Posts are going to be a little thinner on the ground for a moment, while I’m doing THINGS. LOTS OF THINGS. EXCITING THINGS. Yay! And no I’m not going to write about them just yet. Sorry. Anyway, for now here’s some of my October reading (it’s a little romance-heavy, just so you’re forewarned), from the good to the don’t waste your time.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
A thoroughly entertaining, light-hearted read. The characters are vivid, varied, and charming, and the scenes are set clearly. However, I felt that the pacing was just a little off. Not terrible, but it felt a bit like it was over before it started, or rather the big conflict happened without me noticing it. That could of course be on me. Jeni’s Ice Cream makes an exciting cameo, for my fellow Columbus-ites (ugh).
A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
Sherlock Holmes but he’s a woman. Also so is like everyone else. Glorious. The premise is lovely, the characters are very good, and it takes you straight to late Victorian London without passing go. And while I had some issues following dialogue (DIALOGUE TAGS ARE GREAT. USE DIALOGUE TAGS. Thomas clearly needs to read some Thursday Next.) and there were some whiplash perspective changes, the writing was overall solid. This is the first in her Lady Sherlock series, and it does a great job of setting up future tales of the great detective. The violin playing seems to be absent, though.
The One in My Heart by Sherry Thomas
When I went to check out the next book in the Lady Sherlock series, there was a WAIT LIST so I decided to try another book by the same author. According to the blurb description, this is her first foray into modern romance; her modern society looks somewhat different from mine, but I guess I also didn’t grow up on Park Ave so what do I know.
The characters eventually gelled, but I spent the first half of this STRUGGLING to understand anyone’s motivations and also just what was happening. Thomas likes to keep the reader in suspense, which is a great technique, but we need some basic info. Literally every character was keeping significant secrets for most of the book, so there really wasn’t anyone to side with. Dialogue tags were again an issue (it’s pretty cool to read a scene and then get to the end and realize you had the characters flipped. Also odd that that kept working…). This book does deal with some serious mental health issues in what I thought was a sensitive and caring way, and the main character is good at condemning statutory rape, so that’s pretty cool. There is also just a ton of sex in this book. Like, a few scenes short of being straight erotica. (I exaggerate slightly.) Just so you know.
A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas
BOOK TWO, WOO! Characters in this Lady Sherlock sequel seem to have really stabilized, and the dialogue tags and perspective hops are also improved. The story was engaging and the mystery was well-done, although I personally struggled to keep some characters straight. This is partly a me thing, as I identify characters by the first letter of their names; so if there’s both a Paul and Peter, for instance, I struggle. The pacing was slightly uneven (although never boring), and I thought the denouement delayed the actual explanations just a little bit too long.
To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn
Talk about wait lists. Julia Quinn, romance author extraordinaire, has multiple series. Many books. I swear that there’s a wait list on every single one from my library. I’ve been on hold for the second book in her main-ish series for over a month now, and the estimated wait time is still 8 weeks.
Anyway. This is the first book (of two, so far) in whatever this series is called. The story is entertaining, the characters are strong, and it keeps you engaged the whole time. I’m too lazy to do any actual research, but there were some moments that felt very anachronistic to me; Quinn writes in the Regency period so much though, so maybe she knows better than I. Expert that I am. This is a satisfying romance with great heaps of emotion, so if you’re an emotion junkie like me you’ll love this.
The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas
Oh baby it’s book three! Well written mystery that takes its time without feeling stodgy. The reveal was great: not at all predictable, but also not out of the blue. The characters are still strong and ripening like a good cheese. Gouda, probably.
How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn
The second book in the Heiress whatever-it’s-called series. A sweet story with a strong female lead and a good supporting cast. There are classic romance tropes (they’re classic for a reason, ok?), but they’re well done. Satisfying as ever.
The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell
See, I don’t just read romances! Although I’m sure you could argue that this is a romance too: this will make you fall in love with The Danish Way. This is a highly entertaining account of the author’s year abroad in Denmark, and her attempts to understand hygge and to integrate (or not) into the Danish culture. Notably, what is it that makes Denmark the Happiest Country in the World? This book is full of sharp observations, good tips, realistic takes, and witty/hilarious dialogues. I highly recommend this book.
October Reading Roundup Review
Helen Russell has taught me to end chapters with bullet point summaries. Therefore: What do I think about my October reading?
- Romances are great hits of emotion.
- Dialogue tags are important.
- I get stuck on authors.
- It’s now November, and I need more hygge in my life.
