September 2022 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
No physical books were read this month, as I only played and cross stitched in my spare time.

Audio Books Completed:

The Duke's Children by Anthony Trollope (1880)  5/5 stars

This is the final book of Trollope's Palliser series and, in my opinion, the best. Despite it's length (21 hours/525 pages), I was engrossed throughout.  It is well-written, insightful, often humorous, and completely entertaining.  I was sorry to see it -- and the series -- end.

The Warden by Anthony Trollope (1855)  3/5 stars (my review here)

Elizabeth von Arnim

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster (1912)  4/5 stars

This novel is made up of the chatty letters of Jerusha ("Judy") Abbott, an orphan who is sent to college by an anonymous donor.  It's charming and humorous and, while light and short, is quite entertaining.  

Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim

(1898)  4/5 stars

This charming semi-autobiographical novel follows the titular Elizabeth over the course of a year as she journals about her garden, her family, her friends, and her daily life.  It's often funny, with a slyly tongue-in-cheek humor, which caused me to laugh out loud several times.  Though short, it's  engagingly written, memorable, and enjoyable.

Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley (1917)  4/5 stars

Spinster housewife Helen McGill buys a traveling bookstore -- wagon, horse, and dog included -- from the owner, Roger Mifflin, who is planning to retire to author a memoir.  Told in the first person by Helen, this short tale of her adventure is a charming, feel-good ode to books and readers. Despite the brevity and lightness, it's filled with vibrant characters and an engaging plot.  I absolutely loved  this little gem, from beginning to end. 

False Dawn by Edith Wharton (1924)   3/5 stars

This is the first novella in Wharton's "Old New York" series.  It's a rather dull story with flat characters and, while well-penned in other ways, is forgettable.

The Old Maid by Edith Wharton (1922)  3/5 stars

Though written first, this is the second novella in the "Old New York" series, and the best known/most popular. Wharton does portray the emotions and thoughts well, but the characters were cardboard and the plot predictable.  I found it underwhelming and disappointing, especially considering how highly lauded it is. (There are two more in the series, but I dreaded the thought of continuing.)

Legend in Green Velvet by Elizabeth Peters (1976)  3/5 stars

This escapade is illogical and unbelievable, but still a good deal of fun.  As is typical of Peters' adventure novels, it features a strong female protagonist with lots of history discussed; this one focused on Scottish history, and was quite interesting.  Overall, while it's just an average read, if one isn't expecting anything other than light enjoyment, it doesn't disappoint.

Elizabeth Peters

The Camelot Caper by Elizabeth Peters (1969)  3/5 stars

Jessica makes her first visit to England to meet her estranged grandfather, but finds herself involved in a dangerous mystery. This story is light, implausible, and not as well-written as Peters' later novels, yet it's easy to ignore the absurd and just enjoy the adventure.

Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters (1973)  4/5 stars

This is the first of a series featuring American art historian Vicky Bliss, and finds her following medieval clues to a potential lost masterpiece.  It's a fun and sometimes suspenseful adventure, with snappy dialogue, likable characters, and an entertaining, if improbable, plot.

Street of the Five Moons by Elizabeth Peters (1978)  4/5 stars

This is the second Vicky Bliss adventure, and she follows an excellent forgery to Rome in hopes of finding the culprit.  Again, it's a fun,  humorous and witty mystery-suspense, with likable characters and a fully entertaining, though not fully believable, plot.

Did Not Finish:
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope (1887)

I loved Trollope's Palliser series -- every one was a five-star book to my mind -- and yet the Barsetshire series has not grabbed me.  This is the second in the series (see above for book one) and I listened to several hours, but was simply not interested in story of the characters.  Maybe it is too soon after the Palliser books; maybe if I try again in a few years, I be struck by the Barsetshire novels.  For right now, though, I am extremely disappointed.

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

I absolutely loved Parnassus on Wheels (review above) and was excited to read this, the sequel.  Unfortunately, in the time lapsed between novels, Morley seems to have forgotten how he described his characters, for they lack many of their previous qualities and all of their dynamic personality.  I listened to a few hours, but could not care for anyone in the story, nor about the plot.  Such a disappointment.

The Warden by Anthony Trollope

The Warden 
Anthony Trollope
1855 
3/5 stars

Septimius Harding is an upright clergyman who is the devoted warden of a local charity.  John Bold, his young friend (and his daughter's suitor), becomes convinced that the charity is not being managed according the original intents, and involves Mr. Harding in the agony of a public debate.  

This, the first of the Chronicles of Barsetshire,  deals with a hot contemporary topic, and Trollope handles the subject well.  However, had this been the first novel I had read by him, it would probably have been my last.  Happily, I read the Palliser novels first (all six of which were five star reads for me), so I know what gems Trollope can write.  As it is, The Warden lacks the sparkle, humor, and charm of the Palliser books, and while still well-written, is not compelling.  Despite this, I will continue the series, in anticipation of great things to come.

Read as part of the Classics Club.  My explanation is here.

August 2022 Wrap Up

Florence L. Barclay

Thanks to more extremely long audio books, I don't have much to show for August.

Books Read:

The Rosary by Florence L. Barclay (1909)  4/5 stars

This Edwardian romance was a best seller in it's day and is an excellent example of the genre.  It will seem silly by today's standards, but I have read it several times and enjoyed the writing, the story, and melodrama.  

Audio Books Completed:

Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope (1874)  5/5 stars 

(24 hours/658 pages)

and

The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope (1876)  5/5 stars 

(26 hours/700 pages)

These are books four and five of Trolllope's Palliser series.  As with the previous three, they are excellent: well-written, engrossing, and completely entertaining.  

 

July 2022 Wrap Up

Lizzie Eustace 
illustration by J. Steeple Davis

I did not read any physical books in July.  My thoughts were only on Trollope's Palliser series and when I had reading time, I listened to those incredibly lengthy books instead of picking up anything else.

Audio Books Completed:

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope (1865)  5/5 stars (my review here)

Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope (1869)  5/5 stars (my review here)

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope (1873)  5/5 stars 

This, the third in Trollope's Palliser series, is another fantastic read.  It's the humorous, wry, insightful, and completely engrossing tale of Lizzie Eustace and the diamonds she swears were given to her by her late husband.  Trollope writes so well, creating believable flawed characters -- Lizzie, so unpleasant and yet so likable, is clearly the work of genius -- and highlighting the the hot topics of his time cleverly, in subtle but devastating light.  Despite being nearly 800 pages, The Eustace Diamonds is never slow or dull, and is my favorite of the series thus far.

Two by Anthony Trollope

Trollope

Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) was a prolific, successful, and as far as I'm concerned, excellent Victorian author.  I have intended to read him since I first began reading Victorian novels, but never did until this month.  I regret waiting so long!

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope (1865)  5/5 stars
It's hard to explain this lengthy (847 pages) Victorian novel, as it follows many characters and several plot lines.  Politics, various aspects of marriage,  mistakes both innocent and guilty, and the examination of contemporary morals and mores link together to form a deliciously meaty, completely entertaining, excellently penned experience.  I was smitten from the beginning, laughed out loud often, and enjoyed every minute of the 28 hour audio book.  It's not for everyone, of course, but those loving Victorian novels as I do should find it delightful.  

Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope (1869)  5/5 stars

Irishman Phineas Finn, a twenty-five year old law student in London, finds himself as a Member of Parliament, nearly by accident.  This novel follows him for five years as he rises in his new profession, falls in and out of love, and finds his moral mettle tested and proven true.  

Trollope is an excellent writer, creating believable characters and engrossing plots, while subtly examining burning issues of his times such as marriage, the role of women, and the working of politics.   While not as humorous as Can You Forgive Her? (the first in this series), and full to bursting with politics that I didn't always understand, Phineas Finn is a fantastic novel.  I thought about the book often when not reading it, and was completely involved all the way through the entire 23 hour audio book. 

(On a side note: Timothy West is an amazing audio book narrator, and gives such life to the characters in these two books.)

June 2022 Wrap Up

Books Read:

Before the Fact by Francis Iles (1932)
5/5 stars  (my review here)

The Honorable Algernon Knox, Detective by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1913/1920)  3/5 stars (my review here) 

The Zeppelin's Passenger or Mr. Lessingham Goes Home by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1918)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Amiable Charlatan by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1915)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Great Impersonation by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1920)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Ambrose Lavendale, Diplomat by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1920)  3/5 stars 
My review for this will be published later, paired with the Oppenheim thriller that I'm currently reading.

Audio Books Completed:

Armadale by Wilkie Collins (1866)  5/5 stars  (my review here) 

The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green (1878)  3/5 stars (my review here)

Did Not Finish:
The Golden Bowl by Henry James

I have thoroughly enjoyed James in the past, and was enjoying this one as well.  However, it's a rather dense and meaty book and I felt like I was missing a lot, and that it didn't work well on audio.  I own it, so I'm sure I'll read it at some point.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

I've read this several times, and listened to a few hours, but I just wasn't in the mood for tragedy.

The Inevitable Millionaires by E. Phillips Oppenheim

I've been on an Oppenheim binge of late, but this lighthearted story wasn't what I wanted it.  I dropped it and went on to a more serious novel of suspense and espionage.

The Leavenworth Case

The Leavenworth Case

Anna Katharine Green
1878
3/5 stars

Wealthy Horace Leavenworth is found murdered in his locked library. Naturally, his household is suspected, and evidence points to one of his nieces, Eleanor.

The narrator is a young lawyer, Mr. Raymond, who has no experience is mysteries or murders. The police detective, Mr. Gryce, enlists Raymond's help because he is a gentleman, and as such will be welcome in places that Gryce would not be. While Raymond hates the thoughts of playing spy, he has become extremely interested in protecting Eleanor's reputation, so agrees. 

The Leavenworth Case, Green's first published novel, is a well-penned mystery with appealing characters and a twisty plot, and did keep me guessing until the denouement. The deduction of the culprit, though, seems to rely more on guesswork than on clues shown to the reader.  Despite only deserving an average rating, it's an enjoyable read, not only for the story but for the picture of life among certain classes in the U.S. during the late nineteenth century.