I finished Anna Karenina! Finally, after almost 2 years and 2 translations, I’m done; it’s going to be strange for a while, the end of an era of sorts. October has been good. The weather’s not been too bad and it’s not been too cold. I started my initial planning for that holiday beginning with C. And whilst I had to dash into my nephew’s room at 7 in the morning because he screamed out and I thought there was a problem (there was – he couldn’t get to the next level…) it does mean I spent a nice weekend ‘away’. Today’s round up is a bit different – I read a couple more books than I’ve listed. I’ll likely add them at some point in the future; I can’t discuss them yet.

The Books

Non-Fiction

James Rhodes: Instrumental – Based around his love of classical music and the desire to promote it, Rhodes looks back on the abuse he suffered as a child, the way it continues to affect his life, and the healing process. A very important book.

Fiction

Eloisa James: When The Duke Returns – Isidore’s husband finally makes an appearance having been away the entirety of their marriage and whilst sparks fly they vote for divorce. Not bad but not as good as the previous books.

Leo Tolstoy: Anna Karenina – Anna has an affair with Vronsky and plans to leave her husband in a time when society condones affairs but not separations; a young couple get together after it’s established the girl cannot be with the aforementioned Vronsky. A good book overall but it does drag and the climax is pushed aside in favour of religion.

Tracy Rees: Amy Snow – Upon the death of her friend/mistress, a young woman sets out to discover what happened when said friend left home for a longer period than expected. Very good in the main.

This month it’s a toss up between Instrumental and Amy Snow. I think I’ll just pick both as one’s fact and the other’s fiction, and because they just aren’t comparable.

Quotation Report

Tolstoy makes a good point when he suggests that women lacked rights because of a lack of education and a lack of education led to a lack of rights. On a humorous note, he also points out that a man can sit uncomfortably in a chair but be happy enough as long as he knows he can move – if he knows he can’t move that same position will be impossible.

November’s going to be busy one.

What was your favourite read this month?

September was a lovely month and I read some good books. I’ve five here and I read about 300 pages of Anna Karenina, too. I’m currently at 42 finished books for the year; the plan as of now is 50.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Amy Stewart: Girl Waits With Gun – Constance and her sisters are harassed by a businessman whose car hits their buggy. Interesting historically, average overall.

E Lockhart: We Were Liars – Cadence spends every summer on her family’s private island but the younger relations start questioning the perfection. Phenomenal.

Gøhril Gabrielsen: The Looking-Glass Sisters – A disabled woman living with her sister tries to gain her love amongst the frustrations of being ignored. A good book about perceptions featuring an unreliable narrator.

Judy Chicurel: If I Knew You Were Going To Be This Beautiful, I Never Would Have Let You Go – Katie and friends live their youth in a somewhat run-down town where there are few prospects. A fine look at a variety of mental and physical issues.

Robert Merle: The Brethren – Pierre recounts the tales of his father and his own adventures as he grows up. A fair start to a series set in medieval France, not without its problems.

My favourite this month? No question – the Lockhart. I’d give it a 6 if I could and it’s highly likely it’ll make my best of the best list for this year. I would be happy to read another Gabrielsen and the Chicurel was the perfect late summer book.

Quotation Report

Gat from We Were Liars states that a novel should deliver a series of small astonishments, which is a lovely way to put it and surely what we often look for when we sit down with a book.

I believe last October saw the hottest Halloween on record. It’ll be interesting to see where we go this year.

What was the last 5 star read you read?

August’s been a busy month. The Worm Hole met Of Books and discovered many great book stores, including City Books. I read a lot, happily, but still in moderation to hopefully forestall what seems to be the inevitable slump following a good run. And I re-started Final Fantasy XIII, which I’d abandoned for the longest time. It seems summer’s been quick – partly because August’s weather has been questionable – but it’s been a long time since I was sat on a bench in the garden of my retreat centre reading Mary Ann Shaffer.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Annie O’Neil: Doctor… To Duchess? – Julia is doing well at her new surgery in her new village until the heir to the Earldom returns from war. A pretty good romance with well-written inner dialogues and a good setting.

Berhard Schlink: The Reader – At fifteen, Michael has an affair with an older woman and years later sees her once more, this time in a war trial. Fantastic.

Claire Watts: How Do You Say Gooseberry In French? – Molly holidays in France with her penpal, watching her friend enjoying herself until she realises she can be, too. Great summer read that shares the atmosphere of The Enchanted April.

Horace Walpole: The Castle Of Otranto – Prince Manfred tries to get his sickly son wed in order to continue his line but a giant helmet falls on the boy before it can be accomplished. Rambles a lot and isn’t the best gothic novel (though it was the first).

Irène Némirovsky: The Misunderstanding – A poor man and a rich woman have a relationship but cannot understand the life of the other. It may not be Suite Française but it’s up there.

Jo Walton: Among Others – Mori spends most of her time reading as she lives through grief, and spends a bit of time with fairies. Not bad but too much time is spent commenting on books.

Meike Ziervogel: Kauthar – A white convert to Islam struggles with her desires for love and a stronger identity. Excellent.

R J Gould: A Street Café Named Desire – When David is suddenly dumped by his wife, he finds love with an old classmate and the custodial parent of his children. Well characterised, nicely British and very funny but the editing in the second half lets it down.

My favourite this month was The Reader, which wins over Kauthar by virtue of the fact length meant more could be covered. I must thank Alice for the Schlink. I also had a fantastic time with Watt’s book; it really is excellent and I’d recommend it to most people. Némirovsky, as always, needs a shout out.

Quotation Report

I’ve quotes this month but can’t deal with them in my usual way – Auschwitz is not something you can joke about. So I’ll simply tell you that there are many note-worthy passages in The Reader.

This said, there is no trouble talking about Among Others. In the book, Mori brings a smile when she says she’s going to keep Dodie Smith’s I Capture The Castle for a day she’s interested in a good siege. There is also this, showing double standards: ‘How interesting that what comes out as doing the best he could in a man looks like neglect in a woman’.

Okay autumn, let’s do this.

What was your favourite read this month?

The slump – that lasted well over a month – is gone. And I am so glad (I think I’ve got that from a film…) Anyway, I read a few books in July, mostly near the end, and there was this wonderful day, the 23rd to be exact, on which I finished two. I may have had a grand total of 80 pages to finish between them but the way I’ve been lately it was something to celebrate. So celebrate I did by starting another book. I’m thankful for the events I attended this month because it was attending them that got me back into reading, gave me the inspiration and motivation to read and write again. I’m going to read lots whilst I’m in the mood and not worry about the fact that reading lots at once can lead to more slumps – I need books in my life now.

The Books

Non-Fiction

Stephen Hawking: A Brief History Of Time – Hawking talks about the theories behind what we know and think we know about the universe, including particles, time travel and relativity. This is a really great book, detailed but accessible, and Hawking is very much for including the possibility of God, showing how science and faith can combine, so it’s a good choice for those who don’t want to sacrifice religion for science.

Fiction

Angela Thirkell: The Brandons – Lavinia, victim of adoration, just wants a bit of peace, and nobody is interested in the inheritance Aunt Sissie has to give. It’s difficult to summarise this book as the plot isn’t at all important – it’s a hilarious character-driven novel from the last year of the thirties full of barmy characters, and is just a lot of fun to read.

Anna Hope: Wake – In the first few years after the First World War, three women struggle, though they don’t always realise it, with the realities of life as it now is. This book is really superb and the fourth thread in it, that of the (fictionalised) story of the Unknown Soldier’s homecoming is very moving; if this book is ever adapted for film I will be very happy.

Sarah Govett: The Territory – In a world where water has consumed most of the land, children in Britain take exams to see who will stay and who will be sent to the water-filled disease-ridden Wetlands. A good premise and fair tale but isn’t so strong when it comes to world-building and eliciting emotion.

I think it’s going to have to be Wake, my favourite this month. A Brief History Of Time and The Brandons were just pipped to the post on that one – I finished Hope’s book in the last few days.

Quotation Report

Aunt Sissie of The Brandons suggests staying in bed as a way to live longer, whilst Delia would likely not suggest anything due to her morbid fascination with death and disease. Being in the car with someone on their way to hospital for appendicitis is so brilliant after all, darling.

August, here we go.

What was your favourite read this month?

I’ve not had the mind or time to read as much; a mini reading slump and some major musical inspiration took care of that (I’m writing songs again). Still, I liked what I read, loved in some cases, and have A Brief History Of Time on the go, which is proving to be both fascinating and a good memory jogger. As for the news I had to tell you: I have been invited to be a panellist at a literary conference. After picking myself up from the floor, I accepted, and am looking forward to it. More details in due course.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Mary Ann Shaffers and Annie Barrows: The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society – A writer searching for inspiration finds it in the content of letters she is sent by a man who buys an old book of hers from a second-hand shop. Excellent.

Raymond Jean: Reader For Hire – A woman places an advert, seeking to become a reader for those who would like to be read to, and finds herself with a lot more power than she would ever have expected. There’s a fair amount to this; I’m still processing it.

Téa Obreht: The Tiger’s Wife – A doctor recounts stories her grandfather told her. Would’ve been better without the doctor, if it had been told by the grandfather.

My favourite was The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society. (As much as I loved it, I’m happy to mention it only rarely given the length of the title.) I found the Obreht to be a slog.

Quotation Report

None this time.

Whilst we may have passed 21st and that’s always a bit sad for me, I’m kind of glad to move to July this year.

What was your favourite read this month?