November Books

[slemslempike]

Master & Commander - Patrick O'Brian
Post Captain - Patrick O'Brian
The Pursuit of Love - Nancy Mitford
Cherries in the Snow - Emma Forrest
The Middle of the Sandwich - Tim Kennemore
There Were No Windows - Norah Hoult
House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski
We Were Amused - Rachel Ferguson
Don't Tell Alfred - Nancy Mitford
The Fortunate Few - Tim Kennemore

Mostly rereads for comfort reading, and dipping in and out of several books that aren't on here. THe new reads were Cherries in the Snow, House of Leaves, There Were No Windows and We Were Amued. I've really enjoyed rereading Nancy Mitford, especially Don't Tell Alfred, and the trials of the Ambassadress. I thought House of Leaves was good, but I would have found it better had I not stopped at the place where I did to sleep and then start again, and also I knew a little too much about it for it to be really shocking all the way through. There Were No Windows was good, but quite sad, especially because you could see so easily how iritating Claire was, and how difficult it would have been to put up with her.

Comments

[alltheleaves.livejournal.com]

What did you think of Cherries in the Snow? I remember we discussed Emma Forrest before.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I liked it a lot. It made me want to wear really dark red lipstick all the time and pout at people, and I hate make-up. I thought it was interesting, deliberately shallow but not fluffy, quite harsh at times. Like her other books, the narrator's young, clever, anti-authoritarian and very child-like in some respects. But I think your criticisms of her other stuff would probably be magnified in this book!

[sam-t.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to read some Mitford at some point. What do you like about her, and where should I start?

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

She's very funny, and creates conderful characters, that are mostly based on her family. I would recommend starting with either Love in a Cold Climate or The Pursuit of Love first, I can't remember which comes first at the moment, but I don't think it matters hugely.

[oursin.livejournal.com]

I really must get hold of There Were No Windows (that is the one based on Violet Hunt, isn't it?).

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

That's right - and the Rachel Ferguson autobiography also mentions her. I can lend you my copy if you'd like?

[oursin.livejournal.com]

That would be lovely. I can't remember whether you have my work address for posting things to?

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I don't think I do - could you email it to me? My livejournal address gets there!

[oursin.livejournal.com]

Will do.

[bouncymonkey.livejournal.com]

I've had House of Leaves for ages, I really must get round to reading it. It's at work for some reason, and I read the first chapter a while ago when my pc was being fixed - v. intriguing.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Jen and Alice were talking about it, and then I borrowed it from Alice. It really is great, but et aside some time!

[tabouli.livejournal.com]

Ahh, Tim Kennemore! I did like 'Wall of Words'. Did you notice that she dedicated one of her books to Antonia Forest? I've always wondered whether "Tim" was actually a "Thalia" who got inspired by AF's books to change her name...

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Yes! I love that they knew each other, as I liked both authors before I knew of the connection. I think someone asked about the Tim/Thalia thing on GO a while back, but I can't for the life of me remember the answer.