Ariadne's 2009 reading list

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Sun March 1st, 2009, 5:17 pm

My February reads:

Mistress Shakespeare, Karen Harper
Shannon, Frank Delaney
Blood Ties, Pamela Freeman
Death Was the Other Woman, Linda L. Richards
A Proper Education for Girls, Elaine diRollo
The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter, Mary Ellen Dennis

Now starting on Ian Buruma's The China Lover.

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Sun April 5th, 2009, 1:30 pm

March reads:

The China Lover, Ian Buruma
The Glassblower of Murano, Marina Fiorato
The Pirate's Daughter, Margaret Cezair-Thompson
Sea Change, Robert Goddard
Decision and Destiny: Colette's Legacy, DeVa Gantt
Palace Circle, Rebecca Dean
Wild Geese, Eilis Dillon
Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace, Kate Emerson
The Monsters of Templeton, Lauren Groff

diamondlil · Post by **diamondlil** » Sun April 5th, 2009, 8:47 pm

Can I ask for a general comment about what you thought about the DeVa Gantt book?

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Sun April 5th, 2009, 9:02 pm

The Gantt books are seriously addictive. Book 1 (A Silent Ocean Away) I read last year - it got better as it progressed, but the writing was uneven, as if the authors were still learning the ropes. The 2nd book was a significant improvement, but don't look for a lot of historical detail. I'll post my review on my blog as soon as I'm able.

diamondlil · Post by **diamondlil** » Wed April 8th, 2009, 12:56 pm

My library has got the first book on the catalogue but they are saving it for the new library branch, so I can't request it yet.

This is going to sound a bit silly, but I am a bit turned of by the first name DeVa. I know that it is because two sisters wrote together and it is an amalgamation of both their names, but I really don't like it. Important issue I know!

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Wed April 8th, 2009, 2:15 pm

[quote=""diamondlil""]This is going to sound a bit silly, but I am a bit turned of by the first name DeVa. I know that it is because two sisters wrote together and it is an amalgamation of both their names, but I really don't like it. Important issue I know!

[/quote]

Heh - it is an odd sort of "created" name, but it does stand out. If nothing else it may help people remember the books!

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Sun May 24th, 2009, 1:56 pm

I've been bad about updating this list. Here are my April and May (so far) reads:

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Marina Lewycka
Moloka'i, Alan Brennert
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Katherine Howe
The Personal History of Rachel DuPree, Ann Weisgarber
The Devil's Queen, Jeanne Kalogridis
Of Merchants and Heroes, Paul Waters
The House on Tradd Street, Karen White
Rooftops of Tehran, Mahmod Seraji
Twilight of Avalon, Anna Elliott
Untie the Winds, Jean Clark

Leyland · Post by **Leyland** » Sun May 24th, 2009, 1:58 pm

I enjoyed House on Tradd, but not sure I want to read any sequels. Your thoughts?

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Sun May 24th, 2009, 2:14 pm

It delivered what I expected based on the blurb (contemporary mystery with ghosts). Some characters were over-the-top quirky, but I enjoyed it and was intrigued enough by the ending, and its promise of another mystery, to want to read the sequel.

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Sun June 28th, 2009, 2:31 pm

Late May and June reads. I didn't have much time for reading this month.

Watermark, Vanitha Sankaran
Sacred Hearts, Sarah Dunant
The French Mistress, Susan Holloway Scott
A Separate Country, Robert Hicks (started last night)