Recent reading

[luzula]

The Lord God Made Them All by James Herriot (1981, audiobook)
I was trying out various audiobooks and going 'meh' until I realized that this was what I actually wanted to listen to. A+ vet stories from Yorkshire, charming and diverting as usual, and it's interesting to hear about the advances in veterinary medicine and what a change they made. I am sad that this is the last one and I have now listened to them all.

Flame-Coloured Taffeta by Rosemary Sutcliff (1986)
This, at 1750, is the book of hers set latest in time that I have read (though I think there's one set later?). It has smugglers and Jacobites, so of course I wanted to read it. Young Damaris who lives in smuggling country finds a wounded young man in the woods, and takes care of him. This has all Sutcliff's lovely writing and description, and I appreciated the female protagonist. It's nicely done how she is hovering on the cusp of adolescence, such that what might in a fourteen-year-old have been a full-blown crush on the mysterious stranger is now a childish adventure and fascination but with undertones of something more.

And arrrrgh, World of Books has stopped shipping to Sweden! Why?? And how am I now to get my fix of second-hand British books (like the Sutcliff above)? I really liked their cheap shipping and the fact that their packages somehow got past customs without getting stuck. *mourns* I have implored them to rethink it, let's see if they do...

Comments

[osprey_archer]

Finishing the last James Herriot book is such a bittersweet feeling. It was such a delicious journey, and now there are no more...

I think Sutcliff's latest book in terms of time period is Blood and Sand, which is set during the Napoleonic Wars. But she wrote so many that it's hard to be sure!

[luzula]

I mean, I can always reread (or relisten) in future, but still.

Yes, Blood and Sand was the one I was thinking of, but couldn't come up with the title. I have vaguely osmosed that it perhaps isn't one of her best--have you read it?

[osprey_archer]

Yes, I have read it! IIRC Blood and Sand began as someone else's manuscript, and when the original author died Sutcliff took it over and finished it, which may explain why certain parts of it are very wooden. The slashy bits are VERY slashy indeed, but on balance it's hard to say whether that makes the rest of the book worth it.

[luzula]

Ah, I see! Hmm, yeah, I see why it wouldn't be one of her best.

[sovay]

It has smugglers and Jacobites, so of course I wanted to read it. Young Damaris who lives in smuggling country finds a wounded young man in the woods, and takes care of him.

I've never read this one! It sounds great.

[luzula]

It feels like one of her more obscure titles--I hadn't heard of it until recently, when I immediately bought it. I enjoyed it!

[feroxargentea]

Oh, sorry about World of Books! If I can help by forwarding packages, let me know.

[luzula]

Well, maybe if there's something I can't get anywhere else, I'll take you up on it! Otherwise I suppose there are also other sources, even if they annoyingly get stuck in customs and I have to pay administrative charges etc.

[chestnut_pod]

There's just something about James Herriot. "Diverting" is the perfect word for them; they can head off any gloom.

[luzula]

Yes, there are any number of books which are meant to be relaxing and entertaining which just don't do it for me, but these really do.

[garonne]

I am in the envious position of having read the James Herriot books so long ago that I have forgotten most of the details, and can start them again afresh :D

[luzula]

They are so episodic that I think I will reach that point sooner than with many other books! I look forward to it. : ) Actually I really liked the audiobooks and will probably re-listen to those in that case.