Reading Heart Liberals

[sally maclennane]

I liked the dog though

[Pippedydeadeye]

This weekend I read an awful book called The Dinner Lady Detectives, that was truly, truly bad. And then I followed it up with the first Lord Peter Wimsey which was much better.

[Bat Macdui]

I have finished Embroidering Her Truth, which is Clare Hunter's biography of Mary Queen of Scots told through fabrics and needlework and it was fascinating. I mean, some of the needlework sections were a bit intense, but the overall sense of the period, and the social and political history as excellent. I have now ordered a book on Bess of Hardwick to follow up. :))

[Little My]

I finished The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst. It was actually a good book to get lost in, even though I don't normally read fantasy. Would recommend.

I'm now onto A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher. Haunted house scenario. It's really not tense or gruesome (so far!) but actually quite light-hearted. I suspect I might seek out more books by this author.

[Flora Poste]

I have finished Embroidering Her Truth, which is Clare Hunter's biography of Mary Queen of Scots told through fabrics and needlework and it was fascinating. I mean, some of the needlework sections were a bit intense, but the overall sense of the period, and the social and political history as excellent. I have now ordered a book on Bess of Hardwick to follow up. :))

That sounds brilliant Bats and just the sort of book my Mum would love - I have noted!

I read a really, really dull book about Bess of Hardwick a couple of years ago - I hope it's not that one you've ordered ;)

[Bat Macdui]

The one I have is by Mary S Lovell, and it seems eminently readable, if a little 'Jilly Cooper does historical biography'. A bit 'by this time Bess was a marketable filly of 15' type of thing. :))

[Flora Poste]

:))

That sounds very readable - the only I read was mainly about her building projects, and could have definitely done with a bit of Rutshire romping to liven it up a bit :))

[Squirrel]

I have finished Embroidering Her Truth, which is Clare Hunter's biography of Mary Queen of Scots told through fabrics and needlework and it was fascinating. I mean, some of the needlework sections were a bit intense, but the overall sense of the period, and the social and political history as excellent. I have now ordered a book on Bess of Hardwick to follow up. :))

This sounds wonderful

[Pippedydeadeye]

I’ve been merrily following you on Goodreads Bats, and clicking all your Tudor stuff as WTR. I do love a bit of Bess of Hardwick.

[wendy james]

The one I have is by Mary S Lovell, and it seems eminently readable, if a little 'Jilly Cooper does historical biography'. A bit 'by this time Bess was a marketable filly of 15' type of thing. :))

That's the one on my list after I saw it in the gift shop at Hardwick the other week.

[Flora Poste]

Her name rang a bell, and I remember I enjoyed her biography of the 'Mitford Girls' a few years ago as well.

[Ismee]

Yes, she was quite hard to take to.

I am currently reading The Dictionary of Lost Words and really enjoying it.

I finished this last night and have rated it 5 stars on Goodreads. It was excellent.

[Kenickie]

I have read Kamila Shamsie's Best of Friends, which was excellent and I'm still thinking about the ending. She is very sharp on people's values and the compromises we make in life.

I really liked this too, and so nice to have female friendship as the focus.

I'm now on How to Kill Your Family. Topsy and Tim always ask what my book is called so had to quickly make up an alternative. ;)

[Pippedydeadeye]

I’ve read another Sophie Hannah and really need to stop. There’s always the first person slightly hysterical woman justifying utterly mental behaviour to herself, and then the bizarre relationship between Zailer & Waterhouse that makes zero sense, and the really 2 dimensional rest of the team.

I’m now reading The Bluest Eye and not sure I can hear up finish it because I did vow to myself not to read any more books with childhood abuse in them.

[Lily]

I have given up with Sophie Hannah. They've become so formulaic.

[sally maclennane]

I finished Trespass by Louise Kennedy today, it's about Northern Ireland in the 1970s. A Catholic woman has an affair with an older Protestant man. I really enjoyed it, although it was quite sad too.

I downloaded the first 3 Slough House books as they were on offer for 99p each so I think I'll try them next.

[Kenickie]

The Bluest Eye is brilliant though, so hope you managed to finish it.

I finished How to Kill Your Family. It felt like it really fizzled out about half way through, the writing was really brilliant and funny and first but it was a bit like it ran out of steam.

[Squirrel]

I'm now on How to Kill Your Family. Topsy and Tim always ask what my book is called so had to quickly make up an alternative. ;)

Oh Ken :lol: this gave me major flashbacks to the toddler/preschool years! “It’s called errr…. Be Extra Nice To Your Family!”

[Kenickie]

I panicked and went for Cuddle Your Family.

[Squirrel]

I knew it! awwwww