November 2010: What Are You Reading?

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sun November 21st, 2010, 6:00 am

I started reading Maria McCann's new novel, The Wilding, last night, and am already about 3/4 of the way through. It's quite different from As Meat Loves Salt, but just as compulsively readable. The general style and tone reminds me a bit of a Brontë novel. I had to special-order a copy from Powell's, since it hasn't been published in the U.S. yet.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Sun November 21st, 2010, 11:13 am

I really enjoyed The Wilding, Margaret.

annis · Post by **annis** » Sun November 21st, 2010, 4:32 pm

Yes, there is is almost a gothic flavour to The Wilding, isn't there?

Miss Moppet · Post by **Miss Moppet** » Sun November 21st, 2010, 5:49 pm

[quote=""Amanda""]Felt I had to share this quote from the book, a small factoid in the margin:

"Shortly before Louis XIV died in 1715, a new ordinance decreed that faeces left in the corridors of Versailles would be removed once a week."

[/quote]

Does she give a reference, Amanda? Would love to know, that is if you still have the book.

I'm still reading Les yeux jaunes des crocodiles, enjoying it but can't seem to find much reading time lately. I want to get on with it because I have The Darling Strumpet waiting for me after that.

cw gortner · Post by **cw gortner** » Sun November 21st, 2010, 8:14 pm

[quote=""annis""]Yes, there is is almost a gothic flavour to The Wilding, isn't there?[/quote]

Ooh, this sounds like another for the list. I have her first novel but I haven't read it yet. I should, because I've heard marvelous things about it. I checked to see but it doesn't appear as if this latest book has a US deal yet.

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Sun November 21st, 2010, 9:59 pm

[quote=""cw gortner""]Ooh, this sounds like another for the list. I have her first novel but I haven't read it yet. I should, because I've heard marvelous things about it. I checked to see but it doesn't appear as if this latest book has a US deal yet.[/quote]

C.W I finished the House at Riverton last night and I have to say it is every bit as good as the Forgotten Garden. As an American, I can say I had no problem with how the Americans were portrayed in this novel, especially the family on tour-happens almost everytime I travel to a historic place. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Sun November 21st, 2010, 11:46 pm

I started Giles Tremlett's Catherine of Aragon bio today. Very well written and interesting. Only quarrel I have is that you have to get online to see the endnotes, which is annoying if you're not by a computer!

Susanna Kearsley · Post by **Susanna Kearsley** » Mon November 22nd, 2010, 12:08 am

[quote=""cw gortner""]Oh, I remember loving Costain's The Moneyman. I still have it in a box downstairs, a handsome first edition with an engraving on the flyleaf covered with that pretty semi-transparent rice paper. I wish they still made books like that. I also read his Below The Salt and novel on Attila the Hun, but I don't remember them as well.[/quote]

I also have The Moneyman on my shelf -- if High Towers doesn't improve I may have to try that one, instead.

And I've heard good things about Below The Salt. So perhaps there's hope, yet...

cw gortner · Post by **cw gortner** » Mon November 22nd, 2010, 1:48 am

[quote=""Brenna""]C.W I finished the House at Riverton last night and I have to say it is every bit as good as the Forgotten Garden. As an American, I can say I had no problem with how the Americans were portrayed in this novel, especially the family on tour-happens almost everytime I travel to a historic place. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did![/quote]

Good to know! I'm starting it tomorrow; I have 10 more pages of Heresy to go.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Mon November 22nd, 2010, 2:37 am

Just started Adam Gopniks Angels and Ages (non fiction), about Lincoln and Darwin (I didn't realize they were born on the same date!). I loved his books about living in Paris, and this one looks quite promising.