March has seen me slump, I have been reading – fairly slowly – but the blog has been ignored more than I would like. I have again really struggled to engage with blogs and social media. I have days when I try to claw it back, post something on social media, read a few blog posts, but it’s been a real struggle even to do that. I think there are a lot of people feeling like this these days, looking outwards the world is not a very happy place and even when we try to protect ourselves a little from it – it seeps in. Added to that, I have been very fatigued, generally unmotivated and down.
Life never really gets any easier – but spring is here, sort of – and I have joined a virtual WI group, to meet other people. I bought a new power chair this week, which should make getting out easier, as I won’t need people to push me about. I am away for a few days with family next week. A change of scene will be a real boost, I think, and I hope it will buoy me up going forward.
Back to the books!
I have been reading, though I realise now that it’s been a fairly slow reading month which probably fits in with how I have been feeling around everything else. Posting this a couple of days before the end of the month, as I know I will finish my last book by the 31st, but do not have time for another one. So far this month I haven’t felt as if I wanted to write about anything that I have read in March. That is no reflection on the books though, I enjoyed all of them, I can only blame my mood.
Seven books read in March, three of those on Kindle, hence the small pile of books in the photo.
I started the month with my next Margaret Drabble novel, Jerusalem, the Golden (1967), my fourth one of the year, though I have only reviewed two of them. Clara has left her suffocating home in a small northern town for life and university in London. Here she becomes great friends with Clelia and her excitingly different bohemian family.
Murder While You Work by Susan Scarlett (1944) (aka Noel Streatfeild) was a lovely fun read and the first of two DSP books this month. Despite the title it’s not a typical mystery novel – it was this writer’s only attempt at the genre and I found it a compelling read. Set against the backdrop of a munitions factory, there is a mystery at the centre of the house where new recruit Judy is billeted, and the handsome Nick, himself engaged in important secret work, is determined to help her and make sure she comes to no harm.
My third read was inspired by the reviews of other bloggers. Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh (2024) a coming of age novel from Nigeria. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking piece about a young gay man. Having witnessed an intimate moment between his son and his new apprentice, Obiefuna’s father sends him to a harsh Christian boarding school. With chapters alternating between Obiefuna and his mother, Ibeh tells the story of this young man’s self-discovery and his mother’s pain over the loss of her son.
My next two reads were for Cathy’s Reading Ireland month. The Silence in the Garden by William Trevor (1988) was just a beautifully subtle novel. All the ingredients I associate with the best of William Trevor. In 1904, clergyman’s daughter Sarah Pollenfax arrived in Carriglas an island off the coast of Cork to act as governess to distant relatives. It is a magical time for Sarah, a wonderful time in an unforgettable place, which she returns to in her mind long afterwards. Thirty years later, after the First World War and the Irish Civil War have taken their toll, Sarah returns to Carriglas, and finds that there were things going on during those far off golden days of which she was completely unaware.
Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry (2023) longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2023, is something of a slow burn. An intensely introspective, literary novel with some tough themes. Tom Kettle is a retired police officer now living in a lean-to flat annexed to a Victorian castle overlooking the Irish sea. When two former colleagues turn up at his door asking questions about a decades old case, Tom is pulled back into the past, his present life and the losses he has suffered are all tangled up with his memories of the past. Tom is quite an unreliable narrator and nothing is ever quite what it seems. A very impressive novel, beautifully written.
I thought a BLCC would be a good fit after the rigours of my previous read. Impact of Evidence by Carol Carnac (1954) was sent to me quite recently and I had thoroughly enjoyed Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac and some of the novels she wrote under the name E C R Lorac, this one I found a bit more plodding however. Carnac/Lorac is good at setting and atmosphere, and certainly that is one of the best things about this novel but some parts of the novel I felt were a bit padded out and I got a bit fed up with it at times. Set in the rural community of the Welsh borders which has been isolated for days by heavy snow and flooding. Old Dr Robinson is known as something of a menace on the roads, so when he collides with a jeep at a particularly dangerous junction it is almost as if it were an accident everyone had been waiting to happen. However, when the body of an unknown man is found in the back of the doctor’s car, who no one recognises and was clearly dead before the collision the police are called to investigate. It isn’t long before Chief Inspector Julian Rivers, ably assisted by Detective Inspector Lancing is on the case.
Smouldering Fire by D E Stevenson (1935) my second lovely DSP read of the month was an easy choice, as I needed something to sooth my weary soul. Set in the Scottish highlands, where Iain MacAslan has been forced to let his vast property to wealthy Londoner Mr Hetherington Smith for the hunting season. He is a self made man, whose wife was much happier when they were poor. Despite his heartbreak at having to see strangers in his house and on his land MacAslan elects to stay in a small cottage on the shores of the loch aided by his loyal keeper Donald and his wife Morag. The Hetherington Smiths bring quite a mixed group of guests with them, but it is to Linda Medworth and her young son that Iain finds himself drawn. I am still reading this, so I can’t yet comment on what is supposed to be a ‘shocking conclusion’ but I am certainly enjoying this slice of DES very much.
Looking ahead, I am planning on some Kindle reading next week while I am away, and I plan on reading another Margaret Drabble at some point. I shall probably be reading The Waterfall. I hope to join in with Karen and Simon’s 1937 club, the year my dad was born, but I don’t have any firm plans on what I’ll read yet.
In the meantime I hope all of you in the UK have a restful bank holiday weekend, happy Easter if you celebrate and let’s cross our fingers for some spring sunshine.
As ever I would love to hear what you have been reading.
I’m sorry to hear that March has been a bit of a struggle, but hopefully getting away for a bit will give you a lift. Some good reading there for the month, though, and the main thing is always to enjoy it. I hope you can find something suitable for 1937 – it’s certain an interesting year!
I shall have to start looking into what I can read for the 1937 club. Hopefully I will find something.
I’d say you did very well with your reading. Some wonderful-sounding books. The first Drabble at least is going on my TBR. I’m reading Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett at the moment. Congratulations on your new chair–that is a life-improvement and then some. I totally agree with this: “looking outwards the world is not a very happy place and even when we try to protect ourselves…” The election here in the US is so dire I want to hide.
Susan Scarlett is a good comfort type read, I very much enjoyed the workplace stuff in the one I just read.
I didn’t know Susan Scarlett was Noel Streatfield! Definitely one for my list. Hopefully some sunshine and different surroundings will help to raise your spirits. It’s so difficult when we get into a slump and everyone else seems to be marching along, but we’re all here wishing you well and looking forward to your news!
She wrote some wonderful books as Susan Scarlett. One that I would read as a first or second one is Babbacombe’s.
Babbacombe’s was excellent.
Thank you. Yes, I think Noel Streatfeild was pretty prolific really, as she also wrote for children.
The weather is definitely not helping at all at the moment. I do understand how you feel. The only one of these I have read is the Sebastian Barry which I thought an extraordinary achievement. I hope that improved Spring weather will be with us soon.
Yes, the Barry is a beautifully written novel, and as you say quite the achievement. I am looking forward to some mild spring days.
Your post reminded me that I have to get back to reading Drabble. In the early 70s I had just left work to have my first child and in the two weeks before my son arrived I listened to Woman’s Hour where the book being read was Margaret Drabble’s “The Millstone”. The baby arrived and I never heard the end of the book. Thanks for prompting me to finish that book and read more.
You also always introduce me to writers that I missed along the way.
Thanks and enjoy your new independence.
I read The Millstone in February, and absolutely loved it. I hope you enjoy it if you get back to it.
So sorry to hear that March has been another difficult month. I think you have a point about the way the state of the world affects our energy levels. Summoning enthusiasm sometimes feels too much in the face of it all. I hope you have a restorative break well away from the news with the people you love.
Absolutely, the state of the world is getting to many of us I’m sure.
A break away with family, is definitely what I need.
I’m so sorry that March has been challenging for you, Ali, but hopefully some time away with your family will give you a bit of a boost. Fingers crossed…
On the books front, the William Trevor sounds terrific, just my kind of read, so I’ve added it to my wishlist. The Carol Carnac is on my shelf, and it’ll be interesting to see how get on, especially given your thoughts. I’m also hoping to get back to Margaret Drabble soon, maybe in May depending on how my April goes. Wishing you all the best for a brighter April!
I really think you would enjoy the William Trevor novel Jacqui, I know how much you’ve appreciated some of his other novels.
Thank you for the post Ali,
as usual I will be taking your advice and adding several of these to my ”to read” list. The list gets longer and time shorter …someone should coin a pithy phrase about that.
I hope April brings sunshine and warmth to you.
Thank you. There really are just too many books to be read. 😁
I always enjoy reading your posts Ali, so thank you for this one. I’m so sorry that you have had such a difficult March. I can empathise – the weather and the state of the world, and having Covid for the first time has contributed to my finding it hard to motivate myself too. I know when I have hit a particular low on days when I don’t even feel I’m really enjoying my reading. I’ve had to follow my whims this month; for some reason (me I’m sure not Drabble), I could not get into Jerusalem the Golden and maybe will return to it another time.
I really hope that having your new chair and a break with a change of scene will give you a much needed boost. Wishing you a Happy April of reading and hopefully some other uplifting things too – maybe even some sunshine!
I liked Jerusalem, the Golden, but it is probably my least favourite of the four I have read since January, but I couldn’t really explain why.
Sorry it’s been a difficult month for you – I hope getting away for a break next week will lift your spirits. I read Impact of Evidence recently as well and thought the isolated setting was very well done, but the plot wasn’t particularly strong. I haven’t read Crossed Skis yet but I’m looking forward to it.
Yes, the plot of Impact of Evidence was weaker I thought. Crossed Skis is much better.
Sorry you’ve had a tough March Ali. I hope the power chair and a lovely break away make a difference. Hopefully we’ll have some spring weather to lift our spirits too.
I’ve not read any of your choices this month and they all sound so tempting!
Yes, a short break away will hopefully really help. Thank you 😊.
I’m sorry to hear you have had a tough month Ali, I do hope things improve soon and you have a lovely Easter x
Thank you Cathy.
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I’m glad I helped persuade you that Susan Scarlett was worth reading, and also it was lovely to read Blessings around the same time as you. Funny reading our readalong book when you’re not, but then you’ll have felt that when I was away!
What a rough time of things you’ve been having: I’m sorry to hear that, and I hope the energy that comes with spring, the change in the light and the length of the days, helps a little. I’ve been reading some of the books on the Women’s Fiction Prize list (I suppose you’ll be marking the winner for your project!) and the Carol Shields Fiction Prize (same sort of thing, but with a slant towards North American authors and including translations and short stories).
I haven’t really been keeping up with my women’s prize project, I might end up ditching it. I don’t really know much about the Carol Shields prize, we probably don’t hear much about it over here.
It’s only the second year for the CS prize, although I think it was about a decade in the making, so it’s still gaining momentum, but it’s a very diverse list, so I expect news will eventually spread (though more for the American voices highlighted I suspect).