Found a 1902 edition of 'Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People' by Charles Dickens (whose pen-name was Boz). This is a little-known work consisting of short-stories divided into: Our Parish, Scenes, Thoughts about People, and Tales. Paid under $1 for the hardbound, which is in excellent condition for its age. The pages, though yellow, are not even brittle yet. I particularly enjoyed the sketches of the Beadle, the Curate, the Pawnbroker's Shop, Seven Dials and Vauxhall Gardens. Sometime later, I'd like to write an article each on them, especially Seven Dials. Regency and Victorian icons like Hansoms, Bow Street Runners, Almack's, White's, Astely's, the cotillion and the quadrille, Lord Byron, Brummell et al (even Mrs Fitzherbert) are fascinating and I've spent ages reading up on them :D I'd give anything to have lived in those times.
One of the most disappointing books I read last year was - I'm sorry to say this - Robin Cook's Foreign Body. I am a huge fan of Dr. Cook's, and when I heard that my favourite character by Dr. Cook, Dr. Jack Stapleton, would feature in this book, I could hardly wait. Unfortunately, Jack and Laurie are not the people they were in Vector or Contagion or Marker or Crisis. I certainly missed the daredevil-biker who called himself Billy Rubin, and who told Laurie, "I'm afraid our favourite Russian just got shot", in Vector. Laurie has been reduced to a hormone wierdo. That apart, the plot is good as usual, as is the setting. My expectations having been far higher, the disappointment was inevitable.
I just realized that I have just FOUR more books to own in Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series. Ever since I read Tiger in 2003, I have been hooked completely. Military fiction is a wonderful genre to read (and write) but there are too few books in this category. For those new to the Napoleonic Era, Charles Esdaile's Napoleon's Wars is the ideal companion. Each time I read a Sharpe-book, I have Esdaile open, close at hand.
Apparently, you can't add more than 200 books to your LibraryThing, unless you become a paid member. I'm debating the idea of upgrading my membership once I upload 200 my library. Or there's always Shelfari.
One of the most disappointing books I read last year was - I'm sorry to say this - Robin Cook's Foreign Body. I am a huge fan of Dr. Cook's, and when I heard that my favourite character by Dr. Cook, Dr. Jack Stapleton, would feature in this book, I could hardly wait. Unfortunately, Jack and Laurie are not the people they were in Vector or Contagion or Marker or Crisis. I certainly missed the daredevil-biker who called himself Billy Rubin, and who told Laurie, "I'm afraid our favourite Russian just got shot", in Vector. Laurie has been reduced to a hormone wierdo. That apart, the plot is good as usual, as is the setting. My expectations having been far higher, the disappointment was inevitable.
I just realized that I have just FOUR more books to own in Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series. Ever since I read Tiger in 2003, I have been hooked completely. Military fiction is a wonderful genre to read (and write) but there are too few books in this category. For those new to the Napoleonic Era, Charles Esdaile's Napoleon's Wars is the ideal companion. Each time I read a Sharpe-book, I have Esdaile open, close at hand.
Apparently, you can't add more than 200 books to your LibraryThing, unless you become a paid member. I'm debating the idea of upgrading my membership once I upload 200 my library. Or there's always Shelfari.
Great blog. I'll be reading.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens! Wonderful blog! I love the Dire Straits song on your playlist (the one from the soundtrack!)....that freaked me out (in a good way)! I need to get to work now, but I will be back! Most definitely!
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