Kathy Hamilton A quick note before I start
Since the last time I shared what I’ve been reading lately the world turned upside down. It’s hard to believe that with all this unexpected ‘free’ time that reading has actually been a struggle lately.
I don’t know about you but my attention span during the first few weeks of COVID 19 lock-down makes a goldfish look good! I share this just to let you know that, if that’s you too, it’s okay! Reading is a happy habit and should never make you feel bad.
What I’ve Been Reading Lately #2
That being said, when I actually took a look at what I’ve been reading lately I was pleasantly surprised to realise it was actually more than I thought!
Murder on the Orient Express
by Agatha Christie
Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer—in case he or she decides to strike again.
What Did I Think?
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie is one of those books I’ve always intended to read. In the Classic Crime Genre, it’s basically a gold standard book. After sharing the picture above on Instagram and getting a little help deciding I opted to read this to end my book burnout. I’m really glad I did. This is a classic for a reason!
I love that Agatha Christie is always a better writer than you expect; in this novel, she twists the format from a linear narrative to one where each chapter focuses on a different character and their motives for murder. I can’t say that I was surprised in the ending, given that I’ve watched the film already. But I really enjoyed watching Hercule Poirot work it all out. A perfect book to ease back into reading with.
Saltwater
by Jessica Andrews
Lucy thinks London will unlock her future. Having grown up seemingly a world away in working-class Sunderland everything about the city seems exciting. Yet Lucy’s transition to a new life is more overwhelming than she ever expected. As she works long shifts to make ends meet and navigates a new social world, she still feels like an outsider When things come to a head, Lucy takes off for Ireland, seeking solace in the wild landscape that surrounds it, wondering if she can piece together who she really is.
What Did I Think?
Have you ever read a book set in your hometown? If like me, you didn’t grow up in the kind of city that frequently makes it into fiction, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say Saltwater by Jessica Andrews was a surreal read. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about Sunderland, a city in the North East of England before. Yet it is evocatively recreated in the pages of this book. I also have a feeling that Jessica is a similar age to me, which meant that at times it felt as though I was reading my own lived experience.
It was occasionally hard to go back to those feelings of not fitting in. Feeling that the city, for whatever reason, wasn’t right for me. But it was also cathartic. Saltwater is a lyrical exploration about growing up. Instead of a linear narrative, it’s made up of segments; each pondering a theme. At times it was a tough read, in the way that facing up to sad thoughts is always hard. But it was also hopeful. Growing up is tough, and finding our place in the world equally so. So it doesn’t matter if it takes us a little while to get there.
First Comes Scandal
by Julia Quinn
Georgiana Bridgerton has two options: live life as a spinster or marry the rogue who has ruined her life. Enter Option #3. Nicholas Rokesby has a life in Edinburgh, and he has no interest in finding a wife. But when he discovers that Georgie Bridgerton – his literal girl-next-door – is facing ruin, he knows what he must do. As they embark upon their unorthodox courtship they discover a new twist to the age-old rhyme. First comes scandal, then comes marriage. But after that comes love
What Did I Think?
I’ve been reading Julia Quinn’s books for a long time and as much as I had high hopes for this latest Bridgerton sequel, it didn’t quite live up to expectation. It was, as expected, an easy to read and pleasant book and there’s no doubt that she’s a master at writing nice dialogue. I did actually enjoy the escapism it offered during lockdown. However, it felt like First Comes Scandal felt a long time getting there and then never quite arrived.
Most Regency novels are set in London or Bath, so I was really looking forward to getting a glimpse of Edinburgh at such a fascinating time in that city’s development. However, most of the book actually took place the carriage ridge getting there! Which was a shame. Additionally, the titular scandal felt too neatly dealt with. Some wringing of hands and veiled allusions to spinsterhood but no real impact or threat. The romance was…nice. If it feels as though I’m ripping the book apart it’s just that I expect more from Julia Quinn, this just wasn’t her best.
Read and Riot
by Nadya Tolokonnikova
The face of modern protest is wearing a brightly coloured ski mask. Nadya Tolokonnikova, founding member of the Russian activist group Pussy Riot, is a creative activist, professional protester, brazen feminist, shocking visual artist, and force to be reckoned with. This is her guerrilla guide to radical protest and joyful political resistance. Read & Riot gives us a refreshing model for civil disobedience, and encourages our right to question every status quo and make political action exciting—even joyful.
What Did I Think?
At the beginning of lockdown, I really wanted to help support small businesses so when I saw that Lighthouse Books in Edinburgh, a place I’ve wanted to visit for ages, has a ‘blind date with a book’ online feature I decided to give it a try. This was the book I got sent! One thing I love about promotions like this is that, nearly always, I get a book that I never would have usually chosen. Read and Riot definitely fits that category!
However, it was a really interesting read. As you might expect, Nadya Tolokonnikova has a no-nonsense approach to activism. So what if it’s uncomfortable for you? If it’s a good cause you should fight for it. Coming from a woman who was sent to Russian Jail for her activism, these are pretty strong word! And so timely. What I wasn’t expecting from this book was so many insights into how similar America and Russia actually are in their goals. We tend to think of them as diametrically opposed, but Nadya suggests- this is just a convenient cover-up. Lots of food for thought here!
A Terrible Beauty
by Tasha Alexander
On a quest to distract her lifelong friend Jeremy from his recent heartbreak, Lady Emily organises a holiday in Greece. But the pleasantries are brought to an abrupt halt when a man long-believed dead greets the party at their island villa. Lord Philip Ashton, Emily’s first husband, has returned. But can Philip really be who he claims, even if he has the scars and stories to prove it? Where has he been for all this time? And will his undying love for Emily drive him to claim what’s his?
What Did I Think
A Terrible Beauty is the 11th book in this particular series and by this point, you might think that Tasha Alexander would be starting to run out of ideas. But somehow she managed to make this case of mistaken identity feel fresh. I enjoyed the fact that she brought the action close to home here, focusing more on Lady Emily and the possible ramifications for her future if the man before her turns out to be her first husband. It’s also clear that the author has a passion for Greece, descriptive passages jump off the page and almost make you believe you’re walking amidst the ancient ruins alongside Lady Emily.
Tasha Alexander is a great fall-back author for me. Whenever I’ve been reading heavy books or want a book that I know I’ll enjoy I go for the next in the Lady Emily mysteries. I enjoy the familiarity of being in a series of familiar characters whilst also enjoying a fresh mystery.
The President’s Hat
by Antoine Laurain
Dining alone in an elegant Parisian brasserie, accountant Daniel Mercier can hardly believe his eyes when President Francois Mitterrand sits down to eat at the table next to him. Daniel’s thrill at being in such close proximity to the most powerful man in the land persists even after the presidential party has gone, which is when he discovers that Mitterrand’s black felt hat has been left behind. After a few moments’ soul-searching, Daniel decides to keep the hat as a souvenir of an extraordinary evening. It’s a perfect fit, and as he leaves the restaurant Daniel begins to feel somehow – different.
What Did I Think
I actually read The President’s Hat by Antoine Laurain in the middle of Hamnet when I was in need of a little light relief. Antoine Laurain definitely knows how to create a light and fluffy confection of a book and I inhaled this one in a single day. Does a hat really have the power to imbue its wearer with confidence? In this book anything is possible and certainly, for the collection of wearers, it amasses it appears to be true.
All of Antoine Laurain’s books are tinged with a little magical realism and this is no different. But what I love most about his style is that the magic here is in small things. Each of the wearers already has the potential to change their lives- they just need a little push. A lovely read.
Hamnet
by Maggie O’Farrell
On a summer’s day in 1596, a young girl in Stratford-upon-Avon takes to her bed with a fever. Her twin brother, Hamnet, searches everywhere for help. Why is nobody at home? Their mother, Agnes, is over a mile away, in the garden where she grows medicinal herbs. Their father is working in London. Neither parent knows that one of the children will not survive the week. Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of a famous playwright. It is a story of the bond between twins, and of a marriage pushed to the brink by grief. Above all, it is the story of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, but whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays ever written.
What Did I Think
Words really can’t describe the beauty of this sublime book. I have never read any of Maggie O’Farrell’s books before but something about Hamnet caught my eye. I’m so glad I picked it up as of all the books I’ve been reading this is in the running for the top spot. But my, oh my, did it make me weep. As mentioned, I had to take a few breaks but I’m so glad I persevered.
The sensitive way she muses on the impact a loss of a child can have on a family was beautiful. The way she maps a wrought emotional terrain and intimate relationships made the grief of losing Hamnet all the rawer. This may be the story of Shakespeare’s son, but in this novel, his is a bit player. Maggie O’Farrell powerfully evokes the thoughts and emotions of people, who though less famous, are no less worthy of remembrances.
