A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore...

August is nearly here and therefore the end of summer! Where does time go? July was a slow reading month for me; I only finished five books: Before Versailles , by Karleen Koen; a re-read of Anne of Green Gables , by LM Montgomery; Pearl Buck in China , by Hilary Spurling; I’m Not Complaining , by Ruth Adam; and Lady of the English , by Elizabeth Chadwick. All of these were mostly or very enjoyable, so it was a successful moth in terms of finding things to read that I liked or loved. It’s been years and years since I read Anne of Green Gables last, so it was great to get back into a book I loved when I was younger. I’ve been looking forward to August for a while now; a bunch of people in the Virago Modern Classics group on LibraryThing is doing All Virago/ All August. I did it last year and in the process discovered F Tennyson Jesse’s novels, as well as I Capture the Castle (a highlight of 2010), Winifred Holtby, Vita Sackville-West, and Kate O’Brien, so I’m looking forward to partic...

I keep a spreadsheet on my computer of all the books I own but haven’t read, and I list where and when I bought them, and how I heard about the book in the first place. The list has 112 books on it right now! It’s a good resource that I use when I’m writing the “headers” for my reviews. I thought it would be fun to see which books I’ve owned the longest, and when and where and why I bought them. I feel like every book in my collection has a story, so here are some of them. 1. 1. Evelina , by Fanny Burney . I bought this at a Barnes and Noble in April or May of 2008, when I was still living in New York City. At the time I was conscientiously trying to read through the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list… and this was on there. 2. 2. The Birds Fall Down , by Rebecca West. Another book from the 1001 list. I bought this used at a secondhand store near my apartment in Brooklyn in the spring or summer of 2008. My copy is a first edition. 3. 3 . The Question , by...

I nearly forgot that Virago Reading Week starts today! Hosted by Rachel and Carolyn , I discovered Virago Modern Classics last May, and I’ve been hooked ever since (there’s a very active group devoted to VMCs on LibraryThing, and it’s nice to see these authors being rediscovered). I went through and counted my unread Viragos, and I’ve got 32 of them: the full list for me to choose from is here . In the meantime, here are reviews of some VMCs I've read in the past. I got a head start this weekend with Molly Keane's Devoted Ladies , and I'll be posting sporadically through this week. If you're participating, happy reading!

I don’t normally write about books to be published here, but I got super-excited when I found out about this one. I read the author’s other book, The Aviary Gate , last summer, and enjoyed it. The Pindar Diamond will be coming out on August 17, 2010 (BTW, the publisher's catalogue has a different cover, which I think is better, but I can't find a way to copy and paste it into here). A tale of lust, greed, and danger set in seventeenth-century Venice, The Pindar Diamond is a gripping and superbly told historical novel. In a small town on the Italian coast, a mysterious woman washes ashore. She is crippled, mute, and clutches a bundle to her chest—a baby the townspeople insist is a real-life mermaid. It can only bring bad luck; they pay a troupe of acrobats to carry mother and child away. In the bustling trade center of Venice, merchant Paul Pindar is the subject of his colleagues’ concern. Since his return from Constantinople, they have found him changed; raging over the loss...

I don’t participate in Weekly Geeks a whole lot, but I knew I had to answer this question when it came up. I often go to LibraryThing for recommendations, but sometimes I get some from other book bloggers. I’m afraid I don’t get much out of my comfort zone, which is historical fiction, but I do enjoy other genres periodically. As for new-to-me authors, I often read them quite frequently. And I take many chances with my reading, especially if the setting or plot interests me. The other part of the assignment is to ask my readers for recommendations. It’s not as though I need a lot of book recommendations (I’ve got 169 books tagged as “TBR” on LibraryThing), but I’m always looking for new stuff to read. As I’ve mentioned before, historical fiction is truly my thing. I read heavily in the late medieval and Victorian periods; but I don’t have much ancient Roman, Greek, or early medieval history (pre-11th century) represented. I’ve read Michelle Moran’s books, Donna Woolfolk Cross’s Pope J...

I’ve been away from home for four weeks, and when I returned, I found the following waiting for me: The Miracles of Prato , by Laurie Albanese (ARC) The Little Giant of Aberdeen County , by Tiffany Baker (ARC, but finished copy) The Needle in the Blood , by Sarah Bower The Women , by TC Boyle (nice ARC surprise from Penguin; it' about Frank Lloyd Wright, told through the eyes of the four women who loved him) A Place Beyond Courage , by Elizabeth Chadwick The Dud Avocado , by Elaine Dundy The Glassblower of Murano , by Marina Fiorato Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet , by Jamie Ford (ARC) The Founding , by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Darling Jim , by Christian Moerk (ARC) The Birthday Present , by Barbara Vine (ARC)

The following is a list of the books on my TBR pile, in my possession at the moment. Of course, the list of “books to read someday” is much longer, and can be found here . The Love Knot, by Vanessa Alexander The Uncommon Reader, by Alan Bennett The Book of Fires, by Jane Borodale Evelina, by Frances Burney Shadows and Strongholds, by Elizabeth Chadwick The Marsh King’s Daughter, by EC The Love Knot, by EC Lords of the White Castle, by EC The Falcons of Montabard, by EC The Lady Tree, by Christie Dickason Henry of the High Rock, by Juliet Dymoke The Botticelli Secret, by Marina Fiorato The Young Pretenders, by Edith Henrietta Fowler The Water Horse, by Julia Gregson The Queen’s Governess, by Karen Harper The Victory, by Cynthia-Harrod-Eagles The Regency, by CH-E The Campaigners, by CH-E The Reckoning, by CH-E The Question, by CH-E A Hollow Crown, by Helen Hollick The Carlyles at Home, by Thea Holmes Lord of the Far Island, by Victoria Holt Bride of Pendorric, by Victoria Holt A London C...

Once again, the people at Berkely/ NAL have come up with a great cover for the newest book of one of my favorite authors. Jen Lancaster's next book will be out in May, and Pretty in Plaid is apparently a prequel to Bitter is a New Black . On the other hand, here's the cover of Silent on the Moor , by Deanna Raybourn, another one of my favorite authors. It's to be published in March. Boy, does that look like the cover of a romance novel, or what? If I wasn't already a fan, I'd walk right on by this cover in a bookstore!

OK, so I covet many books :-). Such is the life of a reader. But this time, the book is The Book of Unholy Mischief , by Elle Newmark. It's historical fiction, set in Venice during the Renaissance. I've been coveting it for months , and I don't know if I can wait until the book's publication date on December 30th in order to read it! I've looked on the publisher's website for information on how to get an ARC, but can't seem to find any contact information available; and I've stalked this book on Amazon.com plus other users on LibraryThing who have possession of a copy to see where they got theirs! Any other ideas on where I could score a copy? Or should I just suck it up and wait until the book is published?

“What tomes are waiting patiently on your shelves?“ I've actually been quite good about keeping my book-buying and ARC-requesting to a minimum, so this list is (relatively) short. The books are: Evelina , by Fanny Burney. This book has been on my shelf for months. The Slaves of Solitude , by Patrick Hamilton, author of Hangover Square . An ARC of The Fire , by Katherine Neville. I haven't read The Eight yet, and I've heard mixed reviews about this one, so I'm a little hesitant about reading it now. A slightly-battered first edition copy of Rebecca West's The Birds Fall Down that I picked up at a used bookstore for $5. A biography of Queen Isabella (wife of Edward II), by Alison Weir, that I picked up today. The Shape of Mercy , by Susan Meissner. All This, and Heaven Too , by Rachel Field. If you haven't heard of this book, you may have read a children's book by Field called Hitty, Her First Hundred Years . I got about 50 pages in to The Conqueror , by Geo...

Advice is needed! I've just finished an ARC of The Toss of a Lemon, by Padma Viswanathan, and I've got a stack of books on my nightstand. Also, its the perfect day for starting a new book; it's raining, and so dark outside (at one pm) that it feels like night. Here it is: Unnatural Death , by Dorothy Sayers. The third book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series. Been on my nightstand for forever. The Best of Everything , by Rona Jaffe. 1950s novel about working girls in New York City. Bought this yesterday on impulse. The Remains of the Day , by Kazuo Ishiguro. Bought this for the 1% Well Read Challenge. Evelina , by Fanny Burney. Another 1% book. It's been sitting on my nightstand for quite a while now. The Slaves of Solitude , by Patrick Hamilton. Author of Hangover Square . East Lynne , by Ellen Wood. 1860s sensationalist novel in the style of Mary Elizabeth Braddon . The Nine Tailors , by Dorothy Sayers. Another 1% book. Christine Falls , by Benjamin Black. Irish my...

I haven't participated in Weekly Geeks for a while, but considering I just bought my very first digital camera, I couldn't resist this week's WG. So here are my photos: The top photo is a picture of my bookshelves. I arrange everything alpabetically, with nonfiction being on the top row and fiction on the lower rows. If you look closely enough, you'll notice that my taste tends to run to historical fiction, chick lit, and British authors. In nonfiction, I love history. Some of the most common authors on my bookshelves include: Jane Austen, Sophie Kinsella, Anya Seton, Philippa Gregory, Laurie Notaro, and Jen Lancaster. The bottom photo is another TBR pile . Yesterday, I braved the Brooklyn heat and went to an indie bookstore near Atlantic Avenue called Brooklyn Book Court. This is my haul from there. From the top down: Victor Hugo's Les Miserables (uh-oh; what have I gotten into?); JD Salinger's Franny and Zooey ; Christine Falls , by Benjamin Black ( a murder...

Lauren Weisberger’s third novel, Chasing Harry Winston, has been on my TBR list for a while now; I put it on hold from the library several months ago. It’s a novel about three friends who get together and make a pact to change their lives dramatically, all within the space of a year. Well, the book was released yesterday and already it’s garnered some bad reviews. From Entertainment Weekly: “There's something to disappoint everyone in Lauren Weisberger's flashy new novel, Chasing Harry Winston. Those who prefer to dismiss the author as a backstabbing ditz without a shred of talent will be sorry to hear her third book isn't entirely unamusing, with some saucy lines and one irresistible character. But anyone looking forward to a dishy beach read à la The Devil Wears Prada will be even sorrier to hear that the fluffy fun bits are lost in a blobby mess of a narrative… [it’s a] a gimmicky setup, but it gives Weisberger a structure — one that she promptly, foolishly ignores. The ...

Here’s a pile of books in my TBR list (of course the list itself is much longer!). From the top down: 1) Unnatural Death, by Dorothy Sayers. A mystery in the Lord Peter Wimsey series. 2) Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear. A mystery set in 1920s London. 3) Oscar and Lucinda, by Peter Carey. Historical fiction set in 19th century London. 4) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte. Classic work of Victorian fiction, by the least-well-known Bronte sister. 5) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winnifred Watson. 1930s novel about a penniless governess who “lives for a day.” 6) The Book of Air and Shadows, by Michael Gruber. Mystery. 7) Evelina, by Fanny Burney. Another classic. 8) East Lynne, by Ellen Wood. Sensationalist Victorian novel. 9) 740 Park, by Michael Gross. Nonfiction about “the world’s richest apartment building.” 10) No Fond Return of Love, by Barbara Pym. Pym’s works are always a treat. 11) Murder Must Advertise, by Dorothy Sayers. Another Lord Peter Wimsey. 12) Please ...

Love the One You're With , by Emily Giffin--May 13 Chasing Harry Winston , by Lauren Weisberger--May 27th. The Beach House , by Jane Green--June 17th This Charming Man , by Marian Keyes--June 17th Queen of Babble Gets Hitched , by Meg Cabot--June 24th. The people at my local library must be tired of me, what with all the holds I've placed on books recently!

Jack With a Twist , by Brenda Janowitz. My TBR pile keeps getting bigger and bigger! Last summer, I had the good fortune to take a writing course with Brenda Janowitz, author of Scot on the Rocks: Or, How I Survived My Ex-Boyfriend’s Wedding With My Dignity Ever So Slightly Intact . In Scot on the Rocks , the main character, Brooke, attended her ex boyfriend’s wedding, only a short while after being dumped by her perfect Scottish boyfriend. She then takes her friend Jack along to pose as the Scottish boyfriend, with hilariously funny results. Janowitz’s new book, Jack With a Twist , is coming out in July, and, from what I learned of from the author, it’s a continuation of Scot. It looks like its going to be another fun summer read.

The Age of Dreaming , by Nina Revoyr. Here’s the description of the book: In her cunning follow-up to Southland , Revoyr returns to L.A., this time to when Sunset Boulevard was just a dirt road and Jun Nakayama was a famous silent film star. Prompted by a journalist's visit in 1964, 42 years after he left the screen for good, Jun revisits his youth in Japan, his discovery at L.A.'s Little Tokyo Theater, his rise to stardom and the scandalous events that led to his abrupt retreat from public life. Mixing real people with fictional characters like principled Japanese actress Hanako Minatoya, troubled starlet Elizabeth Banks (not the one in Seabiscuit), ingénue Nora Minton Niles and dashing director Ashley Bennett Tyler, Revoyr creates a vibrant portrait of a time when the film studio was a place of serious work. As Jun reveals the secrets he has kept for decades, he uncovers new twists in his own history and comes to terms with other painful experiences he has repressed, namely h...

Any casual reader of my reviews knows that I love historical fiction. One of my favorite authors in this genre is Sharon Kay Penman , whose When Christ and His Saints Slept I’m reading right now. It’s the first book in a trilogy that includes Time and Chance (2002) and Devil’s Brood (to be published in October 2008). Of course, I’m going to be first in line when the new book comes out. The trilogy focuses on the lives of royalty in the twelfth century, specifically the Empress Maude and Eleanor of Aquitaine. In addition, the covers of some of Penman’s books are undergoing a facelift; here’s the cover of Here Be Dragons , a novel of thirteenth century Wales:

Another one of my favorite authors is Laurie Notaro. Like Jen Lancaster, she’s a memoirist, writing about her life in short, sweet chunks of funny. Notaro’s had six books published, beginning with The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club . She has a new book coming out on June 24th, called The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death : Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia and Laser Hair Removal . Although I’ve been unable to find out anything about the book, I believe it’s going to be another collection of essays. Laurie Notaro’s books are pure brain candy, perfect for hot summer days.

Two years ago, Jen Lancaster made her non-fiction debut with Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office . The book is a howlingly funny account of how the author all of a sudden found herself unemployed—and how she coped with it. Her follow up, Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly Ex-Sorority Girl’s Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? is all about Life in the Big City. What I love about her books—really, two collections of essays—is that she never hesitates to make fun of herself—and everyone around her. She’s so funny you can forgive her for her meanness. In May, Jen Lancaster returns with a third dose of humor and bitingly sharp wit: the title of her new book is Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist’s Quest to Discover if Her Ass Looks Big, Or Why Pie Is Not the Answer (gotta love those ...