Updating the To-Be-Read Pile

As well as lots of new books in stock I have lots of new books in of my own. With a birthday in the Christmas break and friends and family knowing I can't get enough of those old fashioned book things - well, I tend to get given books like other people get bubble bath.

First up is Blackmoor by Edward Hogan. This wasn't a present; it was a library book. I acquired it on a day when I went into the library to return something for my daughter. I was not going to get any books out for myself. No, not me. I had over twenty new books as presents and so I was not going to look. I didn't look. I glanced. I was using the new automated machine for returning books and there on the shelf were you deposit the returned items was Blackmore. With a glowing review by Hilary Mantel on the front. I was lost. And I am so glad I was because when I got it home I read it in two sittings and it was fabulous. A review soon ...

 

Next is one I dropped a few hints for (there are several of these, Mr J is very receptive to book hints) Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. I was put off Steinbeck at school doing Of Mice and Men. I can't blame the teacher - I was the teacher. Seriously when you've taught a book over and over, and, worse, marked literally hundreds of C/D borderline GCSE papers on it in eight years as an assistant examiner, then you get a bit fed-up. Rob-Around-Books persuaded me to try Steinbeck again and in a twitter discussion with Rob, Kieron from the Book Depository and stujallen, Cannery Row came up as the best bet for my reintroduction. One I am looking forward to reading.

Another day on twitter, another book. This time I follow the author (it pays to tweet!) and since I have been following QuackWriter aka Caroline Rance, I have wanted to read Kill-Grief her eighteenth century historical novel. "Chester 1756: Mary Helsall starts a job as a nurse entering a world of stench and sickness where her caring duties are at odds with her impatient nature. She seeks solace in gin and a volatile relationship with hospital porter Anthony. But when a diseased beggar arrives for treatment, it becomes clear that he knows Mary has a lot to hide."

The reviews on Amazon for Kill Grief are as soaked in 5 stars as Rance's characters are in gin.

Another day, another Vampire. Not that I am getting completist about vampire fiction you understand. At least I hope not, there's just so much of it. This time it is a Victorian vampire The Blood of the Vampire by Florence Marryat. This a new edition by the wonderful Victorian Secrets. It is edited with an introduction and notes by Greta Depledge and looks the business as academic editions go. "The Blood of the Vampire (1897) was rather overshadowed by a certain Transylvanian Count who made his debut in the same year.  Although there are similarities with Dracula, Marryat’s vampire is female and drains her victims’ life force, rather than their blood."

And lastly, for today's round-up at least, is a present bought without the aid of either twitter or vampires. Miss Miles: A Tale of Yorkshire Life 60 Years Ago Ago is by Mary Taylor, feisty friend of Charlotte Bronte. I have yet to make a start on the actual novel but the introduction by Janet H. Murray is fascinating.

Comments

[Mystica]

I love the sound of that last one.