Jean Arthur
I am a voracious reader and normally have a pile of books next to my bed waiting to be devoured. I thought from time to time, I’d share with you what I’ve recently read.
Saplings by Noel Streatfeild
Streatfeild is best
known for her children’s books yet Saplings is definitely an adult novel. The story opens with a middle-class English family at the seaside on the brink of World War II and charts their disintegration through the war.The detailed portraits of the four children and the effect the war has on them, especially on the two eldest, are particularly striking and gut wrenching. I first became
acquainted with Streatfeild when I saw a painting of her at the National
Portrait Gallery in London. I am so happy to finally connect the image with her
writing. The book is a slow read at first but don’t be put off by that. It
picks up speed towards the middle and then rushes destructively along towards
the end.
Where Shadows Dance by C.S. Harris
Everyone has their junk
food version of books and mine is the historical mystery. I especially
enjoy series that I can follow year after year and Where Shadows Dance is the latest in one of my
favourite series. Sebastian St. Cyr is a dashing earl with a troubled family life who
is often called upon to track down killers in Georgian England. Here he deals with multiple murders
that seem linked to continental politics while arranging his upcoming marriage to his
archenemy’s daughter, Hero Jarvis, who's a pretty strong female character. A nice mix of mystery, intrigue, and romance. Loads of fun.
Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon
Commissario Guido Brunetti is a man with a strong
moral sense of right and wrong, which often leaves him at odds with the
corruption he finds while solving murders. Luckily, Brunetti has a loving
family who help to balance the horror of his cases. This time out in Drawing Conclusions, he
investigates the death of an old woman that leads him to explore the treatment
of the elderly and the abuse of women. The best thing about this book though and
the series is the setting—my beloved Venice. The scenes describing Brunetti's walks through the streets and over the bridges bring the city to life and make me long to return.
Off to read some more.
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