Monthly Archives: April 2012

Olaf Olafsson, “Restoration”

Posted on April 29, 2012 by carolwallace

The soldiers fled into the sea of corn in an attempt to hide, but they were plainly visible to us and we knew they would be to the pilots too. It was a terrible sight; they crawled, trying to save … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Edith Wharton, “The Custom of the Country”

Posted on April 27, 2012 by carolwallace

It took Jonathan Franzen to draw my attention to the symmetry among the titles of Edith Wharton’s three big New York society novels: The House of Mirth, The Custom of the Country, and The Age of Innocence.  Franzen also tries … Continue reading →

Posted in classic | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Peter Robinson, “Before the Poison”

Posted on April 26, 2012 by carolwallace

Am I the only reader who finds Peter Robinson’s books a little dull? Heaven knows I’m a faithful fan of the standard English procedural murder mystery. Add flashback material that takes us into wartime Yorkshire and you’d think I’d be … Continue reading →

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Ruth Reichl, “Tender at the Bone”

Posted on April 24, 2012 by carolwallace

You know those books that you always know you’ll read eventually? Tender at the Bone was one of those for me.  I’ve enjoyed Ruth Reichl’s writing ever since she became the restaurant critic for the New York Times in 1993, … Continue reading →

Posted in best seller, memoir | Tagged | 2 Comments

Jill Ker Conway, “The Road from Coorain”

Posted on April 18, 2012 by carolwallace

Why do we read memoir anyway? Whose life is interesting enough to, well, deserve that I should spend several hours on it, instead of alphabetizing my spice cupboard or for that matter, writing my own memoir?  Who is going to provide … Continue reading →

Posted in memoir | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Charlotte Rogan, “The Lifeboat”

Posted on April 9, 2012 by carolwallace

Well, I just finished Charlotte Rogan’s The Lifeboat and I am really glad I have no plans to leave dry land any time soon. Even the river outside my window is looking somewhat menacing. But come to think of it, so … Continue reading →

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Elizabeth Taylor, “Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont”

Posted on April 8, 2012 by carolwallace

The cover of the Virago edition of Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont shows Rupert Friend wearing a modish blue muffler, with his head tossed back as he roars with laughter, and Joan Plowright (also mufflered, though hers is pink) in … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments