Quick Lit August'20

Linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and sharing some Quick Lit!

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, is a lovely story of time and place as an American actress, French perfumer maker, and British journalist meet and become friends in Canne.  The process of designing and developing a perfume and the role that the flowers and herbs of Provence play adds interesting practicality to the fun of a Royal Wedding.  

A Well-Behaved Woman is a historical fiction novel based on the life of Alva Vanderbilt tells a fascinating story of the late 19th century when old families and new families with money challenged for prominence.  The author Therese Anne Fowler does a wonderful job of taking us into this world as Alva matures and decides for herself which rules to observe and which need rethinking in a changing world.  

Another fun historical fiction novel based on the life of a real person; Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict begins on Clementine's wedding day as she reflects on her courtship with Winston Churchill and continues to follow their lives together up to and including the London Blitz.  While very repetitive in places; overall an interesting read and has peaked my curiosity to learn more about Lady Clementine.

Far from the Maddening Crowd by Thomas Hardy is the story of Gabriel Oaks and Bathsheba, the small village they separately each come to live in.  A lovely story of the successes and failures of the farmer class of England in the eighteenth century.  A quiet classic with wonderful dialogue and interactions amongst the townspeople.

Open Book ~ Feb'20

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is the story of Count Alexander Rostov who in 1922 was placed on 'house arrest' in the Hotel Metropolis.  The book tells the story of the next forty years of his life and the changing tides in Moscow.  While a bit slow to start as the author is world-building; it is the most lovely story of community and unexpectedly a life well lived.

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain is based on the life of Beryl Markham an English child raised in Kenya early in the twentieth century.  A real life trail blazer who broke barriers, first becoming a top horse trainer and later a pilot.  While choppy in places I really enjoyed the author's take on this fascinating time and place; including people familiar to anyone who has read or seen 'Out of Africa'.  

Please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book!