Here’s a sample from the diverse range of books that have been keeping me busy in my non-internet writing days of recent weeks.

Wives and daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. This novel follows the life of teenager Molly as she learns to cope with life beyond her sheltered home and her father’s remarriage. It’s a novel focussed around family relationships and growing up in a small town (including a sweet romance). I enjoyed it, but less so than North and South, perhaps because I found the social observations in the latter more interesting. When I read Wives and daughters I didn’t realise it had been written as a serial, but I wasn’t surprised as it definitely feels like a drama that has been stretched out further than is strictly necessary (however as I read it on a long train trip I certainly didn’t mind!). I also didn’t realise Gaskell died before completing the story and so was very shocked when I reached the last chapter and read “and here the story ended” with another writer finishing up the book!

Melusine by Sarah Monette was recommended to me by Checkers and other people and it was a very different type of book! (Lots more swearing for one thing!) The setting is a fairly typical fantasy world with magic etc but with an abundance of small details and interesting politics and social problems of its own. Melusine is very fast paced book and is narrated by two very different characters. I often find this type of storytelling difficult and want to keep skipping ahead to stay with one narrator but in Melusine I was interested enough in both stories to read it all in order! It finishes fairly abruptly with lots of preparation made for the sequel, which is already out (thank goodness!).

I only heard about Jeanne Birdsall's The Penderwicks: a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits and a very interesting boy when I read a review of the sequel (not out yet) at Bookshelves of Doom. The references to Nesbit and Enright were enough to get me trotting around to the library. Having read the book, I agree that the story of a family’s summer adventures did have that lovely old fashioned and happy feel - I can see why it might be too cozy and sweet for some readers. For me, though, it was a really enjoyable read and I can’t wait for the sequel to come out later this year!

Tags: birdsall, books, fantasy, gaskell, monette, romance

Because I have not posted about books for so long it is kind of daunting thinking about which one to write about. And what to write. I strongly suspect I have old entries on the computer I could post (luckily the hard drive came along with me so there was no need to tidy it up) but for now I thought I’d start writing brief descriptions of some of the reading highlights of the last couple of months. Apologies for the lack of insight and thought here; I hope my enjoyment of the books is still clear!

( A countess below stairs/The secret countess )

( Crown Duel )

Tags: books, fantasy, ibbotson, romance, smith

( Serious spoilers for How I live now - turn back now! )

Tags: books, romance, rosoff, young adult

I finally read How I live now by Meg Rosoff, a book which our excellent library inexplicably doesn't own and I kept forgetting at the bookshop. Writing my birthday book list jogged my memory, and I'm glad it did! When I first started reading this book I was uncomfortable about the style and nervous I had used my book voucher poorly. But within a very short time I was completely sucked into the story and actually ended up staying up late to finish it, which is unusual for sleep loving me. For the (I expect) few of you who haven't read How I live now, it's the story of Daisy who is sent to live with her relatives in England and is caught up in a war that only gradually has an impact on her otherwise joyful life in the countryside. The descriptions of Daisy's family, their house and the surrounding countryside are wonderful, and both the happy and tragic parts of the book are well done. I shall mention what I didn't like in a separate post to avoid spoilers.

Another book of note was Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller. This is a YA thriller that follows the adventures of a group of intrepid teens exploring a hidden city under New York. It's a really fun book that includes hints for young detectives at the end of each chapter. And it's another book that speaks lovingly of New York (other ones I've read this year include Code orange and Peeps). I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected and will keep my eyes out for any sequels.

Tags: adventure, books, miller, romance, rosoff, young adult

Justine Larbalestier (Aussie author of Magic or Madness) linked to an interesting post on Jennifer Crusie's Bet me. I'm a Crusie fan - her books are witty romances that often involve shucking tradition (such as happily married couples having to want children). But I hadn't thought a lot about the breaking down marriage myths yet still supporting marriage theme of Bet Me. But it seems pretty obvious now I think back. I also agree with the point about the whole romantic ideology being very successful and pervasive in our society. And that recognising why we want something doesn't stop you wanting it. Lots of food for thought.

Tags: books, crusie, larbalestier, links ahoy, romance