Spell the Month in Books is hosted by Reviews From the Stacks and occurs on the second Saturday of each month. This month I chose from books I read in 2013:
A – A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie (1993). A week's holiday in a luxurious Yorkshire time-share is just what Scotland Yard's Superintendent Duncan Kincaid needs. But the discovery of a body floating in the whirlpool bath ends Kincaid's vacation before it has begun because he is put to work - and one of his new acquaintances must be a murderer. This is the first book in one of my favorite series. My review.
P – The Passing Bells by Phillip Rock (1980). With the success of Downton Abbey came quite a few historical novels, either newly published or reissued like this one, sagas about titled English family who, along with their servants, see their world turned upside down when England goes to war. Once their well-kept lawns and whirling social seasons give way to the horrors of World War I, no one, upstairs or downstairs, is left untouched. This trilogy was definitely superior to most. My review.
R - Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (2011). Towles’ first book is a Gatsby-influenced historical novel set in the 1930s about a young woman whose chance encounter with a handsome banker catapults her into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve.
I – An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor (2007). Barry Laverty can barely find the Northern Ireland village of Ballybucklebo on a map when he first sets out to seek gainful employment there. It turns out Barry has a lot to learn about medicine and about country life from the wily old doctor who takes him on. Wow, this series is up to 16 novels and a cookbook since I read book one!
L – The Litigators by John Grisham (2011). Oscar Finley: street cop turned street lawyer. Wally Figg: expert hustler and ambulance-chaser. David Zinc: Harvard Law School graduate. Together, this unlikely trio make up Finley & Figg: specialists in injury claims, quickie divorces, and DUIs. None of them has ever faced a jury in federal court. But they are about to take on one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the States and it is going to get dangerous. This was quite different from Grisham’s usual courtroom thrillers but enjoyable.
Did you #SpelltheMonthinBooks? What books would you use?
I haven't read any of these but I did enjoy A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles so would like to read Rules of Civility. The Passing Bells does sound good, even though there have been so many similar books around since Downton Abbey.
Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow depict such incredibly different worlds that it is startling to learn there is one character who appears in both books. When some review mentioned that I had to go back to reread. Although Rules of Civility is very good, I thought A Gentleman in Moscow is really a masterpiece. Some prefer the most recent book which is a caper novel, more like Mark Twain. Towles grew up in the next town from me and went to a preppy school more known for its sports than its writing (although a very good school) so I was pleased to read that he goes back to talk about writing to the students.
I haven't read any of your books but did read A Gentleman in Moscow which I rather liked. So thanks for introducing some more books to us.
I always thought it was the first Saturday of the month but I like the idea of doing it on the second since the first is usually already Six Degrees of Separation.
Here is my April list, books with just one (rather unusual) word in the title.
I haven't read any of these but I did enjoy A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles so would like to read Rules of Civility. The Passing Bells does sound good, even though there have been so many similar books around since Downton Abbey.
ReplyDeleteRules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow depict such incredibly different worlds that it is startling to learn there is one character who appears in both books. When some review mentioned that I had to go back to reread. Although Rules of Civility is very good, I thought A Gentleman in Moscow is really a masterpiece. Some prefer the most recent book which is a caper novel, more like Mark Twain. Towles grew up in the next town from me and went to a preppy school more known for its sports than its writing (although a very good school) so I was pleased to read that he goes back to talk about writing to the students.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of your books but did read A Gentleman in Moscow which I rather liked. So thanks for introducing some more books to us.
ReplyDeleteI always thought it was the first Saturday of the month but I like the idea of doing it on the second since the first is usually already Six Degrees of Separation.
Here is my April list, books with just one (rather unusual) word in the title.
I really love the Patrick Taylor books. I've read four, and have the cookbook. Looking forward to reading the rest.
ReplyDelete