Books I've Read This Week, Vol. I, Issue 5

I ended last week's column with a brief description of An Imperfect Lens by Anne Roiphe, the story of a French scientist in cholera-stricken Alexandria. I enjoyed it but I wasn't overjoyed with it. I didn't get a great sense of the characters. I felt a bit detached. Having said that, I may try more of her work because I do really like reading science-y stories.

With the advent of the baseball season this week, I've been paying more attention to the TV instead of just having it on while I'm reading, so my list this week is rather short (for me).

On Saturday I picked up Insatiable by Marne David Kellogg. This is her stand-alone suspense novel. At least "suspense" is what I read it described as. I would describe it as an author's self-indulgent exploration of boring characters and ridculous storylines that belong more in a TV Movie of the Week than in a book I'd want to read. I was highly disappointed as I've come to really enjoy MDK's writing. I hope she writes more Kick Keswick books and leaves the suspense to those who know what it means.

Luckily next on my shelf was Death on the Lizard by Robin Paige (aka Bill & Susan Wittig Albert). Susan writes my beloved China Bayles mysteries and, together with her husband, has written a Victorian mystery series about an American woman who inherits a house in England and eventually marries an Englishman. Kate is a writer and Charles enjoys progressive application of science (fingerprints, electricity, wireless). In each book, you follow Kate in one storyline and Charles in another. I very much enjoyed their lastest adventure in Cornwall.

Philippa Gregory, who I've written widely about here, first wrote a trilogy following the stories of the Lacey family in Wideacre then The Favored Child and Meridon. I read Wideacre many years ago before I knew it was the first in a trilogy. So I re-read it and wasn't sure while doing so that I really wanted to. It deals with issues (incest mostly) that make me feel very disturbed and like I need to take a shower immediately. The main character, Beatrice, is obsessive, manipulative and rather unlikeable. I find it very difficult to enjoy books when I don't have much respect for the character. But I soldiered on because I really wanted to read the other two. I've just started The Favored Child about Beatrice's children, Julia and Richard. It's having the same flavor but not as bad, yet.

I've been also reading The Intelligent Traveller's Guide to Historic Britain and am only as far as the Saxons. I know! I'm making very slow progress with this one. I have plenty of time though. My trip's not until November. As long as no one else at the library needs this particular book, I should be okay.

Well, that's it for another issue. My next post won't be for awhile as I'm off on vacation for a week. Catch you then on Books I've Read This Week.