I hadn’t planned to buy any books this month, but the desire to take part in the Daphne du Maurier reading week in May had me looking for new ones to add to my already overflowing small shelves. Could have I just bought one book? Yes! Did I? Of course not! This is a somewhat diverse haul, featuring a couple of different genres – classics, fantasy and literary fiction.
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier is one of the authors that I want to read at least one book by every year. I read Jamaica Inn in January and wasn’t planning to read any other of her books in the following months. But then I discovered that Ali is dedicating a week (13 to 19 May) to du Maurier and decided to join in. For that purpose, I chose The House on the Strand. The main character, Dick Young, drinks a potion provided to him by a chemical researcher that allows him to time travel. He ends up in fourteenth-century Cornwall where he witnesses murder and adultery.
In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
In the latest years, I’ve been reading the fantasy book series The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan. In the Labyrinth of Drakes is the fourth instalment and reveals how Lady Trent gained her position in the Scirling Royal Army. All the other books were a mix of adventure with feminism and anthropological elements. I expect the same from this one.
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
The book series His Dark Materials was not part of my childhood. It was only recently, after learning that the BBC and HBO are adapting it to TV, that I became interested in reading it. So, I asked on Twitter if the series was worthy reading as an adult, and a small majority said yes. All I know is that it follows Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon who live among scholars in Oxford.
A Espada e a Azagaia by Mia Couto
A Espada e a Azagaia is the second instalment of the trilogy As Areias do Imperador (Sands of the Emperor) by the Mozambican author Mia Couto. I recently finished the first one, Mulheres de Cinza (Woman of the Ashes), and was curious to know what happens afterwards. I’m not sure if I will read it soon, but I couldn’t resist the 40% discount.
História do Novo Nome (The Story of a New Name) by Elena Ferrante
At the beginning of the month, I finished watching the first season of the adaptation My Brilliant Friend. Although I wasn’t impressed by the first two episodes (there are too many voice-overs, which I don’t find compelling on TV shows), overall the series reminded me of how much I enjoyed the first book in the Neapolitan Novels. So, I finally decided to buy the second one, which I will read soon. I can’t wait to know what the future holds to the friends Lila and Elena.
Have you read any of these books? Tell me in the comments!
A Bag Full Of Stories 
I read the entire Neapolitan quartet. I found the first volume so compelling, I read the other 3 in succession. I haven’t read Mia Couto yet, but look forward to doing so. Some of his books in English translation are published by Biblioasis here in Canada.
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I enjoyed the three books I read by Mia Couto! Really recommend his work!
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I’m planning to do a reread of His Dark Materials at some point, so perhaps we can do a readalong.
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That’s a good idea! I was thinking about reading it in early June. But I warn you that I’m a slow reader! 😂
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I haven’t read any of the books you listed, but I certainly am going to now. I haven’t heard much about The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier. I read Rebecca and Jamaica Inn, and have no idea how this one passed me by because it does sound very exciting.
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The House on the Strand caught my attention, because it sounds so different from all the other books I read by Daphne du Maurier.
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It certainly sounds more fantastical.
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Yay for du Maurier! I made a resolution to read more of her work in 2019 after falling in love with her books a few years back. I picked up The House on the Strand not too long ago, and very much enjoyed it (though Rebecca remains my firm favourite). I hope you enjoy it as well!
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Rebecca is my favourite as well! It was the first one that I read and none of the others managed to supplant it!
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Same for me! It will certainly take some beating. But that said, I’ve still thoroughly enjoyed everything else by her that I’ve picked up so far.
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