It's been a long time since I did a 'Bookish Nostalgia'. I'm going to revive this monthly post where I look back at my notebooks to see what I was reading 20, 15, 10, and 5 years ago this month. I've kept the notebooks pretty consistently since 1993 - 25 years - wish I'd done it my whole reading life. So, for 2018, we'll visit 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. Let's see what I remember about the books I read in January of those years.
January 1998 - Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris is the first book in this author's 5-book series featuring Lily Bard, a housecleaner in Shakespeare, Arkansas. Harris herself is from Arkansas and this was her second series after her Aurora Teagarden, librarian, series. I read all the books about Lily and always wished there were more. It's considerably darker than the Aurora books, but I think it has been recently republished after the author's fame for her Sookie books and TV series and also the Midnight, Texas series and the Aurora movies. Amazing that Charlaine Harris has kept on going with so many creative books.
January 2003 - 'I have no idea!' - Actually, this is one of the few times when I took a break from keeping track of my reading. Apparently, from August 2002 until February 2003, no book entries. Wow. I'll have an entry next month for 2003.
January 2008 - At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon, the first in the gentle series featuring Father Tim and the small town of Mitford. There are now 14 books in this series. It is charming and not overly religious at all. In 2008, my life was quite stressful. I had parents that were both living in care centers - separate ones - and was working full time at the library. My own health had some major problems that year as well. Nan from Letters From a Hill Farm suggested this book for me as I was having trouble focusing on reading at all. It was perfect for me and I went on to read the next 2 or 3 books in the series. I'm grateful to her and also grateful to the author for providing some much-needed distraction at that time.
January 2013 - The Lewis Man by Peter May, the 2nd book in a trilogy set in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and featuring Fin MacLeod, a former policeman, who has returned home to Lewis Island and a new life. The first book in the series is The Blackhouse and the 3rd is The Chessmen. All are highly recommended. The Lewis Man concerns a body found in a peat bog and the father of Fin's former girlfriend, Marsaili. It is very, very interesting as Tormod MacDonald is a victim of dementia and doesn't remember anything about the body. I love books set in this area of the world - stark, windy, bleak, and amazingly beautiful.
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Well, that's it for January. Have you read any of these books and what did you think of them? Come back around next month and see what I remember about February of the years included.
I remember reading several of the Mitford books and they were just what I needed at the time, too. Had no idea there were so many of them now! You've reminded me that I need to resurrect my 'Pages From the Past' series... only problem is that my old reading journal is back in NY. Guess I'll have to wait until summer ;-)
ReplyDeleteI remember your 'Pages From the Past'. You should definitely resurrect it. I hate for these older books to get forgotten!
DeleteI've read 2 of the Lewis Man books and have the 3rd one to read at some stage. In the meantime I've read a couple of his Enzo McCleod books, set in France, which I thought very good indeed. And my husband's read a couple of his standalone books and the 1st. in his Chinese series and says those were all very good too. I think Peter May is just an all round class act.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Peter May is a wonderful writer. He has a new one that comes out in your part of the world soon or maybe just has. We don't get it until March. Can't wait to read it!
Delete:) I enjoyed a number in the Mitford series and the first two of Peter Mays' series set in the Hebrides; need to catch up!
ReplyDeleteYes, you need to read the 3rd book in the trilogy - THE CHESSMEN. Very, very interesting!
DeleteHappy new year! Enjoyed this post and look forward to more of the same!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you as well, Catherine! Thanks for the nice words.
DeleteGosh, I didn't remember I suggested the JK books. I've read all but the most recent and still find them wonderful. There was only one I had a hard time with - a crazy stalker type. I do plan to read the Lewis book because you assured me it was a bit easier to take than the first one. haha
ReplyDeleteSome things about it were easier - maybe some things not. Read with caution. LOL
DeleteI love this feature! :-) I've only read Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire books, but I'd love to jump into another one of her series.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've not ever read any of her other series except Lily Bard, except maybe one of the Aurora books. Enjoy!
DeleteThe Lewis Man is still one of my favourite of Peter May's books. In fact, thinking about it now, it might be the first one to show that strain of nostalgic autobiography I was burbling on about yesterday - all the stuff with the father with dementia felt very much as if it was based on real incidents.
ReplyDeleteNow of course I want to know what you were doing in late 2002 which was so exciting you didn't keep a book journal...😉
I agree that May wrote about loved ones with dementia like someone who had been there. And, I have no idea what was going on in 2002-2003. Possibly I just decided to stop writing them down for a bit. I can't remember. LOL
DeleteMy mom loves the Mitford books. I've read two, I think. I can't remember now. I just know I found the books extremely relaxing. So different from my fast paced mysteries I was reading at the time. I really enjoyed Shakespeare's Landlord too. I haven't read all the books in the series (not that there are that many), but I enjoyed the one I did.
ReplyDeleteI think I might have read 3 of those Mitford books. I also read Robyn Carr's Virgin River books at a point when I was very stressed. They were lovely love stories. :-)
DeleteI've got Peter May's books on my TBR list - he sure sounds like an author whose books I would enjoy! I haven't read any from Charlaine Harris' Shakespeare series but I have enjoyed some of her other series. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested in hearing what you think about Peter May if you get a chance to read his works.
DeleteI loved the Lewis trilogy and continue to enjoy the author's books. I read AT HOME IN MITFORD a long time ago and enjoyed it, but only read one or two of the sequels. It is a gentle series and I should probably get back to it!
ReplyDeletePeter May has a new book coming out this spring - partly set in the Outer Hebrides! I'm very excited about it!
DeleteI've already read it :) I have a contact at Berkeley who sends me all of May's stuff. When I'm done reviewing the ARC, I'll send it to you if you want it.
DeleteIt's OK. I have an e-arc of it. Thanks for offering though.
DeleteThe Mitford series is such a "nice" read. I have one left in the series that I keep meaning to get to.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a nice series. I have recommended it many times to people.
DeleteI've missed Bookish Nostalgia! I read the first of the Shakespeare series but never got into it. I think it was just a bit too dark for my tastes at the time. I do love Aurora Teagarden though. I read my first Mitford book last year and enjoyed it. They're such nice stories. I can see how they'd be perfect for when you weren't feeling at your best.
ReplyDeleteThanks for missing my 'nostalgic' posts. I have fun with them. Yes, that Lily Bard series was definitely darker. But then, she started writing about vampires. LOL
DeleteI remember reading several of those Mitford books and like you I was reading them at a difficult time in my life so they were gentle, calming books which helped me keep reading but weren't taxing. This is such a neat way to revisit your reads. Enjoy these posts and glad you are going to bring them back!
ReplyDeleteI really have a good time going back through the journals and selecting the books to feature. :-)
DeleteI don't remember when I started the Mitford series, but I have a feeling it was during a stressful period in my life, too. I think back on those books and characters with fondness, but I seem to recall that I didn't love them as much as I think I did. I'd like to re-read the first few just to see how I feel about them now.
ReplyDeleteI love this type of blog post and enjoy my Friday "Looking Back" posts. It's fun to see what I was reading all those years ago!
It is fun and I enjoy those Friday posts. Brings some books to mind that I hadn't thought about in a long time.
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