Lately I have read some wonderful books, always returning to my beloved Alexander McCall Smith, but also adding a few new authors....
Corduroy Mansions - I just can't get enough of AMS's writing. This is the first in what I hope will be a long series about William French and his newly 'adopted' dog Freddie. There is an array of characters, and in true AMS fashion, their lives all intertwine, making for a complex, wonderful story.
Portuguese Irregular Verbs - Written in the same style as most of his books, although I found this one a little bit harder to get into. Once I got going to loved it and have continued reading the series. Professor von Igelfeld's adventures, writing and clashes with his co-workers make for an amusing story.
Sway - I read this while in the throws of the local political battle last summer. I learned so much about why people do the things they do and I highly recommend this book to anyone who has to deal with people at any level. From toddlers to high powered politicians, everyone has the same instincts and this book explained so many of them. I find myself returning to it over and over in conversations, meetings and out in the world.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - This is the story of Flavia De Luce, an 11 year old girl in the English countryside, set in the 1950s. She is the most fascinating child, chemist and amateur sleuth. I've heard her called a cross between Harriet the Spy and Eloise. As with every Flavia adventure, there is a murder and she sets out to solve it. Yes, this child is smarter than the police, and most of the other adults around here. I'm on to the third book in the series and find myself thinking about Flavia at least once a day.
The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - This is such a wonderful book, written by way of letters sent between the main character, Juliet, her friends, and the inhabitants of Geurnsey (one of the Channel Islands). It is set post war and Geurnsey is finally allowed access to the outside world after being occupied by the Germans for years. I laughed, I cried, it was a masterpiece.
Have a fabulous day!
5 comments:
I love good book recommendations! I heard the Geurnsey one was going to be a movie so I better get going on that one. Our most circulated item at the library last year was Gone Girl (again, going to be a movie) but I've yet to read it. I do at least have it on hold, so I'm curious if it's as good as they say. Thanks for the book reports - I enjoy stuff like that. Have a great week ~
Flavia is quite a spunky young woman...love that first book and you remind me that I need to get busy and read the other ones.
I seem to be buying more books than I have time to read! I think book clubs have merit because they force one to budget the time to finish the book within the month rather than letting it sit for days unopened....
Happy Reading!
I get twitchy without a book as well; a la Rory Gilmore. The courduroy book sounds great. I liked Sweet Potato Society though it wasn't like I thought it would be.
Sway and Flavia sound quite good! I didn't care for McCall's Irregular Verbs either, though I love the No 1 Ladies' Detective books. Haven't read any more of his since the Verb. I remember reading the Potato Peel Society, on a trip to Sydney, as my sister-in-law had and recommended it. I loved it at the time, but strangely don't remember any of the plot, so if I run across it again, will pick it up and re-read!
I think I could give up breathing before I could give up reading. It's probably the sign of a wasted life, but I read at least 2-4 books a week, every week. Thanks for the recommendations!
Loved the Guensey book too, really lovely and I lived in London for so long and never went down there (though it sounds pretty bleak as an island.)
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