February 2022 books read

  • Persuasion – Jane Austen, 1817. Re-read for Amherst College slow read group. Quotes pulled, TBD, plus I watched the 1971 (BBC mini-series, wooden), 1995 (Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds, almost perfect), and 2007 (Sally Hawkins, miscast) versions.
  • Marion’s Wall – Jack Finney, 1973. Watching The Magnificent Ambersons with the Far-Out Film group at Forbes prompted this re-read, because of the theme of lost movies recovered. A great story of past versus present that showcases Finney’s very particular voice – which I love, but a little goes a long way.
  • Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live – Rob Dunn, 2018. Quotes pulled, TBD – loved it!
  • The Grand Sophy – Georgette Heyer, 1950. Comfort re-read of one of my favorite Heyers, partly spurred by the Austen kick. This and LoQ (below) are the only Regencies I like enough to revisit, because they are very funny.
  • Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague – Geraldine Brooks, 2001 – quotes pulled, TBD
  • Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less – C. Spike Trotman and Diana Nock, 2012. Trotman is one of my favorite Twitter follows – she is a fount of fascinating facts! – and how-to-save-money is one of my favorite genres, although I seldom pick up new tips these days. So it’s no wonder I enjoyed this book. The artwork is delightfully retro. There are sequels on travel and cooking which I’ll keep an eye out for as well.
  • A Lady of Quality – Georgette Heyer, 1972. Re-read. I didn’t realize how late this was in Heyer’s career – it’s her last. Not as funny as GS, but it also features the satisfactory outcome of the protagonist squaring away the affairs of young friends that their parents are messing up.
  • East of Eden – John Steinbeck, 1952. Quotes pulled, TBD – weird but liked it.
  • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – C. S. Lewis, 1952. Re-read for #Narniathon21.
  • Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen, 1813. Re-read prompted by Persuasion; normally I’d go on to the other Austens but I have too much else to read!