'How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare that after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.' No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and cast her eyes round the room in quest of some amusement. — from Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (1775-1817)
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March 22, 2017

Reading lives




Having recently worked my way through two not-all-that-engaging biographies of  people I was looking forward to knowing more about, I was reminded of how wonderful it is when the opposite happens ... those times when I've found myself reading, and loving,  a beautifully-told life of someone I didn't expect to find as interesting as I did.  That's even better, I think. :)


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4 comments:

Karen K. said...

Catherine the Great was just wonderful, Massie did an amazing job of bringing her to life. I've also read the Dickens biography and loved it. Another great one is Becoming Queen Victoria by Kate Williams which backtracks to the Regency period with George IV and Princess Charlotte and explains the amazing circumstances which led to Victoria as the heir to the throne. It's really fascinating.

March 23, 2017 at 3:33 AM
JoAnn said...

Sorry about the recent disappointments. There is something extra special in the unexpected... I haven't had the experience in years, but remember being unable to tear myself away from Blake Bailey's biography of Richard Yates, A Tragic Honesty.

March 23, 2017 at 10:06 AM
Bellezza said...

I have been interested in Catherine the Great by Massie before. How I am fascinated by Russia's history! I just finished a book on Nero, which was fine, but not stellar.

Did you see Masterpiece is beginning a series on the Bronte sisters? It airs Sunday night, and I suspect we may like it.

March 24, 2017 at 9:34 PM
JaneGS said...

I thought Claire Tomalin's bio of Dickens to be the best I've read. I really enjoy bios, but it has to be the right subject and right biographer to click.

March 28, 2017 at 3:29 PM

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