February 2026 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

Stalks of Gold by Celeste Baxendell (2021)  3/5 stars

Bewitching Fairy Tales, book 1 

This no-spice fantasy is a combined retelling of Rumpelstiltskin and Rapunzel.  It is one of the author's earliest published novels and is not as good as her later books, mainly because nearly all the characters wallow in anger, despair, angst, or self-pity (if not all at once).  However, it is imaginative, well-written, has an intriguing plot and, for the most part, was an entertaining story. I will certainly read more of the Bewitching Fairy Tales series, but in the meantime, I highly recommend Ties of Starlight (my review) or This Rotting Heart (my review), both of which were five star reads for me.

The Belton Estate by Anthony Trollope (1866)  5/5 stars (my review here)

Fair Warning by Mignon G. Eberhart (1936)  4/5 stars

Marcia has been married for three miserable years to Ivan, an emotionally abusive manipulator.  Her neighbor, Rob, confesses that he loves Marcia and begs her to leave Ivan, but in her fragile mental state, she simply can't.  That night, Ivan is found murdered and Marcia is the most likely suspect.  

Eberhart creates a sense of dread from the very beginning, gradually increasing it until the tense atmosphere is nearly smothering.  The clues and false clues are clever -- every time I was certain I had the answer, I had to start over again.  While it's not a five star book, it was certainly entertaining and gripping.

Nathaniel's Nutmeg by Giles Milton (1999)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Case Of The Blind Barber by John Dickson Carr (1934)  4/5 stars

Dr. Gideon Fell mysteries, book 4

A group of friends crossing the Atlantic from New York are robbed, rob someone themselves, find and lose an injured person, and become embroiled in one laugh-out-loud situation after another.  It reads  like a slapstick comedy, yet is a clever, skillfully-planned, rather grisly murder mystery. I found it to be highly entertaining  overall, and with a satisfying conclusion.  This is my first time reading any from the Dr. Fell series, so I don't know if they are all humorous stories, but I will certainly read another to see. 

Penny Plain by O. Douglas (1920)  4/5 stars 

The Priorsford Trilogy, book 1

This gentle book is a character study of both people and place, a slice-of-life story, a celebration of sibling love, and a light romance.  It's full of engaging characters and lovely descriptions, and includes strong Christian and moral undertones. Though like a fairy-tale in parts, Penny Plain felt alive and believable in many other ways.  I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written novel and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.     

Audiobooks Completed:

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1943)  4/5 stars

Little House series, book 8; Newbury Medal Nominee

This book finds the Ingalls family doing well in their homestead and becoming a part of the town.  It follows Laura as she becomes a young woman, begins earning money to assist her family, and experiences romance.  It's sweet, funny, and delightful, and a pleasure to watch her grow and mature.  

The Man of Property by John Galsworthy (1906)  5/5 stars

The Forsyte Chronicles, book 1 

This is the story of family obsessed with property of all sorts, and their relationships with each other. It's a character study, a novel of manners, and an examination of Victorian life.  Excellently written and completely engrossing, The Man of Property is a memorable experience.

Indian Summer of a Forsyte by John Galsworthy (1918)  5/5 stars

The Forsyte Chronicles, book 1.5 

This novella begins a three years after the end of The Man of Property and is a wonderful, moving, and well-written footnote to the story.   

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper (1826) 4/5 stars  (my review) 

Did Not Finish:

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is not so much a "did not finish" as a "did not start".  I didn't want to interrupt the flow of Laura's stories with Almanzo's tale, so my intention was to read it last, after I finished the rest of the Little House series.  I listened to less than one chapter, but got interested in the Galsworthy book and switched to audio with it.  I still intend to return to Farmer Boy, though, as it's one of my favorites of the series.

Orchid Muse by Erica Hannickel

This is subtitled "a history of obsession in fifteen flowers" and I was intrigued.  I love a history tied around one object or person. Unfortunately, the author starts the introduction by saying that there is "nothing quite like the raw sexuality" of an orchid, and she continued with an agenda to sexualize the orchid, which isn't what I was looking to read. 

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

The Last of the Mohicans
James Fenimore Cooper
1826 
4/5 stars

I'm not particularly interested in American history nor American literature, so while I enjoy British books from the mid-to-late 19th Century, I've read very little by Americans. This is one of those classics that I've "always meant to read" but never thought would be interesting enough. I was wrong.

The Last of the Mohicans is exactly what one would expect if a Victorian melodrama/adventure was uprooted from Britain and placed in the wilds of North American -- a rugged tale, full of war and daring deeds, shaped by the wildness of the land.  There is an obvious love story, and one that is hidden, but the real focus of relationships is that of father-to-son and friend-to-friend.

Yes, it's dated, and at times cringe-worthy.  However, Cooper saves the word "savage" for the enemies of his hero Native Americans, the Mohicans and the Delaware, and shows a sensitivity to the Native American culture that I didn't expect. 

While I wouldn't say that The Last of the Mohicans changed my point-of-view about American literature, I will say that I was quite impressed.  I was engrossed in this adventure, was moved to tears on a few occasions, and loved it much more than I expected.  I wouldn't hesitate to read more of Cooper's novels.

Nathaniel's Nutmeg by Giles Milton

Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Or the True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of History 

Giles Milton

1999

4/5 stars

This is a nonfiction account of the English attempt (during the 16th and 17th centuries) to acquire spice trading posts in what is now Indonesia.  The East India Company had their sights set on the island of Run in the Banda Islands.  This lead to hostility and bloodshed between them and the Dutch East India Company -- and to the eventual English ownership of Manhattan.

One difficulty I had with the book is that while Milton makes extensive use of journals, diaries, and letters, which he acknowledges in the bibliography, he unfortunately doesn't ascribe to any particular source with footnotes.

My other complaint is that the title is misleading.  Nathaniel Courthope features only as a minor character in the story of these spice wars.  Milton gives Courthope direct credit for the British obtaining Manhattan because of the stand he took against the Dutch on the island of Run.  This is tenuous at best, though I don't deny that Courthope was both brave and heroic.

Despite these two problems, I found the book easy to read, enjoyable, and fascinating.  I've studied a lot of British history but had no idea of the depth of the conflict between England and the Dutch over  cloves and nutmeg.  The brutality was horrifying, and the extent of the rancor over one small spice island was astounding. 

I will add that Nathaniel's Nutmeg is definitely written from the British point of view, and may be biased, but it is still interesting and informative. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Armchair Travels

  Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is "books for armchair travelers".  These are the eight that I would recommend wholeheartedly to any reader.

1.  Sky Burial by Xinran 

I absolutely loved this book!  It's a love letter to Tibet and was simply fantastic.  My full review can be found here.

2. Married to Bhutan: How One Woman Got Lost, Said "I Do," and Found Bliss by Linda Leaming  

This is another romance that is also a love story of a woman with a country.  I loved this one, too!  My full review is here.

3. Chasing the Rose: An Adventure in the Venetian Countryside by Andrea Di Robilant 

This is more history than travel, as the author is attempting to trace the identity of a certain rose, but the reader still travels with the author on his lovely adventure.  My full review is here.

4. King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard

Haggard wrote great adventure stories and this is one of his best -- and one of my favorite novels.  Yes, it's dated here and there, but for the most part it is a sterling yarn.  My full review is here. 

5.  The Mapmaker's Wife by Robert Whitaker

This is a nonfiction account of a map-making expedition, plus the story of a woman's adventure.  My full review is here.

6. The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman by Mamen Sánchez 

This novel is the delightful tale of a Brit, Atticus Craftsman, and his visit to Madrid.  My full review is here.

7. Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark by Jane Fletcher Geniesse 

Freya Stark (31 January 1893 – 9 May 1993) was a self-taught explorer and adventurer, who became a respected Arabist and a renowned author and letter writer. Geniesse tells Freya's story in entertaining, interesting, and accessible prose, showing the many facets of her life, including her formative years, her motives, and her dreams. Freya Stark was a fascinating, if flawed, woman, and I learned a good deal both about her, and about the world around her during her long life.   Her travels make fascinating reading for the armchair traveler.

8. Dracula by Bram Stoker

Travel to Transylvania with Harker in one of my favorite books!  My full review is here.

To see more books by location, check out my "Where in the World" page.

Edit: While looking at other blogs, I was reminded of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery and the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Both excellent armchair travelling aides! 

The Belton Estate

Trollope

The Belton Estate 

Anthony Trollope 

1866  

5/5 stars

On the face of it, this is the story of a love triangle between Clara and two very different suitors -- and yet it's so much more.  Clara is spirited and determined, but a family tragedy makes her dependent in different degrees on the various men in her life.  She must navigate new experiences and emotions while still staying true to herself.  Through Clara, Trollope compassionately shows the difficulty a Victorian woman faced when trying to make decisions regarding her future.   

The characters are believable and well-rounded, filled with goodness and flaws.  The book is witty, intelligent, and engrossing. Though it seems like a commonplace plot, it was so well-written that it kept me riveted throughout.  I absolutely loved it.

Let's Talk Bookish: Reading with Friends

 Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme created co-hosted by Dinipandareads and Book Nook Bits. 

Today's topic is "reading with friends" and asks about group reads, buddy reads, and online reading groups.

My husband and I have done buddy reads in the past, sometimes with two copies of the same book, sometimes taking turns, and previously we used to listen to audiobooks together in the evenings.  I love having someone to discuss a book with, so I'm very fortunate he'll join me.

After years, I talked my Mom into reading Dracula (one of my favorite novels), so I did a refresher of it while she read it, and we enjoyed talking about it.

Other than that, though, in-person discussions like book clubs or Bible study groups are not for me.  I'm too introverted these days to be able to enjoy it.

Online discussions are different, though.  In December, I participated in a group read of The Cricket on the Hearth (Charles Dickens) on Bookstagram (my account) and enjoyed the experience immensely. I did very little actual contributing to the conversations, but liked seeing what other people had to say. 

This month, I've joined another group that is reading A Man of Property by John Galsworthy.  The Forsyte Saga has been on my TBR for some time now, so I was glad to be encouraged to finally read it.  I'm trying to keep up with the group chat and want to actually participate since the group isn't as large as the Dickens group was.

I was also been fortunate enough to buddy-read Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth with a Bookstagram friend.  We had an interesting discussion about it and I hope to read with her again sometime.

So, for me, I enjoy reading with others so I can discuss my feelings and pose questions -- just not in person.  How about you?

Top Ten Tuesday: Topography

 Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is "book covers featuring cool/pretty/unique/etcetera typography".  My focus, as always, is on books that I own so that I can share my original photos and I have some in my collection that are just perfect for this prompt.

1. This first one is a Barnes & Noble collectable edition, and the font is just perfect for the cover.

2. & 3.These next two photos show Canterbury Classics Word Cloud editions, which I love just entirely for the typography! 

  

4. This is a reprinted journal full of drawings, and the font on the front is meant to look like the handwriting in the book.

5.  The sweeping letters of this vintage edition give the feel of flying, to my mind.

6. The title's font is just perfect for this one!  (my review here)

  

7. There is not much that is lovelier than antique covers with gorgeous fonts!

8. This is one of my childhood favorites, and the font style and placement suits it wonderfully.

9. Another childhood favorite with a full-of-character font.

10.  This oversized vintage edition has perfect typography!

What about you?  Do you love fonts and typography, too?  Have you seen any of these editions?  Do you have any favorites of your own?