Jeanne’s

Spring Reading 2012 List

Like almost everyone else, I’m “mad for Downton Abbey”.  Publishers have rushed to print books concerning Edwardian and wartime England.  One of the best is “Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey – The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle” by the Countess of Carnavor; The recollections of a lady’s maid, “Rose:  My Life in Service to Lady Astor” by Rosina Harrison and World War I’s “A Bitter Truth” By Charles Todd.  Another one, a book we always have on hand is “Love is a Cold Climate” by Nancy Mitford, a novel about the eccentricities of the English upper classes.

I just read “Past Imperfect” by Julian Fellowes, the creator of the series. He also wrote “Snobs”, both of which are now on my good-to-read list. His niece, Jessica Fellowes wrote “The World of Downton Abbey”. “Below Stairs” by Margaret Powell is her true story of starting as a kitchen maid, the lowest of the low, in one of the great houses in the 1920’s.

Moving on to the forties, I picked up a new paperback, “Band of Angels”, the untold story of America’s nurses trapped on Bataan by the Japanese. In the fall of 1941, the Philippines were a gardenia scented paradise for the American Army and Navy nurses stationed there. On December 8, all that changed.

National Geographic’s recently published “An Uncommon History of Common Courtesy:  How Manners Shaped the World” by Bethane Patrick. Did you know that the tradition of giving a toast before drinking alcohol actually takes its roots from burned bread?

“The End of Illness” by David Agus, MD, challenges long-held wisdoms and dismantling misperceptions about what “health” means. His suggestions include how sources of daily inflammation – from high heels to the common cold – can lead to a fatal heart attack and even rob us of our sanity.

“Plantation Houses on the Battlefield of New Orleans” by Samuel Wilson Jr, provides a thorough overview of the plantation homes that existed on the battlefield during the British Campaign of 1814-15, the last major conflict of the War of 1812.

I have always been fascinated by Victorian adventurers who risked their lives and their reputations in the name of the quest – both men and women left their homes to explore the unknown. “Explorers of the Nile” is the story of one such epic journey. Showing exceptional courage and extraordinary resilience, Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke, Florence and Samuel Baker, James Grant, David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley traveled through East and Central Africa into unmapped territory. Not all would return.

Since this is a spring list, it’s time to mention the big, new “Texas Wildflowers” book.  The beautiful watercolor images of Texas wild flowers were created in the 1840’s and 1850’s by Eliza Griffin Johnston, bound in a book and given to her husband General Albert Sidney Johnston for his birthday.  In 1862, during the Civil War, General Johnston was killed at the Battle of Shiloh.  In 1844, Eliza’s friend, Rebecca Jane Fisher, of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, began acquiring artifacts from the Republic of Texas era for a museum and asked Eliza for something that had belonged to the general.  It was through those efforts that the Chapter received the book, which remained in an Austin bank vault until 2008.

The “Armitage’s Garden Perennials” second edition, just arrived.  It’s the most complete comprehensive single volume photographic resource on perennial plants. 

“Queen Elizabeth in the Garden” is a story of love, rivalry and spectacular gardens.  Almost every summer, Elizabeth I took her court on a tour of the provinces, where hosts were called to honor Her Majesty with entertainment on a tour of gardens of exceptional beauty.  Today, not a single authentic Elizabethan garden survives.

“Pink Ladies and Crimson Gents” - portraits and legends of 50 roses is by Molly and Don Glentzer of Houston.  “Shaped like a miter’s cap or hued like the pearl – colored petticoats of a duchess, scented like honeyed almonds, or nodding heavily in the wind, every old-fashioned rose possesses a unique character”.

Keeping to gardening is the children’s book “1001 Bugs to Spot” including five emperor dragon flies, six hairy weevils, four giant millipedes. 

New novels for reading include, “A Good American”, 1904 in Hanover, Germany with a couple coming to America;  “Believing the Lie” by Elizabeth George – a new Inspector Lynley novel! ;
“Taken” by Robert Crais; “Another Woman” by Penny Vincenzi – a dream wedding turns into a nightmare;  “Death of Kings” Bernard Cornwell;  “Kill Shot” by Vince Flynn.

There will be lots more novels coming as the publishers’ spring lists keep coming out.  Next time I’m going back in time to write about some books that will remain favorites forever and also, I’d like to mention coming soon - lots of wonderful children and young adult books.

One more thing before I close,  “Charlotte au Chocolat” by Charlotte Silver. Charlotte Silver grew up in her mother’s restaurant, Upstairs at the Pudding, located in Harvard Square.  Over dinners of foie gras and Dover sole, always served with a Shirley Temple and often candied violets for dessert, Charlotte kept company with a rotating cast of eccentric staff members. This book sounds charming and who doesn’t like reading about “lobster claws cracked open and bathed in hot lashes of nasturtium butter in summer, baked apples in thickened pools of heavy cream” in fall.

Our friend, Tom Oxford, who helps us during the week and is at Joshua’s Native Plants during the weekend, makes delicious lemon squares for us on our birthdays and he is willing to share the recipe.  Tom also recommends “Wild Abundance” the new cookbook for ritual, revelry and recipes of the South’s finest hunting clubs.  It is a one-of-a-kind book paying tribute to the cooks, guides, spirit and culture that make Southern duck hunting clubs unique. 

Jeanne’s

Summer 2011 Reading List

It’s been such an uneventful summer for me.  I’ve been reading like crazy, so I decided it was time for a new list!

  Several years ago, I read a memoir When I was Puerto Rican, by Esmeralda Santiago, and loved it.  I decided I wanted to move to Puerto Rico .  Now Santiago has written a new book, Conquistadora.  I really enjoyed it – an epic novel of love, discovery and adventure.  Ana, the heroine, a kind of Scarlett O’Hara, travels from her home in Spain to a remote sugar plantation, where, during the Civil War in the U. S. , she finds her livelihood and her life threatened by the hacienda’s slaves.

Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks, author of People of the Book is a part of little known history brought to life.  In 1665, a young man from Martha’s Vineyard, became the first native American graduate of Harvard College .  The voice belongs to Bethia Mayfield, growing up in the tiny island settlement of Great Harbor amid a small band of pioneering British Puritans.

  The Way of the Panda, by Henry Nichols discusses the curious history of China ’s political animal. It is the story of the extraordinary impact of the panda from obscurity to fame – also the story of China ’s transition from the shy beginnings to center stage.

  The American Heiress, by Daisy Goodwin, another first time novelist, is a guilty pleasure.  It is 1893 in Newport , R. I. and Cora Cash is having a lavish masquerade ball.  Anyone suffering Downton Abbey withdrawal symptoms will find this an instant tonic.

  Absolute Monarchs by John Julius Norwich – a history of the Papacy.  Norwich is one of Britain ’s preeminent historians and travel writers.  He captures nearly 2000 years of inspiration and devotion, intrigue and scandal.

  Fighter Pilot is the memoirs of legendary ace Robin Olds.  To his West Point coach, he was an All American, destined for the National College Football Hall of Fame.  To his P-38 and P-51 wartime squadrons, he was the aggressive fighter pilot. For pioneers of the jet age, he was the wingman on the first demo team, a racer in the Thompson Trophy race and the only U. S. exchange officer to command a RAF squadron.  In the tabloid press he was the dashing flying hero who married the glamorous movie star.  For the current crop of fighter pilots he is best known as the leader of the F-4 Wolfpack,  battling over North Vietnam .  For the cadets at the Air Force Academy he was a role model and mentor. 

Anne Rivers Siddons is at it again with her new novel of love and betrayal within a wealthy Southern family.  It all takes place on Burnt Mountain .

Split Second by Catherine Coulter is an F.B.I. thriller.  A serial killer is on the loose and it’s up to FBI agents to bring him down.  They discover the killer has blood ties to an infamous and now long-dead monster.

  Maine is by J. Courtney Sullivan.  She introduces four unforgettable women who have nothing in common but the fact that they are family.  Three generations of Kelleher women descend on the Maine cottage on three acres of sand and pine – each bringing her own hopes and fears. 

A Discovery of Witches takes you out of your comfort zone – with a handsome vampire and glorious witches vying for attention. Makes you a true believer!

Bobbie Ann Mason, a longtime favorite of mine, has a new novel – Girl in the Blue Beret.  Mason was inspired by the wartime experiences of her late father-in-law, who was shot down in occupied Europe .  One intrepid girl guide risked her life to help him – the girl in the blue beret.

Social Animal, by David Brooks, gives us an insight on human behavior from cradle to grave.  It is the story of how success happens, told through the lives of one composite American couple.