Andrew Taylor, The Anatomy of Ghosts

[ViolaTricolor]

Has anyone read this? I'm considering it for a wintery weekend away on the coast. Don't tell me what happens .

Yes. It was okay. Didn't love it. The atmosphere didn't quite come alive for me and it felt like it dragged on for slightly too long. That said, I don't regret reading it. Could do worse for a wintry weekend.

Thanks! I might have to think again -- I was hoping for a more ringing endorsement, and I hate having time to read but a book I feel indifferent about. The last book I took on this kind of trip was Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger, which I really enjoyed, even if I wouldn't read it again.

Not read it but is he the guy who wrote The American Boy? That was v good. But Bleeding Heart square was v bad. No use am I?

If you want a cuddling up by the fire sort of book, I'd say The Moonstone or The Woman In White would be ideal.

That's exactly the kind of thing I want, BG, but alas I think I have read all of Wilkie Collins already ('alas' isn't quite right -- those were good times). I don't read many new books, but I saw this on a book table and wondered if it would serve. Maybe I should go for The American Boy instead .

Trust me - it's a good read. :)

Or have you read The Historian?

Or CJ Sansom's books?

Ah well then, I might try it, because the setting is one that appeals to me.

I haven't done CJ Sansom, no, nor The Historian. I rather like the look of The Historian! Do I take it you recommend it, BG?

And speaking of what to read if you like Wilkie Collins vein, I did enjoy The Quincunx.

at my own grammar.

Yes, yes to The Historian and Sansom. Elizabeth whatshername has another one out too but I can't remember what it's called and haven't read it yet.

I tried and failed with The Quincunx.

i liked Andrew Taylor's American Boy so i may try this.

OK, this is great, thanks! I might also get a Dorothy L. Sayers in case of emergency. I do also have a copy of Wolf Hall looking balefully at me, unfinished and so far rather unloved. I had to take the Quincunx on a long flight to get into it, but then I loved it.

Wolf Hall annoyed me but I did manage to plod on to the end because I liked her characterisation of Cromwell (and because I was on a thread on here desperately trying to motivate myself with it!). SUCH an irritating writer though.

It makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one; I hate not finishing books. Maybe I'll persevere. I tried to read it somewhere very hot, which didn't help me get into the period (I know that's not entirely logical, but I associate the Tudors with fur sleeves and pies and the like, and I can't think about those things in 32 degrees).

I read The Woman in White and The Moonstone in Greece at 40 degrees - not quite right for it but hey ho! :)

your imagination is tougher than mine! I did read Lady Audley's Secret non-stop on holiday in Spain, but it helped that it was raining incessantly.

Ooh I haven't read that - should I?

Maybe -- it hasn't aged as well as Collins and I don't think it's as sophisticated, but I enjoyed reading sensation fiction by a 19th century woman writer. It is undeniably a bit schlocky!

Well, sometimes schlock is just what one needs! Will look out for it, thanks.

Very true, and there's a special place for Victorian schlock!