Mary Stewart Reading Week has come to an end. I’m afraid I was only able to read one of Lady Stewart’s books this week as illness and work got in the way of my plans, but the one I did read was fantastic. Thank you to everyone who participated – I’m so glad that you decided to take the time to devote to her wonderful novels and revive interest in her work. I hope you’ve enjoyed the week!
Here is a list of all Mary Stewart posts for this week:
Four by Mary Stewart – The Emerald City Reader
The Crystal Cave – She Reads Novels
My Brother Michael – The Emerald City Reader
This Rough Magic – I Prefer Reading
Thornyhold – Fleur in Her World
Thornyhold – Quixotic Magpie
Touch Not the Cat – TBR 313
Wildfire at Midnight – Tell Me a Story
Wildfire at Midnight –Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings
If I’ve missed any, please let me know.
The winner of Thornyhold is Cat from Tell Me a Story! Cat, email me at gudrunstights at gmail dot com with your address and I’ll get the book in the mail to you as soon as possible.
Thanks again, everyone!
A Certain Fondness 
thank you again for hosting us this year! I saw someone mentioned next year’s reading week too. I had hoped to post about another book, but I had to read something for a discussion group.I still have several of her books waiting though. And now I need to add The Moonspinners to my stack.
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You’re welcome – the pleasure was all mine! I just wish I wouldn’t have developed a weird stomach thing over the weekend that stopped me from reading another book. We’re definitely on for next year, though. 🙂 I love The Moonspinners – I think it is in my top 3 favorites.
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Thank you for doing this again – it’s been lovely. Work got in the way for me too, so I only read one book, but I’m definitely inspired to read more.
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You’re welcome, Jane. Work is just so pesky!
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Thanks from me too – you spurred me on to read Wildfire and I loved it!
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I’m so glad!
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Yes, thank you! I have read two new-to-me Mary Stewarts this week and I now fear that I have exhausted ‘romantic suspense’. I haven’t reviewed them as I didn’t think they were highlights of her collection (like, say, ‘The Ivy Tree’ or the the Greek ones), as nothing really *happened* in either. I don’t mind that, in general, in a book, but for the genre it wasn’t what I was expecting (that is a lame criticism, I know, but they were marketed as rather more exciting). ‘Rose Cottage’ was a beautifully written book – her vocabulary often astounds me! – and had a hint of what made ‘Thornyhold’ such a good read despite its plot slenderness.
Just as ‘Madam, Will You Talk’ has that weird undercurrent of (domestic) violence, ‘Rose Cottage’ plays with some disconcerting preconceptions (won’t say more). And I’m afraid that ‘Stormy Petrel’ just exasperated me – again, lovely writing, and the heroine being a writer with writer woes was a rather fun insight into the process, but the setting was too alienating for me (I don’t like boats, birds and especially tents, I guess!) and the plot was so thin it was almost transparent – I kept waiting for a big denouement, but… (but no spoilers!). I think these two are basically for fans, and I couldn’t recommend starting Stewart’s works with either of them.
Now having been all negative (it is *hard* to be mean about a favourite writer and I don’t like it at all!), I shall say that reading everyone else’s reviews has made me want to re-read the ones which are really excellent reads, and I am already looking forward to re-reading these next year (if I can wait!).
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I think Rose Cottage and Stormy Petrel are known for being her slow, ‘gentle’ books. I’ve tried to read Stormy Petrel a few times and admit that I found it incredibly uneventful. Almost painfully so. And now I am curious about the preconceptions in Rose Cottage – I will have to finish it soon. I would not suggest that anyone read these two to start, either.
But her earlier books are so darn good and I haven’t read them all yet so I’m looking forward to next year too!
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It all came and went too fast for me. I had intended to take part but Holland, the referendum and life in general got in the way! I’ll definitely be reading more by her before the end of the year though.
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I understand Katrina – I really want to participate in the Margaret Kennedy Reading Week but will be in England so we’ll see if it happens. Maybe I can read one of hers on the plane!
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I have only just finished my book due to illness. Never mind.
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Let me know if you post, Jo, and I’ll add your review to the index!
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I managed to finish The Gabriel Hounds right at the end of the week. My post will be up on Wednesday 🙂
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I’ll look for it and add you to the index!
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Thank you so much for hosting this lovely week of reading the Lady Mary Stewart. I thoroughly enjoyed my reading. I managed to read: Rose Cottage, Madam, Will You Talk?,
Wildfire at Midnight, A Walk in Wolf Wood and am in the final throes of Thornyhold and indeed loving it.
During this week I have realized how much I enjoy the old stories that bring comfort & soothing to the soul. We don’t always need great depth in what we read to be satisfied.
I will be looking forward to the next ‘Reading Week’.
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I’m so very happy that you enjoyed it! And I’m very impressed at the number of books that you read. We do all need that soothing reading in our lives and Mary Stewart is among the best at providing that – along with lots of thrills and suspense too! You can’t get better than that.
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Thanks for hosting this again, Anbolyn. I was hoping to read a Merlin novel and a suspense novel but in the end I only had time for the Merlin one. I loved it, though, and can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
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You’re welcome, Helen! I’m glad you found a new series to love.
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What a lovely way to start my day! Thanks, Anbolyn , I’m delighted with my win. It’s been a most enjoyable and nostalgic week with Mary Stewart.
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I’ll have the book in the mail to you at the end of the week – I hope you enjoy it!
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I will look forward to next year’s week as I still have quite a few more Mary Stewart books to put on my list. I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts. Thanks for hosting!
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