penelope Mortimer. A brilliant novel, with a very 1970s feel. It explores a woman’s life as she leaves a broken marriage and sets up a new home for her grown up children, who come and go throughout the novel. I will write a full review soon, so don’t want to say too much here.
Holland Park Press sent me The Way to Hornsey Rise (2023) by Jeremy Worman and I am delighted they did, it’s an excellent novelised autobiography. Worman’s memoir explores his childhood, adolescence and private education in Windsor. However, in the 1970’s he came to reject that upbringing, taking up residence in the hippy squats of Hornsey Rise. Tracing how and why Jeremy made that transition, it’s a wonderfully readable memoir.
All in all a good month I think, and I am looking forward to April, too. Karen and Simon will be hosting the 1940 club – and I will be happily joining in with that. I did have one Dean Street Press book waiting in the wings but then I went off and bought a second yesterday, so I have two to look forward to. My book group will be reading Eight Months on Ghazzah Street by Hilary Mantel but beyond that I don’t have any definite plans.
The other day I had a little bit of a wobble about my ability to host #DDMreadingweek again. However, I had a chat with myself and I have decided I will do it after all, and having made that decision, I am now really looking forward to it again, and I have started to plan my reading. The dates this year will be 8th – 15th May – though things may be a little pared back at my end, I can’t manage blog posts every day, and there won’t be a giveaway this year either. So, something for DDM fans to look forward to, I hope.
What brilliant things did you read in March and what are your April reading plans?
I hope you enjoy the Hilary Mantel. Eight Months was the first book of hers I ever read, long before she was famous. I loved it.
Ooh, excellent, I’ll look forward to it all the more now.
I know exactly what you mean about being so bowled over by a book you wonder how on earth you’ll write anything coherent about it! I think I have Ruth Ozeki in the TBR somewhere, I’ll have to dig her out.
Really pleased you’re hosting DDMReadingWeek Ali 🙂
My first Ruth Ozeki, and such a treat. I can look forward to reading more by her now.
Glad you’re hosting DDM week again. I have The Birds and other stories saved up to read for it. The Book of Form and Emptiness was excellent, wasn’t it? A book with so much to think about. I struggled with writing a review too, but I did finally (since it was a review copy). Hope the weather improves and you feel brighter with it. We here are having lots of unseasonal rain, but temps shot up earlier than they usually do to.
Ooh, The Birds is such a good collection. I hope you enjoy it. Glad I’m not the only one to overwhelm myself when writing about some books. Fingers crossed for a good spring.
Just to say that I’m really happy that you’ve decided to host #DDMreadingweek again and I’m looking forward to it!
I’m so glad you’re joining in. It’s a lovely event, I just may need to be a bit calmer about it (but that’s on me 😊).
I am glad you’re having a DDM reading week, I’ve really enjoyed discovering her and will definitely be reading something, thank you!
So glad you’ve enjoyed discovering DDM, I look forward to seeing what you read.
I read some good ones last month, particularly recommending Enchantment by Katherine May. I’m so glad you enjoyed the Agatha Christie book as I was pleased to get you such a perfect treat at the time! I am looking forward to the Penelope Mortimer, which I will be starting later today as a lighter contrast to a book on Shakespeare’s First Folio!
Yes, Enchantment did sound good.
Hope you enjoy the Penelope Mortimer, I loved its very 70s feel.
Some great reading there, Ali, and it’s quality that matters always. Also you had chunksters there! Glad you’re hosting the DDM week – I promise I will try to join in! And roll on spring – I am fed up with the cold and the wet!!!!
Yes, the Ozeki was particularly big. Now, I feel happy that I changed my mind about DDM. It would be great to have you joining us. 😀
I’m sorry about your need for retirement–no one deserves ill health. But, I’m here with you learning to live in “retirement”–mine too was very unexpected. I hope you feel better in time as they find what works. By the way, I looked for the Penelope Moritmer but had to settle for Daddy’s Gone-a-Hunting which I’ll be reviewing in the coming week. Thank you! Wonderful author.
Thank you.
Hopefully, the Penelope Mortimer will be available for you soon. It’s not been out here very long.
That seems like a good month of reading. The Agatha Christie book sounds very appealing! I’m pleased to hear you’re hosting the DDM week again – I’ve read all of her fiction now, but will try to join in with a re-read or some nonfiction.
Re-reads can be such a joy. Even though I have DDM books I’ve not read at all yet, I am considering 1 re-read, as a treat.
Oh, glad you’re hosting DDM Week again! I am going to try to join in this year.
Brilliant, I hope you can. 😀
A great month of reading there, Ali, with some lovely diversity across the range of books. Now I wished I had listened to the filleted version of the Agatha Christie biography when it was covered on R4’s Book of the Week earlier this year! I shall have to hope they repeat it at some point (or make it available on BBC Sounds again.)
Oh, it’s a shame they haven’t left it on the Sounds app. It’s a very readable biography.
Portland, Oregon chose Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being as its community reads book last month and brought her in to speak to schools as well as to a general audience. She was a dynamic speaker and I want to read more of her work. So far, I’ve only read A Tale for the Time Being and I’ll make The Book of Form and Emptiness my second Ozeki read. I’m glad you liked the Trevor short stories as they are favorites of mine. I’m looking forward to reading The Home.
A Tale for the Time Being is high on my wishlist, I am especially drawn to its Tokyo setting. I have read a few Japanese or Japanese set things in the last few months and have been reminded of my previous fascination for Japan.
As always, I added a few more books to the TBR after reading your post 🤣Eight Months on Ghazzah Street by Hilary Mantel is a great book. Very different from her historical fiction but also good
Ha, glad to be a bad influence. 😉
Looking forward to Eight Months on Ghazzah Street.
[…] Reading Daphne Du Maurier Week #DDMreadingweek is hosted by HeavenAli and is now a fixture on my reading calendar. I’m so glad she’s decided to host it again! […]
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I saw this challenge on Broona’s Books. Thank you for hosting. So suitable for me since I am on a path to read all, or most, of Maurier’s books. I did read 5 of her novellas in April: Don’t Look Now, The Apple Tree, The Birds, Not After Midnight and The Blue Lenses. They were all spooky.
I will try to read them in order, so will try to download ‘The Loving Spirit’, ‘I’ll Never be Young Again’ and ‘The Progress of Julius’. I have ‘The Doll’ and ‘The House on the Strand’ on my Nextory, but they are both audio, and it is not my favourite way of reading. I will probably not have time to read them all, but hopefully, it will take me a little bit further on the path.
Well that’s a lovely lot of Daphne du Maurier reading, I hope you continue to enjoy them. I just finished I’ll Never Be Young Again in preparation for DDM reading week.
Looking forward to hearing your review.
I am hoping very much to participate in your DDM reading week…I am still finishing a few International Booker Prize longlisted books, but surely I will have them done by May 8. I hope!
Good luck with your Booker reading, I hope you manage to join us for DDM week.