My reading progress has been significantly better during September and October, so it seems like a good time to get back into blogging with some thoughts on how it’s all been going.
SEPTEMBER
- Books read = 5
- Pages read = 1739
- Goodreads challenge progress = 75% of my target
Book of the Month:
The Quest for Queen Mary by James Pope-Hennessy as edited by Hugo Vickers.
Pope-Hennessy was commissioned to write a biography of Queen Mary in 1959, a book which I have read and enjoyed; beautifully written and very discreet. In writing the book, he travelled around the UK and Europe meeting friends and family and taking copious notes, most of which are included in this book and contain his own observations as well as a number of topics which he either hinted at or left out altogether. The question he seems to have been asked more than once was whether the Duke of Clarence was suffering from syphilis at the time of his death.
Favourite anecdote, from a dancing class Princess May (as she then was) attended:
One of the most embarrassing exercises was to go around the room alone in turn, making a curtsey. Princess May said “Well goodness, that’s one thing I shall never have to do.” She was told to think again remarked Lady Reid.
OCTOBER
- Books read = 7
- Pages read = 2254
- Goodreads challenge progress = 88% of my target
I made myself a nice long spooky reading list for October, not because I thought I would read them all but to give me some options. I like to have options.
I re-read A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny because that’s what I do in October. It is still awesome and will be back next year.
Book of the Month
The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay. Not so much frightening as it is sad and moving, I became totally absorbed in this novel after taking a while to get into it. Once I was settled with the characters I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Favourite quote:
A book is a coffin because it holds a body, sometimes more than one, and we readers are there to witness, mourn and celebrate.
Currently Reading
- The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America’s Wildlands by Jon Billman – I have only just started this but am already convinced that as the MFM ladies would say, we should stay out of the forest
- Cthulhu Resurgent by David Conyers – the second volume of the collected Harrison Peel stories; we all need some Elder Gods for the spooky season, don’t we?
What have you guys been reading lately?
Bride of the Book God 2 
Ahahaha I am definitely very happy to stay out of the forest. I’ve been reading this book about abortion rights and anti-sterilization activism (it’s okay; the author hasn’t married the two pieces together very well!), and then I’m reading Activities of Daily Living, and I just finished A Murder Is Announced, which is the first Agatha Christie book I’ve read in years and I had a grand old time with it.
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A Murder is Announced is an excellent story, and adapted by the BBC starring Joan Hickson, the best Miss Marple. My absolute favourite Christie ( and I love her deeply so there’s lots of competition) is Nemesis. Re-rad it every so often (and must be due to pick it up again soon!)
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