January 2024 Wrap Up

Books Read:

The Stretton Darknesse Mystery by Moray Dalton (1927)  4/5 stars

This generally well-written,  and quite enjoyable book begins as a gothic tale, then turns into a satisfying and engrossing mystery.  

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't): Making the Journey from "What Will People Think?" to "I Am Enough" by Brené Brown, Ph.D. (2007)  5/5 stars

I didn't realize that shame was an issue for me until I began this book at my therapist's recommendation.  Dr, Brown's research has changed my outlook, and has given me healing, encouragement, and resilience techniques.  I feel strongly that every woman should read this, regardless of whether or not she feels it's applicable to her. 

The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves  (2022)  4/5 stars
The mystery was intelligent and interesting, with believable characters and mostly believable motives.  Overall, it's another strong book in this generally excellent series. 

Death in the Cup by Moray Dalton  (1932)  3/5 stars

This was a less twisty, easier to solve mystery than what I've come to expect from Dalton's work, but it was still enjoyable, well-written, and entertaining.  I'm so glad that Dalton's books are being republished, and while this isn't one I would suggest as an introduction to her, I do recommend her for lovers of crime novels of this era.

Lie Beside Me by Gytha Lodge (2021)  4/5 stars

This is a complex, twisty, and generally well-written mystery-thriller that kept me engrossed. The personal drama of some of the detectives, however, detracts from the main plot, and the book was overloaded with what felt like too many storylines.  Despite this, it was an above average book in a series that I recommend.

St. Thérèse

Stronger than Steel: Soldiers of the Great War Write to Thérèse of Lisieux forward by Fr. Dwight Longenecker (2021)   4/5 stars  

These letters are written by WWI soldiers, explaining how St. Thérèse helped them through the dangers of trench warfare.  As such, this isn't really a book one can rate, as it's only letters without prose, and is an emotional read rather than an informative one.   It would have been better, I think, had the author given information and details about the War and/or St. Thérèse . Otherwise, it's a moving read, especially for those like myself with a strong interest in both Catholicism and the First World War.

Audiobooks:

Brothers York by Thomas Penn (2019)   5/5 stars

This is an excellent joint biography of King Edward IV and his two younger brothers, George, Duke of Clarence, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III).  Penn discusses their family relationships as much as their politics, while filling in historical background through interesting contemporary sources.  It's easy to follow, well-written, and (for this British history fan) extremely entertaining and engaging. 

Blood Sisters: The Women Behind The Wars Of The Roses by Sarah Gristwood (2012)  4/5 stars

This is a history of the Wars of the Roses with the focus on seven women who had important roles during this conflict.  Due to the lack of records available (as is true with most women's history), Ms. Gristwood does make inferences, as well as sharing her theories about certain incidents, but is upfront about doing so and gives her sources.   The prose is not the most lively, but the subject is interesting enough to keep the reader engrossed. While I would suggest having a basic understanding of the era and the war to enjoy the book to the fullest, I otherwise definitely recommend it.

Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne by Katherine Rundell (2022)  5/5 stars  (my review here)

Tulipomania: The Story of the World's Most Coveted Flower & the Extraordinary Passions It Aroused by Mike Dash (2000)  3/5 stars

This gives an account of history of the tulip, it's early days of popularity in the Ottoman Empire, the mania caused by a combination of love of tulips and pure greed in the Netherlands during the 1630s, and it's decline as a flower of fame.  Though the never-very-lively-to begin-with narrative is too dry at times, as it was all new to me, I still found the book to be fascinating.

Did Not Finish:

How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe’s Poorest Nation Created our World & Everything In It by Arthur Herman

I loved Herman's book about the British Navy (my review here), so was excited to read this one.  Unfortunately, I found it so dull that I stopped after a few chapters.  

Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne by Katherine Rundell

Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne 

Katherine Rundell 

2022 

5/5 stars 

Disclaimer: I am a long-time John Donne fangirl. 

Rundell examines the poet and Protestant priest John Donne (1571 or 1572 - 1631) through the lenses of the various facets of his life and personality, bringing him vividly to life. Her prose is wonderful, and the book is engaging and engrossing. She is an unabashed lover of Donne, admitting that this is as much an "act of evangelism" as a biography, and her enthusiasm is contagious.

My only quibble is that Rundell credits Donne with an unusual outlook on pain and suffering, when said outlook is actually the traditional Catholic one that he (raised as Catholic) would have grown-up practicing.
 

Given my history, I was bound to love this book on an emotional level, but I feel that it is worthy of praise on the intellectual level as well.
 

John Donne, c. 1595

December 2023 Wrap Up

Nancy Mitford

Books Read:

Christmas Pudding by Nancy Mitford (1932)  4/5 stars

A laugh-out-loud, delightful between-the-wars story of a Christmas house party and it's repercussions. 

The Lark Shall Sing by Elizabeth Cadell (1955)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Blue Sky of Spring by Elizabeth Cadell (1956)  4/5 stars  (my review here) 

Six Impossible Things by Elizabeth Cadell (1961)   3/5 stars  (my review here)

Iris in Winter by Elizabeth Cadell (1949)  3/5 stars
An enjoyable story of siblings and their relationships, experiences and mishaps, with light romance thrown in.

The Waiting Game by Elizabeth Cadell (1985)  4/5 stars
Light, enjoyable, and not always predictable, The Waiting Game is one of Cadell's last novels.  Taking place in the 1980s, it lacks a little of the charm and grace of her books from earlier decades, but is still satisfying and entertaining.

Audiobooks:

Tutankhamun's Trumpet: Ancient Egypt in 100 Objects from the Boy-King's Tomb by Toby Wilkinson (2022)  5/5 stars

I absolutely loved this fascinating, informative book.  Wilkinson gives a history of Ancient Egypt, using 100 different articles found in Tutankhamun's tomb as a jumping off point for each topic.  It's well-written, surprisingly engrossing, and gave me a new interest in Ancient Egypt. 

Keats: A Brief Life in Nine Poems and One Epitaph by Lucasta Miller (2021)  4/5 stars

This is a light biography of the poet Keats given in nine vignettes of sorts, based on what affected the poems he wrote at that period in his life.  I've never cared much for Keats or his poetry, and this didn't change that opinion.  Nevertheless, it was well-written and interesting, particularly the social history aspect.

Didn't Finish:

The Earl and the Pharaoh: From the Real Downton Abbey to the Discovery of Tutankhamun by The Countess of Carnarvon (2022)

This was such a disappointment.  The author whitewashes the Earl's past, gives excruciating details about nothing, and writes most dully.  I adore social history, am recently interested in Egyptology, and the Earl's lifeline follows my period of most interest and yet, I simply could not finish.