It’s Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and in Massachusetts, that means a Monday holiday for me.
I’ve been reading a lot but not blogging a lot. (Obviously.) For a Library Journal review, I just finished an advance copy of That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron, which comes out in January.
It’s historical fiction based on the life of Lady Randolph (“Jennie”) Churchill — famous for being Winston Churchill’s American mother, but known in her own time for her scandalous behavior and independent streak. It isn’t the kind of book I’d choose for myself, usually, but I got caught up in the story, set in the time before the first World War and ending with Winston Churchill as a young man in his 20s, ready to make his mark in the world.
It will be a good book-club selection, along the lines of The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.
For my own book club for October, I’m reading The Widow’s House by Carol Goodman. It is a Gothic-style haunted house story. I like it a lot, even though it’s one of those books that reminds me I’ve never read Jane Eyre and makes me feel I’m probably missing quite a few literary allusions! It’s also the story of a marriage, which I also like.
My current audiobook is also suitable for spooky October — Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler. It’s first in the Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery series I’ve been wanting to start for several years. Set in modern-day London with flashbacks to the time of the Blitz and the first murder case solved by the police detective team, Arthur Bryant & John May of the Peculiar Crimes Unit, it has a Gothic feel, as well as the clever banter of the X-Files duo.
For my genre study group, I’ll also be reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein this week. This year we’re reading young adult fiction, and our first meeting will focus on historical fiction. The benchmark title that the whole group will read is The Book Thief. Coincidentally, my second title choice also has “Thief” in the title, which I just noticed! Everyone knows The Book Thief, but The Pearl Thief is a prequel to the books Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, also set during World War II.
I guess I’m on a World War II kick! What are you reading this week?
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (#IMWAYR) is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It’s a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever-growing TBR pile! This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at Book Date.