Tuesday, May 1, 2012

A Gift of Time

So here I am unable to move for a month and already feeling cooped up and impatient. I'm essentially an outdoor girl and even when I'm writing I tend to get up, wander round the garden and come back refreshed. But I've decided to stay entirely positive and see the good in this experience.

How many times have I said that I'd love to have a reading orgy or finally master water color or finish that sweater I started knitting. Or even do the big jigsaw my daughter bought me last year. Well, now I can. It's just a question of finding a chair I can sit comfortably in for more than fifteen minutes. I read an old Agatha Christie yesterday--one of the few that I couldn't remember whodunit. And I didn't remember until the end so that was good.

Now I've decided that I'll work my way through all the old Mary Stewarts. I used to love those books. They took me to exotic places and the female in jeopardy part was so real and fun that I identified with it. I wonder if they have them on Kindle. About to look. I think Wildfire at Midnight or Madam Will You Talk were my favorites. How about you?

And any other comfort books to recommend? I've read the Alexander McCall Smiths. What I really want is some Rhys Bowen books that I haven't read! A new Lady Georgie please.

8 comments:

  1. Ouch! I just read your post from yesterday (they always seem to get delivered to my email inbox the day after (Apr 30 post came in with Date/Time May 1 @ 10:22 am).
    I was talking to a lady (while waiting for my car's oil to be changed) & the mechanic commented on her comfy car seat. She explained she had sciatica & had a doughnut type pillow she uses. Maybe you can get something like that to put it on whatever chair you are sitting in?
    Best wishes on your recovery.
    Meanwhile, it would be a good time to work on Lady Georgie's next adventure - we would all be grateful (hint hint wink).

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  2. So sorry to read of your accident. Although it's not a mystery, I recommend Thomas Costain's The Tontine. You'll appreciate the historical nature of it and it's a wonderful tale, as are all of Costain's books.

    And I second the other comment about working on the next Lady Georgie book. :-)

    Happy healing!

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  3. So sorry to hear of your accident (though you told the story of it well.) I love the Mary Stewart novels; my favorites were Airs Above the Ground, The Gabriel Hounds, Thunder on the Right, and Touch Not the Cat.

    For good comfort novels, although you've probably read all these before, I recommend in mystery: Josephine Tey's "The Daughter of Time" (you have something in common with her Inspector Grant at the moment), Dorothy Sayers' "Gaudy Night," Laurie R. King's "The Beekeeper's Apprentice," and Nancy Atherton's "Aunt Dimity's Death." In novels: Elizabeth Goudge's "City of Bells," "Pilgrim's Inn," and "Gentian Hill", though you may have a hard time finding them as they are out of print.

    I hope you heal well and quickly and are soon on your feet again!

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  4. I totally agree about Mary Stewart. Madam Will You Talk is a favorite, as is Nine Coaches Waiting. She was great at feisty heroines. If you are up for something a little deeper, I recommend Dorothy Dunnett's Francis Crawford of Lymond series. They're wonderful but take a little brain work. I'll be praying for a quick recovery for you. Best wishes.

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  5. All of Patricia Wentworth's mysteries (Miss Silver and the non-series ones). They're simple, relaxing, have some of the nastiest mothers in literature, and often include a little romance. They're mystery candy.

    Also, Georgette Heyer's seven mysteries.

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  6. The Aunt Dimity series is great reading, but very calm - even in the dangerous parts. I cut my mystery teeth on Mary Stewart. It's possible that I have some tucked into my bookshelf.

    Good luck. I'm guessing the donut pillow will work well. They once were very popular with new mothers.

    You definitely need to set up a comfy place in the garden. Indulge yourself there and get better.

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  7. My favorite Stewart is "Airs Above the Ground.". The scene with the old piebald horse dancing in the field brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.

    I'm sending prayers for a speedy recovery.

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  8. Oh, to have unlimited hours to read! (though maybe not in the way you gained them...) Do you enjoy fantasy at all? For a good escape I would recommend Robin Hobb's Liveship Trader Trilogy and then I might go back to some childhood favorites for "comfort". But then again, there's so much new out there, too. Decisions, decisions.
    At any rate, I hope you are feeling better soon!

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