Recent Reads

I love my public library!  A couple of years ago, I discovered that they lend downloadable books via Kindle and other systems.  This revolutionized by membership, which had previously been limited to a visit once every five years or so, and now I am a regular customer.  Yes, I often have to wait weeks to borrow a new or popular book, but it is well worth it.  Here are a couple of my recent reads:

Beautiful Ruins

 
NY Times Review

The Rosie Project: A Novel

NPR Review

 

Memoir

mem·oir
ˈmemˌwär,-ˌwôr/
1. a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources.

I recently read an excerpt from Angelica Huston's memoir 'A Story Lately Told' in Vanity Fair and it had me hooked.  Then I saw this article in the New York Times and it solidified my interest.  I think this will go on my Christmas list.

Biographies and autobiographies provide fascinating insight into the variety of lives lead by interesting people.  Is it the accident of birth that leads to fame or fortune?  Or brilliance, hard work and timing?  How large of a role does personality play?  Is it the era in which someone lives - the surrounding world circumstances that effectively causes some people to rise to the occasion leaving a remarkable legacy?

Robert Massie's biography of Catherine the Great is another wonderful book that leads the reader through the twists and turns of a fascinating life.  The transformation of Catherine from young teenage bride living with her domineering mother in a new country, subject to the mercy of her mother-in-law's whim, to strong leader makes you wonder - personality?  Circumstance?

Obituaries offer the same insight into the twisty turns a life can take.  The recent passing of Mavis Batey and the fascinating role she had in shaping history was so interesting to learn about.  An ordinary person who, due to time and circumstance, rose to the occasion and left an indelible mark.  Yet her sensible personality remained unspoiled to the end; “So I thought, great,” she recalled. “This is going to be an interesting job, Mata Hari, seducing Prussian officers.  But I don’t think either my legs or my German were good enough because they sent me to the Government Code & Cipher School.”

Memoir: Wait for Me!

With great excitement I picked up a package from Barnes and Noble.com today. The long awaited new memoir by 90 year old Deborah Mitford, Duchess of Devonshire finally arrived! I am so looking forward to the treat ahead of me.

On the whole, I enjoy reading memoirs as people have the most fascinating lives. It shows that not everything exciting need be fiction.

Deborah Devonshire has led a very full and interesting life. Her family was larger than life. Each sister distinguished herself through writing, politics, beauty, scandal and a stoic determination to follow what they believed in. Deborah experienced significant events in history from the front row and was constantly surrounded by fascinating people.


The youngest of seven and now the last living of the famous Mitford sisters, Deborah was born in 1920. She married Andrew Cavendish in 1941, during the height of the war. After the death of his brother, her husband inherited the title Duke of Devonshire and a large estate burdened with taxes. Through hard work, inventiveness and determination, Deborah restored a beautiful historical home to working productivity.

Wait for Me! looks to be a wonderful read and I look forward to entering Deborah Mitford Devonshire's world this weekend.