i came to the rollicking conclusion of The Good House while I was at the el rancho motel in lone pine a few days ago. that was an extremely excellent read. i was on the fence in the beginning because the narrative style felt strange – but the story was so good and the characters so rich that i forgot all about the somewhat lackluster beginning. by the end i was a page-turning mess. loved it.
The American Heiress was quick & enjoyable. i mean if you can overcome the somewhat formulaic romance plot. i could. i did. it was a good downton abbey fix that i held onto till the end. it also left me dying with curiosity to know more about the real american heiresses who packed up their fortunes and headed across the pond. which is why i am now reading To Marry An English Lord. a thoroughly entertaining non-fiction social history. plus sex & snobbery are 2 of my favorite topics.
from the library journal:
"Large fortunes were made in post-Civil War America. Young heiresses, cold-shouldered by an entrenched aristocracy that scorned new money, looked across the sea to find husbands among titled young Englishmen who were long on status but very short of cash. Nancy Astor and Jennie Churchill are the most famous of more than 100 of these trans-Atlantic brides. "
i'm also reading a novel, The Fault In Our Stars.
i didn't realize it was young adult fiction until now, but with lines like this:
my thoughts are stars i cannot fathom into constellations
i will finish it. and probably enjoy it. will let you know.
the second i'm finished with TFIOS i'm starting this:
thanks dear DFLA reader who told me i would love this. your name escapes me! i got ahead of myself and read the kindle sample already so i know you're right!
the links for most of these books are in my sidebar.
okay let me have it! what are you reading? anything unputdownable? spill.
p.s. a link to all of these BOOK posts can now be found in my sidebar. i got tired of sifting through posts to hunt down your recommendations weeks later.
Hey Mary Ann,
Perfect timing! I am in need of a MAJOR Downton Abbey fix, so I just picked up the American Heiress. Incidentally, while at the bookstore I also got Art Journaling magazine with your feature in it. Congrats!
I’m reading To Marry an English Lord….slowly, which is my current reading speed. I’m crocheting a Granny Square afghan and knitting seed stitch scarves.
I wish I could read (devour) books like I used to. One of my life’s great pleasures now eludes me. WAH!
I’ll try some of the books on your list, I’m not familiar with any of the authors.
Kahlid Houssini (The Kite Runner; A Thousand Splendid Suns) has a new one out whose title just flew out of my brain. Happens all the time.
I am reading The Master Butcher’s Singing Club by Louise Erdrich. Such rich characters, such fabulous writing! A German master butcher emigrates to the US after the first world war, and ends up in North Dakota. I read Louise Erdrich’s first novels, and haven’t picked up any of her books for years. I will be reading a lot more of them now. (loved the first novels, just went on to other things).
Hi Mary Ann….I just finishe WICK…it’s a series much like Wool. It’s different…I really liked it…one of those books that make you think.
Mary
I am currently finishing up reading A Heart for Milton by Trudy Brasure. It is my second time reading this novel which is a sequel to North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell.
I love your blog!
Because of your recent trip to Venice, you might enjoy, “The Rosetti Letter”, by Christi Phillips. The novel alternates between the Spanish Conspiracy in Venice in the 1600’s and a present day historian writing her dissertation on the subject. “A Spanish conspiracy, A Venetian courtesan, a letter that could change the course of history… ” The book was such a page turner that I just finished the sequel, The Devlin Diary, that takes place in Cambridge, England. Loved them!
The Anatomist’s Wife!!! Just finished it last night and loved it. 1830 Scotland, Countess found butchered in the garden maze. Super mystery, great writing and descriptions of the colors in the castle rooms that are seared into my eyelids!
Right now I’m reading a non fiction book; Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s History-Making Race Around the World. What fun to race with these two amazing Victorian women who are not just racing against time, but each other.
Ha..I’m happily reading the ‘Continuing Adventures of Mary Ann Moss’ The plot is always changing, the locations are spectacular, the narrative, rich, juicy, and always lively; full of plot twists and turns and the other characters can always be counted on to stir things up every now and the and the best part of this particular story is that it is never ending and it’s ‘illustrated’ beautifully. Unputdownalbe. VBG.
Ha! Knew you would like The Good House! I even liked the beginning! Made me so nostalgic for my home state. I have read a few good ones lately, but names escape me at this age. I’ll send you a line when I either remember the names or look them up in my Kindle. Happy Friday to you!
I read Harold Fry and recognised that gent, typical of a certain sort of Englishman. I was afraid it would get too sentimental but the plot was saved, I think, by not ending as most people would have predicted.
Have you read The Magus? I’ve just finished ploughing through it. A lot of fuss is made about this novel. It’s a love or hate thing. I HATED it. Overlong, outdated and snobbish. On a list of 100 best novels of the 20thC – but that’s Random House for you.
How to make enemies: rubbish their fave books. Hope I haven’t stepped on your toes, Mary Ann!
Hey MAM, thanks for the recommendations. I’ve added myself to the waiting lists at my library…..STILL waiting for Ann Leary’s book …..
In the books about heiresses who married lords there is one called Heir and a Spare. written long ago and fascinating.
Another Leif Enger book, PEACE LIKE A RIVER, is also a winner.
OK. I just tried to listen to John Green read the first chapter of TFIOS on youtube, but I could not listen to more than half of it. Beautifully written, but I found it intensely depressing. Yes, I’ve read sad books and watched sad movies, but I actively try to avoid both. I guess I’m just a coward, but if it isn’t funny or extremely uplifting, I run for cover.
As a confessing Downton Abbey addict, I also read To Marry an English Lord. What women won’t do to snag a man (or in this case, what a woman won’t do to snag a man for her daughter)!! A fun book. Just finished So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger, if you like a good tale with a western flavor and beautiful language.
I am currently reading February by Lisa Moore which recently won CBC’s Canada Reads award. It’s about a woman whose husband died on an oil rig off the coast of Newfoundland. It starts 25 years later and goes back and forth to that February. It’s supposed to be very good. The other one I read recently and LOVED was Gone Girl.
You will enjoy “The Glitter and the Gold” by Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, who married the Duke of Marlborough – read it 30 years ago and it’s still vivid in my memory. Might be out of print, but you can probably track it down second-hand. Has a fabulous passage recounting their visit to pre-revolutionary Russia.
I always enjoy your books posts (along with ALL your posts)!!!! I am currently reading The River of Doubt (Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey) by Candice Millard. I try to read something *serious* every now and then and this one is a winner. My American history is not very good and I’m enjoying learning more about Teddy. Also, the author is an editor of National Geographic so she knows what she is doing. Great adventure.
I just finished The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Loved it! Now I’m working in book 3 of Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. Love to hear your current book reads! Thanks for sharing!
My book group read the Harold Fry adventure in the fall. We all loved it and the character of Harold. Touching and thoughtful. Hope you enjoy it, too. Right now we are reading Nora Ephron’s last two books. There are so many great books out there to chose and read. I really appreciate all your suggestions.
Linda
I knew with that post title, you had to be reading TFIOS. One of my all time favorite novels in the world John is also an avid blogger, fun educator, amazing fund raiser, and all around inspiring man. Look him up when you finish. He does an amazing vlog about it that had me in tears, wishing the characters could live on in my heart forever (it is a book I wish would have never ended). I’m curious about the other book, but only because I, too, am a Downton Abby addict!