What Are You Reading? September 2012

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Sat September 22nd, 2012, 10:30 pm

I'm still reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and spending a lot of time scratching my head and wanting to smack Mrs. de Winter. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this, what am I missing?

lauragill · Post by **lauragill** » Sat September 22nd, 2012, 11:22 pm

I'm reading David Gemmell's Troy: Shield of Thunder, and chuckling at the antics of Kalliades and Banokles.

Berengaria · Post by **Berengaria** » Sat September 22nd, 2012, 11:59 pm

[quote=""Brenna""]I'm still reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and spending a lot of time scratching my head and wanting to smack Mrs. de Winter. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this, what am I missing?[/quote]
Mrs. Danvers.....and the suspense that builds, and a twist....keep reading!

DanielAWillis · Post by **DanielAWillis** » Sun September 23rd, 2012, 1:08 am

Just finished In the Blood: A Genealogical Crime Mystery. It was actually quite good. The general concept is that the hero, genealogist Jefferson Tayte is trying to solve a family mystery from the early 1800s but finds himself in danger and the middle of a present-day myster related to the 200 year old one.

It appears this is going to be a series. #2 is now available. I just douwnloaded it and will try to get to it some time this week.

annis · Post by **annis** » Sun September 23rd, 2012, 2:34 am

Just finished the second in Simon Scarrow's YA Gladiator series, Streetfighter. A good read and perfectly pitched for the 11-15 year old male readership.

Have now started Charlotte Betts' second romantic historical novel The Painter's Apprentice set around the 17th century Glorious Revolution in England. Another enjoyable read from the author of The Apothecary's Daughter.

Reading in between M C Beaton's School for Manners series- good fun- she specialises in delightfully quirky characters and uses a lightly ironic touch to gently send up the Regency romance.

rebecca · Post by **rebecca** » Sun September 23rd, 2012, 4:08 am

[quote=""Brenna""]I'm still reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and spending a lot of time scratching my head and wanting to smack Mrs. de Winter. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this, what am I missing?[/quote]

I am with Berengaria keep reading. I found the writing style a little dated and the never named new Mrs de Winter a little annoying, but the real villain in my eyes has always been Maxim de Winter and ofcourse the obsessed Mrs. Danvers.

Bec

Nefret · Post by **Nefret** » Sun September 23rd, 2012, 4:40 am

Finished The Red Queen (rather, skipped to the end), now I'm reading Lady of the Rivers.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Sun September 23rd, 2012, 10:36 am

[quote=""Brenna""]I'm still reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and spending a lot of time scratching my head and wanting to smack Mrs. de Winter. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this, what am I missing?[/quote]

Yes the writing style probably does seem a bit dated nowadays to us modern gals

and it is a bit slow to start off with; it does build up and it's worth hanging on for the splendidly sinister Mrs Danvers and her machinations and plotting which leads to poor Mrs de W putting her foot in it - you'll see!

I agree Mrs de W is a bit wet, even allowing for the type of life she'd had before she met Maxim, but bear in mind that both he and Mrs Danvers were very intimidating. And you never do find out what Mrs de W's first name is, it's one of the things that the book is famous for.

Hope you enjoy it as it all starts to unfold!

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Sun September 23rd, 2012, 11:37 am

I loved Rebecca and I love DduM's style of writing - I must be an old-fashioned girl! LOL. I agree about Mrs Danvers or 'Danny' as Jack Favell refers to her as. Have you seen any of the adaptations, Brenna?

Ariadne · Post by **Ariadne** » Sun September 23rd, 2012, 4:41 pm

I recently finished Mary Sharratt's Illuminations, literary biographical fiction about Hildegard von Bingen. It's out in October. It was fantastic - gave a real feel for the place/period (and kept the story moving, even with Hildegard living in an anchorage with her half-mad teacher/mentor for 30 years before being granted more freedom). What circumstances she had to endure. I'll be doing an interview with the author for my blog.