Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Blogger-Inspired Wishlist Ep. 5: Seven Books from Four Ladies




Blogger-Inspired Wishlist is a feature where I post recent additions to my wish list, which had been inspired by reviews from my fellow bloggers. It includes some synopsis, as well as some excerpts of the review which have intrigued me, complete with a link to the blogger's original post.

In this edition, four ladies have inspired me to add seven more interesting books to my ever-growing wishlist.


Green Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest by W.H. Hudson
Inspired by Gypsi Reads



Synopsis:
First published in 1904 and a bestseller after its reissue a dozen years later, Green Mansions offers its readers a poignant meditation on the loss of wilderness, the dream of a return to nature, and the bitter reality of the encounter between savage and civilized man.

Gypsi's post



Murder by Request by Beverley Nichols



No synopsis available.

From Kaggsy's review:
"As a mystery, “Murder by Request” was actually very enjoyable. The plot was quite ingenious, though, the characters entertaining and well drawn, and the solution a satisfying one as far as I was concerned."



When a Man Marries by Mary Roberts Rinehart
Inspired by Gypsi Reads 



Synopsis:
It began with Jimmy Wilson and a conspiracy was helped on by a foot-square piece of yellow paper and a Japanese butler and it enmeshed and mixed up generally ten respectable members of society and a policeman.

From Gypsi's review:
"A laugh-out-loud misadventure that is well-written, engaging and completely entertaining. Rinehart, known for her popular mysteries, has a wonderful knack for writing conversation and ridiculous situations, both of which made When a Man Marries such fun."



Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross



Synopsis:
Inspired by a short story written by Emile Zola, Belle Epoque is set at the height of bohemian Paris, when the city was at the peak of decadence, men and women were at their most beautiful, and morality was at its most depraved.

From Lark's review:
"Elizabeth Ross drew inspiration for her novel from the short story "Les Repoussoirs" by Emile Zola, and she does a masterful job. Belle Epoque definitely lives up to its name--this is a beautifully told story of friendship, and beauty, and truth."



Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
Inspired by Pam @ Read! Bake! Create! 



Synopsis
:
Laugh-out-loud funny, at times heartbreaking, and written in a pitch-perfect voice, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a spirited Southern tale that explores the intricate frailties and strengths of female relationships while illuminating the journey of a young girl who loses her mother but finds many others.

Pam's post



The Fly on the Wheel by Katherine Cecil Thurston



Synopsis:
With a nod to the works of Tolstoy and the Brontës, The Fly on the Wheel is a poignant portrait of the moral and psychological restrictions imposed on young women at the turn of the twentieth century. Illicit love, toxic relationships and feminist desires determine the course of Isabel’s introduction to Waterford society, with dramatic and tragic consequences.

From Kaggsy's review:
"This is a beautifully written and very powerful story. Thurston writes elegantly, and captures quite brilliantly Waterford and its denizens and its layers of society. As well as painting a vivid picture of Waterford’s people, Thurston also captures the local landscape very evocatively; the countryside around the place comes alive and the book really does transport you back in time and in place."



The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson



Synopsis:
When Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to run her best friend's struggling bookstore, she expects to sell bestsellers to her small-town clientele. But running a bookstore in a town with a famously bookish history isn't easy. Bell River's literary society insists on keeping the bookstore stuck in the past, and Maggie is banned from selling anything written this century. So, when a series of mishaps suddenly tip the bookstore toward ruin, Maggie will have to get creative to keep the shop afloat.

From Lark's review:
"What I loved about this novel:
Maggie learning to love books and reading...even a few of the classics.
The banter between Maggie and Malcolm, the Bell Society's 'spy', and their slowburn friendship. (Their 'dates' are very entertaining.)
The clever mashup events Maggie hosts with local authors who turn Moby Dick into a romance and The Great Gatsby into science fiction.
Maggie's exuberance and ability to connect with so many people in town.
The humor and the happy ending
."


Have you own/read these books? Or have I make you add more to your WL/TBR? 😉

 

6 comments:

  1. Glad to have inspired you! Beverley is a joy to read, although I wish his books were more easily obtainable. And Fly on the Wheel is great too. Happy reading!

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    1. Yes, it's a shame that we can't get easier access to Beverley Nichols' books.

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  2. I've been curious about Green Mansions as well, but haven't ever read it.

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    1. It's intriguing, right? Hopefully you'll get to read it soon! :)

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  3. Nice - I try to make a note of where I saw books when I review them, and keep blog posts to remind me but it is hard to remember. Kaggsy certainly inspires my reading and we pass books to one another, too!

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    1. And it's harder still to take note of those books we've found while browsing, but didn't have time to take note. It can be years later before we stumbled upon the same book again.
      How lovely to have a reading buddy with similar tastes. Good for you and Kaggsy! ;)

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