To that end, I am happy to report that my TBR for Seasons of Reading's first readathon of 2021, Winter's Respite, is all set to go. Since February is a rather short month, it seemed best to keep this stack of books small but not too short. page number wise.
For those new to Winter's Respite, the time period is from February 1st to the 29th with both fiction and nonfiction encouraged. This time around, I am including a nonfiction title that also happens to a recent TV adaptation along with a very popular fictional one of late:
THE DUKE AND I: This is the first of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books that the Netflix series is based upon and uses as the centerpiece of the show. While it is set within the Regency period, it's a tad more spicy than Jane Austen(think Georgette Heyer with a twist of lime) but Austen fans who enjoy an extra bit of liveliness should find the show most delightful.
We are introduced to Daphne Bridgerton , a young woman in search of beaux during the London season, who makes an unusual bargain with Simon, the notorious Duke of Hastings. They will make a show of being a courting couple in public, in order to attract more eligible suitors for Daphne and keep away any matchmaking mothers from Simon, who has no desire to marry.
The plan seems to be working out well for both of them, despite Daphne's brother Anthony being less than thrilled about such a rake(also a good friend of his!) squaring around his sister. However, the one thing that neither of them counted on was falling in love with each other.
Having nearly finished watching the Netflix version(just one episode to go!), I am very much looking forward to this book and while I know that not every plot point in the show will be in the novel(there are several Bridgerton books after all), I do hope that Simon's declaration of love for Daphne to the Queen will be in the original story. So far, it's my favorite swoonworthy scene:
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL: James Herriot's stories about his days as a veterinarian in the Yorkshire countryside during the 1930s have been adapted for television before, from the 1970s to the 90s, with folks just coming back time and again to relive these heartwarming tales.
The newest version airing on PBS right now is what inspired me to take this first in the series up and add it to my readathon pile. Plus, this is not just a book of cute animal antics; Herriot also chronicles the rough and tumble times that many of the farm folk had in dealing with maintaining their worn down lands and keeping their ailing yet necessary for work animals going.
How much of the latter will be part of the latest TV take, I do not know but given how long lasting this particular book is, the page turning should be as satisfying as the tuning in for next episode will be:
THE GIRL WITH A CLOCK FOR A HEART: I'm rounding out this list with a pair of thrillers,one of which is a carryover from a prior readathon(The Dry by Jane Harper) that I hope to get to this time.
The other is Peter Swanson's debut novel, a suspense story with old school noir charms. It's been years since George has seen Liana, the college sweetheart who told him her name was Audrey.
That wasn't the only lie she told him or con that she pulled on him back then. George thought she was long gone yet she turns up in his local pub one night, looking for a favor and perhaps more. He knows that getting involved with Liana/Audrey is not the wisest choice but it's one that he's compelled to make.
I discovered Peter Swanson's books last year(Eight Perfect Murders was on my personal best books of the year list) and at the moment, I am in the middle of The Kind Worth Killing, which I borrowed from the library in ebook form and wound up adding to my regular ereader roster.
His work is fast paced, smart and sinister savvy, the kind of stories that need to be movies but some reason are not just yet. At least we have his books to devour in the mental movie theater that never closes:
There is plenty of time to sign up for Winter's Respite(there is a link in the second paragraph of this post) and much thanks to Michelle Miller at SOR for making this all possible.
Look, I know that the world is getting even more treacherous right now but hopefully after the inauguration this week(finally!), we may start to see brighter days ahead. It is going to take some time and hard work for things to reach the somewhat better mark but I have no doubt that we can do this as a united front and nation.
In the meanwhile, it's good to take a break from some of this daily madness and reading certainly is a great way to do that. Also, a bit of wacky fun like binge watching your favorite shows or eating ice cream during the winter is safe, stay at home good times that we can all appreciate:
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