I am running behind myself and have yet to catch up. I spent the morning browsing what some of my favorite readers have been reading this past week (as I have not had a moment to read anything myself!) Here are some books that caught my eye. Click on the links to see the original posts. Thanks to you all for letting me share your picks!
Cornflower wrote about Meeting the English (2013) by Kate Clanchy. This is a tale of Struan Robertson, a fellow from a small Scottish town who is hired to tend to Phillip Prys, a Welsh writer who has had a stroke and whose family doesn't care to care for him. Robertson is thrown into an oddball family not to mention a country where "they do things differently." It all takes place in 1989 in Hampstead. Cornflower writes that it is a well-written, funny, comedy of manners. (I don't think it is available yet in the U.S. but maybe I will be caught up with my other reading by the time it hits our shores.)
Shelf Love introduced me to K.C. Constantine and his series of mysteries the second of which is The Man Who Liked to Look at Himself (1973). The action all takes place in Rocksburg, Penn-sylvania and stars police chief Mario Balzic. Nothing quirky here. Just good, honest police work solves the crime. There are 16 books in this series and Constantine is another mystery writer to add to my list.
Captive Reader reminded me that last week was Barbara Pym Reading Week (which I totally missed) and posted a delightful picture from the cover of the 1990s edition of Quartet in Autumn.
Stuck in a Book has returned to nature with Four Hedges (1935) by Claire Leighton which not only is a paean to gardens with their attendant weeds and wildlife, but also is illustrated with the author's woodcuts. A delightful summer read and I just ordered a used copy from Luminaria Books.
As I recently returned from a jaunt to the Midwest, I was happy to see a tribute to that part of the country on mirabile dictu and this entry featuring John Mellencamp who sings about small town life and disappearing family farms. This music video, "Rain on the Scarecrow," is an appropriate one considering all the storms that part of the country has been suffering through lately.
And finally, A Work in Progress informs me that June is International Crime Month and features a wonderful pile of mysteries just waiting to be investigated. Also noted is The New Yorker's summer fiction edition entitled "Crimes and Misdemeanors" which features short stories and true crime pieces. Looks to be just the magazine to carry with me on a summer picnic.
Thanks for linking to me and sharing other links that I need to explore, too! I always have a paper and pen in hand when I make the blog rounds as I discover so many new authors. I hadn't heard of K.C. Constantine--and since June is all about mysteries for me.... I enjoyed the Pym book I read this past week and wish I had planned a little better for the week, but still am happy to have squeezed in one anyway. I hope to read more of her!
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle. I meant to leave you a comment that I had mentioned your post on mysteries but didn't. Oh dear. I hope that is not poor blogger etiquette!
DeleteI listened to a 1978 radio interview with Ms. Pym that was on BBC radio but it has now been taken off the website. She talked about the music she would want with her if she were castaway on a desert isle and also a lot about her writing. It was great to hear her voice.
Thanks for the tip on Mr. Constantine. My library has a couple of his books but of course I will have to read them in order and I don't think it has them all. Sigh.
Thanks for the mention!
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of blog etiquette is that it's always flattering and lovely to be mentioned by anyone :)
Oh good. I wouldn't want to overstep! I am so glad I found a copy of 'Four Hedges' and look forward to receiving it in the mail. I personally would never touch dirt in the garden, but I enjoy reading about those who do. Thanks Simon.
DeleteI am very behind with comments, etc., but delighted that you thought the post worth linking to, Belle.
ReplyDeleteRe."Four Hedges", I'd second Simon's recommendation.
Hi Cornflower. I hope "Meeting the English" finds its way to my part of the world soon. Thanks for the recommendation. I did order a copy of "Four Hedges" which has arrived and sits in the TBR pile. It is a lovely book.
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