Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Reading list and what-not

One of my sister's sent me a reading list for fans of Downton Abbey. Almost all of the books were nonfiction. Now I do like to read nonfiction but I think there are a lot of novels out there that can do an equally good job representing the time period.

For mysteries I like Anne Perry and Robin Paige. Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series includes lots of class struggles similar to the what we see on D.A. Paige's mysteries include some real-life characters and early "CSI" developments like photography and fingerprints. Both are great beach and airplane reading.

Do you have any recommendations for historical novels or mysteries set in the first quarter of the 20th century?

Back to quilts...can you believe someone found this quilt top in a dumpster?

That sort of thing never happens to me...
the fabrics in it are really interesting and once it got a good washing it is in great shape!


15 comments:

Terrie Sandelin said...

"Gate of Angels" by Penelope Fitzgerald. It's set in 1912, England. An absolutely lovely little book with emotional depth, wit, and a lovely romance crossing class boundaries. One of my absolute favorite novels.

Gypsy Quilter said...

I imagine someone was cleaning out an old house and had no idea of the value of a quilt. Glad it was rescued though. What a find.

Loris said...

I enjoyed reading R.F.Delderfield's novels that covered a couple of centuries of history. Not as intimate as D.A. but some good stories that taught me more about the past.
I'm going to check out "Gate of Angels". It sounds good :-)

Libby said...

Perry and Paige are both new to me. I love Downton Abbey and I MUST read everyday...which of those 2 would you recommend to start with?
Thanks!

Janet O. said...

In a dumpster? Breaks my heart! Glad it got rescued by someone who cares!

Richard Healey said...

It is a shame that any quilt ever goes into a dumpster. I have one that is old and beaten. All they need is a little love and maybe some repair and bring them back to life.

http//richardquilts.blogspot.com

Merilyn said...

I can't believe that someone would toss out something like that, glad it has found an appreciative home!!!!

cityquilter grace said...

"the end of everything," a thriller of sorts, not gory, but timely and contemporary and spooky...

Me and My Stitches said...

I want to know why she was digging in the dumpster! I never get any good finds either - I guess we have been looking in all the wrong places.

Dawn said...

Have you read any of the books centered around the Shortwaist Fire in NYC? Triangle by Katharine Weber is good. Fiction but uses some facts...Other quilters recommended it to me ;-)
SO nice the quilt top found a happy home.
Have a great week!

Clare said...

English person here. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. Any book by Nancy Mitford, preferably Pursuit of Love or Love in a Cold Climate. I could go on but won't.

How could anyone dump that.

Purple Pam said...

Whoever tossed that quilt into the dumpster did not know its worth. I guess it pays to go "dumpster diving". What a lucky recipient. Nothing great happens to me like that either. I guess that is because I don't look into dumpsters!

Quilting Martha said...

Read Anthony Trollope's Palliser novels. They're a generation earlier, but wonderful. "Can You Forgive Her" is the first in the series.

sewkalico said...

Yeah! How come I've never found a quilt in a dumpster either ;)

Libby said...

I just had to come back and thank you for the book recommendations. I am half way through the first Thomas Pitt book and WOW! I am loving it! I was so glad to see that I could get it for my Kindle!