September has passed and we have been travelling around in our camper van. Visiting Montenegro, Albania and Greece, where we are now. I prepared for the Greek trip by buying a few books related to the Greek gods and classical times. I started out very slow with the reading in September, but managed eight books in the end.
The Forsyte Saga
I finished the last five books in the series: In Chancery, Awakening, To Let, The White Ape and The Silver Spoon. The two last books seem to be a continuation of the original saga. I found them slightly less interesting than the earlier ones. However, the saga is fantastic, and it was such an easy read. Still felt rather up to date today, when you look at the British society.
The Greek books
Circe by Madeline Miller (read in August)
Ithaca by Claire North
Electra by Jennifer Saint
I did not like Ithaca by Claire North at all. Maybe because I find the story of Penelope rather boring. Although, I must say that North made her into a woman of action, and seemingly in control, trying to overcome the suitors' attention. Adding a political aspect to the situation, even including a visit from Elektra and Orestes, in their search of their mother Clytemnestra. Although the prose is beautiful, possibly with a little bit too much of lyrical descriptions, the story as such did not interest me.
I loved Jennifer Saint's Ariadne, so was eager to read more by her. I still have Atalanta to read. I did like Elektra as well, but still think I prefer Ariadne. It tells the story of Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra. I don't know why she decided to call the book by Elektra's name since I have a feeling the other two characters are more present. Beautifully written, with three excellent portraits of the women and their sorrows. Review will come.
Thrillers
A summer has to have a few thrillers on the reading list. I managed to bring two very good, and thrilling ones, from my TBRs.
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. On the list for 25 best books of the 25 last years by Greg at Supposedly Fun, I was lucky to have brought this one with me on my trip.
"Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby, a "baby farmer," who raised her with unusual tenderness, as if Sue were her own. Mrs. Sucksby’s household, with its fussy babies calmed with doses of gin, also hosts a transient family of petty thieves—fingersmiths—for whom this house in the heart of a mean London slum is home.
One day, the most beloved thief of all arrives—Gentleman, an elegant con man, who carries with him an enticing proposition for Sue: If she wins a position as the maid to Maud Lilly, a naïve gentlewoman, and aids Gentleman in her seduction, then they will all share in Maud’s vast inheritance. Once the inheritance is secured, Maud will be disposed of—passed off as mad, and made to live out the rest of her days in a lunatic asylum.
With dreams of paying back the kindness of her adopted family, Sue agrees to the plan. Once in, however, Sue begins to pity her helpless mark and care for Maud Lilly in unexpected ways...But no one and nothing is as it seems in this Dickensian novel of thrills and reversals.It is an excellent thriller which takes you in different directions and it is only at the very end that you know what will happen."
You think you know exactly what is happening in this novel, but you are wrong. Before the end the story develops into different directions, and once you think you know where it's going, it goes in another direction. Excellent thriller that keeps you stuck until the very end.
Trace by Patricia Cornwell, I have had on my TBRs for ages. I think I have read another book by her. This one was very hard to put down, and I read it over two days, although a rather thick book, and I had other things to do.
"Dr. Kay Scarpetta, now freelancing from South Florida, returns to the city that turned its back on her five years ago. Richmond, Virginia's recently appointed chief medical examiner claims that he needs Scarpetta's help to solve a perplexing crime. When she arrives, however, Scarpetta finds that nothing is as she expected: Her former lab is in the final stages of demolition; the inept chief isn't the one who requested her after all; her old assistant chief has developed personal problems that he won't reveal; and a glamorous FBI agent, whom Scarpetta dislikes instantly, meddles with the case.
Deprived of assistance from colleagues Benton and Lucy, who are embroiled in what appears to be an unrelated attempted rape by a stalker, Scarpetta is faced with investigating the death of a fourteen-year-old girl, working with the smallest pieces of evidence --- traces that only the most thorough hunters can identify. She must follow the twisting leads and track the strange details in order to make the dead speak --- and to reveal the sad truth that may be more than even she can bear ..."
I really enjoy the characters that surrounded Scarpetta, as well as the lady herself. The story was engaging, and very mysterious. A lot of forensic stuff that shows that Cornwell is well researched. Maybe, there was slightly too much details and side stories here and there, but I could not put this book down. Certainly, have to look for more books by her.
Well, that was my reading in September. I have no special plans for my October reading, more than reading Atalanta and the other books that I have brought with me. Trying to leave them behind as they have been read, hoping to have some words via BookCrossing.