Upcoming Reads

 

I've had a few review copies show up in the mail in the last week or so, so I'll be slowly adding them into my current reads pile (and will hopefully also be finishing a few of those current reads very soon).  Two are via Library Things Early Reviewer program (the top and bottom), one is for a blog tour I'm taking part in later (the second from the top), and the last was kindly passed along to me from HarperCollins.

The Old Man and Me by Elaine Dundy.  I mentioned this one earlier.  Written in the 60s (and being reissued by NYRB Classics) this is about hipster American Honey Flood taking on London.  

The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein.  This is a fictional account of a real woman.  Pan Yuliang was a prostitute in turn-of-the-century Shanghai who later became a painter, known for her nudes and influence on Post-Impressionist art.  I'm not sure how I missed this one, as I love books that combine fiction with art.

Clara's War: One Girl's Story of Survival by Clara Kramer.  This nonfiction book is based on the diary of Calra Kramer who spent twenty months in hiding during WWII.  She was a Polish Jewish teenager when the war broke out and hid with several families (a total of eighteen people).  I may have to start with this as Holocaust Remembrance Day is next week, so this seems a timely sort of read.  

The Crimes of Paris: A True Story of Murder, Theft, and Detection by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler.  I'm really looking forward to this one as I read their earlier book Monsters: Mary Shelley and the Curse of Frankenstein, which I really enjoyed and thought was well done.  This time the husband and wife team are writing about the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911, but it sounds as though it's about life in turn-of-the-century Paris as much as it is about the robbery.

I expect a copy of Georgette Heyer's Cousin Kate to show up sometime soon as well.  It should be interesting as it's one of only two Gothic novels that she wrote.  It'll be interesting to compare it to the others I've read so far. 

So I have lots of interesting books to look forward to reading soon!

Comments

[Katherine]

Ha! You and I received the same books from LTER. Not surprising, as you and I have common tastes in books. I liked Crimes of Paris, but haven't gotten to the Eline Dundy one yet. I read The Painter From Shanghai last spring and enjoyed it. Very beautful writing.

[claire]

I wanted so much to sign up for the Elaine Dundy but it was only for the US, unfortunately. You are so lucky and it looks so good. Happy reading! :D

[Darlene]

Clara's War sounds like a gripping read. We watched The Boy in the Striped Pajamas last weekend, you never forget these stories.

[litlove]

You do get sent the most wonderful books to review, Danielle! I am full of envy! I read Dundy's The Dud Avocado many years ago and adored it - the best sort of comfort read.

[Debby]

If you like books that combine fiction and art, you might like With Violets by Eizabeth Robards. I saw it recently in our local book store, and and is on the TBR shortlist. Then there are the art history mysteries by Iain Pears...

[Frances]

I also have a copy of Crimes of Paris, and am looking forward to it for the exact reasons you are. Someone said the advance word was that it is disappointing compared to the pair's first effort, but it still looks pretty compelling to me, closet mystery lover that I am. The rest of that pile looks great too. Happy reading!

[sherry]

Oh, I am jealous of the Elaine Dundy! Read Dud Avocado a couple of years ago, and loved it.

[Francene]

I posted this comment in your blog entry of April 9, but I'm not sure you will see it there anymore so I'm reposting here.
Re: using Itunes music with a non Ipod Mp3 player.

I think if you right-click on a song within Itunes, you should have an option to Create MP3 version which will convert an MP4 file type to a MP3. You can also go to Edit/Preferences/General tab and look for the button "Import Settings". Make sure your Import settings is set to MP3 encoder. When you download music or rip it from a CD, your music files will be MP3 files, not MP4. I use a Sansa Fuze Mp3 player and regularly download items via Itunes using this method.

[Sarah]

If you like books that combine fiction and art, check out the art history challenge blog at http://www.arthistoryreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/
Lots of great suggestions!

[Danielle]

Katherine--I think we do have very similar tastes. Usually I want to read the books you blog about! I'm not sure how I missed The Painter of Shanghai as I love books about artists.
Claire--I lucked out with the Dundy book! I love those NYRB classics and am looking forward to starting it soon.
Darlene--It's been a while since I've read a book about the Holocaust and you're right, they tend to really stick with you. Although some of the books can be hard going subject-wise, I love reading how people can overcome the most dire situations.
Litlove--I did luck out with this stack, though it tends to be feast or famine with me! I have The Dud Avocado, too, and will get to that eventually. I hope this is as good!
Debby--I've seen the Robards book
but haven't gotten around to buying it or getting it from the library. It looks good, too. And I really should read Iain Pears--I have some of his mysteries as well as The Instance at the Fingerpost--one of those books I 'mean to read'!
Frances--It will be interesting to see how the Hoobler book compares to their earlier one, but I still think it has an interesting subject. I can't wait to start it, too.
Sherry--I have a Virago edition of Dud Avaocado which I haven't yet read. I hope this 'new' one is equally as good.
Francene--I did try and rip the music to a CD, saving the songs differently, but it didn't work for me--I'm not sure what I did wrong. I will try your other suggestions--Thanks! I did buy some of the song again from Amazon as regular MP3 files, so I do have them on my player. I'll be more careful in the future!
Sarah--Don't tempt me! :) Thanks for the link, though, I'll check it out. That's one challenge that would actually be up my alley. I may not officially join, but read along 'in spirit'.

[Dorothy W.]

I've been wanting to read Elaine Dundy -- she sounds like so much fun! Cousin Kate sounds cool too -- I'm curious what Heyer's version of a gothic novel would be like.

[Danielle]

Dorothy--I'm going to pick up the Dundy book as soon as I finish the Heyer I'm working on at the moment (The Talisman Ring). I've heard Cousin Kate is not one of Heyer's better novels (per the bio I read), but I'm still curious about it. If nothing else, I suspect it will still be entertaining. I can't imagine Heyer writing a Gothic novel, but I guess she wrote a couple. Should be interesting.

[iliana]

What a bunch of interesting books to look forward to. I like the premise for the Dundy book!

I actually have the Painter from Shanghai on my shelves from last year! Yikes. It does sound good doesn't it?

[Danielle]

Iliana--I'm not sure how I missed the Painter of Shanghai--I usually zone in on those novels about artists. Still, I'm glad I found it now and will be reading it soon. And the Dundy book sounds good. I plan on starting it as soon as I finish another of my books!