I’m pretty happy with my reading in February, eleven books is a lot for me. Here’s the complete list:
The Blindfold (Siri Hustvedt)
Embroideries (Marjan Satrapi)
The Winter Garden Mystery (Carola Dunn)
Howl’s Moving Castle (Diana Wynne Jones)
High Wages (Dorothy Whipple)
The Manual of Detection (Jedediah Berry)
Aya (Marguerite Abouet & Clément Oubrerie)
When Ladies Go A-Thieving: Middle-Class Shoplifters in the Victorian Department Store (Elaine S. Abelson)
A Rare Interest in Corpses (Ann Granger)
Crime, Gender and Consumer Culture in Nineteenth- Century England (Tammy C. Whitlock)
Bury Her Deep (Catriona McPherson)
I’m also glad about the variety of these books. I read two comics, Embroideries and Aya, which I both enjoyed a lot. I’m actually proud of myself for finally reading comics without feeling like a fish out of water.
Then I read two non-fiction, academic works (for my paper mostly): When Ladies Go A-Thieving and Crime, Gender and Consumer Culture. Both were fantastic, and between them I have most of the shoplifting going-ons during the 19th century in the USA and England covered. I suppose I’m moving from fictional crime to its social history 😀
Doesn’t mean I neglected mysteries though, I read the first Lizzie Martin mystery, A Rare Interest in Corpses, which is also set in Victorian England (my mother didn’t quite believe the research argument here) and then the third Dandy Gilver book, Bury Her Deep, and started another series with Dunn’s Daisy Dalrymple, though The Winter Garden Mystery is not the first installment.
The Manual of Detection is also something of a mystery, very post-postmodern, and though the ending could’ve been better, I loved most of it. The Blindfold is really the only book I didn’t like too much, perhaps Hustvedt’s later works are better, but the summary of this one was more exciting than the actual story. Though if you’re a fan of Auster’s writing, you might love it.
My favorite of the month is Howl’s Moving Castle, how great is that book and why did I only recently find out this book existed? And I finally got my hands on a Whipple novel, High Wages was fantastic, and I even found out more about retail and consumption. Luckily, my expectations were completely met and all the hype is deserved.
This month I hope to put a dent into my LL pile, and finally write-up some reviews.
What was your reading month like? And what are your plans for March?
A very productive month for you Bina ,I had a slow month but making up for it already on third book for this month ,all the best stu
You’re a reading machine, Stu! 🙂 I’ve only finished the Zola.
So many books! I love how your covers have a vintage feel, and most portray women!
Heh, I guess I am getting biased and should read more books by and about men 😀
I took a class with Elaine Abelson last semester 🙂 Her book looks great!
Oh lucky you! 🙂
It looks like you had a wonderful reading month in February, Bina! Congratulations! I love the cover of ‘The Winter Garden Mystery’ and I also love the title ‘When Ladies go a-thieving’ 🙂 Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on these two.
I love that cover too, and the Daisy series is great fun! The Abelson book is fascinating too, and a very engaging read too.
Wow, well done! You had a great month. I’m hoping to read more in March, mainly because I have holidays soon!
That’s great, enjoy your holidays with lots of books! 🙂
You beat my small list for Feb, mine was all about Valentine Day’s celebration of love… yes, historical romances with bustiers abounding 😉
Hahaha, sounds like you had a blast! 🙂
I’d love to read “When Ladies go a-thieving”!
I am glad you enjoyed the Daisy Dalrymple book I gave you.
As to “Bury Her Deep”: I liked the book, but I hope McPherson is at one point going to move away from those rural settings, they start to bore me a bit. As well as her fascination for superstition in the countryside, it is getting a bit repetitive. I am sure there most be others themes she could write about, too?!?
I still enjoyed the book though.
It’s such a great book, I’m glad I got to read it for my paper. Daisy is such fun, you should give her a try! 🙂
I think Bury Her Deep was my least favorite Dandy book, not much of a crime novel and it dragged a bit in the middle. But I enjoy her country settings and Dandy as a character. I’m still curious about the other books in the series though!
sry, the last “most” was supposed to be a “must”
Damn typos! ;D
Congrats on a fantastic month – some really great sounding books here!
Thanks, Amy! 🙂
As always Bina a very productive reading month for you! Out of your list I really want to read Howl’s Moving Castle, it sounds so very me 🙂
Definitely read Howl, it’s so fantastic! 🙂
You are so productive in February!! Did you have to write papers in all of these? 11 books that’s soo awesome! 🙂
Now I’ve got to admit that only two of them were research for my paper! 😀 But comics, cozies and mysteries are very quick and easy to read 🙂