tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post8965030407090930060..comments2024-02-10T11:02:03.896-05:00Comments on Reader in the Wilderness: October and November Engagements Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-22938509056678658312019-11-06T17:11:09.377-05:002019-11-06T17:11:09.377-05:00So sorry I haven't replied sooner--I think thi...So sorry I haven't replied sooner--I think this got past me, but thank you.<br />Yes, I have read Cecil Woodham Smith's history. He also discusses it in great detail in his work The Charge of the Light Brigade. I believe scholars still value his use of primary documents to inform his work. It was published in 1962, and as you can imagine, since that time Irish historians specializing in 19th century Irish history have collected and analyzed and scrutinized data that historians in Smith's time had not done. But--the number of deaths has not changed. It's still one million deaths and 1 million emigrated 1845-1852. <br />And Avalon!! Oh gosh, how did I ever persist through that book? It wasn't that I didn't like it per se, it was so long and in various sections tediously so. Still, I am glad I read it. I really liked the Greenland portion. Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-5175926755739746512019-11-03T13:51:17.334-05:002019-11-03T13:51:17.334-05:00My grandmother raved about The Great Hunger: https...My grandmother raved about The Great Hunger: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/284962/the-great-hunger-by-cecil-woodham-smith/ Have you taken a look at that one? She once lent her copy to the son of a neighbor and most embarrassingly made me write to him to get it back, although I offered to buy her another copy. She wanted *her* copy! <br /><br />I missed seeing you had read Avalon! I just finished it a week or so ago. Compelling but dark and bleak, don't you think?CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-9012680002376046622019-11-02T17:28:00.042-04:002019-11-02T17:28:00.042-04:00Hi Ruthiella,
Thanks for the suggestions! I have n...Hi Ruthiella,<br />Thanks for the suggestions! I have not read the short story and will hunt for that. I think it's in one of my Christmas mystery omnibuses, or should I say omnibi? Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-88250562563779610582019-11-02T01:01:33.552-04:002019-11-02T01:01:33.552-04:00If you like Agatha Christie, you could try Hercule...If you like Agatha Christie, you could try Hercule Poirot's Christmas, though there is little about the actual holiday in it. Better for that is the short story The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding.Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-17981272113350699942019-10-31T18:09:53.142-04:002019-10-31T18:09:53.142-04:00JoAnn,
So glad you like the idea of reading it th...JoAnn, <br />So glad you like the idea of reading it this holiday season. It is so much fun. Maybe I'll go and read it again--it's just that good. Happy reading!Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-86767326373999727082019-10-31T08:05:12.392-04:002019-10-31T08:05:12.392-04:00Excellent suggestion, Judith! Thanks. I remember l...Excellent suggestion, Judith! Thanks. I remember loving The Shell Seekers decades ago. Went on to read a couple of Pilcher's other novels, but not Winter Solstice. JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-66953514966763351072019-10-30T18:09:46.915-04:002019-10-30T18:09:46.915-04:00Hi JoAnn,
I don't know that I would recommend ...Hi JoAnn,<br />I don't know that I would recommend Let it Snow, really. There are so many other, much better, Christmas novels.<br />If you have time to read only one, the very, very best and you can't go wrong with Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. It is so incredibly good. I know people who read it every Christmas season, and I have read it twice. It's set primarily in Scotland, though it starts out in Cornwall. Simply not to be missed! 6 stars out of 5.Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-56322223021629453602019-10-30T18:06:01.402-04:002019-10-30T18:06:01.402-04:00Genealogy research is fascinating and, as you migh...Genealogy research is fascinating and, as you might have guessed, is extremely pain-staking and time-consuming, but very much worth the effort. Now to write up and share with relatives.<br />Sandy is so much fun, it's getting so I hate to leave home! Can't wait for snow.Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-5251387732736239812019-10-30T17:58:41.036-04:002019-10-30T17:58:41.036-04:00Oh, Tracy, you must be counting the days until you...Oh, Tracy, you must be counting the days until you can put your work life behind you. (Is it before Christmas or New Year's?) I'm happy for you that it will be soon.<br />I'll look up the Jane Haddaam books, and will check out The Black-Headed Pins. Thank you!! And best wishesJudithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-48605759181940336652019-10-30T17:55:51.776-04:002019-10-30T17:55:51.776-04:00Thanks so much for the link! I have read and own T...Thanks so much for the link! I have read and own The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories. Read them about 3 years ago and can't remember a thing about them, so I guess I should reread. And the Sarah Morgan--I have really liked several of her Christmas novels, so I'll try that, thank you. And I am saving the link when I need more.<br />Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06435116453270981662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-40065243194461233542019-10-30T09:49:45.684-04:002019-10-30T09:49:45.684-04:00You do have your hands full with projects, but the...You do have your hands full with projects, but they all sound interesting and exciting! I'm pretty sure the only real Christmas books I've read is Elin Hilderbrand's recent series. If I remember correctly, you read them all, too. I didn't expect to enjoy them as much as I did, so will make note of any other suggestions you receive. Adding Let it Snow it my holiday reading list in the meantime.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-25499387133336713482019-10-30T06:27:34.371-04:002019-10-30T06:27:34.371-04:00It sounds as if you are very busy. Genealogy relat...It sounds as if you are very busy. Genealogy related research sounds so fascinating. My mother in law conducted some years ago. Like so many things, I can imagine how the advances in digitalization are revolutionary. Have fun with Sandy and happy reading. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-51912636656760345952019-10-30T00:51:43.899-04:002019-10-30T00:51:43.899-04:00Now I remember that you asked what Christmas books...Now I remember that you asked what Christmas books I might be reading, and I did not come back to answer you. Work has been so bad lately I am too tired to do anything when I get home. <br /><br />I don't know about any new Christmas mysteries. I liked two Christmas mysteries by Jane Haddaam, Not a Creature Was Stirring and A Stillness in Bethlehem. But I have already read those. I have one by Henry Kisor, Season’s Revenge, but I don't know much about it. I recently bought The Black-Headed Pins by Constance and Gwenyth Little, which is a vintage mystery.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7543676375857581295.post-52565266913033656672019-10-29T19:56:53.633-04:002019-10-29T19:56:53.633-04:00Here's a link to my 'Christmas' shelf ...Here's a link to my 'Christmas' shelf on Goodreads. <br /><br />https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/167537-cath-russell?shelf=christmas<br /><br />There are only 14 books on it I'm afraid, but several of them are mysteries that I've enjoyed. Planning to read The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by P.D. James in December and possibly Portrait of a Murderer.Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.com