Despite still being in lockdown, or maybe because of it, the time is going so fast and already it’s time for another Bookshelf Travelling in Insane Times which is hosted by Judith Reader in the Wilderness.
Click on the photo to enlarge it.
When we moved house and I grabbed a spare bedroom as a room for some of my books I really thought that I would be able to have them all in alphabetical order but that hasn’t happened. I now realise that I only have some of my Rumer Godden books on these shelves, others are downstairs.
I think I’ve read most of the Georgette Heyer books, but I haven’t read The Talisman Ring yet. I might read that one next as I’ve just finished a Virago book. I have all of Heyer’s crime/mystery books, but they are all in a crime fiction bookcase elsewhere.
Kingmaker Divided Souls by Toby Clements was a gift from a friend who loved reading it, but didn’t want to hold on to it. It’s another Wars of the Roses book.
I totally forgot that I had this copy of The Scent of the Water by Elizabeth Goudge, another possibilty for my next read. I love the rather twee cover.
I’ve been using this meme to find forgotten books on my shelves, I used to keep unread books in piles on floors, but that got too untidy as inevitably they collapsed from time to time causing even more mess. But it did mean that I could see at a glance what was still in my TBR book queues. Have you read any of these books?
Since I have only read one Georgette Heyer book that is not a mystery (Frederica), I have plenty to catch up on. I loved Frederica, I think I will like others too. I have The Grand Sophy, and after that I will have to look for more.
I was initially going through boxes of books that I had not cataloged for this meme, and oncovering books I had forgotten about. I need to get back to that.
tracybham,
I’ve really enjoyed the ones I’ve read and apparently she really did her research so the history and the Regency slang is all authentic.
I’ve come to slight standstill with my cataloguing but need to get back to it so I can avoid buying doublers.
The Talisman Ring is great fun and one of Heyer’s best works. It’s just the right mix of adventure and humour and Heyer pulls it all off masterfully. I’d highly recommend starting with that one!
Claire,
I intend to read The Talisman Ring very soon, I even like the title.
Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment
Katrina
Katrina,
I have not read this Elizabeth Goudge title. I think my all-time favorite EG reading experience was The Child from the Sea, all 736 pages of it, published in 1970. Aunt Ruth, my mother’s oldest sister received it for Christmas 1970. She quickly devoured it and passed it along to me first and then my mother, and I fell head over heels for it. Such a fully landscaped, robustly imagined romance from the 17th century. I lived in a state of enchantment, each and every evening before bed, while I read it.
But I must read more Eliz. Goudge books, and will look up the one you’ve listed.
I’m also very interested in Kingmaker: Divided Souls. I’m going to list it. Would love to read a good novel from that time period.
Thank you!
(I’m so fed up with TRUMP, I can count myself among millions who would love to send him on a one-way trip to the outer regions of the solar system. He is destroying our country, step by decisive step. And he is demented. And evil.)
Judith,
I’m going to read that Goudge one soon, despite it not appearing on my 20 Books of Summer list!
I’m watching CNN at the moment while Trump is posturing with a bible, it’s all crazy. I expect all those tooled up right wing nutters to be joining in any minute!
By the way. Jack is taking part in Bookshelf Travelling now. https://jackdeighton.co.uk/2020/05/31/sf-bookshelf-travelling-in-insane-times-i/
One of my favourites near the left-hand end of the upper shelf: “Danger From Deer” by Vicki Baum. Memorable characters and descriptions.
Valerie,
I’m so glad you mentioned that as I was thinking I had read that one but I’ve checked and I haven’t, although I’ve really loved the Baum books I have read – Headless Angel, Results of an Accident and Berlin Hotel.
I haven’t read Georgette Heyer or Elizabeth Goudge since the 70’s and must revisit them sometime to see how the experience of reading them now compares to 40 years ago! If only the library was open and I could take armfulls home with me!
Seonaid,
I must admit I miss mooching around libraries but since their closure I have been able to whittle away at my own unread books. I think a lot of people have been re-reading Heyer after reading them as youngsters and they seem to love them just as much as they did originally. I like her crime fiction too, her dialogue is so witty. Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment.
Katrina