Today, a few books I'm thinking about, a few I'm reading, and a few more I'm thinking about reading. A post in photos, if you will.
First.
Ooohh, so pretty, don't you think? I indulged (in a big way) and ordered the complete set of Penguin's The Great Food Series of books. I had one on my bookshelves and had read it, loved it, and decided I needed to own (and read) them all. So I splurged, but I bought a 'new' used set (sans the box so it was much cheaper than buying them all brand new). More about what I just read later (and what I'm going to read next).
I'm so taken with these lovely little books, let me share another photo.
I just started reading Mary Stewart's Touch Not the Cat for Cornflower's Book Group and am quite enjoying it. It's unlike the other books I've read by her but unlike in a good way. Maybe because the setting is England rather than Greece or somewhere else exotic? There is also the touch of the supernatural about it. Bryony Ashley is the heroine and as per Stewart's heroine's she's smart and independent and very likable.
Criminy but Ann-Marie MacDonald knows how to tell a good (and I mean good) story. 800 pages you may think? Trust me, you don't even feel it. You welcome it. It is excruciatingly good. I know that sounds a little oxymoronish, but it's accurate--that's exactly how I am feeling at the moment. More about this one later.
I am such a pushover when it comes to books. Talk about one in a tantalizing way and I want to read it, too. You probably already know that about me, though, right? I belong to an online reading group (à la Yahoo Groups) and they often do readalongs, and tempted though I might be, I usually refrain. Lately every book they mention sounds so appealing, that I broke down and decided I needed to read Dorothy Canfield Fisher's The Home-Maker. The idea behind the group (at least when it first formed) was to read from the Persephone Books list, but as I don't have this in the lovely Persephone edition, and my library has the 1924 edition, it will work just as well. I've heard many good things about it, and just a few chapters in, I think I will have to concur.
I'm zipping through Joanne Harris's The Girl with No Shadows, or as it was published in the UK The Lollipop Shoes. It's a sequel to Chocolat (if you click on the link you can see the reissue of this book with its new cover design--I like it very much). Chocolat is one of my all-time favorite books. As you can see I had to have the book when it first came out. I started it, then it was set aside and not picked up for years. This year I decided it was time to read it finally but it had been languishing on my reading pile once again (not due to the story but the fact that I don't like carrying hardcovers around with me if possible), and was in danger of getting reshuffled back into the 'for later' book pile when I realized my turn had come up for her newest book, Peaches for Father Francis (which I just picked up from the library last night). So it was press on and read it or get out of line for the new book and just set them both aside for later. I'm glad I pressed on. It's a darker than Chocolat, but still has a wonderfully magical quality to it. More bittersweet than milk chocolate? Well, I'm two thirds of the way through and should finish in just a couple of days, so we'll see.
And one more. This is the one I'm 'thinking about'. I know lots of people read Erin Mordenstern's The Night Circus when it was first released, and I admit that I was smitten with the cover illustration and had to have the UK edition (I know, I am shallow that way). I'm on Pinterest (and if you are too and I am not following you, let me know and I'll rectify that), and while I've not been updating my boards lately (it can be strangely addictive and I have to be careful or hours will pass messing about with them), I do get emails letting me know when something on my own boards has been 'repinned'. Guess what book seems to be a hot repin for me? Yup, The Night Circus. I feel as though someone is trying to tell me something. So I finally slipped my copy from its place in the pile and have moved it to my bedside. Not sure if I'll just dive in or talk myself into waiting, but I'm at least contemplating it. It would be a good fit for RIP, right? And a nice magical sort of companion book to go along with Joanne Harris. So what am I waiting for?
As usual, I am dipping into a (ahem) few other books, but these are the highlights--the books I seem to be reaching for most often this week.
What have you been reaching for?