Despite all the crazy goings-on at my place lately, or perhaps because of them, I have found myself accumulating a pile of books and magazines which need to be read! Because they all look so appealing the hardest decision has been which ones to read first. Eventually I decided that the library books, particularly those with reservations on them, would take priority. But I've still sneaked a peak at the others! So here's a quick review:
Spaces by Frankie Magazine - this is a bumper special-edition magazine packed full of beautiful photo's of interiors from around the world, including Melbourne. It has a strong Frankie-esque leaning to the vintage, eclectic, retro and quirky, so I find myself browsing it over and over and finding new little things to covet.
Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs - I've always been a bit of a fan of Reichs, and although the original series premise is getting a little repetitive and predictable, I still read each new story about Dr. Temperance Brennan. This story is set in North Carolina in the car racing scene and introduces a potential new love interest in former detective Gallimore. The sexual tension is set for further developments in the next series installment. A quick and enjoyable read if you like your crime with some detailed forensic analysis and post mortems.
Nancy Wake by Nancy Wake - this is subtitled 'The autobiography of the woman the Gestapo called the White Mouse' but I haven't got that far into it yet. To date Nancy Wake is in Paris in her late teens, enjoying the carefree mid-war lifestyle and the men and women friends who come into her life, with beginnings of tales of persecution in neighboring countries. It has overtones of Phryne Fisher except that it's all real in a brisk, very matter-of-fact manner. There is a confident style of story-telling and I'm looking forward to dipping back into this book which promises some astonishing twists and turns as an Australian war hero recalls this period of her life.
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks - I am about a quarter into this and the story so far is intriguing. It reminds me of the language of a Tracy Chevalier period story with a very early Western crossed with Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' - but then there is so much more. This story, inspired by the real life of the very first Native American Indian to attend university, is written from the perspective of a young white pioneer girl who is bound by the expectations of her time, namely servitude and obeyance, yet drawn to the mysteries of the ways of the local indians on the island now known as Martha's Vineyard. It's the mid 1600's and we know how history plays out for both the pioneering and indian groups, but this glimpse into a piece of that history is engrossing and beautifully written.
Country Style magazine - I've just discovered that the December issue of this magazine is now available so this November edition is perhaps dated, but then, this is the type of magazine I can dip into again and again, months, even years later. It's aspirational and over-stylised but it reflects part of my own style and it's good escapism.
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