Kathy Hamilton Happy September! It’s been a long time since I’ve shared what I’ve been reading lately. Regular readers may have noticed that my monthly updates paused for a while, this started out as an accident and then after two months, I decided to create a bumper summer roundup instead. The timing couldn’t be more perfect since the weather outside is pleased to announce that it’s officially Autumn!
The Scandalous Suffragette by Eliza Redgold
“When chocolate heiress Violet Coombes is caught hanging her suffragette banner in a most shocking place, Adam Beaufort, Esquire, proposes a marriage of convenience! His good name will avert scandal for her family, and her money will save the estate Adam’s father gambled away. Violet accepts, but she’s determined nothing will distract her from the Cause—including her oh-so-tempting husband!“
If you cast your minds far enough back, you might remember that the last book I read before this was Lowborn by Kerry Hudson. Let’s just say, after that book I was well in need of something a little cheerier. The Scandalous Suffragette was exactly that.
I was intrigued by the setting of this Mills & Boon as it’s an unusual one for their Historical Range. I enjoyed Violet as a character but did find Adam to be a little confusing at times. He says that he supports her decision to be a suffragette and then seems to disapprove at the same time. Nevertheless, this was a sweet, romantic story with an interesting setting.
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
“Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary; he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. The only person he can’t seem to heal through literature is himself; he’s still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened. After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story.“
This was one of the books I decided to take with me to Paris when I visited in early July. 10 points if you can guess why?! I was pleasantly surprised by it, in the best way. You see, from the title and description I had been expecting something a lot lighter than The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George turned out to be.
Instead, this was a beautiful and poetic novel. I enjoyed spending time with Jean Perdu and watching his growth. I’m always fascinated by books which ponder the choices we make and their repercussions and this has it in spades. But ultimately it was an uplifting reminder that it’s never too late to live a life that inspires us.
How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn
“When Elizabeth Hotchkiss stumbles upon a copy of How to Marry a Marquis in her employer’s library, she’s convinced someone is playing a cruel joke. With three younger siblings to support, she knows she has to marry for money. But who might have guessed how desperate she’s become? A guidebook to seduction might be just the thing she needs. And what harm could there be in taking a little peek?“
This is a re-read for me and I’m sad to say on picking it up again that I found it somewhat problematic. Now, my love for Julia Quinn is well documented on this website but How to Marry a Marquis rankled with me for a few reasons. Most important, was the way everyone dismissed Elizabeth’s concerns about being lied to.
Now, it’s not a spoiler to say this entire novel turns on a white lie, in that Marcus (our love interest) does not reveal himself to be a Marquis. It felt disingenuous that Elizabeth’s feelings were dismissed with an “oh but he loves you.”. Secondly, there’s a lot of talk of violence in this book, which surprised me. I didn’t enjoy that. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be picking this particular book up again.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry
“Renée is the concierge of a grand Parisian apartment building. Over the years, she has maintained her carefully constructed persona. But beneath this facade lies the real Renée, passionate about culture and the arts. Several floors up, twelve-year-old Paloma Josse is determined to avoid the pampered and vacuous future laid out for her. And decides to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. But unknown to them both, the sudden death of one of their privileged neighbours will dramatically alter their lives forever.”
Another of the books I took to Paris with me. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry is a flyaway bestseller and took France by storm when it was first published. I also featured it in my guide to the best books set in Paris. And I still stand by that decision.
Although most of the action takes place within a single dwelling it swells with Parisian flair. It feels very “French” to read. I can’t really explain what that means, except that the more French fiction I read, the more I sense a theme. This book is full of beautifully crafted sentences, is a bibliophile’s delight and was actually name-dropped in The Little Paris Bookshop. A delightful read.
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart
“Midnight on Skye: a young crofter’s daughter is cruelly and ritually murdered on the bleak Scottish mountainside. Very soon Gianetta Brooke, a guest at the deceptively idyllic Camasunary Hotel nearby, finds herself tangled in a web of rising fear and suspicion. When she discovers that her ex-husband has booked into the same hotel, the peaceful holiday for which she had hoped takes on quite another complexion. “
I inhaled this book. Honestly. Once I sat down to read Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart I couldn’t stop. Considering how rarely this happens for me, take that as the highest praise!
I’m coming to consider Mary Stewart as my go-to for cleverly crafted, stylish mysteries. She could revival Agatha Christie in her ability to weave an interesting plot around an even more interesting crime. And her attention to detail leaves you feeling almost like your part of the action. A visit to the Isle of Skye has certainly shot up my list since reading this book as it was so atmospheric.
Unquiet Women by Max Adams
“In this exploration of some of remarkable – but little-known – women living between the last days of Rome and the Enlightenment, Max Adams overturns the idea that women of this period were either queens, nuns or invisible. In a sequence of chronological chapters, a centrepiece biographical sketch is complemented by thematically linked stories of other women of the time.”
I’ll be honest, I mainly bought this book because of its beautiful cover. However, I’m also a sucker for a book about “forgotten women” so it helped that this was the topic too.
Unquiet Women was interesting because I usually read books about forgotten female authors- but this one focuses on women in history. I loved the story of Egeria a Gaulish nun who toured the Holy Land as the Roman Empire by herself. It was easy and pleasant to read- I especially enjoyed reading this one just before bed.
My Antonia by Willa Cather
“My Antonia is the unforgettable story of an immigrant woman’s life on the Nebraska plains. Seen through the eyes of her childhood friend, Jim Burden. The beautiful, free-spirited, wild-eyed girl captured Jim’s imagination long ago and haunts him still, embodying for him the elemental spirit of the American frontier.”
Ever since reading O Pioneers! last year, I’ve had My Antonia by Willa Cather on my TBR list. It’s supposed to be Willa Cather’s best novel, and I can see why it garners such praise. One thing I love most about Cather’s style is her openness and frankness. This doesn’t read like a book written at the turn of the twentieth century. It’s fresh, honest and open.
Did I enjoy this more than O Pioneers! – now that’s tricky. Ultimately, no. I missed the blissful descriptions of the wild, untamed prairies and felt that Jim was a slightly reserved narrator. He was a voyeur of Antonia’s life, rather than an active part and this created distance. However, I still loved this book and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
The Little Cafe in Copenhagen by Julie Caplin
“Kate Sinclair’s life is everything she thought she wanted: success, glamour and a charming boyfriend. Until that boyfriend snatches a much sought-after promotion from her. Leaving behind the late nights in the office for a city break in beautiful Copenhagen. Kate discovers how to live life ‘the Danish way’. From candles and cosy nights to the easy smiles of tall, gorgeous Vikings and eating your body weight in pastries (ok, that’s just her), the city offers her a new perspective.“
Towards the end of July, I was well in need of a hug in book form. Which is why I turned to The Little Cafe in Copenhagen by Julie Caplin. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting from the title, but I did thoroughly enjoy it. We all need a little extra Hygge in our lives, and this book is a welcome reminder.
My only reservation with this book was that whilst the section set in Denmark really sang, the chapters in London seemed to drag a little in comparison. Perhaps this is to be expected since all of the warm and fuzzy, life-changing, sort of stuff occurs in Copenhagen. Either way, still enjoyable.
A Room With a View by E.M. Forster
“Lucy has her rigid, middle-class life mapped out for her. Until she visits Florence with her uptight cousin Charlotte, and finds her neatly ordered existence thrown off balance. Her eyes are opened by the unconventional characters she meets at the Pension Pertolini. And before long Lucy finds herself torn between the intensity of life in Italy and the repressed morals of Victorian England. Will she ever learn to follow her own heart?”
I don’t think I quite “got” this book. It all felt very allegorical and misty-eyed. There was more than one moment when I had to read a passage again in order to definitely wrap my head around what was happening.
That being said, I have really enjoyed thinking about this book since I finished it. I find this happens with Classics sometimes. From a distance, I think that this sense of unfamiliarity might have been what Forster was going for. When we step away from the beaten track to forge our own way we allow some uncertainty and unfamiliarity in exchange for freedom of choice. This sums up Lucy’s progression for me.
The Counterfeit Heiress by Tasha Alexander
“After an odd encounter at a grand masquerade ball, Lady Emily becomes embroiled in the murder investigation of one of the guests. A sometime actress trying to pass herself off as the mysterious Estella Lamar. As Emily and her husband try to make sense of all this, a larger puzzle begins to emerge. No one has actually seen Estella Lamar in years. Is she even alive? Emily’s investigation of this double mystery takes her from London to Paris. Where she must scour the darkest corners of the city in search of the truth.”
I have been reading the Lady Emily series for years now. Long-time readers of my ‘What I’ve Been Reading Lately’ series will be familiar with Tasha Alexander’s Victorian Lady Sleuth. This was the 9th book in the series and going in, I did wonder if it was possible to keep creating interesting mysteries for Lady Emily to solve.
It turns out that yes, it is possible! The Counterfeit Heiress was an interesting mystery about why certain choices we make can change our lives irrevocably. I also enjoyed that the action centred itself in Paris, I feel like this is solid ground for Tasha Alexander and gives the books a more atmospheric feel.
The Adventuress by Tasha Alexander
“Emily and husband Colin have come to the French Riviera for what should be a joyous occasion. The engagement party of her lifelong friend Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge, and Amity Wells, an American heiress. But the merrymaking is cut short with the shocking death of one of the party in an apparent suicide. Not convinced by the coroner’s verdict, Emily must employ all of her investigative skills to discover the truth and avert another tragedy.”
As you can see, I ended up reading two Lady Emily mysteries in a row! I bought them both at the same time, intending to leave this one for when I was in need of some good escapism. But the twist at the end of The Counterfeit Heiress left me instantly intrigued about The Adventuress. So, without much effort, I gave in to the temptation to read it.
I feel like this was a real return to form for the Lady Emily series. Perhaps it’s because these type of stories thrive in small places. When a group of characters are introduced, all with motives for the crime, and they’re kept cooped up in a stately home (or in this case a luxury hotel) it makes it more fun to try and work out “whodunnit”. Out of the two, this was my favourite, and I’m glad I fell into reading it so quickly.
That Wraps Up My What I’ve Been Reading Lately, Summer Roundup!
What have you been reading lately? Also, do you find that your reading habits change from season to season? Writing this Summer Edition of my What I’ve Been Reading Lately series has been an interesting way to look at how my reading is influenced by the time of year.
Finally, a question for this series going forward. Do you prefer monthly, shorted updates of What I’m Reading or should I continue the seasonal approach? Let me know!
