September 2025 Wrap Up

Books Read:

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego (2025)  3/5 stars

This is a fast-paced, compelling and entertaining thriller that I read in just over 24 hours.  Unfortunately, not all the pieces fit snugly and the solution wasn't believable, even by that genre's standards.  I still enjoyed it enough that I would certainly try this debut author's next offering in the future.

The Case of Alan Copeland by Moray Dalton (1937)  3/5 stars

This started off really well, with a net of lies tightening around the titular character in a way that gave a tense atmosphere to the book.  As it progressed, though, there was very little deducing, the courtroom drama was repetitive, and the solution lacked emotional punch.  Dalton is one of my favorite Golden Age crime writers, but this is not a good example of her work. 

Manor for Sale, Baron Included by Esther Hatch (2021)  3/5 stars

A Romance of Rank, book 1

This is a sweet, clean, historical rom-com and while it's not my usual genre, I did enjoy it.  As a long-time reader of  Victorian literature and nonfiction, I have to say that it definitely didn't have a convincing Victorian era feel, but it's still a fun read.

Bride by Candlelight by Dorothy Eden (1954)  3/5 stars

A young woman arrives in New Zealand to marry a man she hasn't seen in years, only to find him, his family, and his situation different from what she was expecting.  Most of the mystery was easy to figure out, but with the gothic atmosphere and prevailing sense of unease, it was still highly entertaining.

Bridge of Fear by Dorothy Eden (1961)  4/5 stars

In this mystery/suspense, a young bride comes to a new country and discovers that her husband isn't what she thought him to be.  This was a quick read, full of tension and uncertainty.  I figured out a good portion, but it was completely engrossing and entertaining.    

Cat's Prey by Dorothy Eden (1952)  4/5 stars

In this novel of suspense, Antonia travels to New Zealand to visit a cousin and receive a legacy, only to find mystery, danger, and romance.  This is a surprisingly complex story, with an engrossing plot that was highly entertaining

On the Night of the Seventh Moon by Victoria Holt (1972)  3/5 stars

A Victorian teenager, finishing her last year in a German school, meets and falls in love with a romantic stranger, opening the door to deception and danger.  This book is simultaneously silly, predictable, and a page-turner, but definitely not in the gothic genre for which Holt was best known.  It's the only book I've read by this popular author, but based on the entertainment value of this one, I'd be willing to try another.

Audiobooks Completed:

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown (2021)  3/5 stars

Lord Edgington Investigates #1

This is a cozy mystery taking place in England in the 1920s; the atmosphere was mostly believable, except for the progressive ideas of Lord Edgington.  The plot was far-fetched and the solution required a suspension of belief that, taken with lead characters that weren't fully likable, made this just an okay read.  This is the first of what has become a well-liked fifteen-book series; I own the next in the series, so I may try it later to see if it's a better fit for me.

Trent's Last Case by E.C. Bentley (1913)  4/5 stars

This classic mystery is well-written, intriguing, and engrossing.  I can certainly see why it was so popular at publication and has remained well-regarded.

The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III, Father of the English Nation by Ian Mortimer (2006)  5/5 stars

This fantastic biography is easy to follow, well-written, detailed, and fascinating.  I highly recommend it if you have an interest in medieval England. 

Did Not Finish:

Quite frankly, it's amazing I actually finished as much as I did this month, what with start-stopping so many others!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

I didn't find her mess of a life a bit funny and before the first chapter was over, I knew it wasn't for me.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova 

She has a character disparagingly refer to Stoker as "disturbed and melodramatic", and then proceeds to one-up him with this overwrought and pretentious vampire tale.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

This is my third attempt at Foley's thrillers.  The first one I did finish -- it was three stars; the second I did not.  I didn't make it far in this one before I decided it just wasn't for me.  This is a reminder to my future self that Foley and I just aren't meant to be.

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

I've never read this classic, and gave it a good try.  I enjoyed the first five chapters a good deal, but was unable to stomach the brutal antisemitism of that time period.  I wouldn't hesitate to try another novel by Scott, but I don't think this one is a good fit for me.

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin

It started off really good, but as the conflicts and drama increased, I found it wasn't a good fit for me. 

 

Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup

It appeared to be a mystery that I would love, taking place in India with a varied cast of characters, and with lots of backstory and development.  After a several chapters, though, I realized that Swarup's style, word choices, and interests were not my taste, so I gave up.

Ravenscroft by Dorothy Eden

I enjoyed the three by Eden that I read prior to this one, but an unpalatable scene ruined this one for me.

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica

This was my second time trying and not finishing one of Kubica's books.  This is a reminder to myself that her thrillers are too full of characters with drama for me, and not to try again.

Slow Horses by Mick Herron

This is my second time trying this popular mystery/thriller/espionage series, but for some reason, I just can't connect with the plot or characters.  This is a reminder to myself to not try again.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Have I dnf'd this one or not?  I'm still not sure.  The discussion of my problems can be found here.

Top 5 Tuesday: Classics I Didn't Like

 Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Meeghan Reads 

Today's prompt is "top 5 classics I didn't like".  I don't often finish a book if I'm not enjoying it, so most books I don't like I just abandon.  Here are four that I did finish and didn't like, and one that is giving me grief right now.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë  (1847)

Why do people insist on calling this a great romance?  It definitely fits the gothic novel genre, one of my favorites, with its gloomy, dark, atmospheric plot, location, and characters.  However, rather than a love story, it's a novel of abuse -- physical, emotional, and mental -- and a perfect picture of abusive relationships. That trumps any good about it, in my opinion.  It is, in a word, icky.  

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

I don't look at adultery as romantic, the prose (maybe my translation?) was not engaging, and I couldn't find anything about Anna that I sympathized with or liked.  The worst part was, when I FINALLY got to the climax and she did what I was expecting, the book just kept going.  

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare (1594)

Here is my review of it when I reread it in 2018.  I can't believe this thing is still being performed!

Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers (1934)

HOW is this so popular?  Do people say they love the book when they haven't actually read it, because they love the (so different) movie?  Mary Poppins is a horrible woman and I'd let her be alone with my children over my dead body.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1846)

I haven't finished this one yet, so it doesn't really count, but oh my gosh, y'all. 

I don't like the Count at all; I find his obsession with vengeance appalling; I hate the use of hasheesh, the immorality of some of the characters, and his treatment of Ali and Haydée. His perfection at EVERYTHING from manipulation to info gathering to shooting with a pistol to picking out horseflesh to speaking multiple languages fluently to --  you get the picture -- is eye-roll inducing.  How could he have possible learned all that? 

I've come so far -- I've read nearly 800 pages this past month -- and I've STILL GOT SEVEN HOURS' WORTH LEFT TO READ.  

For now, I'm setting it aside and it feels like such a relief.  If you have any advice that will make this a better reading experience for me, please tell me.  I'd hate to have wasted all the hours spent reading this. 

Shelf Control: The Last Duel by Eric Jager

 Shelf Control is a weekly feature hosted by Literary Potpourri to discuss unread books sitting in our to-be-read piles.

The Last Duel by Eric Jager

I was gifted this book by my good friend Deb years and years ago. Subtitled "A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France", it is so exactly my kind of book.  And yet, it's been sitting there unread for an embarrassing amount of time!  I need to bump it up on my nonfiction tbr, without a doubt!  (Have you read it?)

Top Five Wednesday: Short Books

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is to recommend five books that are short, quick reads.  Here are five that I absolutely loved.

1. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey (1932) 119 pages

This novella blew me away when I read it in 2017.  My review can be found here.

2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953) 194 pages 

This book is simply astounding.  If you've not read it, I can't urge you strongly enough to give it a try.

3. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death by Jean-Dominique Bauby, translated by Jeremy Leggatt (1997)  132 pages

This memoir was written by a man with locked-in syndrome, who dictated it, letter by letter, by blinking his one eye when his helper reached the correct letter.  It's a quick, deeply emotional read that I recommend wholeheartedly. I loved it enough that I gave copies to everyone for Christmas the year I first read it

4.  A Room with a View by E. M. Forster (1908)  119 pages

This is one of my favorite classics and I reread it often.  It's an unforgettable coming-of-age story, novel of manners, character study, and romance that is well worth reading.

5. The Householder by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (1960)  192 pages

This is another coming of age story, exquisitely written, insightful and perceptive, and simply fantastic.  My 2018 review can be found here. 

Top Five Tuesday: Classics I Meant to Read

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Meeghan Reads 

Today's prompt is "top 5 classics I meant to read (but never got around to)".

1. A Passage to India by E. M. Forster  (1924)

I'm ashamed to admit this, but, as much as I love Room with a View and Howard's End, I have never read A Passage to India! I own it, I've intended to read it, I even started the audio version once, but. . . . I'm intimidated by the heavy subject matter of this famous work.

2. and 3.  The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer (c. 8th century BC)

I've read parts of both in various classes in college, and was entranced by both subject matter and verse.  This translation by Robert Fagles is supposed to be excellent, and I've intended to read it since it was given to me nearly twenty years ago.  I can't believe I've put it off so long!

4. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (1883)

How have I not read this adventure classic?  I've not even seen a movie version!  I have truly  no concept of what it's about other than there's a boy and there are pirates.

5.  Anything by George Eliot except Middlemarch

I read Middlemarch (1872) in college and loved it so much.  As a result, I've always intended to read more by Eliot and yet. . . it never happened!

Shelf Control: Trains and Buttered Toast

Shelf Control is a weekly feature hosted by Literary Potpourri to discuss unread books sitting in our to-be-read piles.

I saw this one someone's Bookstagram account (my account is here) back in 2019 and fell for the title. I had never read anything by Betjeman (Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984), so wasn't sure what to expect.   Turns out, he was also an influential broadcaster, and this is a collection of broadcasts that he made from the 1930s to the 1950s. 

I've yet to read it, but do intend to. With my Anglophilia and my love of that time period, I think it would be right down my alley!

Top Five Wednesday: Wild Animals

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is to list five books either about wild animals, or with them on the cover.  When I went looking for five from my shelves that at least somewhat fit the challenge, all I could find were children's books with anthropomorphic animals.  I don't feel that this is exactly what the challenge creator intended, but. . . It fits me. 

The Bat Poet by Randall Jarrell, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

This came from the library used book sale when I was a preteen and started my love of bats.  It's beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated.

Aesop's Fables

I read Mom's copy over and over again as a preteen, and when I saw this lovely edition at a book warehouse about twenty years ago, I had to snag it.

The Whispering Rabbit and Other Stories by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Garth Williams and Lillian Obligado

This is another treasure from the library used book sale.  I was still an elementary school student when I got this, and I've read it to pieces over the years.  There are two delightful stories (The Egg Book is my favorite) and some charming poems.  I've even used it with one of my students with autism years ago and he loved the poetry.  If you ever come across this gem, snap it up!

Mystery in the Night Wood by John Lawrence Peterson, illustrated Cyndy Szekeres 

Oh what a fun book!  As you can tell, it's another library used book sale find when I was a kid.  This was one of the first mysteries I ever read and I loved it so much.  (And what wonderful illustrations!)

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne, illustrated by E. H. Shepard

This is a classic that needs no explanation.  I became a fan in college and this gorgeous edition was gifted to me by best friend at the time.  It's full of such precious stories.

So, how about you?  Do you have any books the would fit the challenge?  Or some treasures like these?