It was a very British month. I spent ten days in the country itself and read a biography of one its most famous citizens, a book by one of its most famous authors, and a romance inspired by one of its best romantic comedies.
Kingmaker: Pamela Harrisman’s Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue by Sonia Purnell
Pamela’s strategic sex life is now recognized by scholars of diplomacy and war as “politically significant.”
I loved this biography. It consumed a significant portion of my reading time for the month, but it was worth it. I am completely enamored by big lives that sweep across most of the 20th century. (Hello J. Edgar Hoover!) Harriman definitely lived one of those lives that began in earnest when she married Winston Churchill’s son. The son was a cad, and the father recognized his gorgeous and brilliant daughter-in-law as the incredible resource that she was. But Harriman’s big life didn’t end with the war, and her love affairs, as well as her victories and tragedies, make for one of the most interesting lives, which Purnell finally gives a fair and honest accounting. Highly recommend.
Persuasion by Jane Austen
“His head is full of some books that he is reading upon your recommendation, and he wants to talk to you about them.”
Oh look! It’s the sexiest line in all of Austen’s novels. I’m in deep with Jane on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of her birth. I was in the UK for ten days on a Common Ground Pilgrimage on Pride & Prejudice. Every day was filled with conversations about Mr. Darcy’s social awkwardness and Mrs. Bennett’s solace in “visiting and news”. Along the way, I was reading Persuasion for this year’s Well-Read Mom Year of the Teacher. And, I’m already planning for next year’s pilgrimage on Emma. What can I say? As a reader, her books are perfect. As a woman, her insights and wit aredeeply comforting. As a fan, I can never get enough.
Now that I have one pilgrimage under my belt, I am even more excited about next spring’s trip to Sussex to read, discuss, and celebrate Emma. These trips are truly special. Yes, they are for readers but they are so much more. We have the most life-giving conversations and form relationships with each other that are truly special. If that sounds like something you need, I hope you’ll sign up for Emma!
Set Piece by Lana Schwartz
“A man,” my mother used to say, “can only meet you where he is. You can’t go on a date with Stef from Pretty in Pink and expect him to be Blaine.”
Read this delightful little romance in one setting. I didn’t realize when I added it to my hold list that it was the work of 831 Stories, a new romance fiction company founded by Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur, who describe it as a “hip, horny Hallmark.” I subscribed to their newsletter, A Thing or Two, for years and love the idea of a more immersive romance universe. 831 Stories offers epilogues, fan fiction, and merchandise all related to their romantic narratives and characters. Of course, none of that would matter if the romances themselves were dull or poorly written, but if Set Piece was any indication, no reason to worry! Inspired by Notting Hill, I loved the characters, and the steamy scenes were fabulous. If you’re a fan of romance, be sure to check out 831 Stories.
What I didn’t finish
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
I know so many people loved this book. I can understand why. The plot is twisting, suspenseful, and dramatic. The problem is it’s set in 1960s Britain, and I couldn’t buy that two mid-century Brits would find themselves on a road confessing their deepest fears across class divides on a random afternoon. I’ve read a lot of British literature over the years, and let me tell you, emotive confessions upon first encounter are not a common element. I couldn’t get past it, especially as the plot got more and more dramatic. I forgot to turn my Kindle to airplane mode, so when my due date came and went, I decided it was a sign to move on. I felt confirmed in my reaction when I told a lovely British friend about the book, and her response was, “That’s probably why it’s big in America, and I’ve never heard of it.”
What did you read in September?
I only finished one book in September. It was a short book but I read it slowly. I used multiple book darts to mark sentences I loved and concepts that were interesting. The book is Walking Zero: Discovering Cosmic Space and Time Along The Prime Meridian by Chet Raymo. It is non-fiction book, the author walks along the Prime Meridian which is in England. He explores historical events and developments of science as he goes. It was a fascinating book that took all that I learned in school about longitude, Galileo, Darwin, the metric system , the Library at Alexandria, and so much more, and put it in a historical context and filled in so much detail. I really enjoyed it. It also added so many places to my long list of where I want to visit in England.
I also read some other books this month but haven’t yet finished them so they will go on next month’s list.
I read "Big Fan" by the same 831 Stories (also in one sitting) and LOVED it. Favorites of the month were Atmosphere by TJR and Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza.