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 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?

Top Five Wednesday: Seaside

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is to list five books set by the ocean. Though I think it was intended as a summery topic, mine aren't exactly that. Here are the five from my shelves.  

Rebecca (1938), Frenchman's Creek (1941), and Jamaica Inn (1936) by Daphne du Maurier

Since I have these three in one volume, I'm going to cheat a bit and make them one book  These three all take place on the Cornish coast.  Frenchman's Creek and Jamaica Inn are both historical novels, with the first being a romance and the second a novel of suspense.  Rebecca is a favorite suspense, and one of the best gothic novels I've read.

Seaview House by Elizabeth Fair (1955)

This is a charming, well-written, and highly enjoyable novel centering around two sisters who run a hotel in a English seaside village.  Fair excelled at slice-of-life, character driven novels and it's a shame that she only published six.

The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer (7th Century BC)

These epics are obvious choices, with the sea figuring prominently in both.  I love this gorgeous boxed set.

The Water of the Wonderous Isles by William Morris (1897)

I've not read this fantasy, but it centers around a young woman who travels to mysterious and fantastical islands.  I've read and enjoyed another of Morris' fantasies, The Well at the World's End (1896), and have long planned to try this one.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927)

Woolf's excellent novel takes place on the Isle of Skye, and is a wonderful example of her flowing style.  

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Top Five Wednesdays: Friendship

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is to celebrate some great literary friendships!  Here are the ones that first sprang to my mind.

The Bob-Whites of the Glen
The Trixie Belden series: originally authored by Julie Campbell, later by the Western Publishing in-house writers under the pseudonym of Kathryn Kenny.  (published between 1948 and 1986)

I didn't have a large circle of friends when I was young, so I was always so jealous of Trixie and hers.  I still think it would have been incredibly fun to belong to a "club" and do things as a group.

Holmes and Watson

The Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle (published between 1887 and 1927)

If you've visited this blog much, you'll know my love of Holmes.  This friendship is important for the misanthropic Holmes, as he doesn't exactly make friends easily.  While he often dismisses Watson's intelligence and input, he needs Watson's companionship.  

Anne and Diana

Anne of Green Gables (1908) and Anne of Avonlea (1909), by Lucy Maude Montgomery 

This is such a sweet friendship, and though they realistically grow apart as they mature, they always have a special place in the other's heart.  I love the entire series, but especially the first books.

Bilbo and Gandalf 

The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (published 1954 and 1955) by J.R.R. Tolkien

Gandalf is an excellent friend to Bilbo.  He knows what the Hobbit needs, be it an adventure or saving from the power of the One Ring.  In return, he has a true and devoted friend in Bilbo.

Lorelei and Dorothy

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) by Anita Loos

I don't know that either lady is particularly good for the other, but my, don't they have quite the adventures?!  If you've seen the movie, you really should read the book; if you haven't, but like the 1920s, it's a definite must-read. I laughed out-loud just reading my review.

Top Five Wednesday: Biographies

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is "biographies".  I love biographies, especially those featuring more than one person (though I seem to do more collecting them than reading them).  Here are five that I own that are calling to me the loudest.

• Sisters of Fortune: America’s Caton Sisters at Home and Abroad by Jehanne Wake (2010)
  Regency England has long been a period of history that interested me, so this one is extremely appealing.  These four sisters, despite English prejudice against both Americans and Catholics, made a success of themselves in Regency Society due to their intelligence, beauty, and charm.  Wake makes extensive use of their letters, which as the sisters were apparently "lively and opinionated", should make this one great fun.
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
• Sister Queens: The Noble, Tragic Lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile by Julia Fox (2011)
  Katherine, first wife of Henry VIII, and Juana, wife of Philip of Burgundy and mother of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, were the daughters of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.  They both experienced tragedy and hardship, and, while generally glossed over in history as "wronged wife" (Katherine) and "mad queen" (Juana), were apparently both full of character, intelligence and deep conviction. I have a general knowledge of Katherine, but know nothing about Juana, so I expect to find this one quite interesting.
  
  
• Princesses: The Six Daughters of George III by Flora Fraser (2004)
  Another joint biography of sisters, this one also makes use of correspondence to give a voice to these "handsome, accomplished, extremely well-educated women".  I know a good deal about their brother, George (first the Prince Regent, then King George IV), but I have never read anything about them.  Again, it's a particular era of interest for me, so I know that this one will be enjoyable.
  
  
  
  
• The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World by Shelley Puhak (2022)
  This one is about Brunhild and Fredegund, sisters-in-law and rivals, who ruled realms during in sixth-century Merovingian France.  I know very little about Europe before Charlemagne, so I had never heard of these queens.  Discovering little-known but influential historical figures is something I truly enjoy.
  
  
• The Warrior Queens by Antonia Fraser (1988)
  Fraser, whom I greatly admire, explores a wide selection of female rulers throughout history and across the world who have led their nations in war.  While I'm familiar with some, I'm not at all with many, so I expect this to be a fascinating read.
  
  
  
  
  

How about you?  Do you like biographies?  Have you read any of these or have any to recommend?

Top Five Wednesday: Book Intimidation

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is to list five books that I want to read, but for various reasons I find intimidating.  Here are five well-known classics that make my list.

• Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle by Vladimir Nabokov (1969)
  Having read Lolita and two more of Nabokov's novels and found his talent to be prodigious, I've collected a stack of others that have since gotten dusty waiting on me.  One is Ada which, due to it's reputation as Nabokov's masterpiece and it's girth of 600 pages, has always seemed intimidating.  Having looked it up on Goodreads while writing this I see that the topic is even more distasteful than that of Lolita, and I wonder if I could stomach it -- which has added even more to said intimidation!
  
  
  
  
   
  
• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719)
  I was too young when I first tried to read this classic, so found the language and style overwhelming.  As a result, that impression has stayed with me and I've been hesitant to try it again.
  
  
• Orlando by Virginia Woolf (1928)
  I don't know why this book has intimidated me so much, despite my love for Woolf's other novels.  Perhaps it's the fact that it's a historical setting instead of her usual contemporary one, or maybe because it's so popular.  Regardless, I've avoided it while devouring the rest of her work.
  
  
• Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (1895)
  I fell in love with Hardy's novels in high school, where I read The Return of the Native, Far From the Madding Crowd, and Tess of the D'Urbervilles in quick succession.  Jude the Obscure was next on my list, until a lunch table discussion revealed that my classmate has just finished it and hated it.  That put me off and I've never returned to give it a try.
  
  
• A Passage to India by E.M. Forster (1924)
  I've read and others of Forster's work, but despite being quite an admirer I've never read A Passage to India.  When I first began to read Forster, I didn't have the knowledge I now have of India's history, so I wasn't as interested in the location, and the seriousness of the subject matter scared me.  It's not so intimidating now, but I still have an odd reluctance to commit to it.
  
  
  
  
  

There are my top five -- have you read any of them?  What books do you find most intimidating?

Top Five Wednesday: My Husband Chooses

The husband and I, on a train.

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is to have someone else pick the books that will be featured.  Seeing as his taste is nearly a polar opposite to mine,  I've asked my husband for five favorites, in order to showcase books that I never would otherwise.  He has read each of these multiple times and highly recommends them.  I can't say, as I've not read any of them!  (The links go to Goodreads.)

• Gone to Texas by Forrest Carter  (1973)
  He says, "If you are a fan of the Josey Wales movie, read it, because all the great lines are there.  It's what the West really was, is a better tale than Lonesome Dove, and has as satisfying an ending as I've ever read."
  
  
  
  
• The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969) 
  He says, "It's a book that's bigger than it's pages.  It inspires as much thought as any schoolbook. Sprawling, great tale."
  
  
  
  
• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller  (1961) 
  He says, "The most war-like anti-war novel.  It's written so well that you have to think about it to realize that it's anti-war, anti-military, anti-establishment."
  
  
  
  
• The Stand by Stephen King (1978) 
  He says, "Immensely readable! It's plausible, it's real people; it's also a stark black-and-white good-and-evil battle. It's extremely well-written with many characters, but still easy to keep up with."
  
  
  
  
• Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith (1957) 
  He says "This is the book that turned me on to the Civil War.  It's a great book about a young man who grows up, who finds love, and duty, and honor, and in equal measure, dishonor and hatred."
  
  
  
  

Top Five Wednesday: Illustrated Covers

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is for favorite illustrated covers.  I could go to my shelves and easily pick five, if not ten, covers I love, but I'm only going to feature these three today because they are new acquisitions and  seeing them was insta-love.  I've only read the first, but enjoyed it greatly (my review here) and am looking forward to the others.

Top Five Wednesday: Published Before the 2000s

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is for books published before the 2000s, a super-easy topic for me!   I picked only five-star books that I haven't featured lately in reviews or discussions.

1. King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard (1885)  

I wrote an in-depth review here, so I won't say much other than I am a huge Haggard fan-girl.  His novels are exciting, fun, and generally well-written, and this is the best of them all.

H. Rider Haggard

2. Modern Instances by Ella D'arcy (1898)

This is a magnificent collection of short fiction by a master of the genre.  I wrote a detailed and glowing review here.

Ella D'arcy

3. Pemberley Shades by D.A. Bonavia-Hunts (1949) 

This is the best Jane Austen pastiche/sequel that I've read. My full review is here.  Sadly, I've never been able to find reliable information on the author.

4. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym (1952)

Loved this one, and pretty much all that I've read by Pym.  My thoughts and discussion for the Classics Club are here.

Barbara Pym

5. The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy (1958)

Oh my gosh, ya'll, this book!  I laughed so hard, so often.  My full review is here, and I even included a favorite passage.  (Disclaimer: I read this book nearly ten years ago, and taste does change, so I can't guarantee that I'd love it that much now.  Read at your own risk.)

Elaine Dundy

 

Top Five Wednesday: Over 400 Pages

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is for books over 400 pages long.   I decided to pick only five-star books that I haven't featured lately in reviews or discussions.

1. Lilith by George MacDonald (1895) 800 pages (my review is  here)

This is a masterfully written allegorical Christian fantasy  that is dark, dense, mentally-stimulating, and memorable.  C.S. Lewis referred to MacDonald as his "master", saying “indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him.”  

2. In the Woods by Tana French (2007) 431 pages (my review is here) 

This is the first in French's Dublin Murder Squad series, and she started out with a real winner.  I found it to be a riveting and impressive read -- the rest of the series does not disappoint, either.  When you go to read the series, though, be forewarned and don't expect happy endings and neat solutions; French leaves the reader disturbed and ruminating on the book for days.

3.The Explorers Guild: A Passage to Shambhala by Jon Baird and Kevin Costner, with illustrations by Rick Ross (2015) 770 pages 

Oh my gosh, y'all, I loved this novel!  It's a magnificent, ambitious book -- part graphics, part words -- which kept me riveted throughout the entire 770 pages. The story itself is reminiscent of H. Rider Haggard, with larger than life characters and thrilling adventures. The visual details enrich the story immensely, and while the prose was dense, it was well-written and captivating. I am saddened that, despite being labeled the first in a series, no other volumes were written. I don't recommend it universally, as it will be too much of a commitment for some readers, but I, personally, found it enthralling.  (Disclaimer: my husband did NOT love it.)

4.The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (2015) 608 pages (my review is here)

This is an outstanding YA sci-fi, told in a variety of formats; it's well-written, original, creative, fully engrossing, and accessible despite it's length.

5. Heartless Marissa Meyer (2016) 464 pages (my review here)

This is a prequel to my favorite duology, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.  Meyer skillfully blends her original ideas with Carroll's characters/plot, and creates a masterpiece for Alice fans.  You need to be familiar with the two books, though, to appreciate it.  I recommend a reread immediately before starting this one.

And one more: 

The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder (2010) (my review here)

Here's one more five-star favorite that falls a bit under the 400 page mark, depending on which edition you read.  It's the first in the Burton & Swinburne series, an amazing faux-Victorian, alternate history, steampunk-fantasy adventure that is well-written, engrossing, and exceptionally good. Bonus: it features my historical crush, Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton (below).

Top Five Wednesday: 1/4/23

This week's Top Five Wednesday topic is "Books to Read in 2023".  I plan to read the first three early in the year, but the other two will be ongoing.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)
This book is one of my top ten favorites. I love it so much I go all soft and mushy and fangirly over it.  (Here is a discussion on it I wrote in 2016.)  I saw on Goodreads that a friend read it for the first time and it made me want to reread it.  I've already set it out, and it will probably be next up.

The Unfinished Crime by Elizabeth Sanxay Holding  (1940)

Martin Edwards discussed Holding, and this novel in particular, in his book The Life of Crime (my review here).  I was intrigued and ordered it right away.  

Lonely Magdalen: A Murder Story by Henry Wade  (1940)

This one also came to my attention via Martin Edwards, this time from his book The Golden Age of Crime (my review here).  It's a must read this year, as well. 

Jane Austen's Novels

I'm currently listening to a lecture series from the Great Courses called "The Life and Works of Jane Austen" which is supposed to explore Austen and her novels minutely and give even Janeites a deeper understanding of both.  If I find this to be true, I'll want to reread each of the novels after the discussion.  We'll see how this pans out.

More Nonfiction

I love nonfiction.  I have an entire wall dedicated to nonfiction. Lately, though, it seems I love collecting it more than reading it. . .  (tsundoku anyone?)  I read the two books by Martin Edwards along with one memoir this past year, one history/biography in 2021, and one history/biography in 2020.  I don't intend to pressure myself, or feel guilty for reading fiction, but I do want to gently encourage myself to use that part of the brain that feeds on nonfiction books.

A small portion of my nonfiction wall.