Natasha M. > Recent Status Updates

This is so bad. Badly written, badly researched for the time period, the dialogue is killing me(“you get my drift?” Really?!) and even basic logistical considerations like 1 man is going to dredge a river by himself?? Horses were left harnessed and thrashing in said filthy river for an absurd amount of time (and wait they weren’t his horses or carriage anyway?) London raised wife swam to opposite shore? Ugh.

I saw Ayoade promoting this on an episode of the Graham Norton show and thought—this sounds so bizarre, I ought to check it out. Fast forward to today, here I am! (Thank you library!) For some reason, from when I saw the episode to now, I had somehow convinced myself this was a fictional movie—nope, it exists. From his review so far, I’m happy to read his interpretation of it rather than pursuing it myself.

This is one where the Hardback (not this version I'm reading) really captured my attention. It's so pretty!

That being said I am very happy to say I did not reach into my pocket to purchase this book but instead am borrowing it from the library--I say, thank goodness because I do not like our protagonist Stella at all. I find her attitude, mannerisms and speech a bit jarring as this is meant to be 1917.

Yup, I'm still persevering. I do like the mini-series better (though I still have 3 more episodes to wade through).

*SPOILERY SPOILER KIND OF SORT OF YOU'VE BEEN WARNED*



I'm also of the opinion that the supernatural aspect isn't really necessary at all and for me, at least, doesn't add to it. The entire expedition and the tragic outcome it will head towards is more than horrifying enough in and of itself.

I recently rewatched the Hitchcock adaptation and was inspired to seek the book out. I knew going into this that the Hitchcock took quite a few liberties with the plot so it's nice to not be able to wholly anticipate everything as the story progresses. So far I like both equally (though the film is perhaps a bit more charming).

I wiffle-waffled on whether or not I wanted to read this then I started to watch the BBC mini-series based on this book and thought I'd give it a try. (I have yet to finish said mini-series though I'm aware of the history behind the ill-fated expedition). Sadly, thus far, I think this is going to fall into that tiny category of the filmed adaptation being better/more interesting. I'll persevere.

I would've liked a bit more noir, to be honest. This is rather like hard-boiled humor? Outlandish capers abound, set in all the trappings of a 1947 pulp. I don't mind a parody but some of the relentless pulpy dialogue ends up sounding too contrived, the further into the novel we go. I was hoping for something along the lines of the Thin Man; guess I've already set myself up for disappointment.

I can't quite remember what trail lead me to read this book (I often fall down rabbit holes) but here I am. I'm still on the fence whether or not I will pursue this book series, I've not really clicked with Josephine nor Archie Penrose. It takes place in the 1930s but I can't say I particularly feel immersed in that time period. Anyway, it passes the time and makes me wish for more Charles Todd instead (oops).

Ever since I watched Gentleman Jack back in 2019 I've been meaning to look up her diaries, if published. A companion piece to the TV series (as stated) this feels like an introduction to the fascinating woman herself. I love the mundane details about daily life as well the insight into regency England. Oh to have an ounce of her energy! While I'd love something more in depth this is very easy to consume.

So I wasn't going to read another book by this author as I didn't enjoy Broken Girls but I'm a sucker for a nice cover. It's my downfall, I don't learn.

With a title like this I wanted it to be somewhere between Hitchcock's Psycho and 2018 Bad Times at the El Royale, heck even TV series Bates Motel. I am getting Time Bouncing a-plenty, another family sleuth and lukewarm Ghosts. Sigh.

I own cookbooks, I enjoy using them but I can't say I'm in the habit of reading them cover to cover--until now! I typically browse and linger on recipes I like the look of/ingredients. (Because I have time, thanks lockdown, it came in through a digital book library request so why not?) I've tried quite a few already but I think it's interesting he shortcuts in some areas (if it ain't broke don't fix it!)

I’ve had a soft spot for Rupert ever since my Grandpa gave me a Rupert colouring book when I was 4ish. I also remember seeing the cartoon when I was little, around that same time and later when he was in the hospice.

2020 was Rupert’s 100th birthday and I received this book as a Christmas present.

Just read “Rupert and the Tiny Flute”. I love the idea of the Imps function. Also love the sketches.

This is turning out to be more of a retrospective than I had anticipated. Took five chapters to bring the narrator from child to adulthood (of 27 years that is). I like the setting of eponymous Thornyhold (which, incidentally, I want to type "Thornyfold", dunno why). So far it's much dreamier and contemplative than her other earlier works I've read (those written in the 1950s-60s). Nothing wrong with that!

It's bizarre. This is the cover of my book but my edition doesn't exist on goodreads. ISBN 9781444735840 published 2011 by Hodder & Stoughton (in the UK). There, now I won't have to type it when (so ambitious, I ought to write IF) I write my review of it.

Carrying on with my Fluff for January, I thought I'd read a Mary Stewart. No idea what I'm in for though!

Thought I'd start the year off with some fun fluff and Georgette Heyer hasn't disappointed me. This book really starts off, almost immediately with the conundrum! As usual I want to take my time savoring these books but I can't make any promises.

Thank goodness I didn't buy this! I had high hopes as I remember enjoying the Seance by the same author but this isn't doing it for me at all. What a sad way to transition into the new year! It basically feels like a tale of penpal cat-fishing interspersed with Victorian type short stories.

SPOILERS!




I thought A Small Taste of the Old Country could go one of two ways and it went Hansel & Gretel. 3 stars. Wick's End is very much in the vein of a traditional tale swap. 3 stars. A Seventeen-Year Itch sadly has nothing to do with Marilyn Monroe, or boredom with relationships and more about a ...curse? Affliction? 2 stars. Just started A Flicker of Light on Devil's Night.

Finally reading a Halloween-themed book! Read With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds which is a ghost story I guess in the style of modern movies. Less atmospheric, not gory so not slasher level. Maybe teen ghost movie? 2 stars. Dirtmouth was a slow start from an unreliable narrator but I came to like it by the end. 4 stars. Started A Small Taste of the Old Country. Dunno about black bread.

Currently my bedtime reading for as long as my cat allows it (which isn't very long at all). When I read accounts of witch trials I always wonder why they confess to having familiars (I do rather like the name "Fancie") I can understand, through igornace and superstition, the belief that words could have power, especially if a death occurs not long after someone has spoken in anger. Self-incrimination though...

On leave again! She's always zipping back and forth. Anyway, I think this is Bess's first encounter with the locals closing ranks around their own. Poor Rutledge finds this sort of welcome nearly every novel. Guess a nursing uniform can only get one so far. Hopefully, there won't be a mob/lynching scene to come. For now, she's satisfying herself by gathering information.

So I took the opportunity at the beginning of October to browse my entire "Ghost" search result at my local library and placed a bunch on hold and this was one of them.


Spoiler!


Spoiler!



This is such an interesting little family ghost curse story within a story. Not at all what I was expecting--in fact I even half wondered if this was two separate short stories but no! I'm coming towards the end...

These short stories really are very short! It's nice to be in India for a change and her parents (and Simon) when they were young. I still trying to figure out just how old he is. 6-8 years older at least if he's lying about his age and running away to join the military?

Anyway it seems she started early with her sleuthing and interfering, around 1905ish? Fun to imagine her with a big bow and a pinafore.

Oh ho, yet another casual reference to Edith Thompson and her letter writing! Suddenly I am finding her peppered everywhere.

I have read this before but somehow never marked it as read here on Goodreads, oops! I don't mind reading it again, especially after that documentary I saw on Agatha Christie the other day.

I take that back, this seems to be a catalogue of celebrity guests with the occasional update on the state of dilapidation (or repair) the hotel is facing.

I have to confess that I did snigger when I saw Marlon Brando being touted as a Method Actor. As I still have that Brando's biography fresh in my mind I couldn't help but think how that actor must be gnashing his teeth at that somewhere beyond the grave.

My copy has 207 pages. I read this ages ago when I received it as a gift and stumbled across it (yes, still sorting through my books) and thought it'd be good if I read something in Japanese once in a while. Very cute, certainly enlightened me on a summer custom I wasn't wholly aware of but the target age of this book is likely elementary school. Then again CLAMP seems to like the idea of picture books.

Oh Jean Harlow. The author gave you a rather perfunctory accounting of your short life (post husband no. 2) but this is, after all a, er, biography about the hotel rather than the celebrities who passed through the doors. Anyway I like the tidbits of history about other famous locations around Los Angles/Hollywood during that time.

Finally got my hands on a library copy again.

Why hello, offhand reference to the Brides in the Bath murderer! I've actually recently refreshed my knowledge on that case recently so, I love the casual contemporary reference. I wonder if Edith Thompson will get a mention later on. I'm actually amused by this entire conversation regarding the previous generation's literary detective Sherlock Holmes.

While I had an inkling on the who, I wasn't entirely sure about the "how to prove" aspect of this little mystery. Whatever the case, they're fun, I enjoy the characters and the style of writing.

So, I've been combing through a part of my book collection and I stumbled across this over the summer. I was going to mark it as read as I've had this for 20 years (egads, I've had you so long already??) then I decided to revisit it in the Halloween season--which is now!

Even though I've read this before it's nice to approach this again now that I have a better grasp on certain time periods and the ramifications.

Reading this as an attempt to get into the Halloween spirit of things!

Then again, with all this talk of CDC I guess it's sort of making me think about the current Pandemic in a different light than I would've if I'd read this back when I bought it.

Anyway this novel's approach is unsurprisingly VERY cinematic. I can't say I'm attached to any characters yet but I'm still waiting to see how this unfolds.