December Books and Year Round-Up

[slemslempike]

December
The Convenient Marriage - Georgette Heyer
Faro's Daughter - Georgette Heyer
Miss Mapp - EF Benson
The Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson
Writing Home - Alan Bennett
Cousin Rosamund - Rebecca West
Rebecca West - Victoria Glendinning
Making Money - Terry Pratchett
Cotillion - Georgette Heyer

Writing Home was one of those oh, haven't I read this yet? books, and it was a wonderful read, though obviously a little heartbreaking in places. Such as when he writes about Peter Cook and Dudley Moore being able to make the stage crew laugh when they were performing in Beyond the Fringe, and he never could, and somehow it was like another version of being picked last for games. I didn't think much of The Thunderbolt Kid, though it was entertaining enough for a train journey.

Cousin Rosamund was as wonderful as the previous two books in the trilogy, but I can't quite believe there's no more to read about them. I didn't much like Rose's husband, because he tried to say that maybe the poltergeist when they were little wasn't real, and it felt like a real betrayal of their whole lives. I have more of Rebecca West's novels on the shelf, so they can come next. I bought the Glendinning biography right after finishing Cousin Rosamund, and I like knowing more about Rebecca West, but it seemed somehow very slight, which might be an effect of their having been friends.

I enjoyed Making Money too, though I suspect it's going to be like the other later ones for me in that I can't remember anything except the vaguest plot details quite soon afterwards. I liked all the Heyers as per usual, especially Horatia's masterful proposal at the beginning of The Convenient Marriage, and poor Dolph.


My list of what I read in 2007 is here.

And here is a table of it:



I read substantially fewer books this year than last year, and I'm not entirely sure why. I mean, I know that it's because I've been online instead, but I've always been online a lot, and that didn't stop me reading. I'm going to pretend it's because I've been doing a lot of reading for work, and so I don't read as much for leisure.

I'm pleased that a higher proportion of what I read has been new books rather than rereads. I've read more non-fic as well, mostly biography, which has probably slowed me down somewhat.

Comments

[pisica.livejournal.com]

I had a pretty good reading year, but multiple 500+page biographies definitely took their toll on my stats. (Thankfully, there were plenty of such biographies that I read 30-100 pages of and said, 'I don't care enough about this person to wade through the rest,' so I suppose it evened out!)

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I generally only read biographies if I already want to know about the person, so I guess I weed them out first!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Unlike you, I loved The Thunderbolt Kid. I like The Fountain Overflows so much that I really should read the rest: thank you for the reminder. Glad Heyer has been such a success for you!

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

The sequels to The Fountain Overflows are as much a joy as the first, I think.

I like your icon!

[hafren.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed Making Money too, though I suspect it's going to be like the other later ones for me in that I can't remember anything except the vaguest plot details quite soon afterwards.

I'm glad it isn't just me! I enjoy them, but they don't stick in the memory - and yes, the earlier ones did, well not the Rincewinds but some of the witches and most of the guards. None as much as Maurice, though.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Most books I can think "oh yes, that's got the great bit with Nanny Ogg saying she had to run around for ages to find a suitable root to trip over" or "the million to one chance thing", but the later ones don't have any of that for me. I wondered if it was because they're focusing more on newer characters, but I have a really clear image of Pteppic, and Brutha, so I think it is the changes in the books. I got a bit less interested when it seemed to be more about retelling Roundworld history/stories instead of telling Discworld stories.

[owl]

I do far more re-reads than I do new reads. I suspect that may be a function of Non Enough Books in the World.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I don't reread nearly as much as I used to, partly through guilt at not having read anywhere near enough of the books I've bought in the last few years.