Simon is at it again, spreading his meme about to the delight of bloggers feeling too lazy at the end of the week to come up with anything original of their own. I loved this meme when he came up with it in the spring, had great fun doing it then, and certainly couldn’t resist doing it again now!
1.) The book I’m currently reading:
An Appetite for Life by Charles Ritchie – I adore Ritchie’s diaries and this is the earliest volume, covering the years from 1924 – 1927, and I haven’t read it in ages. I am finding young Charles (age 17 – 21 here) absolutely delightful and am copying out scads of fabulous quotes as I’m going through.
Miss Buncle’s Book by D.E. Stevenson – Well, I finally read it. It has some charm but, honestly, I found it a bit rambling and entirely forgettable. More than anything, this made me long for Stevenson’s Mrs. Tim – so much more entertaining than Miss Buncle or anyone she encounters – and Angela Thirkell’s novels, which handle both writers and gossipy neighbours with far greater style and humour.
3.) The next book I want to read:
Swiss Sonata by Gwethalyn Graham – I’ve had this one out from the library for some time now but keep getting distracted by my own books. However, I’m still eager to read this novel, Graham’s first, set at a girls’ boarding school in Switzerland in 1936.
4.) The last book I bought:
The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope – The building up of my Trollope library continues and I now have all six of the Palliser novels.
5.) The last book I was given:
Mr. American by George MacDonald Fraser – My aunt gave this ‘riotous Edwardian caper’ to me on loan. It’s one of her favourites and I’m quite looking forward to it.
Nice choices! and isn’t it a great meme — I’ve just done it too: http://harrietdevine.typepad.com/harriet_devines_blog/2011/10/one-book-two-book-three-book-fourand-five-again.html
Look forward to hearing about the Trollope — I really should read more of him.
It is definitely a great meme! I’ve still only read one Trollope but, now that I’m all stocked up, am looking forward to reading many more.
I thought I was a lone voice on Miss Buncle’s Book! It was diverting enough, but I thought the writing quite poor, and not in the same league as Mrs. Tim – felt as though they were by different authors. The idea behind Miss Buncle’s Book was so good that that carried the novel for me, but like you I kept wishing a different writer had come up with the idea! EM Delafield was my choice…
I agree, it’s hard to imagine that Mrs Tim and Miss Buncle share a creator, which is such a shame since I adore Mrs Tim! Thirkell has so many writers people her books that every time something was said about writing or publishing, it was always something I’d heard Thirkell express before and far better. Still, it was, as you say, diverting and will certainly be reading Miss Buncle Married.
Great to see what everyone is reading, has been reading and really wants to read. Adds the never ending wishlist.
Oh, the ever expanding wishlist! Glad to help add some titles to it.
I’ve never read Charles Ritchie’s diaries, but you’ve certainly made me want to run out and find this one. And perhaps his others. My favourite non-fiction reading is women’s 20th century diaries and memoirs and bios, so I’m happy to admit this career diplomat, though a man, to this group.
I love Ritchie. I developed a slight obsession with The Siren Years when I was in my early teens, reading it four or five times a year. It’s still my favourite volume of his diaries but they are all excellent.
Miss Buncle looks absolutely gorgeous. That cover is to die for and the end papers will be equally good.
Like all Persephone books, Miss Buncle’s Book is very lovely. I just wish the content had been as excellent as the exterior!