Hello everyone! How have you been? I’ve been well, but it has been a bit of a down reading year for me. I haven’t read very many things that I’ve absolutely loved this year.
Part of the problem is that I spend about 8 months out of the year reading books for two Book Buzz programs that I do for work – one in the summer and one in the fall. And though I do enjoy presenting these programs at my library, it limits the time I have to read by whim. I do really miss those days of picking up something just because the cover catches my eye and finishing it in a day or two. This rarely happens for me anymore. I have to plan pretty far in advance which books I am going to read for my programs. And I can’t always go just by my taste – I have to make sure to include titles that I know will appeal to a broad range of library users. So, my reading life is much different these days than when I was regularly blogging years ago.
During my “free” months I do manage to read some titles that are just for me and these are six that I have loved:
A Wreath of Roses by Elizabeth Taylor
High Wages by Dorothy Whipple
Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier
Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
Have you read and loved any of these too?
I hope you’ve all been well. I miss the blogging community and would like to jump back in for the rest of 2018 and beyond. I’ll try to also stop by and visit your blogs this week before I leave for a trip to England on Monday.
A Certain Fondness 
It’s great to hear from you at last Anbolyn and to hear that you’re well. I was thinking about joining Twitter just to follow you! I can understand how your work with books impacts on your reading though. Of the books you loved I’ve read and loved them all except High Wages which I do have and intend to read soon. Have a lovely time in England – I’m miffed that you’re not coming to Scotland though!
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Hello Katrina! High Wages was a delight – I hope you enjoy it.
I will be staying in Manchester with a friend and she wants to drive me to Gretna Green – so I will make a tiny visit to Scotland in the coming weeks!
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Oh dear – Gretna Green isn’t the most scenic of places in Scotland. I hope you can get to Scotland properly at some point in the future! Meet you in Edinburgh eventually I hope!
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I was so happy to see a post from you appear – and now I’m so jealous of your upcoming trip!
I loved High Wages, it might be my favorite of Dorothy Whipple’s books. I thought it ended too soon, I’d love to have followed the characters for longer. I didn’t love Agnes Grey, but I thought it was fascinating.
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I have never fancied the Brontes or duMaurier but have read and enjoyed those others, High Wages just re-read the other week in fact.
Good to see you, I hope you enjoy your trip.
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So lovely to hear from you Anbolyn. I have been well thank you, although I don’t know where this year has gone?! I loved Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier and while not my favourite, I did enjoy Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte too. And I hope you enjoy your trip here to old Blighty 😉
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It’s nice to see a new post from you, Anbolyn. I have read and enjoyed the Bronte and du Maurier books and I have read other books by Taylor and Whipple, though not those particular titles. I loved the first two Cazalet novels and am hoping to read Confusion soon. Have a lovely trip!
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Good to see you and that’s a fantastic list of books 🙂 I love Jane Eyre, and hope to read Agnes Grey and Jamaica Inn at some point.
Hope you have a good holiday. The weather’s not too bad in England at the moment, pretty mild for the time of year.
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Lovely to see your post, Anbolyn! Glad to see A Wreath of Roses featured on your list….I remember absolutely loving it.
Working in circulation doesn’t come with any required reading but my colleagues running YA programs and book groups are swamped with it. They’re just like you….thrilled to choose their own books between sessions. But what does any of it matter….you’re off on a fabulous trip! Have a terrific time and post a few photos when you get back!
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Good to see you blogging again! Love Agnes Grey. Hope you can visit Bronte country on your England trip!
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I’ve read the first two and last two of your list, and liked them all! Agnes Grey is a particularly wonderful gem.
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