Book Beginnings - Gillespie and I - Jane Harris

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays - The idea is 'to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.' Hash tag #BookBeginnings for twitter and a master linky list on the host's blog.

I haven't managed to join in for a little while, and I'm not sure what week number I got to so I'll leave that out, but I do love this meme, and it's nice to be taking part again.

I'm reading Gillespie and I by Jane Harris, published by Faber and Faber.

Isn't the cover beautiful? 

(This is the UK paperback edition. The hardback also has a lovely cover design, different to this but incorporating some of the same elements.)

Here's the beginning...

Preface

Tuesday, 11 April 1933

London

It would appear that I am to be the first to write a book on Gillespie. Who, if not me, was dealt that hand? Indeed, one might say, who else is left to tell the tale? Ned Gillespie: artist, innovator, and forgotten genius; my dear friend and soul mate. I first became acquainted with Gillespie in the spring of 1888 and during the course of several years thereafter we were connected through the most intimate of friendships.

~~~~~

Have you read this novel? What did you think of it? 

I am so glad to finally be reading this book. In fact I've been reading it for the past few days and I'm very close to the end now - it's a brilliant read. The characters have me fascinated, none more so than Harriet herself, who is the narrator in the above excerpt from the start of the novel. 

I loved The Observations, the first novel by this writer, in fact that's one of my favourite books. I intended to read this second novel a long time before now. I'm not sure what stopped me, a combination of things, but it's an excellent book and here I am finally near to finishing it, hooray!

Here's the author's website if you're interested in finding out more.

Have a great weekend whatever you are reading!

~~~~~

About the book...

As she sits in her Bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly Harriet Baxter sets out to relate the story of her acquaintance, nearly four decades previously, with Ned Gillespie, a talented artist who never achieved the fame that she maintains he deserved.

Back in 1888, the young, art-loving Harriet arrives in Glasgow at the time of the International Exhibition. After a chance encounter, she befriends the Gillespie family and soon becomes a fixture in all of their lives. But when tragedy strikes - leading to a notorious criminal trial - the promise and certainties of this world all too rapidly disintegrate into mystery and deception.

Featuring a memorable cast of characters, infused with atmosphere and period detail, and shot through with wicked humour, Gillespie and I is a powerful and haunting second novel from one of today’s most striking new voices.

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

The topic this week is - 

 Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most

1. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Quite simply a marvellous, chilling psychological thriller debut which I have recommended countless times to many readers, none of whom, as far as I know, have been at all disappointed.

2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

One of the few novels I've read more than once, a clever and gripping tale of murder and obsession.

3. The Outcast by Sadie Jones

One of the best debut novels I've ever read, a personal favourite, I read it in a weekend and couldn't stop thinking about it, beautifully written, very moving and will continue to happily recommend it to others. Brilliant.

4. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

I've bought this one as a gift for several friends to get them started on this author and on the Jackson Brodie series, and also because it is set in Cambridge which appeals. 

5. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

I was so impressed by the way searing emotions and damaged relationships are captured in this novel. A wonderful writer. The film version is good in and of itself, but it misses so much of what the book offers, so please do read it.

6. Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom

I thought this was a really good read, I was intrigued by the Spanish Civil War aspects and gripped by the mystery, and I find myself recommending it fairly regularly. 

7. The Observations by Jane Harris

Another book that I adored when I read it and would recommend as a really entertaining and well written historical novel with a very engaging spirited heroine for a lead character.

8. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

I read the Thursday Next series from the early days when they first came out and loved the clever inclusion of so many literary references and witty ideas that Fforde comes up with. A good read for well read book lovers. I'd recommend the series in general but this is the first one so a good place to start!

9. Untying the Knot by Linda Gillard

This was one of my first reads on my Kindle, and it's an atmospheric and very moving story of a couple who seemingly can't survive with each other, but can't be apart either, with the lead male character suffering from PTSD. I would, and indeed do, recommend all the novels by this author that I've read so far, but if I had to pick one just now, it would be this one. 

10. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

Some readers love his books, others don't get on with them at all. I'm firmly in the first camp, and this is my favourite of his novels. A brilliant character study of a man and his treatment of those closest to him. Yes it's bleak and dark and cruel, and I love it.

~~~~~

A word on the covers - I've used the image of the covers of the editions I own and read as far as possible here. Some books have had so any versions of the covers, but sometimes I find that part of the memory of the novel for me is attached to the particular cover too, if that makes sense.

Which book or books or authors do you find yourself recommending to someone else to read most often?

Book Bloggers Event at Simon and Schuster UK

I recently attended an event for book bloggers at Simon & Schuster publishers in London. This was a wonderful opportunity to meet four authors, hear them discuss their work and aspects of writing, and to meet members of the Simon & Schuster team and find out about forthcoming new releases from them.

I'd like to say a huge thank you to the S&S team and the authors for this event and for getting book bloggers involved in this way again.

I personally love listening to authors talking about their work, their writing process, the research involved, and the route to getting published, so this event was wonderful. It is also great to get the opportunity to visit a publishing house and meet some of the staff behind the scenes of all these wonderful books. Further, it was a super opportunity to put faces to names of some of the other book bloggers out there, and to discover some new blogs.

I'd also like to highlight the books by the authors who were present there, and also highlight a few upcoming releases that caught my eye.

Click on any of the titles to find a description and more about the book.

The four authors we met at the event, and their recent/forthcoming releases:

The Painted Bridge - Wendy Wallace

Dead Man's Land  - Robert Ryan

The First Last Kiss - Ali Harris 

Apocalypse - Dean Crawford 

Some of the books coming in 2013 that caught my eye:

Black Roses - Jane Thynne 

Fever - Mary Beth Keane 

Child of Vengeance - David Kirk 

With All My Love - Patricia Scanlan 

Have you heard of any of these? Is there anything here that you think you'd like to read?