Books - May 2023
May. 25th, 2023 05:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitHaving a number of library books arrive at once certainly ups the number of books I read!
Murder by the Seaside edited by Cecily Gayford
Another collection of short stories, some Golden Age some more modern. Once again I enjoyed reading them and in fact finished the book before the end of April.
Circe by Madeline Miller
I had enjoyed The Song of Achilles last year and this book was recommended to me. I didn't enjoy it as much - I'm not a fan of mythology and ancient Greek stories and this one just didn't work for me. [A5]
We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Legend and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most Beloved Film by Noah Isenberg
This was recommended to me after I wrote about Casablanca as part of Fannish 50. I did find it interesting, especially the background to the different actors. Of interest to any fan of the film, probably not otherwise.
Murder at Wedgefield Manor by Erica Ruth Neubauer
The second in the Jane Wunderly series, which I've written about elsewhere. I would class it as a cozy mystery: it features an aeroplane (this is the 1920s), a traditional English country house, various people with WWI activities they prefer not to discuss etc. All good fun if rather implausible. [B5]
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart
The Shedunnit pick for May, with the theme of a story set in Scotland. This is set on the island of Skye and I enjoyed the descriptions of the part of the island. The story is set in 1953 (it was published in 1956) and rather topically it featured a heroine who was seeking to escape all the trappings of a coronation. Given the connection with mountain climbing, it also makes mention of the conquest of Everest. I found it an entertaining read, but ultimately wasn't convinced by the solution. [E5]
Murder in a Heatwave by Cecily Gayford
The latest in the collection of summer crime short stories which has just been published. You will not be surprised to learn I enjoyed most of the stories! [F8]
The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey
The third of the Perveen Mistry stories, which again I've written about elsewhere. I bought this for my husband for our wedding anniversary last year and have just got round to reading it (the TBR pile is high!) Possibly not quite as good as the two previous books, but nonetheless interesting, especially for the reaction to the visit by the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII) [C5]
Murder on Safari by Elspeth Huxley
Shedunnit recently had an episode in which members of the book club were invited to submit specific requests for books, so I asked for elephants. The book was published in 1938 and is very much of its era. The safari is designed purely to shoot big game, rather than spot them. The attitudes are of the time and really stand out - I know that's what people were like, I don't necessarily want to read them. And although the elephants did play a part in the solution they weren't really involved. Not one I'd recommend. [B6]
Letters refer to my individual reading lists.
Murder by the Seaside edited by Cecily Gayford
Another collection of short stories, some Golden Age some more modern. Once again I enjoyed reading them and in fact finished the book before the end of April.
Circe by Madeline Miller
I had enjoyed The Song of Achilles last year and this book was recommended to me. I didn't enjoy it as much - I'm not a fan of mythology and ancient Greek stories and this one just didn't work for me. [A5]
We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Legend and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most Beloved Film by Noah Isenberg
This was recommended to me after I wrote about Casablanca as part of Fannish 50. I did find it interesting, especially the background to the different actors. Of interest to any fan of the film, probably not otherwise.
Murder at Wedgefield Manor by Erica Ruth Neubauer
The second in the Jane Wunderly series, which I've written about elsewhere. I would class it as a cozy mystery: it features an aeroplane (this is the 1920s), a traditional English country house, various people with WWI activities they prefer not to discuss etc. All good fun if rather implausible. [B5]
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart
The Shedunnit pick for May, with the theme of a story set in Scotland. This is set on the island of Skye and I enjoyed the descriptions of the part of the island. The story is set in 1953 (it was published in 1956) and rather topically it featured a heroine who was seeking to escape all the trappings of a coronation. Given the connection with mountain climbing, it also makes mention of the conquest of Everest. I found it an entertaining read, but ultimately wasn't convinced by the solution. [E5]
Murder in a Heatwave by Cecily Gayford
The latest in the collection of summer crime short stories which has just been published. You will not be surprised to learn I enjoyed most of the stories! [F8]
The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey
The third of the Perveen Mistry stories, which again I've written about elsewhere. I bought this for my husband for our wedding anniversary last year and have just got round to reading it (the TBR pile is high!) Possibly not quite as good as the two previous books, but nonetheless interesting, especially for the reaction to the visit by the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII) [C5]
Murder on Safari by Elspeth Huxley
Shedunnit recently had an episode in which members of the book club were invited to submit specific requests for books, so I asked for elephants. The book was published in 1938 and is very much of its era. The safari is designed purely to shoot big game, rather than spot them. The attitudes are of the time and really stand out - I know that's what people were like, I don't necessarily want to read them. And although the elephants did play a part in the solution they weren't really involved. Not one I'd recommend. [B6]
Letters refer to my individual reading lists.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-25 06:26 pm (UTC)Too bad about the elephants, too!
no subject
Date: 2023-05-25 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-26 02:41 am (UTC)I actually love Greek myth, but Circe didn't work for me either. I loved the Achilles one.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-26 08:01 am (UTC)