Always lots of lovely books in the run up to Christmas though as I get sent lovely books throughout the year it feels like the festive season bookwise for twelve months at a time. Not complaining.
OK so recently received.
In Love and War by Liz Trenow - Liz lives in Colchester and her children and mine played together and it was lovely when her first novel
turned up in my letterbox a few years ago. An engaging writer and I have loved all her books, particularly the Silk Weaver. This is her latest and the background is the first World War. Liz will be returning to the Felixstowe Book Festival next year and it will be great to have her back - her talks are excellent and always well attended.
The End of the German Monarchy, the decline and fall of the Hohenzollerns by John van der Kiste. I have recently been deep in Victorian history and the Kaiser kept popping up, and spotted this on Amazon and thought I must have that as I want to hear a bit more about the Kaiser and his downfall. It covers more than that obviously and I have just started reading it and find it fascinating.
White King by Leanda de Lisle - Biography of Charles I, an intriguing and sometimes infuriating monarch but impossible to read about his death and execution without admiring the bravery with which he seemed to face his beheading. Have read a chunk of this already and it is very good. I remember doing this period of history at my school for my O Level and thinking what a ghastly awful bunch the Roundheads were. The Cavaliers were much more dashing and glam. Yes I know but I was a teenager at the time. Mind you I have not changed my mind since....
Published 11 January 2018
Jane Seymour - Alison Weir. This is the third in her series of novels about the wives of Henry VIII. It is not published yet but I was lucky enough to get a proof copy and devoured it in one sitting. Loved it. And, again, Alison is returning to the Felixstowe Book Festival to talk
about the wife who managed to finally give Henry his desired son.
Published 3 May 2018
In the last week or so I have discovered Val Mcdermid. I was in the library, spotted one on the return trolley and thought I would give it a go. Well you know what is going to happen and it has. I read it in one sitting and then got on line and had the next three in the Jordan/King series sent straight to my Kindle. I am going to go mad and load up all of her titles before I set off on my cruise in January (if I have not binge read them all by them) so I will have plenty of reading matter. Great stuff. Gripping and so well written. A little bit wince making at times with the details, but sit down and do not get up until you have finished type reading. Just the sort of reading I go in for.
More to come and will post again another day.
Au reservoir