Kathy Hamilton It’s been a while since I shared one of these kinds of posts but I thought it would be fun to share what I’ve been reading lately with you. Quite often the books that I am reading don’t make their way into full-size reviews here on The Female Scriblerian but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth sharing. With that said, let’s take a look at what’s been on my reading pile lately…
Not Just Jane by Shelley DeWees
This is the only non-fiction book to feature in this list of what I’ve been reading lately. I love Jane Austen, but since she only wrote a few books I am always looking for, and inspired by, other (often forgotten) female authors. ‘Not Just Jane’ is a perfect introduction to the lives and literature of seven of these women writers. Shelley DeWees is clearly passionate about showcasing the seven female authors and although I had already encountered a few of them before, I am looking forward to adding the rest to my TBR pile. A great read!
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
By this time it feels as though there’s nothing to say about ‘The Essex Serpent’ that hasn’t already been said! It’s won, and been nominated for, countless awards since it was published. I found that I had to read in slow bursts as it’s quite a psychological read and Sarah Perry slowly builds the tension as the book goes on. Sarah Perry’s sense of setting is superb and her ability to create knife-edge tension out of flights of fancy and superstition are excellent. I’m not sure if it quite lived up to the hype for me, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy reading it.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
In contrast to ‘The Essex Serpent’ I read this book in less than 24 hours. I just couldn’t put it down. Angie Thomas’ debut novel is a powerful narrative about class, race and police brutality in the USA. ‘The Hate U Give’ sheds light on the motivations behind Black Lives Matter movement whilst also being a story of a young girl finding her way in the world. I loved how Angie Thomas was able to make Starr vulnerable, angry, sad and happy all at once. This is a book I actually did review in full. You can read that here.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This is not the first time I have read Pride and Prejudice, and it certainly won’t be the last. Whenever I travel, I always like to bring along a book that I know I will enjoy. So, when I was packing for Croatia I pulled Pride and Prejudice from the shelves and took it for a little holiday! Because there’s nothing better than spending a little time with Mr Darcy on a long ferry ride! There’s nothing more to be said really, a perennial favourite!
The Girl with the Make Believe Husband by Julia Quinn
After I finished ‘Pride and Prejudice’ I still wasn’t ready to leave the idyllic Regency English setting behind. Which is why I was giddy to with delight to see that Julia Quinn had released the latest instalment of her Rokesby series. I loved ‘The Girl with the Make Believe Husband’ which was set in revolutionary America. The romance between Cecilia and Edward was refreshing, it’s not usual to have the hero fall head over heels first after all. Definitely one of my favourites out of what I’ve been reading lately.
A Warriner to Rescue Her by Virginia Heath
By now you’re probably sensing a little theme going on here! Four out of the six books I’ve read recently have been about, or set in, Regency England! What can I say? I love a good Regency Romance. Virginia Heath is fast becoming one of my favourite historical fiction authors. Her romances are lovely and her characters are well crafted. I found this to be especially the case in ‘A Warriner to Rescue Her’. The romance that slowly blossoms between Jamie and Cassie is really lovely. This is the second instalment in her Warriner series, so I can’t wait to see what’s next.
That wraps up what I’ve been reading lately
Do you ever notice themes in your reading? Obviously we all have our favourite genres, but aside from that, I have noticed that when the real world gets particularly crazy (there’s been a general election as well as Brexit in the UK recently) I gravitate towards happy books that I can escape into for a while. That was definitely reflected in what I’ve been reading lately! I’m always looking for suggestions, so I’d love to hear what books you’ve been reading recently! If you want some more ideas for books to read check out this post from Modern Mrs Darcy
P.S. I quite often share what I’m currently reading on Instagram. So if you’re a fan of book pictures and landscape photography you can find me there!
