Monthly Archives: January 2012

Anita Brookner, “A Misalliance”

Posted on January 31, 2012 by carolwallace

As I slogged my way through A Misalliance, I became increasingly aware of a déja vu sensation. Not only, I realized, had I read A Misalliance before — but it was this very book, read some 25 years ago, that … Continue reading →

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Mary Renault, “The Friendly Young Ladies”

Posted on January 29, 2012 by carolwallace

I grew up reading Mary Renault’s gripping historical novels about ancient Greece, especially the two Theseus novels, The King Must Die and The Bull from the Sea. So I was surprised when, at the library, I found a Mary Renault … Continue reading →

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Elizabeth George, “Believing the Lie”

Posted on January 26, 2012 by carolwallace

Oh, Elizabeth George. Bravely facing the challenge of trying to both satisfy her readers — who, after all, want more of the same — and keep herself interested. Possibly bored by the narrow confines of the traditional procedural mystery, and, … Continue reading →

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Julian Barnes, “Something to Declare”

Posted on January 25, 2012 by carolwallace

I tend to think of Julian Barnes as an all-English writer but I realize, that’s probably just because he used to rather famously play tennis with Martin Amis. (So very English!) But it turns out that Barnes is Francophone and … Continue reading →

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Julian Fellowes Likes Me: My “Downton Abbey” Saga Continues

Posted on January 25, 2012 by carolwallace

I posted recently about an article in the New York Times that discussed a current publishing craze for “Downton Abbey”-themed books. My brilliant and loyal friend Fred Bernstein got incensed that To Marry an English Lord wasn’t on the list, … Continue reading →

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Edith Wharton, “Old New York”

Posted on January 20, 2012 by carolwallace

When I was talking to Pat Ryan of the New York Times about this wonderful piece in that newspaper (commemorating Mrs. Wharton’s 150th birthday on January 24), I remembered Wharton’s marvelous series of novellas called Old New York, and realized I … Continue reading →

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Even More on “Downton Abbey,” This Time Adding Edith Wharton

Posted on January 19, 2012 by carolwallace

This week I spent some time chatting with Pat Ryan of the New York Times who was assigned to write a nifty story for the New York Times about some sites in New York that were reminiscent of Edith Wharton. … Continue reading →

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Jane Haddam, “Wanting Sheila Dead”

Posted on January 19, 2012 by carolwallace

I was a little bit disappointed by the last one of Jane Haddam’s books I read, the 2009  Living Witness. I’m delighted to report that Wanting Sheila Dead brought back what I so enjoy about Haddam’s novels: penetrating social analysis delivered … Continue reading →

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Bel-Ami Alert: Rob Pattinson Seduces in a Top Hat

Posted on January 18, 2012 by carolwallace

As I’ve already made clear, I’m pretty eager to see the film version of Guy de Maupassant’s Bel-Ami. It’s a book I love (serial seduction in 1885 Paris!) and the casting is delicious, with Robert Pattinson as Georges Du Roy … Continue reading →

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Ann Cleeves, “The Crow Trap”

Posted on January 14, 2012 by carolwallace

Say what you will about the decline of civilization, but I know some of you will agree that the ease of buying English murder mysteries in the U.S. is one material benefit of living in the 21st century. Ann Cleeves … Continue reading →

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