I've finished reading Rebecca West's The Return of the Soldier, which contains some of the most elegant and refined prose that I've come across in a long time. I hope to write about it some time this week, though I'm not sure I can do this novella justice. I was contemplating which classic to read next. D.H. Lawrence and Edith Wharton crossed my mind. And then I started looking at my pile of classics and felt slighty overwhelmed. Then I thought I should just keep working on Dickens and not start anything new. In the end I set aside E.M. Delafield's Diary of a Provincial Lady. It looks light and easy and thoroughly enjoyable. And it's one of those "I've been meaning to read" books. It may not be a classic by canon standards, but I consider it a classic in its own right, and am looking forward to reading it.
I also finished my postal reading group book over the weekend. Loved it. As the idea behind the group is to send the books in the mail to each person on the list and to keep them a secret until the package arrives, I will refrain from talking about it. I will say it's one of the best books I've read all year. I was hesitant over it initially, but its the sort of story that takes a while to build up and the more I read the more I liked it. The author is a superlative storyteller and knows how to create really solid, interesting characters. I will definitely be reading more by this author! It's off to the next person in the group, which means I have a new book coming in the mail to look forward to as well!
I'm working away on Tana French's In the Woods. It's. So. Good. I'm alternately devouring it and making myself slow down. I want to know what's going to happen, but I'm also content to just let her tell the story. I've also started Darling Jim by Christian Moerk. Set in Ireland, it is another Gothic tale of suspense. I'm not too far into the story, but so far it's suitably creepy, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
This Friday and Saturday is my library's quarterly book sale. I decided this year to forego the Friends membership, which means I won't be able to go a day early to the preview night. I don't really mind too much. The general craziness, people rushing the doors to get to the books, really put me off last year. I'm planning on going Friday afternoon, so there may not be as good a selection as I'm used to, but I think I might at least avoid some of the madness. Besides, I have plenty of new books to choose from so I don't think I'll be too disappointed (and no doubt will still find something)!
One last note, a question really. This may sound a little odd, but I'm looking for a book suggestion. I want a good love story to read. I'm not really thinking traditional, straightforward romance novel, but something along the lines of a Clare Chambers or Barbara Trapido novel--a good solid story that also happens to have a nice dash (or maybe even a little more than a dash) of romance. Happy-ish ending preferable. I should just reread Clare Chambers or pick up a different Barbara Trapido story, but it's always nice to add a good, new book to my reading repertoire. For some reason every year about now this is what I'm in the mood for. Maybe it has something to do with Spring (which still seems too far away, but I can at least fantasize). Any suggestions?
