Don't know what is the matter with me at the moment, but I am having one of those reading patches where I cannot fancy anything off my To Be Read pile which is soon to be renamed my MTBRP (my massive to be read pile). I think it must be the cold or something but all I want to do is curl up with a book or books I have read several or hundreds of times and be familiar and cosy. This has happened to me before and all one can do is give into it and then the interest in something new and unknown will return.
So I have been immersing myself in Donna Leon and Guido Brunetti (who I fancy like mad) and Venice and loving it and as a break, having read three in a row, am now re-reading Mr Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange. I came across this when wandering around in Borders in Chicago of all places and have the American paperback version which, like all US paperbacks is beautifully produced and opens nice and easily with no cracking of the spine, and finding I am enjoying it all over again. I have now read all of Amanda's Diaries Of and have liked them all despite the fact that I do have doubts about Jane sequels, prequels etc but it is just so interesting to have a view point of the male protagonist in her books.
The most recent one is that of Colonel Brandon. Much as I like Sense and Sensibility, I have to admit that I do not think Colonel B exactly leaps off the page as a dashing hero and the fact that Marianne derides him for wearing flannel waistcoats, does not exactly enhance his appeal. Of course, we are all spoiled now as we have seen The Wonder that is Alan Rickman portray him in the gloriously delicious film, and really, after that how can one but love him? I think what really appeals about Brandon is the obvious kindness and goodness of the man and you cannot argue with that.
Colonel Brandon's diary tells us of his youth, his blighted love and his care for the disgraced Eliza and her child and his contempt and hatred for Willoughby, who he has to watch win the heart of the woman he loves and keep silent all the while. I have read many of the add on Jane books with varying degrees of interest and pleasure, but do like Amanda's very much and am now looking forward to the diary of Guy Tilney from Northanger Abbey. I have to be honest and say that I cannot really see how this is going to be madly interesting as, charming though he is, Guy Tilney does not strike me as being of particular intelligence or wit (I mean he falls in love with Catherine Morland who, let's face it, is not exactly Mastermind material) but I am looking forward to its publication.
With the exception of my first purchase, I have all these books in hardback as I love the covers and think they are really classy. I shall have to track down the hardback version of Mr D as I would love to have a matching set and, you will note, Mr Darcy only has half a head on this paperback. In the UK, we usually end up with headless women...
Well, back to Pemberly and the sofa.
