bookish thoughts - May reads

floundering a bit over here

May was an odd month, reading-wise. I had in my head that it was particularly feeble, but then looking over the list of titles, there seems to be a pattern of extremes: the books I read were either brilliant or a bit crap. I mean, I say ‘crap’, but I don’t actually believe there’s such a thing as a crap book¹, just ones that we don’t really enjoy. It’s all a matter of taste, after all. Nothing was so terrible that I couldn’t finish it, let’s put it that way.

Anyway, let’s get stuck in.

War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

Still reading! I’m still ahead of the readalong and thoroughly enjoying myself. Interestingly, I read a chapter just the other day in which various nobles and social uppercrust-types were gathered together pontificating on the subject of providing troops/money to the Russian army and I had this weird time-slip moment because it described, almost exactly, the state of internet discourse. Which is to say, a lot of people shouting, trying to out-do one another, switching sides, trying to curry favour or just repeating what’s already been said but more loudly. In the end, no-one was listening to one another and no-one was saying anything terribly relevant.

And here’s me, thinking we’d reached an all-time species low.

The Summer House - Jenny Hale

I have absolutely no idea what made me pick this book up - I think someone may have suggested it? (my apologies, if someone here had recommended it). While I enjoy the romance genre, I’m realizing there are sub-genres of romance that I don’t really get on with. This might be one of them.

This is what I wrote in my reading journal:

I’m beginning to think I’m reading too critically, ie. too much like a writer who’s just finished editing a long novel. I’m feeling a bit jaded - and much of what I’m picking up these days is just so…meh. I literally feel nothing about this book.

This book is written by a best-selling author — clearly these books are very much well-loved and while, yes, it was all very pleasant, it just didn’t do a whole lot for me. I didn’t really connect with the characters; everything felt a bit too ‘easy’ as far as the romance went. The male lead just seemed a bit too….emotionally aware? I realize that probably says a lot more about me and my experiences than it does the quality of the story, but there you have it. Colour me jaded, I guess. 😒. (see above). I felt that things were just too predictable and convenient…the tropes and story beats were just too obvious. So, yeah, very lukewarm about this one. It might be a case of knowing how the magician does the tricks.

A Romance of Two Worlds - Marie Corelli

I actually started this one in April, but didn’t finish it until May. I was reading it on my phone, having got a copy from the Gutenberg Project and I’m not a fan of reading on my phone so I dipped in and out.

Now, this one is part of my deep dive into gothic literature. Marie Corelli is one of the most influential, and yet completely ignored, writers of her time period - outselling the combined works of her contemporary male authors - Arthur Conan Doyle, H.G. Wells and Rudyard Kipling. Naturally, I wanted to read the work of this much-ridiculed² and yet apparently very popular author. Much more research is required, but I decided to start with this, her debut novel.

Well.

I was immediately intrigued. It’s a first-person narrative and was quite compelling at the outset and I was motoring right along, firmly immersed in the world.

And then it took a sharp turn and veered right off the rails.

I think it was the first-person narrative that did me in - because, knowing what I knew about the author herself (not a lot), I floundered, wondering if she was just using the pretext of a novel to expound on her personal philosophies? I don’t want to do any spoiling, but a sizeable chunk of the novel gets devoted to a diatribe on the Electric Theory of Christianity, in the guise of ‘important papers’ given to the narrator by her mentor. I did my best but eventually glazed over and gave up, skipping on to the rest of the narrative. Unfortunately, that had really yanked me out of the story and all disbelief was irrevocably unsuspended.

I will try again with some of her others. But not yet. I’m shook.

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets - Eva Rice

Loved this one. Love, love LOVED IT.

It’s a coming-of-age/romance and both the setting and the characters are completely gorgeous. Set in 1950s England, it’s the story of Penelope Wallace and her fmaily as they emerge from the wreckage of WWII and enter a new era of life - personally, culturally, socially. There’s a crumbling ruin of a house (LOVE!), eccentric family, new friendships and loves. There’s a true sense of the world on the cusp of change and how that must have felt as a young person of the time. I just adored it - the innocence, the simplicity of life, all of it! *sigh*. It’s pure nostalgia of the very best kind. Gorgeously realized characters, superb setting, captivating storytelling…just brilliant. It will definitely be added to my pile of comfort reads.

Storm Front - Jim Butcher (audiobook)

After watching the single season of The Dresden Files on Tubi (?), I decided to revisit my audiobook collection of the books. It’s been a few years since I listened to these so it was enough time that the stories weren’t super familiar anymore. It takes me absolute AGES to get through an audiobook because I struggle to listen and do much else at the same time. I’ve taken to listening as I walk the dog or work in the garden - weeding or something equally mindless. Or else I’ll just sit for a half hour with a cup of tea.

Now, it must be said, I found these via recommendation from a friend, who mentioned them on the strength of James Marsters doing the narration. That’s all I needed to know (Team Spike 4EVA🤭 😆). The added bonus was that these turned out to be really entertaining novels.

Harry Dresden is a private investigator, but mostly he’s a wizard. These are a great combination of magic, folklore and hard-boiled style detective stories. This time around, I’m really appreciating the depth of detail in the magic system, as well as the story mythology. It’s wonderfully imagined world-building, plenty of action and adventure. Granted, some of it hasn’t aged terribly well - though some of that can go down to the hard-boiled detective style - and would probably go through some sensitivity edits nowadays. Still, that doesn’t detract (much) from the story.

This one is the first in the series, and while quite good, isn’t as good as some of the subsequent books. Spike, I mean, Mr. Marsters does an admirable job with the narrating though, again, gets better as the series continues.

The Small House at Allington - Anthony Trollope

This was a slow, luxurious read. What a beautifully analogue experience it was to be forced to slow right down in order to appreciate the language and style of this book. Much like Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell, which I read last year, this felt like a complete immersion in another world and I loved every minute of it.

As to the story itself, it quite turns the conventions of the time on their head, and that alone made it a delight to read. There isn’t a marriage for everyone, no blanket happy-ever-after. In fact, quite the disappointing opposite. Which, in and of itself, was a wonderful surprise - both to experience it, and to notice my response (sheepish bemusement). What I also found interesting, was the strength of will of the female characters - who refuse to be bullied or cajoled into anything by their male counterparts - not something you’d expect from the time period, where women had very little agency over their lives.

I can see why this novel might be polarizing — through the modern lens, Lily Dale might be criticized for her actions/inactions (sorry to be vague - don’t want to spoil!) but I personally find her an admirable character. She stands her ground, perhaps foolishly, yes³, but her self-loyalty ought not to be dismissed. I’ll definitely be adding more of Mr.Trollope’s work to my bookshelves.

Case Histories - Kate Atkinson

My current library haul/TBR is made up almost entirely of books from Kate at

Five Books For

. Last month, the list was made up of detectives/mysteries.

I thorougly enjoyed this - it was, quite literally, a page-turner. Three different crimes, somehow all connected, even by slight degrees, touched by the same policeman-turned-private investigator. It was very compelling, and so neatly woven together, I just had to keep turning the page to find out how it all came together. And come together it did, in a very satisfying way, with a couple of unexpected twists. It read like a kind of marriage between literary and mystery - not something I might have chosen on my own, but I’m very glad Kate suggested it.

So there we are - my May in books. Not a lot of books…one of them only a partial…but The Small House slowed me right down - which was lovely. A couple of clunkers, but those were balanced out by a couple of gems.

What about you? Read anything good, lately? I’m always open to recommendations, so please do share!

Right, there we are then, another month, another pile of books.

June is mostly populated by mysteries, as I mentioned, with a couple of exceptions…including book #3 of ACoTaR! Let’s see if the upward trajectory continues.

I’m looking at taking a bit of a break from regular posting over the summer. I’ve had some really lovely feedback already from folk who have read The House in the Hedge and so I’m turning my energies towards ruminating over my next book. I had thought to do some short stories, maybe a serialized piece for here, on Substack, but I think my time will be better spent focusing on novels for now. As such, the posting schedule will likely be erratic, possibly non-existent at times. I’ve got one more post in mind regarding What Happens Next with my writing plans so that will be next.

Either way, I have some exciting ideas percolating for the autumn so do stay tuned.

Until next time, whenever that may be,⁴

~m. xo

1. Obviously anything hateful, harmful and/or just plain evil, notwithstanding. And even those, I suppose, can offer some kind of insight into human nature (really reaching here but I try to walk the middle path when I can).

2. Ridiculed by the MALE critics of her time. Naturally.

3. I do believe she’d come around, given enough time

4. I’m going to keep up with the Sunday Scribble through the end of June, at least…