Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Wishes

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

Today's Top Ten Tuesday top is "Bookish Wishes", with the instructions to list the top ten books you wish you owned.

These five are some of my newest wishes:

The Jane Austen Escape Room Book by Marjolein Bastin (2023)

This illustrated book supposedly combines the characters of Pride and Prejudice with puzzles to solve, with Bastin's gorgeous artwork.  I'm intrigued!

The World Cloud Classics edition of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925, 2022)

Mrs. Dalloway is among my top favorite novels, and the World Cloud Classics editions are so gorgeous, that this was love at first sight for me.

The Word Cloud Classics edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll (1871, 2016)

The situation is exactly that of Mrs. Dalloway -- a favorite book, a gorgeous edition.

The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler (2013)

I have another volume edited by Penzler (The Big Book of Female Detectives) which, while I haven't completely finished,  I have thoroughly enjoyed.  As I love holiday mysteries, I'd love to have this one sometime.

One Pair of Hands: Upstairs and Downstairs, Seen Through the Eyes of an Ex-Debutante Turned Cook by Monica Dickens (1939)

One reading of the title, which says it all, and my interest was totally piqued -- it raises so many questions!

While these five have been on my list the longest:

These two are from the Furrowed Middlebrow imprint of Dean Street Press, which I wish-listed in 2018.  I don't even know what they are about, but I've loved all I have discovered via this publisher, and am eager to try new ones.

Lastly are three short story collections, edited by Martin Edwards, from the British Library Crime Classics series.  They've also been on my list since 2018, about the time I fell in love with the BLCC

  

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Top Ten Tuesday: Audiobook Narrators

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

Today's Top Ten Tuesday top is "Top Ten Audiobook Narrators".  I listen to an average of 60 audiobooks a year, and believe me, I have definite preferences. I don't have ten favorites, but these six have never disappointed me. 

Hugh Frasier

My number one, hands-down favorite is Hugh Frasier.  He gives charming performances of Agatha Christie's mysteries and I simply love him. 

Timothy West, CBE

Well-known British actor Timothy West could almost oust Frasier as my favorite.  His stellar performance of Trollope's Palliser series just knocked my socks off.  (I get equally excited when I see him in a movie or British TV episode.)

Jenny Sterlin

Another firm favorite is immensely talented Jenny Sterlin.  I loved her narration of Diana Wynne Jones' Howl series, but she really shines reading the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. Kng.

Gerard Doyle

Gerard Doyle is a definite favorite.  I don't think I would have loved Mark Hodder's Burton and Swinburne series nearly as much without his distinctive voice.

Lucy Scott

Lucy Scott (most known for her portrayal of Charlotte Lucas in the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice) gives wonderful performances, both with British accents and American.

Joanne Froggatt

Joanne Froggatt of Downton Abbey fame is a fantastic narrator, and is especially good at emotional content.

Barbara Rosenblat

Barbara Rosenblat is just plain fun.  Her witty delivery of the Vicky Bliss series by Elizabeth Peters kept me laughing out loud, and I'm always glad to see her listed as narrator.

Special Mention:
Joe Mantegna gets special mention.  I've never listened to a book narrated by him, but my husband found his performance of The Godfather to be perfect.

Least Favorite:
And lastly, I have to be mean and mention the one I absolutely hate: Xe Sands. If I see that she has narrated a book, I simply do NOT get it, no matter how much I want to read it.

How about you?  If you listen to audiobooks, do you have any favorites?

Top Ten Tuesday: Non-Bookish Freebie

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

Today's Top Ten Tuesday challenge is a non-bookish freebie, to encourage book bloggers to share a bit more about themselves.  I've already got a "Ten Tens About Me" page, so I went through previously taken photos to see if I could find ten that represent me.

I am a Christian.

I love stationery supplies nearly as much as books.

The daisy is my favorite flower.

Pink and green are my favorite colors.

I'd rather eat fruit than just about anything.

I love small toys.

I have a cat, St. John, who fills my life with joy.

Cross stitching is my favorite hobby.

I absolutely love keys.

Winter is my favorite season.

So, how about you?  Do we share any favorites or have anything in common?

Top Ten Tuesday: Animals

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

 

Today's Top Ten Tuesday challenge is to post ten books with animals on the cover or in the titles.  I narrowed this down to books in my personal library, so that I could post my own photos, and came up with five on the cover and five in the title.

Aesop's Fables by Aesop (6th Century BC)

This was a obvious choice, especially since I have such a gorgeous edition!  

Complete Tales and Poems by Edgar Allan Poe (published between 1827 and 1849)

How could a collected edition of Poe's stories NOT have a raven on the cover? 

The Loved One: An Anglo-American Tragedy (1948) by Evelyn Waugh

Waugh is a master of the satire, and this short novel about pet morticians is a prime example.  His black humor won't be for everyone, but I find him fantastic. (It's hard to see from this photo, but there are statues of both a cat and dog on the cover.)

Unexpected Magic (2004) by Diana Wynne Jones

Jones wrote delightful fantasy for children and adults.  I prefer her novel-length tales, but her short stories are still well worth reading.

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

More famous for his textile designs, Morris was also an author of poetry, novels, and essays, whose fantasy influenced the modern genre.  I've not read this one, though I have read and enjoyed The Well at the World's End (1896).

The Tiger in the Smoke (1952) and Cargo of Eagles (1968) by Margery Allingham

The Tiger in the Smoke is my favorite of Allingham's mystery/adventure novels.  It was moving, tense, and well-written.  I can't remember anything about Cargo of Eagles, and though I thought I'd read all her Campion stories, I'm not certain that I did read this one.  (Don't you just love these Penguin editions?!)

Three Blind Mice and Other Stories (1950), The Under Dog and Other Stories (1951), and Cat Among the Pigeons (1959) by Agatha Christie

Dame Christie wraps up the list with three of her later mysteries.  I don't remember much about the two collections, but found Cat Among the Pigeons to be a five-star read.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish People I'd Like to Meet

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is  a "bookish people I'd like to meet", with the instructions to pick authors, characters, bloggers, or anyone related to the bookish world.   

no caption needed

Characters:

• Sherlock Holmes: First and foremost would be Holmes.  I would, no doubt, find him extremely irritating, but it's a risk I'm willing to take.
• Morrolan e'Drien: This is a character from Steven Brust's Dragaeran Empire novels, both the Vlad Taltos series, and others.  He is a layered character, with much history and equal amounts of charisma, pride, and personality.  
• Brother Cadfael: Ellis Peters created such a wonderful character with this humble, wise, worldly, and kind monk.  I'd love to spend an hour chatting in his herb garden.
• Allan Quatermain: H. Rider Haggard's adventurer is a surprisingly multi-faceted character with a tragic past, a great deal of valor and a strongly likable personality.  
• Henry V: I don't mean the historical King Henry, though I'm sure he was a fine fellow, but Shakespeare's creation.  It's my favorite of the Bard's plays, because of Henry's charm, magnetism, valor, and open, raw emotions. 

a young John Donne

Authors:

• John Donne: (1572-1631) His romantic poems are to die for, but his metaphysical religious sonnets are just as impressive.  I fully believe that his intellect and wit would have made him a highly agreeable conversationalist.
• George MacDonald: (1824-1905) I have so many questions about his two allegories, Lilith and Phantastes!
• Angela Thirkell: (1890-1961) It would be fun to hear vignettes of her interesting life, but her snarky, sly humor would be the major draw.
• C.S. Lewis: (1898-1963) Another witty intellectual, Lewis must have been an amazing person to know.  Plus, I'd like to get some answers about parts of Till We Have Faces.
• James Burke: (b.1936) This may be bending the rules a bit, as he's a published science historian, and not exactly "bookish", but I am such a fangirl that I must include him in any list of people I'd like to meet.  He is witty, funny, and intelligent, and I know dinner with him would be a blast.  

Top Ten Tuesday: Mystery Writers

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is  a "genre freebie", with the instructions to pick a genre and build some sort of a list around it.  Mysteries are pretty much my favorite books to read, a fondness that started in early preteen years with Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, and has never taken a back seat to any other genre.  I have a preference for British crime novels over those taking place in the U.S., but there are still some American authors I enjoy.  Here's a list, in no particular order, of some favorites.

• Arthur Conan Doyle: The Holmes stories can be brilliant and thrilling, and Holmes himself is such an appealing character.  He was (and remains) my first literary crush, and these tales were the first grown-up mysteries I ever read, as a young preteen.  The first collection, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, contains my favorite stories, "A Scandal in Bohemia, "The Man with the Twisted Lip" and, "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle".
• Agatha Christie: She's popular for a reason!  Her plots and twists can be amazing, though some of the later books suffer, to my mind, by trying to fit in with modern times. Hers were the second "adult" mysteries I read as a preteen and I've stayed faithful to her ever since.  She wrote some of my absolute favorites, including Murder on the Orient Express (1934), And Then There Were None (1939), Crooked House (1949), and A Pocketful of Rye (1953).
• Dorothy L. Sayers: Sayers produced intelligent, twisty, and entertaining mysteries, with The Nine Tailors (1934) being among my favorite mysteries of all time. That said, I have a strong dislike for Wimsey's love interest, Harriet Vane, and can't fully recommend those that feature her.  (For my discussion on Harriet, read this post.) 
• Margery Allingham: Oh how I love Albert Campion!  He's second only to Holmes as a literary crush.  Allingham's books are often more adventure than mystery, but they are generally extremely fun and often memorable.  While favorites include The Fashion in Shrouds (1938), Traitor's Purse (1941), and The Tiger in the Smoke (1952), I recommend the series (read in order) wholeheartedly -- with the exception of The Crime at Black Dudley. Campion plays only a bit part in that one, and it will really only be of interest to the true Campion fan.
• Ngaio Marsh: Marsh's early books are good, some of them fantastic.  However, I find that from Spinsters in Jeopardy (1953) until the end of her career, the quality decreases and she fails at modernizing them. I certainly recommend the early ones, though;  Surfeit of Lampreys (1941) and Colour Scheme (1943) are particularly memorable.
• Mary Roberts Rinehart: This American author is responsible for many fun works of general fiction (When a Man Marries, 1909, springs to mind), but her mystery/suspense novels are even better.  Her first published book, The Circular Staircase (1908), for example is a fully entertaining five star read.  She was the originator of the "had I but known" plot, and woven into her witty prose and delightfully convoluted plots, it's an art. 
• Anna Katharine Green: Justly popular during her lifetime (1846-1935), Green is one of my favorite American authors.  She was among the first authors of the modern "detective story", wrote legally accurate fiction, and is often credited with creating the first "girl detective".  For those today that can appreciate novels with the particular mores of her time period, Green's mysteries are well-worth reading.  Some of my favorites are the three featuring Miss Amelia Butterworth: That Affair Next Door (1897), Lost Man's Lane (1898), and The Circular Study (1900).
• P. D. James: Her intelligent, engrossing mysteries are generally as memorable as they are excellent.  Cover Her Face (1962) and Original Sin (1994) are favorites, but I do not recommend her psychological thriller Innocent Blood (1980) due to a really icky bit at the end.
• Ann Cleeves: I only discovered Cleeves and her Vera Stanhope series in 2020, but she became an instant favorite.  Vera is totally believable, the plots are intricate and engrossing, and the writing is both intelligent and smooth.  Harbour Street (2014) is probably my favorite, but I recommend the entire series (read in order).
• Tana French: I didn't find French until 2019, but it was insta-love.  Her debut novel (Into the Woods, 2007) blew me away, and most of her other books have created similar reactions.  French excels at creating an uneasy atmosphere, drawing the reader deeply into the story, and writing endings that haunt.  Broken Harbour (2012) was another stunning one, though I recommend all of the Dublin Murder Squad series (read in order).

And one more. . .  
Laurie R. King: While the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes started off reading like fan-fiction, I was still hooked from book one because of Russell's personality and the closeness of King's Holmes to canon.  Her writing and plots continually improved until she has become a firm favorite.  I recommend the series -- it must be read in order -- and found Justice Hall (2002), The Murder of Mary Russell (2016) and the latest, Castle Shade (2021), to be five star reads.

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Heroines

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is "favorite heroines".  I'm a few days behind, but here we go! (These are not in any particular order.)

• Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.  What's not to love about spunky, good natured, generous-hearted, lovable Anne!  Watching her mature throughout the series is truly delightful.
• Anne Elliot from Persuasion by Jane Austen.  It's my favorite Austen book, and she's my favorite Austen character.  I admire her inner strength and good attitude.
• Miss Marple from various mysteries by Agatha Christie.  Nosey old lady on the outside, astute, intelligent observer on the inside; it's always fun to see how she makes connections and understands motivations.
• Mary Russell from the Russell and Holmes series by Laurie R. King.  As I've mentioned many times, I've been a Sherlock Holmes fangirl for nearly four decades now.  King writes Holmes well, and weaves in her immensely likable original character in such a natural way, that (though I started the series with low expectations) it quickly became a favorite series.  Mary is intelligent, courageous, and married to Holmes.  What more could you want?
• Vera Stanhope from the series of the same name by Ann Cleeves.  Vera is so real -- she's fallible and scarred, but still good-hearted and determined.  Plus, Cleeves is a masterful mystery writer.
• Fanny Price from Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.  This is my second favorite Austen novel.  Fanny is kind and soft-hearted, but still strong and stands up for her convictions.  I don't think this book or heroine gets enough love.
• Éowyn from the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.  Another feisty and brave heroine, determined to do what she feels is her duty.  
• Mina Harker from Bram Stoker's Dracula.  She endures a great trial and suffering, yet does not waver in her Christian faith, and exhibits a good deal of courage despite her fear.    
• Jo March from Little Women by Louisa Mae Alcott is another intelligent and courageous heroine, spunky and kind-hearted, and genuinely likable.
• the Lady Teldra from the Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust.  While not the main character of any of the Vlad novels, she plays an important part.  Her gentleness and bravery are admirable and she quickly became a favorite in the series.

Top Ten Tuesday: Dynamic Duos

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is "dynamic duos".  Here are ten recommended books/series featuring character pairs united by either love or friendship.

The Sherlock Holmes Series 

by Arthur Conan Doyle

This was the first duo that sprang to mind.  Holmes' friend Watson acts as balance for the consulting detective in these classic mysteries.  I'm a huge fan of these stories, and of the unlikely friendship between this pair.

The Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes Series 

by Laurie R. King

Though starting out like fanfiction, this series featuring Mary Russell and her partner (later husband) Sherlock Holmes has developed into a rich, addicting, and thoroughly enjoyable series.  I'm very picky about non-canon Holmes, but find King's interpretation to be nearly perfect.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The sweet friendship between Anne and Diana is a central component, as well as part of the charm of this wonderful book.  I highly recommend it, and the entire series, for adults as well as the recommended middle-grade readers.

The Burton and Swinburne Series by Mark Hodder

This entertaining, complex (and sometimes baffling), steampunk series features fictional versions of two famous Victorians: the poet Algernon Swinburne, and my historical crush, the multitalented explorer, author, and scholar Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton. Alternate history, steampunk fantasy, and excellent world-building combine to create engrossing reading.

The Albert Campion Series by Margery Allingham

His manservant, Magersfontein Lugg, sometimes assists (sometimes hinders) Campion in many of his escapades.  While these books are often called mysteries, they are usually more adventure than puzzle.  Allingham writes well, and the books are generally a good deal of fun.

The Vlad Taltos Series by Steven Brust

In this excellent, clever, and hard to describe fantasy series, the (anti-)hero, Vlad Taltos, has a winged reptile familiar named Loiosh, without whom he would never survive his adventures.  This series is well-written, complex, and completely entertaining, with an unforgettable world. 

The Rincewind Novels in the Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett

This outstanding series can be subdivided into novels featuring certain characters, one of which is the wizard Rincewind and his sentient trunk known as the Luggage.  It's impossible to explain these two without recounting the books, so suffice it to say that this series is fantastic, and Rincewind and the Luggage quite the duo.

The Jeeves and Wooster Series by P.G. Wodehouse

It's hard to find a more entertaining duo than these two.  Jeeves, Bertie's manservant, pulls him out of one scrape after another, all the while maintaining a cool head and perfect demeanor.  These books are pure fun and I recommend them highly.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

This memorable YA novel is moving, gripping, and excellently written. Here is my full review.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

This charming, fun, and unforgettable fantasy features an ordinary young woman, Sophie, becoming a housekeeper of sorts for a most uncommon wizard, Howl.  I reread it in December 2020 and loved it as much as I had the first time.

Top Ten Tuesday is a long-running weekly blog prompt, currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection

(I'm a couple days late with this one) 

Tuesday's Top Ten Tuesday topic was "most recent additions to my book collection".  I was rather prudent in 2021, and these are all I can remember buying.

Books 1-5  These are a set of Penelope Fitzgerald's novels in matching editions: The Bookshop, Offshore, the Gate of Angels, the Golden Child, and the Blue Flower.  I read the Bookshop years ago, and remember liking it, so when I saw these at our local used bookstore, I grabbed them all.

Books 6-9  I've been a fan of George MacDonald, one of C.S. Lewis' inspirations, since high school and have a few really nice editions of his work.  I found the Wise Woman at our local used bookstore years ago, but this year I discovered it was part of a set.  I was thrilled to find a reasonably price, lightly used, complete set on ebay in November.  They are each a collection of fantasy short stories.

Book 10 I read Britten and Brulightly years ago, and it wowed me.  I was reminded of it during a discussion of graphic novels and, after recommending it to a friend, decided I needed to buy a copy and reread it myself.

(Bonus: Book 11) The Oaken Heart is written by one of my favorite Golden Age mystery writers, Margery Allingham, and is the true account of her experiences in her small East Anglian village during World War II.  I've not read it yet, but I'm quite looking forward to it.

Top Ten Tuesday is a long-running weekly blog prompt, currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books of 2021

I read ten five-star books this year.  Here they are, in no particular order:

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

This is a charming coming-of-age novel, beautifully penned, with  memorable characters.  I've read it several times, and each time I am again amazed at just how good it is.

The Killer and the Slain: a Strange Story by Hugh Walpole

Excellently written, disquieting and moving.  My full review is here.

The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King

Intelligent, compelling, and well-written.  King's greatest strength lies in her ability to weave together canon Holmes with her own inventions, as she does marvelously here. 

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

This fantasy is smart, witty, geeky, and mostly incredible and, though not perfect, it's close enough.  My full review is here.

The Red Right Hand  by Joel Townsley Roberts

This classic mystery/thriller is a fantastic read, engrossing and impossible to put down!  My full review is here.

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers

This is one of my favorites of the Lord Peter mysteries.  It is clever, intelligent, and excellently written, with an engrossing, memorable, and moving plot.  

Crooked House by Agatha Christie

It's well-plotted, presents an extraordinary surprise, and the pieces fit together well.  I highly recommend it!

Jutland Cottage by Angela Thirkell

As is always the case with her novels, this one is a charming, gentle read with genuine wit and a bit of snark. (Note: This series must be read in order.)

The Mingham Air by Elizabeth Fair

This delightful, witty novel is filled with excellently-drawn characters, believable situations, and intelligent prose.  My full review is here.

Resorting to Murder: Holiday Mysteries

edited by Martin Edwards

This is a wonderful collection of (mostly) Golden Age mystery short stories, with a wide variety of situations by an equally diverse set of authors.  My full review is here.

Bonus:

I discovered Abir Mukherjee's Sam Wyndham series this year and while I didn't give any of them a five star rating, I highly recommend these books.  Wyndham is a morally gray Detective Inspector stationed in Calcutta during the 1920s. In generally, this series is excellently written, with beautiful descriptions, solid prose, and well-drawn characters.

Links to my full reviews:

A Rising Man 

A Necessary Evil

Smoke and Ashes

Death in the East

Top Ten Tuesday is a long-running weekly blog prompt, currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.