November reading list

[myrna-nora.livejournal.com]

This Rough Magic (1964) - Mary Stewart
This is a new favorite of mine. An aspiring actress, Lucy Waring visits her sister's home on the Greek isle of Corfu. She learns that their neighbor is a famous Shakespearean actor, but his handsome and arrogant son discourages visitors. However after gunshots interrupt Lucy's swim in the bay, she is drawn into the danger and mystery surrounding the place. Lots of romance and suspense, The first kiss scene is fabulous! Love, love, love it!

The After House (1914) - Mary Roberts Rinehart
This was disappointing. It was a pretty short novel but I think it would have worked better as a short-story. There is the basic setup, most of the characters have little to no depth, then a series of murders and mysterious events occur on the yacht, then we waste several chapters in a court trial summarizing everything that just happened, and finally after one of the weirdest and weakest plot twists, the solution is pulled out of thin air.

The Canterville Ghost (1887) - Oscar Wilde
I've read this one quite a few times. Its a short story about a aristocratic British ghost trying desperately to haunt an American family, but they won't put up with any of his nonsense. It is very humorous and poignant.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000) - J. K. Rowling
I am up to book four of Harry's training as a wizard. He is the unwitting fourth contestant in the highly-dangerous Triwizard Tournament. I like the series a lot. I love the characters. And I am a little daunted that the length of the books substantially grow with each volume.

Splendor: A Luxe Novel (2009) - Anna Godbersen
This a series that pretends to be a historically accurate saga, but a modern-day soap opera in fancy dress seems a closer description. This is the last book of the series. (I just read it for the sake of completion.) I thought it was light silly read; lacking in substance. And a lot of the characters are really annoying.

The Circular Staircase (1908) - Mary Roberts Rinehart
After the disastrous The After House, I had to try another book by the same author. This is one I had previously read and liked 10 years ago. And I found that it did live up to my fond memories, except being a lot funnier than I remember. A hilariously sharp-tongued spinster rents a house in the country. There are a few creepy noises and suspicious happenings in the night and then they find the first dead body...

November Total: 6
2009 Total: 52

Comments

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

This a series that pretends to be a historically accurate saga, but a modern-day soap opera in fancy dress seems a closer description

Exactly! I suppose I should have known just from the covers - such remarkable un-period dresses, beautiful though they are - but I gave the books a try anyway, when it's really nothing more than Gossip Girl in turn-of-the-century New York high society. Oh well.

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Hm.. I think I might need to check out Circular Staircase!

[myrna-nora.livejournal.com]

I will admit to reading them for pretty covers and a good giggle.

[myrna-nora.livejournal.com]

It was fun page-turner and walk down memory lane for me. My only complaint is the words used to describe the characters of African descent --but that is a reflection of the time it was written and not of any hateful intentions.

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

I just checked it out so we'll see if I manage to read it before it's due!