A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore...

Here’s a look at what’s come into my home recently: Amberwell, by DE Stevenson. Having read the two of her books that are in print, I was anxious to read more by her. It’s too bad that most of her books are out of print… Poison, by Sara Poole. An ARC of a novel set in 1492 Rome. The Sixth Surrender, by Hana Samek Norton. Another ARC; the novel is set in the early 13 th century. I’m most of the way through it now and the story really runs away with itself in the second half. Every Eye, by Isobel English. My Persephone for July. Some Bloomsbury Group classics: Henrietta’s War, Henrietta Sees it Through, Let’s Kill Uncle, Mrs. Ames, and the Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris/New York omnibus. A bunch of Virago Modern classics have forced themselves into my house over the past month or so: Diana of the Crossways, by George Meredith. The Edwardians, by Vita Sackville-West. The Enchanted April, by Elizabeth Von Arnim The Gentlewomen, by Laura Taylor The Land...

I’ve added much to the TBR list recently! What I’ve listed here is stuff that’s come into my house within the past few weeks—I have no self control! I recently discovered Virago books, so I apent a part of last weekend on ebay, looking to see what I could find. I walked away with: Frost in May, by Antonia White Invitation to the Waltz, by Rosamond Lehmann The Rising Tide, by Molly Keane And then I added about a dozen more Viragos to my wish list… Then this week I received a review copy of Great Maria, a reprint of the novel by Cecelia Holland. I enjoyed Jerusalem, so I jumped at the chance to read and review this one. I also received Juliet, by Anne Fortier, based around the Romeo and Juliet Legend. This is my LTER books from last month, so I need to get to reading it soon. Other purchases from the past couple of weeks: Lots of Dorothy Sayers Some more books in the Morland Dynasty series Shinju, by Laura Joh Rowland Nightingale Wood, by Stella G...

I haven’t done this in a while! As opposed to talking about books I’ve heard of, I thought I’d focus on the books I’ve bought and ARCs that have come into the house so far this month. I’m really trying to keep my book buying to a minimum, but it’s tough! I seem to be acquiring them faster than I read them. Claude and Camille , by Stephanie Cowell. One of my April books from Amazon Vine. Shadow Princess , by Indu Sundaresan. A novel set in 17 th century India; another Vine book. The Outcast , by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. Bought online yesterday; the 21 st book in the Morland Dynasty series. Airs Above the Ground and Thunder on the Right , by Mary Stewart. I got in the mood to read more of her novels, and these are the only two I didn’t own before. Clouds of Witness and The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club , by Dorothy Sayers. Another author I’ve been itching to read more of recently. Green Dragon, White Tiger , by Annette Motley. A novel set in 7 th ...

Oh, goodness. More to read, at some point! Mistress of Rome , by Kate Quinn. I was offered a copy of this by the publicist, and I decided to give it a try. It's about a slave girl from Judaea, during the Roman Empire. Mini-Shopaholic , by Sophie Kinsella. No description up on Amazon yet, but it looks as though this is a continuation of the Shopaholic series. Mrs. Tim of the Regiment , by DE Stevenson. I read Miss Buncle’s Book late last year, and I was excited to find that the Bloomsbury Group are reprinting another one of her titles. Wild Romance , by Chloe Schama. Heard about this through LTER, and requested it through the publisher. It’s fiction based upon a famous love affair and scandal from the 1850s; to be published in March. 31 Bond Street , by Ellen Horan. Mystery set in Victorian New York, to be published next month. I'm still trying to figure out how to snag a review copy of this! The Alchemy of Murder , by Carol McCleary. Mystery with Nellie Bly as the heroine; to ...

I haven’t done these is a while, have I? Here’s a selection fo books I’ve heard about recently: Spooky Little Girl , by Laurie Notaro. Her latest book, which is coming out in April. Don’t know too much about it, except that the subtitle is “a novel,” which is a departure from her usual collection of humor essays (though she’s written another novel as well). Testament , by Alis Hawkins. Timeslip novel that goes back and forth between the present day and the 14th century. Heresy , by SJ Parris. Historical novel that I’m receiving through the Amazon Vine program The Sheen on the Silk , by Anne Perry. A stand-alone novel set in 13th-century Constantinople; another Vine item. Hangman Blind , by Cassandra Clark. Mystery set in 14th century York. Same time period as Candace Robb’s Owen Archer series, but a totally different “detective.” The Creation of Eve , by Lynne Cullen. I’ve recently heard that I’ll be receiving an ARC of this. What have you heard about this week?

Oh, why can’t I stop adding books to my TBR list? Savage Lands , by Clare Clark. Set in 1704, featuring fledgling America. Coming out in February and acquired through Vine. The Dead Travel Fast , by Deanna Raybourn. Actually, since I read her blog, I’ve known about this book for a while, as Raybourn wrote and edited it, but it just came back on my radar recently. My Fair Lazy , by Jen Lacaster. Another book that looks to be promising, from one of my favorite humor writers. The House of Lost Souls , by FG Cottam. A novel of suspense and horror, featuring haunted houses and the like. What’s on your TBR list?

Some more TBR: The Heaven Tree Trilogy , by Edith Pargeter. I’m always on the lookout for good medieval historical fiction, and this seems to fit the bill. Gildenford , by Valerie Anand. Same as above; it’s a rare find, but I found a copy for under $10 on Amazon. Becoming Jane Eyre , by Sheila Kohler. Novel coming out at the end of the month about Charlotte Bronte. The Book of Fires, by Jane Borodale. Recently requested an ARC of this novel set in early 18th century England. A Hollow Crown , by Helen Hollick. Novel set in 11th century England. The product description on Amazon says that it’s about 500 pages; but my copy runs to over 800… Flush , by Virginia Woolf. A “biography” of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s spaniel, published by Persephone books. Small Wars , by Sadie Jones. I’m reading an ARC of this novel right now; it’s set in 1950s Cyprus.

So much to read, so little time to do it in, you know? Here’s what’s been added to my TBR list recently: Remarkable Creatures , by Tracy Chevalier. Historical fiction that’s coming out in the first week of the new year. I’m receiving this through Amazon Vine and I’ll be excited when it gets here—I’ve loved some of her other novels. The Kristen Lavransdatter books, by Sigrid Unset. Actually, I think I heard about it through one of you bloggers, but I can’t remember who—sorry! Historical fiction set in 14th century Scandinavia, written about 75 years ago. This week I bought a copy of the new translation. The Glass Blowers , by Daphne Du Maurier. This has been floating around on my TBR list for a while, actually; but while at the library looking for a copy of The Scapegoat (also a Daphne book), I came across this one, written about some of Du Maurier’s ancestors in the 18th century. The King Must Die , by Mary Renault. Bought this cheaply at my library’s fall sale last weekend. Historica...

My TBR list is growing exponentially! -- Flapper: a Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern , by Joshua Zeitz. Nonfiction; recommended to me through LibraryThing. -- Fire From Heaven , by Mary Renault. Bought this this past weekend. -- Little Bird of Heaven , by Joyce Carol Oates. This is her latest book, and it looks pretty good. I went through a JCO “phase” in high school, so I look forward to this one. -- Harold the King , by Helen Hollick. Historical fiction about the Conquest; although it looks good, it’s just way too expensive for me at the moment, considering all the book buying I’ve been doing lately (just bought Brian Wainwright’s Within the Fetterlock on Monday). -- Tulip Fever , by Deborah Moggach. A novel set in mid-17th century Amsterdam, about art and the tulip craze. -- Bride of Pendorric , by Victoria Holt. One of my weekend buys. -- Island of Ghosts , by Gillian Bradshaw. Novel about the Roman conquest of Britain. -- Treason , by M...

More books to be read: Henry of the High Rock , by Juliet Dymoke. Historical fiction; this was an impulse purchase a few days ago. It's actually been on my mental TBR list for a while, because Elizabeth Chadwick mentioned it on her blog. The Lacuna , by Barbara Kingsolver. Coming out on November 3rd; it’s historical fiction, of a sort, about Mexico in the 1930s (Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo and all of that). I really, really loved The Poisonwood Bible a number of years ago, so this should be an excellent fall read. What did you discover this week?

I feel like I haven’t done Friday Finds in a while. Here are some that have come to my attention: Wolf Hall , by Hilary Mantel. Actually, I heard about this a while ago, but I was offered an ARC of this book this week (historical fiction set in Tudor times that promises to be not just another bodice-ripper). The Love Knot , by Vanessa Alexander. Again, historical fiction. I saw a review of this somewhere, and now I can’t remember where! The Last Concubine , by Leslie Downer. Historical fiction set in 19th century Japan. The Russian Concubine , by Kate Furnivall. Set in China in the early 20th century. Another browse on the Persephone website yielded: Every Eye , by Isobel English Consequences , by EM Delafield Little Boy Lost , by Marghanita Laski Fidelity , by Susan Glaspell

Last week I went to London… and my TBR list swelled. Here’s what I picked up: The Street Philosopher, by Matthew Plampin. Very good historical fiction about the Crimean War. Finished it in nearly one sitting on the plane ride back. Review up soon. Vainglory, by Geraldine McCaughrean. More historical fiction; 15th century this time. Mentioned by Elizabeth Chadwick on her blog some time ago, and quite literally the first book I laid eyes on when I was at the South Bank book market on Monday. Dreaming the Eagle, by Manda Scott. Historical fiction about Boudica. Consolation, by James Wilson. My Persephone books: The Carlyles at Home, by Thea Holmes The Far Cry, by Emma Smith The Young Pretenders, by Edith Fowler They Were Sisters, by Dorothy Whipple A London Child of the 1870s, by Molly Hughes The Making of a Marchioness, by France Hodgeson Burnett Miss Buncle’s Book, by DE Stevenson Saplings, by Noel Streatfeild On Sunday I’ll post pictures from my trip—plus a picture of the damage done m...

Yesterday I arrived in London, and I'm having a lot of fun! Lots of book buying, too. Here's what I've bought so far (mind you, this is only day two of a seven-day vacation, so things could get a lot, lot worse: Shadows and Strongholds, by Elizabeth Chadwick The Marsh King's Daughter, by same Lords of the White Castle, by same The Children's Book, by AS Byatt (signed by author) Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle, by Manda Scott (a new find for me) The Lady Tree, by Christie Dickason The Water Horse, by Julia Gregson Consolation, by James Wilson (another new find) The Fraud, by Barbara Ewing No Angel, by Penny Vincenzi (I like the UK cover of this one a lot more than the American) From Persephone Bookshop (the place is heaven, and the salespeople are lovely): Mariana, by Monica Dickens Someone at a Distance, by Dorothy Whipple The Victorian Chaise-Lounge, by Marghanita Lasky The Making of a Marchioness, by Frances Hodgeson Burnett Saplings, by Noel Streatfeild A London Chil...

Books I’ve heard about this week: Grace Hammer: A Novel of the Vicorian Underwold , by Sara Stockbridge. Heard about this through the LTER program; and with my love of all things Victorian, thought I might enjoy this one, set in 1888 in London’s East Eng. The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein , by Peter Ackroyd. This one has been out for a while, but the US version is coming out this fall (the US cover is quite macabre). The Aviary Gate , by Katie Hickman. Won this this month through LTER. Threshold of Life , by Hella Haasse. I just finished In a Dark Wood Wandering, and enjoyed it a lot, so I thought I might enjoy this one, set in 5th century Rome.

Some more TBR: In a Dark Wood Wandering , by Hella Haasse. Historical fiction about the French royal family (during the reign of Charles VI) in the late 14th/early 15th centuries. This is what I’m currently reading. The Fraud , by Barbara Ewing. Heard about this on someone’s blog; forgive me for not remembering whose! Another HF, set in the 18th century, about London, Florence, and art.

Only one book has been added to my list/stack: Tears of Pearl , by Tasha Alexander. The fourth book in the Lady Emily Ashton series; thus time, she goes to Constantinople. I received an ARC of this in the mail this week.

More added to the TBR list this week: Shield of Three Lions, by Pamela Kaufman. In late 12th century England, a border baron’s family is killed, and his daughter approaches King Richard to get her family’s land back… all the while dressed as a boy. Another one of Mary Stewart’s novels is going to be republished this fall: My Brother Michael. Another suspense novel, this time set in Greece. John Irving has a new book out this fall: Last Night in Twisted River. From the product description on Amazon, it looks as though it’s going to be another one of his quirky, but enjoyable, books.

More TBR: The Coral Thief , by Rebecca Stott. All I know about it is that it’s historical fiction; coming out in September. The Counterfeit Guest , by Rose Melikan . Historical mystery set in the late 18th century.

Not much has been added to my TBR list recently; I'm trying to get my number down a bit. But here's one: The French Gardener , by Santa Montefiore. I seem to be attracted to books about mysterious houses and gardens...

Friday finds: The Warroir’s Princess , by B\arbara Erskine. It was recommended to me on Amazon because I generally like timeslip novels. This one is about a Celtic princess from two thousand years ago. The Jewel Book , by Anna Davis. Recent release, set in London in the 1920s, about a career girl by day/flapper by night.