Saturday, February 21, 2009

Saturday Suggestions

Today I am starting a new weekly post called Saturday Suggestions. Each week I will select a book, series, or author to highlight that I have read in the past, before I started blogging.

I'm so thankful to have a nice pile of review copies here that will keep me very busy bringing you reviews of upcoming and recent titles. But there are so many wonderful books that I read BB (Before Blog) that I want to share! I won't be able to do actual reviews of them because, to do that, I would have to re-read them. I would love to read them again, that's why I kept them, after all, but unfortunately I don't have the time to devote to that these days!

Hence my idea, Saturday Suggestions!

This week I want to talk about a very successful contemporary author, Joanna Trollope. Her books are wonderful and she is a terrific writer. (It's in her blood, she is a descendant of Anthony Trollope, the prolific and popular Victorian novelist.) But the books I want to highlight this week are her historical novels, which were written at the beginning of her career, under the name Caroline Harvey.

These novels include Eliza Stanhope, The Steps of the Sun, Legacy of Love, A Second Legacy, Leaves from the Valley, Parson Harding's Daughter, and City of Gems, among others. They are set in Victorian England and usually involve travel abroad to places like India. They are all excellent historical novels and I, personally, wish that she would return to historical fiction from time to time. Her style in the early novels reminds me a bit of Jane Austen and they are full of plucky heroines and interesting narratives.

As you can see from the examples below, used copies are easily (and inexpensively) available.





So, that's my first Saturday Suggestion. What do you think? Do you have old favorites that you want to recommend? Feel free to leave your ideas here or borrow my graphic and post away!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great feature! I've seen Joanna Trollope's book around in great masses and have wondered whether or not she was any good. Now it looks like I have a new author to try out. Thanks!

Beth F said...

Fantastic feature!!! Love the idea. I haven't read Joanna Trollope either, so I'm adding her to my list.

Anonymous said...

This is a great idea! Did you draw the graphic?

Molly said...

I love the Saturday Suggestions idea - and I thoroughly enjoyed this first post. I look forward to reading this new weekly feature.

The Tome Traveller said...

Thanks guys!

Kathy - No, I have zero artistic talent! The graphic is copyright free clip art that I got from a cd rom I have, I added the text. It is my first attempt at any kind of button. I tried to figure out how to make it html but it seemed hopelessly complicated to me and I gave up. :) Maybe someone will post good (easy) instructions and I'll be able to add that later.

Passages to the Past said...

I'm diggin' this feature! I've never heard of her and probably wouldn't have any other way, so thanks. Off to add her to the wishlist.

Ladytink_534 said...

Great idea! I'll look forward to your future suggestions! I've just been re-reading all of the books that I would like to post about lately. It's amazing how much I've forgotten!

Michele said...

Love this idea, Carey! You're just bound and determined to wreak havoc with my wishlist, aren't you? ;)

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

This is a great idea. I love it. I always wondered whether Joanne Trollope had any relation to Anthony and now my question is answered. I'll probably join in on this with you some days. I have to take a look and see what I have that falls into this category.

Molly said...

just fyi --- I gave you blog a shout out today - and an award. I love all your wonderful posts.

Zibilee said...

You have piqued my interest! Out of the seven you mentioned, which is the best to start with?

The Tome Traveller said...

Zibilee - you can start with any of them, they are not a series, each is a stand alone separate novel.

Sandra said...

I enjoyed this post. This feature seems like a good idea too. I hope others will do it too. I never read Trollope although I saw her interviewed once and her work sounded like it might be good. I should try her. I read your latest post on this theme too and came back looking for more.


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About Me

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New Hampshire, United States
Bibliophile, Anglophile, Traveller... I have been an avid reader all of my life, since I took the Dr. Seuss Dictionary away from my Mom when I was less than a year old because I wanted to read it myself. In college, where I earned my degree in English Literature, I was often asked "What are you going to do with it?" Now I finally have the answer to that question!!! Being employed as a Flight Attendant for twenty years has given me a lot of life experience and, better still, a lot of time to read. I love to travel for fun, too.