I am going to try again and blog the books I read. I would love to keep track – I read a lot (usually several at once) and so I think I will talk about them as I finish them. The first read of the new year was actually a re-read: Jane and the Stillroom Maid, by Stephanie Barron. I love this whole series – mysteries starring Jane Austen. I needed something to read with lunch one day and just pulled this off the shelf. I love the language and the flavor of Austen. I am not a purist, I will read just about anything that is related to Jane Austen’s work.
Book number two: The Other Queen
by Philippa Gregory. Another subject I will read almost anything about is Queen Elizabeth. This book is told from the perspective of three different characters, alternating between them with every chapter. It is mostly the story of Mary Queen of Scots while she was imprisoned by Elizabeth. The narrators are Mary and the Lord and Lady Shrewsbury who were her supervisors while she was being held. Philippa Gregory’s books have been hit and miss for me – I loved the Boleyn ones and really didn’t like the Wideacre ones. This one was a hit for me.
Have you tried the Thursday Next novels by Jasper Fforde? The first one is “The Eyre Affaire” and deals with an alternate reality where literature is taken MUCH more seriously than it is here. So much so that the Book World is a reality unto itself.
It’s a little sci-fi/fantasy and a little surreal, and generally a whole lot of fun if you like that sort of thing. It’s very British in a lot of ways.
I might have to find the Jane Austin mysteries. I have an odd fondness for her writing. I guess it’s because she wasn’t spoiled for me in high school! :)
Yes! Love Jasper Fforde and Thursday Next. They made me actually go read a couple of the classics they refer to since I knew I was missing some of the jokes.
Oh, WOW!! Someone else who has actually heard of them!! :D He also has out a couple of “Nursery Crime” stories. I just love his use of language and total literary in-joke mindset.
I have to say, though, while I rather enjoyed “The Other Boleyn Girl”, there was some historical inaccuracy that bothered me. :( If you like alternate history at all, I highly recommend “Ruled Britannia” by Harry Turtledove. What if the Spanish had won the battle of the Spanish Armada, and taken over England? And what if young Williams Shakespeare was hired to write a propaganda play for them, as well as the English working to overthrow the Spanish? Lovely stuff, AND the dialogue seems *very* period. Great stuff to geek out on! :)
What Becka said with the Stephanie Barron books!
Gary Blackwood (author of the Shakespeare Stealer,etc.) has a book called “The Year of the Hangman”, that is a very weird read. His premise is that the Americans lost the Revolutionary War, heroes become war criminals and hunted men.
It is a real mental challenge because you know intellectually that it is all wrong. Adolescent literature that I don’t think adolescents would get for the most part, it is very clever writing.
Becka’s mom