Recent reading

[luzula]

Not getting much reading done, for reasons of moving and getting things set up at the new place, which is keeping me terribly busy! Things are so far going well with the two housemates who have moved in.

The Hidden Hand by E. D. E. N. Southworth (1859)
I listened to the Librivox recording, which was good! This is enjoyable over-the-top melodrama, which I will not attempt to recap, because skygiants has already done it so well. It has long-lost heirs, madcap adventures, villains who literally twirl their moustaches, an improbable amount of coincidences, etc. The main character, Capitola, is a most plucky and enjoyable heroine, and really makes the book. (Although the book is set in the slave-owning southern US, and I was jarred by occasional sentences along the lines of "he had been away from his estate, so probably all the slaves had been lazy while he was away".)

Two Weddings and Several Revelations by L. A. Hall (#4 in Clorinda Cathcart's Circle, 2019)
Some comfort reading for when I was moving, and indeed it provided! I love having these books as a go-to. In this volume: the younger generation coming of age, and buried family secrets coming to light.

Comments

[osprey_archer]

Capitola is such a delight. Living as a boy on the streets of New York! Pluckily outwitting everyone who plots against her! Defying her guardian whenever he tries to make her settle down and act like a nice young lady! I love the bit where Southworth, after a few non-Capitola chapters, is like "my readers have probably been missing Capitola, and so have I," because she is SO right.

[luzula]

I love the bit where Southworth, after a few non-Capitola chapters, is like "my readers have probably been missing Capitola, and so have I," because she is SO right.
Ha, yes, that was great! Also, there are all the chapter titles which alliterate or pun on "Cap". : D

[seascribble]

Glad the move is going well!

[luzula]

It's going well, but I am SO BUSY. Like, every moment of the day taken up by tasks of various kinds, but that's what it's like to move, I guess!

[chestnut_pod]

Hope all the furniture-moving and kitchen-organizing etc. is going well!

[luzula]

It is, thank you! Just organized my shelves of books about plants, lichens, fungi, insects. : )

[skygiants]

ahh, Capitola! truly never a dull moment with our friend Brooklyn's greatest girl newsie heroine

[luzula]

Yes, Capitola's charm was considerable! Thanks for reccing the book.

[china_shop]

So glad to hear things are going well! <3

[luzula]

They are, thank you! We just found out the fourth member of the household will not be moving in until spring, though...so I guess we'll try to find someone else temporarily.