Monthly Archives: March 2012

Penelope Lively, “How It All Began”

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

Charlotte got mugged. Broke a hip. Had her purse nicked, but that was incidental. It was ending up flat on her back, then on crutches, that got the whole ball rolling. Oh, isn’t it fun to go along for the … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, contemporary fiction | 7 Comments

Elizabeth Taylor, “Angel”

Posted on March 28, 2012 by

Why is it that we so enjoy reading about monstrous characters? In the early pages of Angel, I was thrilled/appalled by the behavior of fifteen-year-old Angelica Deverell — but definitely more thrilled. In fact I’d been anticipating reading Angel for … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, classic | Tagged | 1 Comment

Frances Osborne, “The Bolter”

Posted on March 22, 2012 by

I didn’t want to like Idina Sackville, the “bolter” of the title. How could I? On page 18 of the book is a heartbreaking photo of two little boys, Idina’s sons Gerard and David, whom she left in their father’s … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, biography | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Julie Orringer, “The Invisible Bridge”

Posted on March 21, 2012 by

The Invisible Bridge is historical fiction at its best. Take an eventful moment; invent some appealing characters; figure out how to describe what happens to them and what you think of it. Then tell the story in a compelling way. … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction | Tagged | 2 Comments

Beth Gutcheon, “Gossip”

Posted on March 15, 2012 by

Oh, heaven — a Beth Gutcheon novel narrated by a woman who runs a Madison Avenue boutique. I really don’t think there’s a writer working today who is as good on women’s clothes as Gutcheon: not just what they look … Continue reading →

Posted in contemporary fiction | Tagged , | 4 Comments

John Fowles, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”

Posted on March 14, 2012 by

It’s a good thing the second-hand book store in my neighborhood didn’t open until I was truly hooked on electronic reading; I calculate that I’ve saved something like eight running yards of shelf space in the last 3 years by … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, best seller, historical fiction | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Suzanne Collins, “The Hunger Games”

Posted on March 13, 2012 by

Sometimes you just need to get on the bandwagon. A couple of years ago one of my nieces persuaded me to read Twilight, which I greatly enjoyed, so when she urged me to give The Hunger Games a try, I didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in best seller, contemporary fiction | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Excerpt: To Marry an English Lord

Posted on March 6, 2012 by

Those clever folk at Workman Publishing have made it possible for you to read an excerpt of To Marry an English Lord. Which they have reprinted with the gorgeous cover below. Her Majesty is my own enthusiastic addition.  

Posted in anglophilia | 7 Comments

Deborah Crombie, “No Mark Upon Her”

Posted on March 1, 2012 by

What is it with these pretentious mystery titles, anyway? Is there a formula I’m not privy to? Does the title have to somehow signal “murder mystery?” Why couldn’t this perfectly fine novel simply have been called “Death on the Thames?” … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, mystery | Tagged | 2 Comments