I was supposed to start reading Among Others by Jo Walton this weekend because Kailana and I are doing a readalong, and this also happens to be one of our choices for the Once Upon A Time Challenge, but I have the latest Maisie Dobbs just out from the library and I thought, oh I’ll just sneak in a couple of pages.
Right. A couple of pages turned into chapters and now Among Others has to wait a bit more. I have promised I’ll have Among Others finished by end of May so hopefully I won’t be sidetracked by other shiny new books.
In the meantime, A Lesson In Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear is proving to be another wonderful entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. For this 8th book, Maisie is going undercover as a philosophy professor to help the British Secret Service monitor any activities “not in the interest of His Majesty’s government.”
I love these books in part because of the character, but also because I always feel like I learn a bit more of what life must have been in like in England during that time frame. Jacqueline Winspear adds details about the cars, the dress, all sorts of bits that really help make you feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
I think with historical fiction it must be hard for authors to balance how much detail to add. You don’t want to go over the top and bore your readers but at the same time you do want to create the right atmosphere. These books come across as very genuine to me. If you’ve never tried them you should.
So how about you, have you been tempted by any new books even when you had others in the queue? What did you start?
It’s the other way around for me – I have two new books out from the library that I need to get cracking on, but I got sidetracked by The Dead Lie Down by Sophie Hannah.
I really need to see about Jacqueline Winspear some day. The Maisie Dobbs books sound amazing!
I may have just reorganised my reads just so I could read The Rose Garden the day I received it! Normally I stick to my library dates and deadlines, but I just couldn’t for that book!
Right now, I am just happy to have the time to read any fiction.
Since I was taking 2 grad school classes, the only thing that I had time to read, besides my homework assignments, were magazine articles.
I have a little break right now, so I am reading a book that I started in January for the Civil War Challenge. And I picked up my next book for my bookclub.
I haven’t bought a new book since January!
So, your dilemma is not my problem at the moment, although I wish it were!
Big time tempted by loads of books. You should see the growing pile on the corner of my desk and the long list of library reserve requests! Haven’t had time to start any of them yet though. soon!
Hee hee! This, my friend, is the story of my life. I’ve had about five or six books on my nightstand that I intend to read next, but I keep getting distracted by other things. Those books might still be there in a year…
I just picked up Among Others from the library so I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it. I’m constantly tempted with other books that I have waiting on my shelves or checked out from the library. Right now I have The Graveminder by Melissa Marr checked out from the library and it is all I can do to not stop and read it RIGHT NOW!
I’m always tempted by new books when I have others that I should be reading! Among Others is a book that I really need to read.
ha ha, that’s okay. I read an ARC of the new Maisie book, so I know how wonderful it is! Now I am caught up and have to wait…
Can’t wait for the new Maisie! And, of course, I am not only tempted, but often succumb to reading books that intrigue me, even with others waiting in the que!
I’ve been tempted by so many books, but I’m sticking with my current read since it’s a book club selection. And it’s very good! I’m reading Cutting for Stone. Have you read it? What’s calling to me? Faith by Jennifer Haigh. One Hundred Names for Love by Diane Ackerman. Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende. Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens. I’ll stop now. 🙂
I have been meaning to try the Maisie Dobbs series for awhile. It sounds like fun!
I really enjoyed the latest Maisie Dobbs mystery. I like the direction Winspear is taking the characters. Lately I’ve been reading more contemporary mysteries but a cozy sounds appealing, too.