After a little debate with myself about which audiobook to start next, I went with High Rhulain which is another of my favorite Redwall books. For the first time in a while though I’m going slower on my morning audiobook than I am on my physical book; I’ve finally started my reread of The Dragon’s Tooth. I’m enjoying it, though just like last time I reread I struggled a bit in the first third of the book and still can’t put my finger on why.

@valiantarcher I definitely agree about Lancelot and Elaine!
Also The Mysterious Affair at Styles is probably going to be my next Christie, so that’s fun!

I’ve got two ebooks going, which is less usual for me but one’s a nonfiction: The Reformation as Renewal: retrieving the One Holy, Catholic and Apostalic Church by Matthew Barrett. The title intrigued me and I liked what I saw in the intro. I need some church history refreshers.

The other is Both Sides the Border by G. A. Henty, which is a reread. And speaking of Henty, @silverlily, I definitely agree about his portrayal of race, and I’d extend it to class as well. I had stuck almost entirely with the ones of his that are set in Europe, (where you will still often see classism but it reads differently when it’s not also race-based) but one I did read and absolutely hated was With Lee in Virginia for the same reasons you list and then some. I’ve read multiple biographies of Robert E. Lee, and know that his character is worthy of some respect (but that’s a topic for another discussion, I think) and believe that a young man who served under him could be a good candidate for an adventure story, but like you say a son of slave owners who has not repudiated that system (especially when, if I remember right, Lee himself was not uncritical of the system) doesn’t read as a heroic character to me. I also happen to think it’s not even a well done portrayal of Lee. Too generically “great leader” and less about why he is/was regarded as great, which had at least as much to do with his principles as his tactics. All that to say, I became more critical of his books after that even if I still often liked the ones in a European setting. I tend to think of the point of historical fiction being not just enjoyment but to spark an interest in the historical period, and Henty did that at times for me and some of my siblings. The best results of course were when the interest was enough to get us reading more than just historical fiction about that time period and give us a broader view of it than one author’s opinions. Not all historical fiction is created alike though. I would much more readily recommend Henty’s In Freedom’s Cause than Jane Porter’s The Scottish Chiefs because when I did research Scotland’s wars for independence I found much more factually correct in the former than the latter.
On the other hand my little brother decided he didn’t like them because he wanted them to be 100% accurate, and if you’re including a fictional character who both interacts with the historical figure and affects the plot they can’t be: they cease to be historical fiction at that point.
Tl;dr: I have recommended certain Henty books before, and in some cases still will, but I’m picky about which ones I like, let alone the ones I’d recommend, and maybe depending on the reader it should be with the understanding that the author has a strong bias towards the English. (I picked up on it without having it pointed out to me, but I was in my later teens when I read them. That may have slipped past me if I’d been a lot younger.) Also my expectation when going into them was lower because I actually expected less history and more fiction. 

@narnian-in-the-north I do think Henty’s battle scenes were the thing I liked most. His background as a war corresponded likely played a part in how well he did those. I agree that his books can be pretty formulaic though there are a handful that differ more widely from that formula. The reason I’m rereading Both Sides the Border is mostly what I call atmospheric research for a story I’m writing, and it does differ at least a little by having sympathetic characters on both sides of the conflict. But then, Henty’s pro-English bias didn’t often seem to come against Scotland.

@narnian78 I read Ivanhoe and liked it, but it has been some time. I do remember thinking some things could be trimmed, which is unusual for me. Rebecca was my favorite character.

@lady-merian That's really interesting about In Freedom's Cause vs. The Scottish Chiefs, the former was one of my favorite of Henty's books and I couldn't finish the latter. I guess you could say I wouldn't not recommend a few of Henty's titles (all European based and generally before the "New World" was "discovered") that I vaguely remember but I wouldn't recommend a steady diet of them, if that makes sense.

@narnian78 I have read Waverley and Guy Mannering and enjoyed them enough to add a few other of Scott's novels to my library, including Ivanhoe, but have yet to read them.

Can't complain too much about a large reading list, @Silverlily. I hope you find Salt Fat Acid Heat useful! 

@Jo, I haven't read any Erik Larson before but I've heard a few recommendations for him before; that's too bad about some of the scenes in the Churchill book, but glad the rest of it was pretty solid.

I'm glad you had a good time with the Barrie plays, @Col-Klink. You'd mentioned that Peter Pan is (of course) his most famous work; do you know if any of his other plays are still produced nowadays?

Eep, glad that Chapter 20 was unscathed, @SnowAngel! I did receive chapter twenty-one this week, so I would expect at least a chapter twenty-two as well for the reasons you mention.
Ah, gotcha re: the Stephen Bly series. Haha, that is a side effect of getting new books. Unfortunately, there have been a few Christies I've read where I'm really not sure if they are first reads or if they're rereads - hope you enjoy The Mysterious Affair at Styles either way.

@Narnian78, I have read Ivanhoe before, but that's the only Scott book I've read.

@Lady-Merian, I hope you find The Mysterious Affair at Styles an engaging and fun read. Sorry to hear you're struggling a little with your reread of The Dragon's Tooth but hope it picks up quickly and you have a good time with it.

I just finished a read of The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. I knew it was an alien invasion story (and knew of the rocky audio broadcast years later), but not much beyond that, so it was fun to finally read such a classic. I was surprised by how short it was (less than two-hundred pages) and how it's more of a survival story in a way. It suffered some from Wells' anti-Christian bias at times, but I appreciated the motivating thread for the narrator and the resolution. I was a bit amused by the fact that most of the characters don't have names - I suppose most of them would have to be invented for an adaptation nowadays.

@valiantarcher Apparently, there was a production of The Admirable Crichton, one of my favorites of the plays, at the Shaw Festival in 2011. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o489-oM9RsA

There was also this truncated radio version in 2009. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Luz8vwamA

@col-klink re Quality Street:

Apart from being the name of an English  chocolate selection, I daresay few people have heard of it.  However we read it in my first year of high school (girls only) in English literature. It is innocent, respectable, and sweet.  We had no real understanding of how careful young women had to be with their reputation.  One scene was presented by older girls in a drama competition. One or two lines, and the girl's intonation, have stuck in my memory ever since!

I'm also familiar with The Admirable Crichton. It's a delightful comment on the English class system. I've seen the film, and possibly a stage production. 

Posted by: @glenwit

I just picked up a copy of The Prince and the Pauper and will be giving that a  read this week! The last time I read it was over 20 years ago so I'm definitely fuzzy on some stuff. 

Now, that book, written by Samuel Clemens (AKA Mark Twain), I rather enjoyed, but I don't know where my own copy went to, after all these years. It did kind of resemble Alexandre Dumas' Man in the Iron Mask, where in both cases there is a lookalike exchange of an incoming heir to the throne. However, the real Edward VI passed away, himself, only 6 years after his father died, whilst Louis XIV survived on the French throne, for longer than 70 years, outliving not only his son but also his eldest grandson. 

Has anyone read Mark Twain's more light-hearted A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur? 

@waggawerewolf27 

I remember reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court many years ago. I remember that I enjoyed that book very much. The Prince and the Pauper is definitely worth rereading.  I still have my old copy which was withdrawn from a school library but was in great condition for a used book. I also recommend checking eBay for old editions of classic novels.  A few years ago I found a beautiful edition of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer from the 1970’s on that website that had vintage illustrations. 🙂

Posted by: @waggawerewolf27

Now, that book, written by Samuel Clemens (AKA Mark Twain), I rather enjoyed, but I don't know where my own copy went to, after all these years.

Funny that.  I could swear I already had a copy myself, but couldn't find it either! 

 

Today I bought a copy of the children’s book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Yes, I do occasionally read children’s stories besides the Narnia books because they give me a childlike experience as an adult.  The Secret Garden has a kind of magic in it similar to the Narnia books.  Sometime I will read the story as it was originally written since I have also enjoyed the audio drama from Focus on the Family very much. I was wondering if the people here enjoy children’s books when reading them as an adult after many years.  That was something that C. S. Lewis recommended doing.  One should love the story even reading it decades later. 🙂

Posted by: @narnian78

I was wondering if the people here enjoy children’s books when reading them as an adult after many years.

I do. In fact, if I made a list of my favorite books there would probably be more children's books than adult's books on it. Or at least an equal number.

@narnian78 I do. I keep the nicest ones, and often scan the shelves in second hand bookshops . Some are books I read as a child (or even first heard as BBC radio serial, broadcast here in NZ), and others I discovered as a young adult. They include 'boarding school' stories, children in theatre, and classics like Secret Garden and Wind in the Willows.

@Col-Klink, neat to know about the productions of The Admirable Crichton!

@Narnian78, it depends on the children's book, but for the ones that are not only to be enjoyed by children, it's often a yes. I actually read The Secret Garden for the first time last year and enjoyed it.

I finished reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier this week. On the one hand, I understand why it's a bestseller and it's well-written. On the other hand, I guessed quite a lot of the revelations early on and

, so I also don't understand the general acclaim.
I've also recently finished a collection of "teen-age mystery stories" (interesting enough, but only a few short stories were fun and only one really stood out) and a reread of a Stand Tall by Joan Bauer as a bit of a palate-cleanser. Not sure what I'll dive into next, but I am thinking about something hopefully more lighthearted still.

Posted by: @stargazer

@jo, that Princess Bride book is also special to me since it contains personal notes from NarniaWebbers at a Moot I was unable to attend. Great times!

I'm also reminded of another book from you, The Heavens: Intimate Moments with your Majestic God by Kevin Hartnett. It's a devotional from an amateur astronomer with the words of a poet. Highly recommended. 

Ahh yes, books that contain personal notes from NarniaWebbers are very, very special, indeed.  

And that book by Kevin Hartnett on the Heavens is a wonderful devotional. Add a recommendation from me for this treasure, as well. I think it was Mother Music who recommended—and then sent—it to me.  

Posted by: @glenwit

I just picked up a copy of The Prince and the Pauper and will be giving that a read this week! The last time I read it was over 20 years ago so I'm definitely fuzzy on some stuff.

A childhood favourite! I just listened to this on audio awhile back. A fun treat. 

Posted by: ValiantArcher

I just finished a read of The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells ... so it was fun to finally read such a classic.

...

I actually read The Secret Garden for the first time last year and enjoyed it.

Cool on both counts, Valia! I think I was introduce to The War of the Worlds when I was in my 20s or 30s. The images in that book have stuck with me for decades. Quite the tale. And, yes, the terrifying radio drama is infamous!

I am so glad to hear you have now read The Secret Garden. As Narnian78 recommended, I, too, speak highly of FotF's audio drama. So. Well. Done! A treasured story. I think Martha is one of my favourite fictional characters. The gal who voices her in the FotF version is darling!

Posted by: Narnian78

Today I bought a copy of the children’s book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. ... Sometime I will read the story as it was originally written since I have also enjoyed the audio drama from Focus on the Family very much. I was wondering if the people here enjoy children’s books when reading them as an adult after many years. That was something that C. S. Lewis recommended doing. 

Absolutely re re-reading beloved children's books as an adult. There is a greater depth to them, as one has lived through so many more life experiences decades later. We have dozens upon dozens of treasured children's stories in our personal library, and I re-read through them from time to time, loving them more with every read. The copies we have of our own are more often than not the copies I had as a child, then read to our own children as they were growing up. Such wonderful nostalgia! 

Having said that, there are a handful that I loved as a child, but now, as a discerning adult, see worldviews or outlooks in them that are concerning.

I finished the Dr. Helen Roseveare and John Bunyan autobiographies (fascinating!) and have begun another 500 page tome (by Erik Larson, 2024), The Demon of Unrest: a saga of hubris, heartbreak, and heroism at the dawn of the civil war. I am only a few chapters in and am already learning so much.

Recently, I had Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman recommended to me. Alicia A led Polish Jews to freedom in Palestine by the underground, as well as having her family brutally ripped from her. Will be reading that sometime this year. 

As well, most days I read a segment from either part 1 or part 2 of Then Sings My Soul (Robert J. Morgan), which compellingly tells the fascinating stories behind beloved hymns of the ages. In preparing a 'Heaven carol sing' for a group in August, I will be using some of these histories to share before we sing various songs.  

Posted by: @valiantarcher

Eep, glad that Chapter 20 was unscathed, @SnowAngel! I did receive chapter twenty-one this week, so I would expect at least a chapter twenty-two as well for the reasons you mention.

 Unfortunately, there have been a few Christies I've read where I'm really not sure if they are first reads or if they're rereads - hope you enjoy The Mysterious Affair at Styles either way.

Well, I had started a respond, but didn't get it posted and now I have chapters 21 and 22 on my desk. I was going to say I think there will be 24 total chapters since there wasn't announcement otherwise and, lo and behold chapter 22 says 22 of 24. That said I am not excited about the rerelease of the series with new covers. I much prefer the original hardcovers.

One of the problems with reading Agatha Christie is I've seen quite a few of the movies and a handful of TV episodes based on her books, so without a list of what I've actually read it's hard to let if the stories are familiar from reading or watching them. For example, I know I read part of the Tommy and Tuppence stories, but I'm not sure which ones, and I've seen the 1980s Partners In Crime show. But regardless I want to read more of them.  

I read two Perry Mason novels borrowed from my sister's collection, I always enjoy reading Perry Mason and the plots are pleasurable to pick back up if set aside for a day or two, which I did.

And then I read a The Man From U.N.C.L.E book that I purchased recently, I had the pleasure of going to my favorite bookstore ever and I bought three of them. There were more that I didn't buy and now I'm wondering if I should have bought them too.   I do know I left a couple books on the shelves that I really meant to buy and I am very miffed with myself that I set them down and forgot to pick them back up. One of the books I meant to buy was a really nice hardcover Richard Scarry collection, my grandparents had several Richard Scarry books and it reminded me of being at their house, oh well, maybe no one else will notice it among all those other books. I'm hoping we will visit the store again before the end of the year and the books I forgot will still be there in the midst of all those other books.

So I finished The Doomsday Affair (the plot was okay, however it had a scene that was not appropriate and so it won't be staying on my shelves), I've moved my bookmark to The Copenhagen Affair, but haven't actually started the first chapter. On the nonfiction I'm rather slowly reading The New Concise History of the Crusades by Thomas F. Madden, forty-eight pages into this one. It's been good so far, I've just have been too busy to read more of it.

Posted by: @jo

 

I finished the Dr. Helen Roseveare and John Bunyan autobiographies (fascinating!) and have begun another 500 page tome (by Erik Larson, 2024), The Demon of Unrest: a saga of hubris, heartbreak, and heroism at the dawn of the civil war. I am only a few chapters in and am already learning so much.

I was privileged to hear Dr Helen Roseveare speak, in the late 1970s (as a guest speaker one morning at my Bible College here in New Zealand). What stuck in my mind was her description of how she and others built or rebuilt the hospital and other places. With her hands already rubbed raw from building, she did the washing and scrubbing for hygienic surgery, crying from the pain. Some time later she and her colleagues were in prison and they were preparing to die and go to be with the Lord. Instead, they were brought out of prison and set free. When they asked why, their rebel captors said she (or they) had helped them and given them medical treatment in the past [and, I think, stood alongside them doing building?], so they should not be killed.