April 2019 Reading Round Up
Posted 3rd May 2019
Category: Round-Ups Genres: N/A
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I did fairly well this month, all told. I’ve still got a number of books ongoing but I finished the two below and am not too far from finishing two more. In related news, my sister asked me if I’d like to look through her historical fiction before she unloaded a number of boxes to the charity shop and it was very exciting to see her collection included old Anya Setons and Jean Plaidys (she also had an unopened bundle of Maggie Stiefvater. I’m considering a special acquisitions post. (On this note, she had a copy of Castle Dor attributed to Daphne Du Maurier, and whilst I didn’t take it has an interesting backstory. It seems to be news to most people – it’s actually the completion of a draft by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (‘Q’); Du Maurier was given it by his daughter. Although it’s based on an interesting story – Tristan and Isolde – readers have stated that due to a seemingly hands-off approach to the initial draft, it’s very noticeable where Du Maurier comes into the picture, and unfortunately this leads to a disjointed text with a beginning that’s very much at odds with the values suggested in Du Maurier’s own books.) Books aside, April has otherwise been good, a busy but fun Easter, and many days without rain – being able to have breakfast outdoors has been wonderful.
All books are works of fiction.
The Books
Anne Melville: The House Of Hardie – Two sets of siblings in late 1800s England work towards their wishes for life which mostly go against the norms of the day. It feels repetitive considering my last post was the review, but ‘fantastic’.
Orlando Ortega-Medina: The Death Of Baseball – The night of Marilyn Monroe’s death, a Japanese American boy is born and as he grows older he finds a particular kind of kinship with her; meanwhile a devout Syrian American Jewish boy is struggling with extreme, dangerous, compulsions. This is out in June and I’m reviewing it then so for now I’ll just say if you like psychological thrillers and films from Hollywood’s golden age, you’ll appreciate it.
Quotation Report
In The House Of Hardie the irony of women having the strength to get through multiple births is noted alongside the expectation that they also be completely afraid of mice. Noted also is the fact an education is important in moving up in the world, and that novels ending with wedding ceremonies doesn’t account for the wedding being a beginning.
May will be about finishing more of my current reads, and I’m likely to choose one of my sister’s books to add to the list.
What are you currently reading?
May 3, 2019, 4:58 pm
Wow! Looking at both the cover and title I’d never have guessed that that was what The Death Of Baseball was about.
I can’t say either the cover or title appeals to me but reading the synopsis I rather think I’d like to read it.
I’m reading this month’s Book Club choice The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas. Only a few chapters in and I’m already beginning to regret starting it but now that I have I have to finish it.
May 5, 2019, 12:33 am
Omg YES, do a new acquisitions post! I always love seeing what people are acquiring, and it also makes me feel less bad about all the books I’ve bought at book sales so far this year. IT’S A TROUBLING AMOUNT OF BOOKS.
May 5, 2019, 9:01 pm
Amanda, I am currently reading non-fiction Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley; the turn-of-the-century classic Howards End by E. M. Forster and historical fiction By Sword and Storm by Margaret Skea. Happy reading to you in May :-)
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May 3, 2019, 3:37 pm
Anya Seton was a favorite of mine when I was a teenager – a great introduction to historical fiction.
I’m currently reading I Am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick. (the UK edition has a different title)