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The Sunday Salon


Sunday, Sunday, Yesterday after running a few errands, I went to Barnes and Noble to use up some gift cards from last Christmas and my birthday. I came away with:

Bride of Pendorric, by Victoria Holt. I read Mistress of Mellyn last year and loved it, so I’m looking forward to reading more by her.

The Russian Concubine, by Kate Furnivall. Historical fiction set in Russia and China in the early 20th century.

Fire From Heaven, by Mary Renault. A novel about Alexander the Great. I’m really trying to branch out in the historical fiction I read, and read more eras, and this book is sort of a part of that.

I spent most of this past week reading Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle, which is a 700-page novel, the first in a series, about the great Icini warrior queen (the author, Manda Scott, spells it Eceni, though I'm not sure why). It's excellent. My current read is The Fraud, by Barbara Ewing, which I bought in London last month on vacation. It’s a novel about a painter in mid-18th century London, and some very deep, dark secrets. The author is fond of run-on sentences, but I’m enjoying the story immensely.

Yesterday I went and counted all of the unread books in my possession—I have 46 of them, plus a few ARCs coming to me in the mail (I snagged Barbara Kingsolver’s The Lacuna through Vine, and I’m super excited about that; plus I was notified that I would be receiving a copy of Edward Rutherfurd's new book, which runs to 900-ish pages). Yikes. I really need to get cracking on my reading, don’t I? Right there is about four months' worth of reading. I only really have time for about three books a week, so I really need to be a bit selective when it comes to my reading choices. But I'll get there before long. So much to read, not enough time to do it in, you know?

Comments

I love the Boudicca series! I've read them all, they are fantastic.
Anonymous said…
Oh, Lord, run-on sentences. I've been too abused by reading Falkner in high school- it will be many a year before I can bring myself to read anything with run-on sentences again.

The Boudicca novel sounds fascinating. I think I'll put it on my list (book number 200 to read!).
Oh, gees. So I just counted my unread books on the shelves and I have an ungodly 174! Not to mention the 9 or so more coming in the mail from various giveaways. I think I have the sickness...
Frances said…
Oooo, I envy you that new Barbara Kingsolver. Lucky you. And I admire your willingness to admit that size of that stack in the waiting. My own will remain a secret. :) Happy reading!
Joanne said…
Love all of Victoria Holt's earlier writings - especially Mistress of Mellyn. You must read Kirkland Revels and The Secret Woman by Victoria Holt - my favs by her. Happy reading!
Marg said…
I really enjoyed Manda Scott's take on Boudica. Less impressed with the other book I read by her but that is okay.

I really enjoyed Kate Furnivall's book, but know others who didn't so I will be interested to hear what you think in the end.

My library pile is going down because I am returning books unread because I simply cannot possibly read the months and months worth of books that I have out, let alone the books that I have been buying/receiving.
Serena said…
still using up gcs from last christmas...wow! You have some serious willpower.

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