My thoughts on the books I read in the first half of October can be found here. Shortly after that was posted, things went in an unexpected direction--one that seriously messed with my reading. I don't like things that mess with my reading. 😉😕😏 Believe me, it was a happy day when I could pick up a book once again. So in this post, I'll tell you what I thought about the books I read in the second half of October.
I was reading this book when the crud entered our home, so it sat for several days while I was coming back to myself, as they say here. I think the subtitle is slightly misleading--or maybe just incomplete. The book does discuss libraries and readers, but it goes far beyond that to look at all aspects of books in wartime. Pettegree defines 'book' rather broadly to include propaganda (in written text) of various kinds, leaflets and pamphlets, etc. His main focus is on the time between the US Civil War and the end of the Cold War, although he reaches further back in history to provide support for his argument at times. He includes chapters about how civilians and military personnel consumed books during the war, how printers, bookshops, and libraries adapted to war, and what kinds of books were popular during war. But he also discusses how books influenced various dictators like Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, and Mao and how they used books to educate themselves and, in writing books themselves, to make their own monstrous ideas more widely known Iwith more or less success). It's a fascinating book. I found it because I was looking at a bookish email in which the author's latest book about the history of bookshops was featured. I saw the cover and the author and wondered if this was the same guy who wrote the book about the history of libraries that I read about 5 years ago. I went to the library to put a hold on the bookshop book and I saw that he did indeed write the history of the library as well. In between those two, he wrote this one, so I requested it at once. I'm glad I did.
Earlier in the month, I read a collection of short stories by Mosse and enjoyed it. I was looking through BorrowBox and came across this novella in audiobook format. I borrowed it and it came in handy when I was sitting up at night with the crud. One night I just sat in the dark with my eyes closed and let someone read me a story. It was nice. The novella opens in May 1706, with a family gathered in a corner of their land as they hold a private funeral and burial for their husband and father. It has been determined that he committed suicide, so couldn't be buried in consecrated ground. Ana knows that her father did not commit suicide and figures that he ran afoul of the town mayor and his brother the priest. Mosse's description of these two was enough to give me the creeps--it was very well done, which I noted even through my fog. Because the town was the most important port in the area, these two were very intent on keeping things the way they were, even with the threat of a volcanic eruption from the mountain they were living on/at the foot of. Ana's father allowed his warnings about an eruption get to the ears of the wrong people. Ana seeks out his friends and together they try to warn townspeople who, in ways that seemed very familiar, opted to ignore the evidence of their own eyes, ears, and experiences. I thought the ending was a little too pat, but overall I enjoyed this novella. I find I like Kate Mosse's work so I'll be reading more of it.
Danger Point by Patricia Wentworth (my e-book)
Once the worst of the crud had exited, I was eager to pick up a book again. I wasn't feeling so coherent that I wanted anything that required lots of attention, analysis, or deep thought, so I went to a classic crime novel. It's what I do. 😏 I am slowly reading the Miss Silver books and I decided that would be perfect for the day. This was a weird Miss Silver book. When it opens, Miss Silver is alone in a train carriage, coming home from a holiday spent with a niece and her kids. She's hoping to have the carriage to herself all the way to London, but suddenly a distraught young woman rushes into the carriage and sits down. Of course, Miss Silver coaxes the story out of her--she was at a house party that she did not want to attend. Her husband pushed her to go, even though he wouldn't be there. As she was out walking around the grounds, she overhears a conversation happening on the other side of the hedge. To her horror, she realizes these people are talking about her husband--and her. They're commenting on the fact that he was lucky when his first wife fell off the cliff--what a happy accident!--because it provided him with the money he desperately needed to keep the family property afloat. Now, they say, it might be time for another happy accident to befall wife number two, because he needs money again. Wife number two is terrified, flees from the house, meets Miss Silver on the train, and tells her story. Upon disembarking, Miss Silver gives this woman her business card and says to call if she needs help. Exit Miss Silver until very nearly the end of the book. Meanwhile, wife two goes home and the story goes on from there. When Miss Silver shows up again, she doesn't really do any investigating, although she does give advice. It was a good read, although not one of the best Miss Silver books I've read. I wouldn't really recommend it as a place to start with Miss Silver, but it was perfect for the day I read it.
Finally, I read a couple of books from my NetGalley shelf, one was OK and one was fabulous. As always, I thank NetGalley, the publishers, and the authors for digital review copies of these books.
Medusa's Laugh by Hélène Cixous with Eric Prenowitz (Translator)
ISBN 9780241776223
to be published on November 12, 2026 by Penguin Press UK, Penguin Classics
This is a new translation of a work first published half a century ago. Cixous argues for women to write the truth about their lives and experiences and not let cultural expectations silence their realities. Although I've never read this particular piece before, I have a background in anthropology and women's studies, so the ideas she's writing about here were not new to me. In terms of the history of feminist thought, however, I can see how this would have been a radical piece of writing half a century ago. And it is still relevant, not just as a historical document, but in terms of encouraging people, especially women, to look below the surface and to see the ways in which our lives are shaped by cultural forces we're not even conscious of. People take certain ideas for granted and think 'that's just the way things are.' But when it comes to things like patriarchal culture, it is how things are, but it doesn't have to be. By writing the truth of their own lives, women can empower themselves and others and help change culture. One must get below the surface, though. The idea that we can 'add women and stir' to existing cultural and societal institutions is certainly some kind of progress for some women, but it doesn't address the underlying beliefs that cause such harm. For anyone interested in the history of feminism or to whom these kinds of ideas are new, this is a great little volume to turn to.
The Christmas Tree Murders by Katie Lumsden
to be published on November 5, 2026 by Michael Joseph/Penguin Random House
ISBN 9780241826584
I am a regular viewer of Katie Lumsden's YouTube channel, Books and Things, and when I watched her announcement video for this book, it immediately went onto my 'want to read' list. There's always a danger when I am eagerly anticipating a book that I'll allow my expectations to get too high and I'll end up disappointed. That was definitely not the case here! I was hooked on this book from the first page, when I was greeted by the spirit that was to be my tour guide of sorts, through Clifftop House and the events that unfolded there during the last week and a half of 1884. There is a video of Katie Lumsden reading the first chapter of her book here. Clifftop House is the home of an obsessive scientist, Sir Russell Morgan. He has all kinds of gadgets scattered throughout the house and grounds--dishwashing machine, electric lights, indoor plumbing, and more. Sharing his home are his second wife, Lady Morgan, his adult children from his first marriage, and various servants and other household help. Guests arrive for the lavish Christmas gathering he has planned, some old friends and some newer acquaintances. There are secrets everywhere. People are being manipulated. Millie, our heroine, is a kitchen maid and she is good friends with a couple of the male servants in the home. She's a bit shocked at some of the things she witnesses, and she is the victim of bullying on the part of some of the other servants, but she's happy overall and she enjoys her friendships with Fred and Ayansh. Then things turn deadly and someone doesn't make it to Christmas Day. Millie decides to do a bit of investigating.
I loved this book from two different, but intertwining directions. First of all, it was simply a good story. I was into it from the start and kept reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen. I was immersed in the setting and invested in the characters. The solution to the mystery was clever and not one I saw coming. The second reason I loved this book relates to the first reason and that is the quality of the craft here. The structure of the book is not what I would typically expect of a historical Christmas mystery. It was so well done, though, and enhanced my reading experience. From watching her videos, I know that this author has a passion for the Victorian era and has done massive amounts of research over the years. Thus, she has a good grasp of many aspects of life during that time. She has apparently done even more research specific to this book and it shows--not in a heavy-handed way, but rather it's woven into the story in ways that give a deeper understanding of what life would have been like at that time. For instance, interspersed throughout the text are things like journal entries, letters that people have saved, menus, and the like. These provide some of the backstory without long descriptions of what happened and they allow the reader to gradually see how some pieces of the puzzle come together. I particularly loved the menus, which gave a glimpse into what a Christmas table would have been like. The author's note at the end provided some insight into the inspiration for the book and some of the sources Lumsden relied on in her research. I found that quite interesting as well. There is a video here of of some of the books that inspired the author when writing this book, but I haven't watched it yet.
I could go on and on here, but I'll just say that I loved this book. It's so well crafted and was a joy to read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Unfortunately, there is no US publisher for this book, but Blackwell's in the UK will have it and they ship worldwide, with shipping included in the price of the book.
So that's what I read in the second half of October. In November, I hope to get into some books that I planned to read a few weeks ago, before the crud interfered. Whatever you're reading at the moment, I hope you're loving it!
