September 6, 2012

Reading - a second love

I have been swiping the pages on my iPad faster than a speeding bullet.   I started reading the 'rose' series by Jennifer Donnelly.   Classified as Fictional History,  I was drawn right in.   This category lines up on par with intrigue and mystery and autobiographies as my favorite reading genres.

First The Tea Rose, 756 pages
Second, The Winter Rose, 704 pages
Third, The Wild Rose 614 pages



2074 pages.......since August 1st......not quite, I am only on 476 of The Wild Rose but I may just a bit more read before heading out to dinner on this rainy afternoon all cozy with a cup of tea (how appropriate) and read about this family from London.    Still I am impressed with myself at the number of pages!   I mean, I do work and I do stitch which both interfere with my reading.   I find I cannot put these books down; I am so anxious to make sure Fiona finds her true love and Seamie doesn't die while exploring the Antarctic and what about Sid, who faked his death and went off to Africa and then California?   What's to become of him and his love Dr. Jones who gave up everything for him?

The story follows a poor London family from the 1880's-90's to, in the third book, we are at the beginning of World War I.   Seeing how the family has grown, their triumphs as well as their disappointments, I find myself reading in the pool (yes, IN the pool as I do leg raises while my iPad is propped on the deck), reading over my raisin bran in the morning, reading while donating blood, at lunchtime...bascially, any chance I get.  Too bad I don't carpool or I'd read on my commute!

In addition to the love of novels with history, this is set in London where I have ties....my very own Mr. W. was born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire,  and his mother and her family are from London.  As I read about Tower Bridge, Kings Cross, Islington (where Aunt Rene and Uncle Albie live),  Whitechapel, Covent Gardens.........I am swept away to when I visited.  (another part of why I enjoyed the Olympics this year as well as being completely enchanted by Kate Middleton...I mean seriously, the girl can't take a bad picture!)

So anyway, please enjoy my recommendation.   Quick, entertaining, inspiring, passionate, star-crossed lovers, heartwarming as well as heartbreaking, with a wee bit of sex.  I think this saga would make an excellent mini-series in the style of the Thornbirds.
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2 comments:

  1. DebSeptember 6, 2012 at 6:12 PM

    Those books have been on my hit list to read but I haven't gotten there yet. I think that I'll pick up the first one the next time I'm at the bookstore.

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  2. SparkCraftedSeptember 7, 2012 at 9:02 AM

    first, fictional history. love you, mean it.

    second, have you read The Thorn Birds? i really enjoyed it. i also enjoyed On, Off by Colleen McCullough (it's WAY different than The Thorn Birds). it's about a serial killer and the quest to find him, set in '60s Ivy League Connecticut.

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Thanks is much for stopping by. I so enjoy your comments even if I do not always reply. Have a great day that hopefully includes a bit of stitching.

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