It’s been another lean month book-wise. Yes, I’m still juggling the extra role in the day job and am so brain-dead from the day that at night I’m barely managing to read a chapter. As this post goes to virtual print though, I’m in Sydney training someone to take over one of those roles. There is, as they say, a light at the end of the tunnel.
What I did read, however, I enjoyed. Thoroughly.
The Emporium of Imagination, by Tabitha Bird
If ever there was a title that screamed my name, it’s this. While I’m not usually into magic realism, that is exactly what this is. It’s also about grief – for lost loved ones, broken dreams, broken hearts – and I wasn’t expecting that.
Having said that, it’s also beautiful and uplifting and restorative.
The Last Summer by Karen Swan
In 1930 the final 36 inhabitants of St Kilda, a remote archipelago in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, were evacuated (at their own request) to the mainland. This novel, the first in a trilogy, follows the story of Effie Gillies, her life on the island in that last summer, the emotional (and for Effie) tragic wresting from the island, the secrets she’s keeping, and an impossible love story.
At times this is hard to read and there were times I had to look away and skip through, but on googling the evacuation those events I couldn’t unsee occurred and I do understand why Swan included them – they pack an emotional punch.
Karen Swan is a go-to author for me and writes a depth of feeling that has me looking on in awe.
The Buccaneers, by Edith Wharton
I first read The Buccaneers after I watched the BBCTV mini-series way back in about 1995 and it captured my heart – although, to be honest, did it catch my heart because I’d already seen the mini-series and loved the characters? I can’t answer that. What I can say is this has been a comfort read for me over the past almost 30 years.
This time around I was reading it with book club. It was my turn to choose and I had originally chosen Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, but we’ve all had a lot on and that seemed like too much of a commitment. I needed comfort so suggested The Buccaneers.
If you’ve read Edith Wharton novels before you’ll know she isn’t in the habit of leaving her protagonists with happy endings, yet this one (which was unfinished at the time of her death) has just that (spoiler alert) … for some characters anyway.
Marion Mainwaring completed the novel in 1993 using the synopsis Wharton had written – and has copped plenty of criticism for that. Would Wharton have held true to her synopsis and the happy ending? Who knows… characters do have a habit of running away with their own ideas.
Anyways, if you haven’t read it (or seen the series) the story, set in the 1870s, follows four girls from America ostracized by New York high society as nouveau riche, who decide to venture to London for “the season” to improve their chances of making a good marriage with the right people back to America. Instead they all end up getting husbands in England. The girls think they’re marrying for love, but things are more complicated than that – as these things usually are.
This is about class – on both sides of the Atlantic – and money and the marriage of the two. It also depicts what was going on at the time with American money marrying British nobility. Some of England’s great houses might not have survived without the injection of American money through marriage. The matches between Consuelo Vanderbilt and the Duke of Marlborough and Jenny Jerome and Randolph Churchill were apparently models for Wharton’s characters.
As well as being about class and marriages of convenience, Wharton’s primary message in The Buccaneers is the cost of happiness – or, more specifically, the price women must pay to be happy or independent and whether that price is worth paying.
Apparently Apple TV are remaking the mini-series, but if you get a chance find the BBC 1995 one (it’s on YouTube and, I think, US Netflix) … it’s an absolute delight … and perfectly cast.
Non-Fiction
I listened to this one on Audible and really enjoyed it. Aside from the fact that I could listen to Sam Neill read the phone book to me (are phone books even published these days?) I love his philosophy on life and the look into growing up in regional New Zealand.
Cookbooks…
Lucy Tweed’s Every Night of the Week was one of my most used books in 2022 so I was quick off the mark to pre-order her new veg version when my boss gave me a Dymocks voucher a couple of months ago.
It arrived last week but because I’ve been away in Sydney I haven’t had a chance to cook anything from it yet, but have been through it and have filled it with post-it stickers.
I also downloaded The Ultimate Fast 800 recipe book. By Dr Claire Bailey (who is Dr Michael Mosley’s wife) and Justine Pattison, it’s full of dishes that pack a lot of flavour punch for not a lot of calories. While many of these are variations on dishes we already make, I’m not great with boundaries and portion sizes (the understatement of the century) so need to start measuring things like this.
Your turn…
Deb, Donna, Sue, and I would love you to share what you’ve been reading…the linky is below.
And Anyways... 
Hi, Jo – Despite having an insanely busy past month you’ve snuck in some great books. I will definitely check out Lucy Tweed’s book — it sounds like something that I would greatly enjoy. Do you think that Cookbook Confidential Book Club could handle another veg-based book?! 😀
You would love Lucy Tweed’s. She has a great irreverent voice and her food is always full of flavour. I originally found her via her instagram.
You had me at “irreverent voice!” 😀
I’ve requested your first two reads at the library already. History and fiction are my favourite combo. I will try to watch The Bucaneers. A while ago I read The Last Dance of the Debutante and found it interesting.
I hope you find the Buccaneers. It’s a story I love.
Hi Jo, I’m glad you could get some reading time in to combat the stress at work. When I read the title The Emporium of Imagination I immediately thought ‘yep’ this is one for my list. Also I’m going to be reading The Last Summer because I love anything set in Scotland and it sounds like an interesting read. I also like the two cookbooks you’ve mentioned. Although I could healthy meals it is more important now with both of us needing to watch what we eat. Thanks for two years of co-hosting WOYBS? It was and still is a fabulous idea so here’s to another 2 years of link ups. x
I really think you’d enjoy both of those books, but especially the Karen Swan. Where have those 2 years gone?
Hi Jo, I haven’t read any Edith Wharton but obviously heard of her. I like the idea of starting out by watching the TV dramatisation. All the rest of your reads this month sound intriguing too, plus I like the look of the two cook books. I hadn’t realised Dr Michael Mosley’s wife had written a cook book. Thanks for sharing
Yes, she does all the recipes for his Fast 800 plan… I have a couple by her.
I will have to look for that cook book at the library and give it a go
Hi Jo, The Emporium of Imagination appeals to me, mainly for the title if I’m honest! WI’ve just been in blogging challenge about imagination so this is perfect on many levels. I also enjoyed The Buccaneers and watched the Youtube series which I really liked, may thanks for the heads up on that one. It’s been a great 2years of WOYBS and you always have great recommendations. I LOVED your second Philly book but you already know that!
I really enjoyed the BBC series. I think in watching it you don’t notice the change of author as much as you do when you read the book.
The Buccaneers is a good choice. I also enjoyed it (both the BBC production and the book)
Apparently Apple are redoing the mini series… I’m not sure what I think about that.
I’ve had a tough time getting my reading done lately too. The Emporium of Imagination looks very interesting and one I may check out sometime. I’ve never read Edith Wharton, but seeing what bloggers are saying about The Buccaneers is tempting me!
The Emporium was very different to what I normally read…and that was a good thing. Thanks for dropping by.
Yay for a light at the end of the tunnel! I’ll have to look for that Sam Neil book on audio; that sounds fabulous.
I think audio really makes memoir come alive (especially with a voice like his…)
I would have looked at the cover of the Tabitha Bird and given it a swerve but you’ve sold me on it. Sounds interesting. Might check out – I have a weird interest in grief. Probably because my stories on it get published so it’s ego at play – ha!
Whereas the cover is right up my alley, but magical realism is absolutely not.
I like the look of the book about St Kilda – that island and its evacuation has always fascinated me!
It’s something I hadn’t been aware of up till now, so sent me tumbling down that rabbit hole.
I’m very pleased to know you are seeing light at the end of that overwork tunnel! I’m not joining in Bookshelf this month as I’ve been getting my new look up on my blog and ready for link up next week!FYI it’s now open 12 hours longer too! I’ve been getting into fiction via Audible and loved The Bookbinder of Jericho so much I have gone back to trying the Dictionary of lost words by same author. In non fiction listened to, and have the actual book because it is useful from Dr Rebecca Ray, who lives on Sunny Coast too, called Setting Boundaries because I need to know more about the how! Hope you get some more cooking and writing time!
Hi Jo, The Last Summer is going on my list. It sounds like something I’d enjoy. I didn’t link up this month as I’m not seeing too well due to the probs with my eyes. Couldn’t resist popping in.
“I’m not great with boundaries and portion sizes” – same, girl. Same. What do you mean half a cake isn’t one serving?!
I’m intrigued by The Last Summer. I’d never heard of the evacuation of St. Kilda. Will have to read up on that.
Hi Jo – not a comment about the books – just a quick one to say that I’m so happy to hear that you’re able to step back a bit from your insane workload and regain a little bit of leisure time. I hope your new person works out and everything goes smoothly so you have more time for reading and chilling (and baking, and writing, and painting, and walking, and….)
Pinned and added The Emporium book to my Goodreads to-read shelf. I am generally a fan of historical fiction but this sounds good, I like the words in the title, like the cover and appreciate that you enjoyed the book.
The title did it for me!