WWW Wednesday: 15 January 2020

Published on by Margaret

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WWW Wednesday is run by Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently I’m reading three books:

Charles Dickens oliver twist etcOliver Twist by Charles Dickens, my Classics Club Spin book. It’s one of those books that I think I know the story from watching TV adaptations, but I have never read it. I’ve discovered that I only ‘know’ the beginning of the book up to the part where Oliver is rescued by Mr Brownlow from Fagin’s clutches, only to be snatched back by Nancy. After that the story is totally new to me.

John Lennon LettersI’m also reading The John Lennon Letters edited by Hunter Davies. It includes a brief biography and using almost three hundred of Lennon’s letters and postcards, to relations, friends, fans, strangers, and lovers follows his life more or less chronologically. It’s a large, heavy hardback book, illustrated with photos and reproductions of the letters etc. This is going to be a long-term read for me.

The Windsor StoryThe third book is one I’ve only just started – I’ve been struck by some of the parallels between Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936 in order to marry Wallis Simpson and the current situation of Prince Harry and Meghan in wanting to step back as senior royals, and I remembered I have The Windsor Story by J Bryan III and Charles V Murphy. It looks remarkably comprehensive and is another book that I think will take me a long time to read.

Lady of the ravensThe last book I finished reading is  The Lady of the Ravens by Joanna Hickson, historical fiction about about the early years of Henry’s reign as seen through the eyes of Joan Vaux, a lady in waiting to Elizabeth of York, whose marriage in 1486 to Henry united the Houses of Lancaster and York after the end of the Wars of the Roses.  I found this a fascinating book and posted my review a few days ago.

Tinker tailorI have several books lined up to read next including Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré because over the Christmas period I watched the film starring Gary Oldman as George Smiley, along with Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt and others. I began reading the book years ago and have a bookmark at page 88, but I’ll have to go back to the beginning now.

A killing kindnessBut I’d also like to start A Killing Kindness, the next Dalziel and Pascoe novel, the 6th one in Reginald Hill’s series. It looks good – about Mary Dinwoodie whose body is found choked in a ditch following a night out with her boyfriend, and a mysterious caller phones the local paper with a quotation from Hamlet.

But knowing how long it could be until I start the next book, it could be something completely different!

Have you read any of these books?  Do any of them tempt you? 

10 thoughts on “WWW Wednesday: 15 January 2020”

  2. I’m tempted to read Charles Dickens, particularly books I haven’t read yet; though, I wouldn’t mind rereading OLIVER TWIST, along with A TALE OF TWO CITIES, PICKWICK PAPERS and DAVID COPPERFIELD. I’m currently reading Emily Bronte’s WUTHERING HEIGHTS and so far I’m making slow progress.

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  4. I can see the parallels between the Wallis Simpson story and today’s royal family story, too, Margaret. Little wonder that one called to you. And I think both of your ‘read next’ books are excellent – I don’t think you’ll go wrong either way. Tinker, Tailor… is an absolute classic crime novel, and of course, the Dalziel and Pascoe series really doesn’t disappoint. You’re in for a good experience either way, I think.

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  6. I like the sound of The Windsor Story (I do long-term reads as well, my current one is The Penguin Book of the British Short Story, 700 pages, it could take me a while…) I seem to be nurturing a growing interest in the Royal Family. I borrowed a massive book about Queen Mary from the library… not quite sure when I’ll get to it.

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  8. I should get The John Lennon Letters for my husband who has a rather large collection of books about the Beatles. It’s the kind of book you can dip into periodically rather than read cover to cover I imagine

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  9. I toddled off to NetGalley after reading your review of The Lady of the Ravens and have been approved (hurrah!), so am looking forward to it! I’ll also be reading A Killing Kindness sometime soon – memory says it’s one of the good ones… 😀

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