Weekly Reading Round Up
Usually, around Halloween, I like to go and read through my favorite ghost stories. It’s become something of a tradition for me to re-read The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House (so much better than the movie version!). But this year, what with the France trip, I’m a little behind on my Halloween reading.
In the meantime, here’s what I’ve been reading this week:
– The Blessing, Nancy Mitford.
For the longest time, I wanted to be Nancy Mitford when I grew up– or at least write like her. She writes deliciously funny social satires set around the 1940′s and 50′s. The Blessing is about an Englishwoman who marries a Frenchman and the misunderstandings and complications that ensue.
– Don’t Tell Alfred, Nancy Mitford.
The sequel to In Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate, the narrator suddenly finds herself shuttled off to Paris as her husband is unexpectedly appointed Ambassador to France. Beautiful scathing send-ups of Parisians, Americans, Beatniks, “Teds”, and Etonians. So much fun.
– Almost French, Sarah Turnbull.
Thanks so much, Jessica, for the suggestion! This was the perfect reading for the plane to France, the memoir of an Australian who fell in love with a Frenchman and went to live with him in Paris, entirely unprepared for Gallic ways. What fascinated me was how much overlap there was with Mitford’s The Blessing in the descriptions of French peculiarities– plus ca change?
– The Elusive Pimpernel, Baroness Orczy.
Once again, Chauvelin seeks him here, there, and everywhere.
– Bitter is the New Black, Jen Lancaster.
I picked this up on a whim as I was looking for Almost French in the “memoir” section. I now have an extreme case of New Favorite Author syndrome. Yes, it is that good.
– The Affair of the 39 Cufflinks, James Anderson.
Classic, golden age English detective story.
– Such a Pretty Fat, Jen Lancaster.
Have a I mentioned that I have a new favorite author?
What have you been reading? And does anyone have any good Halloween reading suggestions?
