This week's loot!
Daughters of India, by Jill McGivering: "Isabel, born into the
British Raj, and Asha, a young Hindu girl, both consider India their
home. Through mischance and accident their stories intersect and
circumstances will bring them from the bustling city of Delhi to the
shores of the Andaman Islands, from glittering colonial parties to the
squalor and desperation of a notorious prison; and into the lives of men
on opposing sides of the fight for self-government"
I'm always on the lookout for historical fiction set in places I've never been.
At Least We Lived: the Unlikely Adventures of an English Couple in WWII China, by Emma Oxford. Pretty much what the subtitle says. A young Englishwoman goes to China in 1943, meets and marries an Englishman who had escaped from Japanese-controlled Hong Kong. Written by their daughter.
Library Loot is courtesy of The Captive Reader
I'm late with the loot this week!
A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness & a Trove of Letters Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression, by Ted Gup. "An inspiring account
of America at its worst-and Americans at their best-woven from the
stories of Depression-era families who were helped by gifts from the
author's generous and secretive grandfather." I'd say it was thought-provoking more than inspiring. A good history lesson.
Library Loot is courtesy of: Silly Little Mischief
This week's loot!
The Library at the Edge of the World, by Felicity Hayes-McCoy. "A warm, feel-good novel about the importance of finding a place where you belong - perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy." I don't know about the Maeve Binchy part, except that it is set in Ireland, but it's the story of a librarian and her daughter finding their places in small-town Ireland.
The Winter Station, by Jody Shields. "An aristocratic
Russian doctor races to contain a deadly plague in an outpost city in
Manchuria - before it spreads to the rest of the world." There might be more than I really want to know about the plague here (especially during this flu season), but so far it's well-written.
Library Loot is courtesy of: The Captive Reader
This week's loot!
The Atomic City Girls, by Janet Beard. The title is a bit deceiving because there are several major characters who are male. It's set in the Manhattan Project's facility built in Oak Ridge Tennessee during World War II. It wasn't just a facility; it was an instant city built for thousands of people who came from near and far to work there (even though most had no idea what they were actually working on).
Library Loot is courtesy of Silly Little Mischief
This week's loot:
Flat Broke with Two Goats, by Jennifer McGaha. See review posted previously.
The Jane Austen Project, by Kathleen A. Flynn. Time-travel, anyone?
Library Loot is courtesy of : The Captive Reader
This week's loot!
Queen of Scots: the True Life of Mary Stuart, by John Guy. "A long-overdue and dramatic reinterpretation of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots by one of the leading historians at work today." This book won the Whitbread award for biography in 2004. My question when checking it out from the library was: Is it as good as Antonia Fraser's biography? It's interesting (hard not to be with her scandal-ridden life), very readable, and detailed without being dull. But. The author wears his heart on his sleeve and gives Mary the benefit of every possible doubt. Fraser's is a more even-handed portrayal, and remains the gold standard.
Library Loot courtesy of The Silly Little Mischief Blog
Loot from the last few weeks:
Kurinji Flowers, by Clare Flynn. "Set in South India
during World War II and India's struggle for independence, Kurinji
Flowers traces a young woman’s journey through loss, loneliness, hope,
and betrayal to unexpected love and self-discovery." I can't say I cared for the last quarter of the the book, but the first 3/4ths were quite good. Strong sense of place, strong plot. Terrible cover.
The Outcasts of Time, by Ian Mortimer. "December 1348.
With the country in the grip of the Black Death, brothers John and
William fear that they will shortly die and go to Hell. But as the end
draws near, they are given an unexpected choice: either to go home and
spend their last six days in their familiar world, or to search for
salvation across the forthcoming centuries – living each one of their
remaining days ninety-nine years after the last." Requires suspension of disbelief; an interesting idea that I didn't feel was really as well developed as it could have been. Still, well-written and worth the time. Gorgeous cover.
Library Loot courtesy of The Captive Reader
I've been out of town and took a few library (Kindle) books with me:
The Revolution of Marina M., by Janet Fitch. I'm really torn on this one; there were things I liked about it and some admirable writing, and things I detested.
Eligible, by Curtis Sittenfeld. Oh, dear. I didn't care for it at all.
Library Loot is courtesy of The Captive Reader
Back from a break & some Thanksgiving travel and it's time for Library Loot!
Leaving Berlin, by Joseph Kanon. I'm new to Kanon's writing, but so far, I'm enjoying this story of Berlin during the airlift of the late 1940s.
Gunner Girls and Fighter Boys, by Mary Gibson. Don't be deceived by the title or cover, either of which would lead you to believe this is a breezy historical romance. This is the tale of two British sisters during WWII who live in a poor section of London. Much grittier than I had assumed and the writing moves right along.
Library Loot is courtesy of The Silly Little Mischief blog
This week's haul:
Wickwythe Hall, by Judithe Little. Historical fiction about the home front in WWII Britain? I'm in.
Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves, by Rachel Malik. Inspired by the author's family history and filled with beautiful prose. Review coming.
Bone Meal for Roses, by Miranda Sherry. Set in South Africa, a story of love and loss.
Library Loot is courtesy of the Silly Little Mischief blog
This week's loot!
The Address, by Fiona Davis. "Fiona Davis, author of The Dollhouse,
returns with a compelling novel about the thin lines between love and
loss, success and ruin, passion and madness, all hidden behind the walls
of The Dakota, New York City's most famous residence."
I enjoyed The Dollhouse; I'm looking forward to reading this one.
Library Loot is courtesy of the Silly Little Mischief blog
This week's loot!
The Romanov Trilogy, by Evelyn Anthony.
A trilogy covering the lives and reigns of Catherine the Great, Paul I, and Alexander I. These were written over 60 years ago, and have stood the test of time as well researched, well written historical fiction.
 |
Add caption |
An Old, Cold Grave, by Iona Whishaw.
The third in a mystery series set in a small town in British Columbia in the aftermath of WWII and featuring Lane Winslow, a former British spy.
This week from the library:
Among the Living and the Dead; A Tale of Exile and Homecoming on the War Roads of Europe, by Inara Verzemnieks. Family history in Latvia and the US.
The Wardrobe Mistress, by Meghan Masterson. Historical fiction featuring one of Marie Antoinette's tirewomen.
What have you been reading?
Library Loot is courtesy of the Silly Little Mischief blog