Judging by the fact that I only read two books in the month of September, that header is a trifle misleading. I honestly can't remember the last time that happened. That said (there's always a 'but'), both books were over or just under 500 pages and one in particular, Black Sun Rising by Celia Friedman, was dense and packed with plot.
58. Black Sun Rising - Celia Friedman
59. The Trouble With Mrs. Montgomery Hurst - Katie Lumsden
In the county of Wickenshire it's widely thought that Mr. Montgomery Hurst will marry Amelia Ashpoint, daughter of a local, very wealthy, brewer. But not by either of them. Amelia knows she will never marry any man, and Montgomery Hurst suddenly ups and marrys a widow with three children. The population is aghast! Who is this woman? How did he meet her? Of course they all fall over themselves to find the answers to these questions but Mrs. Hurst seems strangely reluctant to get out into society. And of course that causes even more gossip... Katie Lumsden is rather a well-known Booktuber whose videos I watch on a regular basis: I've learnt a huge amount about Victorian lit from her. This is her second book, I haven't read the first yet, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall: I gather they're very different. Anyway, what we have here is a comedy of manners in the vein of Jane Austen's Emma or Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford. It's all about gossipy village life, scandals, secret lives, hypocrisy, duty, set around about the 1840s when that was pretty much all the middle and upper classes had to pass the time. So many different characters abound that I was glad of a list of them at the start of the book, but after a while I didn't need it as they're all so different and well rounded that it became easy to follow very quickly. There's about half a dozen different threads of different people's lives and what happens to them, mainly based around match-making and what it means to be a different. Do you hide it and carry on or give in and 'do your duty'. I gave this an unhesitating 5 stars because I loved it to bits. The writing is a joy and very readable, I would recommend this to anyone who likes regency romances in the vein of Georgette Heyer, even though it's set slightly later and there are things you would not find in her books. I've no idea whether Katie is writing a sequel, I imagine not but oh, how I would love one!
So here we are in October. I was away for 5 days in Cornwall last week, my first holiday since my husband died. It felt odd of course but my youngest daughter and I had a lovely time, so nice to see family who live there.
I'm hoping to do better than two books in October as this is one of my favourite reading months of the year. I have spooky books lined up and some crime fiction. At the moment though I'mreading a couple of non-fiction books.
This is Lucy Mangan's homage to her childhood reading and it's a joy of a book that's making me laugh all the way through.
And this is pretty much what it says on the tin... a book about the author, Peter Ross, touring Britain looking at old churches. Delightful, though I'm not that far in.
So, Happy October to everyone. I'm hoping to be around a bit more this month, September seemed crazy somehow, but in a nice way, visitors and holidays are not something to complain about. Happy Autumn reading!
4 comments:
So pleased that you had a lovely few days down in Cornwall. I always love any opportunity to spend time down there, although the last time was three or four years ago now! (reminder to self to make sure a trip is planned for next summer's excursions :)).
I really like the sound of both the Katie Lumsden books, so obviously they have both mysteriously found themselves added to my reading list :) It sounds as though 'The Secrets Of Hartwood Hall' might be a contender for your October spooky mystery reading binge.
We both enjoy looking around churches, cathedrals, abbeys etc. which is good, as we live in just the right area to find a building on almost every street corner, so to speak (I suspect Devon is pretty much the same?). The last one we visited was Tewkesbury Abbey, a bit further afield, where we met up with my SIL and her husband, when they had their canal boat moored in Tewkesbury for a few days. That was beautiful, although every time there is torrential rain the abbey and grounds become an island, as the land surrounding it constantly floods!
We have a great little bookshop here in Frome, where they specialise in all books to do with nature, saving the planet, churches, other ancient buildings and monuments, and similar genres. It is called Sherlock & Pages and the owner Luke Sherlock has an excellent blog where he talks about his visits to churches all over the country. It is really interesting and informative.
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying the Peter Ross book and I'll catch up with you again soon x
All of the books that you read or are reading sound good. I did ask my son about Celia Fremlin and he could not remember having read anything by her (under either version that she has written under). Of course he is like me and reads a lot and doesn't really track his reading (I do of course) so he could not say for sure.
The book about childhood reading sounds good, I wish I could remember what I read when I was young. I did read a lot, but only remember a few authors that I read in my teen years. I thought that Steeple Chasing looked so good I bought an inexpensive Kindle version to try it. Glen read another book by Peter Ross back in 2021 (A Tomb with a View).
Glad to hear that you had a good trip to Cornwall.
Since I was down with Covid a good bit of September and reading was about all I could do (except for sleeping, which I did a lot of), I did read seven books in September (some of them very short), but less blogging than usual. So my list of books read in September may not show up until November, the way things are going.
It always takes a longer time to read those very long books, doesn't it, Cath? I think that's especially true if it's a book with a very dense complex plot. And you got a chance for a visit to Cornwall, which is great. Quality over quantity, is what I say.
I'm glad you got away for awhile! I'd love to spend a month touring around Cornwall. If I ever manage to get over there you'll have to tell me all the best places to visit...and your favorite bookshops, too. :D And I love reading spookier books this time of year. Especially if they have ghosts and/or haunted houses in them.
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