It’s WWW Wednesday. This meme is from shouldbereading.
• What did you recently finish reading?
Recently I read two books by BVC authors whose work I’d never read before, and both books were eye-openers and great reads. I went into each of them with no previous idea what the stories were about, and in both cases I was surprised in a very good way.
Changeling by Nancy Jane Moore was an unexpectedly intense story, at times brutal and at times ethereal, in novella form. Margaret is a fierce and independent young woman who happens to be wheelchair-bound. Moore confronts her sexuality head-on in a way that isn’t always easy, but is very true to the character. Margaret has been visiting a strange city in her dreams throughout her life, and is now determined to find it in her waking hours. What transpires is riveting.
Islands by Sara Stamey takes us to a dark paradise–a Caribbean island rife with racial tensions, a blood-thirsty cult, sunken treasure and murder. Susan’s academic research into petroglyphs intersects with her compulsion to find out the truth about her brother’s suspicious underwater death–both endeavors which pull her deeper and deeper into danger. A page-turner, for sure.
• What are you reading now?
When I’m where I can lug a print book around I’m fortunate to be reading an advance reading copy of The Tapestry, the third book in a series of Tudor mysteries by Nancy Bilyeau. Joanna Stafford was a Roman Catholic novice, about to take her vows when her distant cousin Henry VIII destroyed all connections to Rome and took over the Church. This has brought nothing but trouble for Joanna, from the first books, The Crown and The Chalice. The historical setting and detail are fascinating. The religious clashes, of course, turn bloody. Joanna, once again, is caught up in the terrifying politics of Tudor England. Highly recommended.
When I’m running around and reading on my iPhone I’m rushing to finish The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters before the library snatches it back in three days. The setting is post-WWI London and the historical detail makes me feel like I’m really there. I often find myself googling a term or word to find out more, and I like that in a book when the payoff is so fascinating.
This is another case where I new very little about the story in advance other than the time period and setting, both of which I love, so was willing to dive in without reading any more about it. Mrs Wray and her spinster daughter Frances live alone without servants and can’t afford their bills, thus must take in ‘paying guests.’ The strangers that come to live in their home stir unexpected passions and tensions, and bring out secrets from the past. Waters truly captures the breath and life of a different era, and I’m loving it.
• What do you think you’ll read next?
A quick glance at my Kindle app shows a recent download that looks intriguing so I might give it a shot. It has an awesome cover, anyway. Royal Institute of Magic by Victor Kloss. Know anything about it?
