What Books by Women are You Reading Now? February 2009

Well, I ended January by finishing Mansfield Park, and unfortunately didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Austen's other books. Of the 6 books I read in January, 5 were by women -- so it was a good month!

I'm now reading The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. Lots more woman-authored books coming up this month, too.

Halfway through In a Summer Season. It's got that cool British tone which I love. I confess I've rather halted on Lark Rise for the Virago Group but will pick it up in the next day or two. Watching MPT's Tess and Wuthering Heights and the new Sense and Sensibility, my cuppeth overfloweth! Oh, and then there's Miss Cather in the wings!

Remake by Connie Willis.

I finished A Train of Powder by the remarkable Rebecca West.

Now, I am in the midst of reading Lark Rise to Candleford with the Virago group (and apparently doing a better job of it than Cate!). I also am in the middle of a non-vmc edition of The Last Magician by Janette Turner Hospital, but it has been put on hold until I discover where I have misplaced it.

Sometime soon I will be starting My Ántonia by Willa Cather (which was given to me by a wonderfully generous LTer) for Willa Cather month!

*show off!*

Cate, you are not alone. I also have put Lark Rise aside because I am reading my Early Reviewer copy of Drood, which is a doorstopper (over 700 pages). Right now I find that my fatigued brain cannot take more than a book at a time. :-(

:) (Well, it's only because I lost the other book I was reading. . . )

I'm still commiserating with the unhappy Heian diarist in Gossamer Years. I managed to get a copy of Lark Rise to Candleford, but my current schedule is not going to accommodate it for the group read, I'm afraid.

I just finished The Nutmeg Tree by Margery Sharp (I'm pretty sure I heard about it in this group), and I loved it! So sad that it's out of print (I'm so glad that I found one copy at one of the three library systems I belong to).

I'm read Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym. So far, so good!

I just read a couple of pages of Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie. I hope I love it as much as so many other folks on LT did.

I abandoned Out by Natsuo Kirino. I read about 200 pages or so, but it was just too damned bleak for me to continue. I paged through and skimmed some things, then read the ending. I feel relieved to be done with it. If you like very dark mystery-esque novels, this might be one for you as it is well-written with an interesting setting amongst the working class women of Tokyo's suburbs.

I'm reading The Lost Traveller by Antonia White. Last month 7 of the 9 books I read were by men so it's time to fix that!

I'm reading Fatou Diome's The Belly of the Atlantic. I'm not sure I'll finish it. Thus far, there's way too much about soccer and not enough plot or character or much of anything else. I'm not a sports fan at all, so this book may not be for me.

>10 neverlistless:, 12: I loved both of those books!

#9> celiafrances, if you have not read any other book by Margery Sharp, I recommend you look for them. They are delightful!

>15 aluvalibri: Hi Paola! I would love to read more, but the only other book of hers for adults in any of the libraries here is Martha in Paris, so I've put a hold on that. I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for her in old bookstores or sales.

Yes, do keep your eyes open! I might have a duplicate copy of one of her books. Of course, right now I have no idea where it is but, when I find it, I will be happy to send it to you.
:-))

Thanks Paola; that's very sweet of you!

Read first chapter Wild Swans by Jung Chang for 999 Challenge - very good so far.

Continuing Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson for Virago Group read.

Faber Finds have The Nutmeg Tree on a short list of books that they have had suggested for reissue. It might be worth heading over there and doing some lobbying....

Haven't started Lark Rise to Candleford because I have an abridged copy and don't quite know where everyone else is. I'll just read a bit of it and try to string a verb to a noun about it. BUT I am just starting to read Inside the Whale by Jennie Rooney. I continue to read Glendinning's Love's Civil War. It was an ARC and I am not particularly enjoying it because I don't like the male love interest and want to smack the female love interest much of the time. Despite being told to give it up for a bad job, I'm going to persist because I have this thing about being given a free book with the only proviso that I have to say a few words about it. I do like Elizabeth Bowen's writing in her letters but simply can't see by page 286 what she sees in Charles Ritchie.

ETA: forgot I'm also reading The Road Home by Rose Tremain

#16,

I'm hoping to start my first Margery Sharp soon. I recently found a cheap copy of Martha In Paris but have put it on hold as it is the sequel to The Eye of Love. Fortunately The Eye of Love is the one Sharp which is still in print, so have organised a copy to be given to me on my birthday next week! (I.e, have ordered from Amazon, received from Amazon and given to husband to wrap!)

Oh, Soupdragon! You will love her!

Soupdragon,

And the sequel to Martha in Paris is Matha, Eric, and George, which is hysterically funny and has a beautiful ending.

Yes, you are absolutely right, mother urania!

Oh, I forgot. I just finished Ann-Marie MacDonald's play Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). If you've read a bit of Shakespeare, particularly Othello and Romeo and Juliet, you will find this play funny.

What more could one wish for? (:

Looking forward to reading these, even more now! Will report back...

Well, I seem to be on a run of man-books. . . how strange.

I'm on a run of man-books too, but it's not my fault! Blame my school and my book club, 'cause that's all I have time to read.

I'm alternating between the sexes: I've got one foot in Hermann Broch's The Sleepwalkers and another in African Love:Stories: An Anthology. I also have all my toes stuck in other books.

Earlier this week I finished The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan for the January Orange read. Although I haven't read all of Tan's works, I've enjoyed all that I've read and this was no exception.

All three books I'm reading are by women: Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson, My Ántonia by Willa Cather, and The Way of the Women by Marlene van Niekerk.

Christina,

I just looked at The Way of the Women. It sounds excellent. However, I'll have to keep it on the potential wishlist for the moment as I'm in the middle of another really long book.

>33 urania1: Mary--The Sleepwalkers? I have that one waiting TBR on my shelf, so you'll have to let me know your verdict when you've gotten through it.

Today I started The Secret History by Donna Tartt. So far it's very intriguing.

I have read The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen both for the my bookclub.

I'm reading Laura by Vera Caspary, which is excellent--the movie is one of my favorites, but I'm really enjoying the book as well.

I've just started Tea with Mr Rochester by Frances Towers.

I am now reading The Girls by Lori Lansens

I have just finished reading Wild Swans by Jung Chang.Highly recommended.

Next I shall read Six Women Novelists by Merryn Williams.

My Antonia by Willa Cather for Monthly Author Reads.

My last two books were man books (although I will mention that female characters were predominant in both books). Right now I have picked up the thin volume The Messenger Boy Murders by the Turkish writer Perihan Magden, which I am finding to be intriguing and surreal.

I'm reading The ten Thousand Things by Maria Dermout -- it's exceptionally lovely, and is a book that one needs a quiet place to read -- really only available when I'm home alone. But I'm looking forward to immersing myself in its gorgeous landscape of nature and the mind soon.

I'm about halfway through Iris Murdoch's A Severed Head. The title makes it sound like a crime novel, but in fact, it's about love, betrayal, and so on. Like most of the other Murdoch books I've read, the protagonist is male, and a bit full of himself where relationships with women are concerned. He gets his comeuppance right at the start and has to sort himself out. It's quite good.

Today I finished Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, which has to be one of the most perfect, charming, and happy novels I've ever read.

I also read Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto, and it was such a beautiful take on grief and how people deal with it. So much packed into such a little book.

Now I'm reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - it's fascinating so far!

#45 - I loved Kitchen as well and was surprised by how a novelette about grief could be so beautiful and, ultimately, not sad.

fasciknitting, just wondering about Sarah's Key, it is on my to read list.
Thanks,
Heidi

Rereading Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood in between chapters of Lark Rise to Candleford. The two books are complete opposites!! The story of Grace Marks is utterly & darkly compelling (and brilliantly written!) and Lark Rise is a cozy full of astute observations and gentle goodness.

Have just finished The Tortoise and the Hare by Elizabeth Jenkins. This was excellent writing, somewhat in the style of Barbara Pym, although without the wry wit. A fascinating (and apparently autobiographical) look at the breakdown of a relationship/marriage but very quiet, very genteel, as befitted the main protagonist. Acute psychological insights combined with lovely writing.

I just started The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. Too soon to tell, but I have heard great things.

(I have to whisper this so urania1 doesn't hear, but I'm starting The Silent Duchess by Dacia Maraini tonight)

I read With Your Crooked Heart by Helen Dunmore and was disappointed -- I couldn't develop any interest in the characters, except for one (a child), and didn't really understand anything about what motivated the adults. Also, the author's use of the second person ("you did this, you said that") in several chapters really irritated me, and I couldn't figure out what she was trying to accomplish.

I finished The Messenger Boy Murders by Perihan Magden last night. I am still musing over what I think of the book... right now I am leaning towards quirky and offbeat. I am going to have to think about that some more....

Next up is Disquiet by Julia Leigh, one of the books I have picked up based on a LT recommendation.

Reading an SF novel, Enclave by Kit Reed. Reed usually has some decent social criticism in her work.

I finally finished Disquiet by Julia Leigh. I can't believe it took me 4 days to get through this small, 120-page book! It is definitely a 'dark' rather disturbing look at a family that could benefit from some group therapy sessions with a psychologist. That and the writing was disjointed in places so I never managed to connect with it.

Time to get back into more familiar territory so next up is The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie.

Sorry to hear that about Disquiet, I've been looking forward to reading that one. I'm about 54 pages into Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. So far it's pretty good and a smooth, easy read.

I am reading Ann Bridge's Ilyrian Spring. It is a comfy read although I am started to get annoyed with the main character.

I'm reading a rip-roaringly good historical novel, Blindspot by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lapore.

I'm really enjoying Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively. This won the Booker in 1987. In this book an elderly woman retells her life story from her hospital bed. It's wonderfully told.

Has anyone read Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott? I heard an interview with the author on NPR today when I was on a loooong drive to a meeting across the state. It's about Newton and quantum physics and Cambridge -- sounded pretty intriguing.

Oh! I just realized I have a copy of Ghostwalk, Jane. This is what happens when one has so many books (my mother would say TOO many!)

Ghostwalk sounds fascinating. Thanks for mentioning it!

I'm reading Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky for the real life book club. It's a fascinating novel of the German occupation of France during WWll. I'm just at the beginning as the refugees are leaving Paris. Nemirovsky herself died in a concentration camp and left the Suite unfinished. So far it's an excellent read.

Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia A. McKillip. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I read Ghostwalk and enjoyed it enough to keep it.

Started Peking Picnic by Ann Bridge yesterday. I am quite liking it. More later.

I finished The Rose Labyrinth which put me back in my 'happy' book place after reading Disquiet. For a change of pace I am going to now pick up We Could Be Like That Couple, a collection of short stories by Sarah Steinberg.

I am reading:
The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Enjoying them all but Old Filth from my Orange category is taking the lead for now. It's so good.

Edited for typo.

I'm about 2/3 of the way through Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather, and am caught up in her beautiful prose.

>61 janeajones:/62/65 - I also have a copy of Ghostwalk on the TBR pile. I bought it on a complete whim, without reading any reviews, so it's good to hear that urania1 enjoyed it.

I just finished New Moonby Stephenie Meyer. I thought that it wasn't as exciting as the first book.

I'm reading Waiariki by Patricia Grace. It's a short volume of very short stories and it's fantastic! She's a famous New Zealand author but I haven't read anything by her before.

On my list for real time book clubs: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, and The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar. Also looking forward to Tar Baby by Toni Morrison, having just finished A Mercy. On the global list to read: May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons by Elisabeth Bumiller. And in the non-fiction category: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Old Filth by Jane Gardam. I put all my other reading aside to finish this novel. It's the story of a Raj orphan from his birth in Malaya to his old age in England. Lots of interesting characters, a mystery about his childhood, and his mermories make this a most engrossing book. Recommended.

Just started The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty - my first Welty!

I'm reading Dear Husband: Stories by Joyce Carol Oates, along with a man book.

I'm reading At the Still Point by Mary Benson.

After a brief detour to male-authored literature (which was not good use of my time because I didn't like the book and it made me grumpy), I'm now reading Willa Cather's The Professor's House and enjoying it quite a bit. This is for the Monthly Author Reads group.

Just finished Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga -- my comments are on the Reading Globally-Africa thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/52855 . It's an interesting look into African girls and women dealing with the traditional African and colonial patriarchy. I recommend it if you are interested in African society.

Read Disobedience by Naomi Alderman. This was an interesting story about a young woman who rebelled against her Orthodox Jewish upbringing. On her father's (a much respected rabbi) death she returns to London from New York to attend his funeral.
She reassesses the decisions she has made about her life.

79 - I read that about 18 months ago - enjoyed it and oddly was reading it when down in London for the weekend for a (non Orthodox) Jewish wedding - an interesting time to read it. I'm looking out for more by this author.

I enjoyed her writing and wouln't mind reading somethin else by her when time permits.

Finished the short stories In The Convent of Little Flowers by Indu Sundaresan tonight - touchstone not working -. I found the stories stunning and memorizing.
Next up is Snow Flower and The Secret Fan by Lisa See which has hit my TBR pile based on LT reviews/comments.

>79 englishrose60:-80 I read Disobedience last year and enjoyed it, too.

I'm currently about 250 pages into Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman, which is quite, quite good.

I am now reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Loving it.

I'm reading a collection of short stories entitled A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li set in modern China.

I've just finished a travel book called on a hoof and a prayer by Polly Evans. Is very good - and she doesn't look down on the country she visited like so many travel writers do.

I just finished The Technology of Orgasm a scholarly history of vibrators by Rachel Maines. Right now, I am sort of reading a cultural history by Wendy Doniger entitled The Bedtrick: Tales of Sex and Masquerade.

I'm dipping into letters by Marina Tsvetaeva, Rainer Maria Rilke and Boris Pasternak in Letters: Summer 1926.

Finished Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner. This is the 2nd. Anita B. I've read. Both were good & I'm going to look for more of her books.

Finished Peking Picnic by Ann Bridge, which I really liked, and just begun Don't Tell Alfred by Nancy Mitford.

I'm reading and really enjoying the beginning of Mrs Sartoris by Elke Schmitter.

MarianV, the Telegraph just published a very insightful interview with Miss Brookner HERE

What an odd bird she is and oh so interesting! I'll be heading to my shelves to choose another of hers to read.

Blueroses - Thank you so much for sending that interview with Anita Brookner. I had read that she was a bit reclusive. Actually, her answers in the interview sounded like her characters. She does sound like she is reviewing her life & probably looking to her own ending. When she talks about regretting the lack of children - don't we always suspect that the life we didn't lead would be the better?
I'll start looking for more of her books.
Thanks again.

"She does sound like she is reviewing her life & probably looking to her own ending." That is what made the interview so interesting to me having read a few of her novels. For the 'rarity' of the interview and for her to be so revealing, one cannot help but draw parallels with her protaganists. She's 80(!) and perhaps in her very orderly way, preparing for her end. I so agree with your observation MarianV.

Cate, thanks so much for posting that interview with Anita Brookner. I found it fascinating.

I have just finished reading Christa Wolf's In the Flesh. It is quite good.

Mary -- I don't know about In the Flesh -- is it fiction or memoir?? The link goes to the German version, and frankly, my German is so ancient that I can barely call up a bitte or danke. I thought Patterns of Childhood, The Search for Christa T and Accident A Day's News were incredible.

#92 bleuroses. What an interesting interview. Brookner seemed truly happy when she was teaching. Although she regrets not having children of her own she appears to be content with her life. A fascinating woman.
I have only read Hotel du Lac which I liked and I look forward to reading more of her work when I can.

Very interesting interview, Cate. Thanks for posting the link!

er60, I thought about her for a long time after reading that interview...wished she would just go back to Paris and go mad for a while, living in a hotel, seeing art galleries. I've only read Hotel du Lac too.

Hello all. I'm new here - KimB has mentioned this group in passing a few times, and it always seemed like a great idea, and I've finally found you!

I'm reading Obscure Destinies by Willa Cather for the Monthly Author Reads group (but it's my downstairs book, which means I read it when the kids are distracted by something so I generally only get a few pages read any given day!) and my bedtime reading is P is for Peril by the wonderful Sue Grafton. I've read this series out of order over the last five years or so (as I got hold of books), but it doesn't really seem to matter. Very enjoyable crime.

>97 janeajones: Jane: The touchstones don't work for the English version of In the Flesh. I thought the book was fabulous.

Mary -- I'll take your word for it. I love Wolf and found a great deal on Amazon. It's on its way. Now if I can only squeeze a few hours into read something besides sophomore essays. Spring break is coming! Thanks.

I just started The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, so far so good.

Last night I started A Mercy, by Toni Morrison. I'm looking forward to reading more over lunch today!

#101 Wookiebender welcome to LT. I am a big Willa Cather fan and never heard of Obscure Destinies. How are you finding it? I'll put it on my TBR list.

Right now I'm reading two "man" books, but I must say that the heroine (an old fashioned word, I know) April Wheeler Revolutionary Road perfectly captures women in the fifties who struggled with what Betty Friedan said was "the problem that has no name." Hope this isn't cheating!

Welcome to LT, wookiebender (I like your name, btw!)

I have Obscure Destinies but have not read it yet. I will be interested to hear whet you think of it.

#106> thanks for the welcome! Obscure Destinies is three short stories: "Neighbour Rosicky", "Two Friends", and "Old Mrs. Harris". I've read Neighbour Rosicky, and am about halfway through Old Mrs. Harris. (I just went with what I could get at the local library.)

Neighbour Rosicky was a sweet story, but more of a long description than a plot-based story. I liked it (well written, some good poignant backstory), but it didn't knock my socks off. Old Mrs. Harris is proving more interesting, but of course, as luck would have it, that means that the kids interrupt me more often! I think I haven't picked it up all this week!

I'd never actually even *heard* of Willa Cather until a few months ago on one of the LT groups! I'm thinking it might be a cultural difference, and maybe you'd all be thinking "who on earth is *that*??" when I start reading more Australian books. ;)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is one of my favorite books.

#109 soozie2804 - I am finding Snow Flower and the Secret Fan a captivating, poignant read that I am reading slowly to capture every essence!

Just got Kim Harrison's White Witch, Black Curse on my Kindle. I'll probably get to it this weekend.

After having finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See last night, I immediately started to read The Disorder of Longing by Natasha Bauman. That was probably a mistake as I ended up discarding Longing after only 20 pages in disgust. Definitely different writing styles between the two books. I may attempt Longing again at some future date.

I picked up the next book on my TBR pile and have happily curled up in my favorite chair to enjoy the witticism of Paloma in The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. This book will carry me over into the March post.

Read two Elizabeth Bowen books this month. A World of Love and Friends and Relations. Had previously read A House in Paris and The Heat of the Day. Loved them both, though Heat of the Day was a bit hard to concentrate on. Found A World of Love and Friends and Relations nearly unreadable. The language is so complex and her descriptions are so detailed, I felt like I got lost and had no idea who the characters were or what indeed was happening. Was a relief to finish both. Anyone have a similar reaction to Elizabeth Bowen?

Forgot to mention my other female authors in February...
Read Cullum by E. Arnot Robertson, Miss Herbert by Christina Stead, Devoted Ladies by Molly Keane, and Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood. Really surprised by the last one. I loved it.

hj, just picked up an Elizabeth Bowen, my first: The Last September. I'll let you know! And hooray that you love "Lady Oracle". Me too.

#113 - Was a relief to finish both. Anyone have a similar reaction to Elizabeth Bowen?
-------------
Sigh. I think one day I'm really going to love Elizabeth Bowen. I've read two of her novels, and I can see something there . . .

The first one I read was Elizabeth Trout, and it has stuck with me on some level, but so much of it was just odd and difficult to relate to. I read Heat of the Day for the Women and War theme last year. I really had a hard time with it. Here are my comments: see post #72, but Wandering Star's post at 88 is much better.

Really, one day Elizabeth Bowen is going to be one of my favourite authors. I can feel it. But not yet . . . (and by the way, I really appreciate hearing about your difficulties).

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Wow! Now I see what all those good comments and recommendations were about. An astounding novel about the Biafran War from the viewpoint of the Ibo people. This one will stay in my thoughts for some time.

#116
I'm glad I'm not alone!

Reading She got up off the couch by Haven Kimmel. I was looking for something light, like her A girl named zippy Well, this started out light, then took a darker turn. Sort of like "Everything Zippy didn't tell us." But interesting.

>113 ms.hjelliot: & 116: I have a lot of Elizabeth Bowen, but I haven't read any of them yet and am now scared. :) I started collecting them because a character in a Barbara Pym novel said that To the North is her favorite book, and so I started looking for Bowens.

>120 MarianV:: She got up off the couch is a lot darker than Zippy, but I thought it was wonderful. I thought her work was lighter until I read that and then her novels which are very dark but so good: Solace of Leaving Early, Something Rising, and Used World -- these are honestly some of the best books I've ever read.

Over the weekend I finished Nice to Come Home To by Rebecca Flowers, and I'm still trying to decide whether I liked it or not. It appears to be a sort of middle-age chick lit but not really. The more I've been thinking about it it seems like a modern-day Sense and Sensibility, and I'm wondering if the author was trying to do that or if I'm crazy.

#121 >> Celia, the Sense and Sensibility similarity is intentional--I think this info is on Flowers' website. I feel kind of the same as you--I liked the book, but am trying to decide if I LOVED it enough that I'd put that author on my auto-buy list.

I've got a stinking cold so I've been reading cosy mysteries by Monica Ferris and Caper Court novels by Caro Fraser - very comforting and easy when you're feeling below par...

I just started Behold, Here's Poison, one of Georgette Heyer's mysteries. So far, so good.

I am about to start Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman for my 999 Challenge Crime Category. I haven't read any of her work before.

125,
I haven't read Turtle Moon but I loved all five books that I have read by Alice Hoffman. I'll be interested to hear what you think of this one!

I read The Eye of Love and the two Martha follow-ups this month. I enjoyed them hugely and am very greatful to Urania, Aluvalibri and Rob for drawing Margery Sharp to my attention. If only more of her books were in print... I have, at least, just acquired a rather cute if very tatty copy of Something Light. The bookseller bought it as part of the library of children's author Joan Aitken and it has her name and address stamped onto the inside cover!

#126> Soup, I am really really glad you are enjoying Margery Sharp.
If you take a look at my library, and search under her name, you will find many titles, and I can guarantee that you will still find them in print (except Rhododendron Pie, which is ridiculously expensive).

>122 SaraHope:: Well I'm glad I'm not crazy, and I'll definitely have to look at her website. Thanks for the info!

>126 Soupdragon: & 127: I just got a copy of Something Light from Bookmooch and am loving the Margery Sharp too. None of my libraries have the first Martha book, but I did read Martha in Paris and really enjoyed it. She is going to be on my list of authors to look for everywhere I go; it's quite annoying that I've already read the only books (besides the Rescuers) she's written that are in my public libraries.

Celia and Soup, I might have a couple of doubles. If/when I find them, I shall post the titles here and, if you are interested, I will be happy to send them to you.
:-))

I'm reading only one book written by a woman--Jenny Wren by E. H. Young--which was given to me by a wonderful Viragoette (Thank you!!!).

I'm going to say that The Letters of Noël Coward counts somewhat as it also includes letters to him, written by others (some women).

129,
Aluvalibri, Yes PLEASE!!! (you appear to have passed on some of your exclamation marks too!)

130,
I enjoyed reading Jenny Wren in December. I intend to start reading The Curate's Wife soon which apparently is a sequel of sorts but which concentrates more on the life of the other sister.

I am glad I passed on some exclamation marks. Apparently, they are contagious......;-)

I am reading The Book of Salt by Monique Truong, which I find interesting and well written. The narrator is the Vietnamese cook employed by Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.

Hey, I'm Diana and was very pleased to find your group. I read mainly women authors to make up for all those years when I had no choice.

I'm reading Cara Black's Murder in the Latin Quarter.

>134 dianaleez:: welcome Diana! I think you'll feel right at home here.
And you may want to check out our March what are you reading thread.

Just started Antonia White's Frost in May.

I've downloaded some freebies of Susan Coolidge for my Kindle, What Katy Did, What Katy Did at School, and some others, because I noticed Elizabeth Bowen referenced What Katy Did at School in her introduction to Frost in May.

#136 Have fun - I **loved** those books and hadn't thought of them for years! Thanks. Will have to re-read them with my daughter when she's bigger.