Round up of the books on my reading rotation

I thought it would be fun to share a list of what I’m reading at the moment. I always have multiple books on the go at once, in paper, kindle and audible. Often but not always I’ll read a group of books that share a central subject. 

Odessa, Odessa by Barbara Artson. I love this novel and I’m listening to it on Audible. It follows the experience of a family of Jews living within the Jewish Pale of Settlement, in the late 1800’s. This is of particular interest to me because my own family lived there at this time so it gave me a sense of how their homes felt and lives lived. In this particular family one brother, a rabbi, immigrated to America to escape the pogroms while his brother joins the communist uprising. 

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente. This book fascinates me. It’s an alternate historical reality where the Russian Revolution and First World War happen within the context that the ancient Russian fairy tails are real and their characters and rules drive the human movements. I love this because this moment of history and fairy tales are two of my favourite subjects.

The Life and Death of Ella Grand Duchess of Russia by Christopher Warwick. This is a book I’ve read before, a year or two ago. It was a very good book and had a lot of well researched details so I wanted to read it again. Like squeezing a lemon for every last drop! 

The Mysterious Mr. Quinn by Agatha Christie. This is a collection of short stories about one of Christie’s lesser known heroes, Mr. Harley Quinn. I listen to this to unwind before sleep. 

Lionessheart by Catherine Hanley. Sometimes I need to mentally be in medieval times so I always have a few of those on the go. This is a non fiction biography about the incredible life of Joanna Queen of Sicily, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine. We’ve all heard of Eleanor’s son Richard the Lionheart but his youngest sister’s life was just as eventful, adventurous and important. 

Why Women Grow by Alice Vincent. This is a wonderful book exploring the relationship between women and gardening. Right up my alley and I’m loving it, nearly finished. 

The Lost Passenger by Francis Quinn. This one I’m reading with my husband. We usually have a book on the go together and he reads aloud to me. In a not unfamiliar storyline, a woman is trapped in a miserably abusive situation. She uses the chaos of surviving the Titanic (with her young son) to escape and take on a new identity. Although this is generically a story we’ve heard before, it’s a very good book and well written. 

So that’s it! I’ll read this in short rotations until they’re all finished. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading a bit about these books.

Wishing you all the best,

Erin