Overall, June was a good reading month for me. What made it special was all of the new people/characters I met. For me there is nothing better than a character-rich novel. Each month during 2010 I’ve been trying to highlight my favorite character of the month. No way can I do that this month. There are three people/characters that take top honors for June.
First, there was Marianne from Star Gazing. Representing Marianne is the author, Linda Gillard. Marianne, blind from birth, never let her handicap keep her down. She fell in love with a man who helped her “see” the stars and other things by comparing them to the things she did know, like music and food.
Second, I met Annie from The Love Ceiling. Representing Marianne is the author, Jean Davies Okimoto. Annie, a sixty-something, was juggling all sorts of family relationships and problems along with her own desire to create art. Annie declared there is a ceiling for women and it’s made of love.
Third, I met Agnes, a seventy-five year old widow in England who would do anything to hug her grandchildren. In order to do that she changed from a sweet little old lady who never made waves to an orange-haired, tennis-shoe wearing hitch-hiker. She tackled problems and helped other people in ways she never did back in her life as the vicar’s wife. I met Agnes in The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society by Christine Coleman. *See below.
I loved all those characters but I will have to say that the most exciting part of June was the addition of my new reading toy – my new Kindle. I find I want to read every book I’ve downloaded – all at the same time. Somebody please tell me I’m a normal new Kindle user.
Coming In July:
I have two TLC Tours stops I’m hosting this month. One will be Heart On a String by Kris Radish. The other is Hidden Wives by Claire Avery. I read another graphic novel (Ethel & Ernest) that I’ll share with you tomorrow. I have some cozy mysteries and my usual Agatha Christie as well as some books that have been on my wish list for a while. And, I’ll tell you about the books I’m reading on my Kindle, if I can just stick to one book.
* For those of you who wish to purchase The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society, I’ve learned from the author you will probably not be able to buy it from The Book Depository as I mentioned Tuesday. The publisher has gone out of business. The author still has about 100 copies that she will sell (free postage) via PayPal. Visit her website HERE.
Nice way to feature a book with the characters that resonated with you. I like this post a lot! Have a great weekend and happy safe 4th.
I’ll be interested to hear about Ethel & Ernest. When I knew you were reading it, I was inspired to go back and reread When the Wind Blows (from yesterday’s post).
Margot, I’m glad you told us about buying THE DANGEROUS SPORTS EUTHANASIA SOCIETY from the author’s website. I had gone to Book Depository and then to my local library with no luck. I’ll head over to her website and get a copy. Thanks and I’m looking forward to reading about all your favorite characters in the months to come.
Doesn’t Agnes sound and look like the sweetest lady! I would love to be a grandchild getting a hug from her.
I wanted to let you know that I posted about my All Things Alcott challenge on my last two blog posts. I am really enjoying spending more time with Louisa.
Greetings from Holland ~
Heidi
So tell me how much you love your Kindle!!! I’m still not sure what I want…the Kindle or the Nook???Help!!
You had a wonderful June and thanks for introducing us to these lovely ladies!!
Hi Margot
I haven’t met Annie yet, but, speaking on behalf of Agnes, I wanted to let you know that she feels highly honoured to be sharing a place on your blog with Marianne (a wonderful character in a wonderful book – it really opens your eyes to what it might be like to be blind)
Margot, I was really interested to see the two words that you picked out.
I’ve just checked ‘tannoy’ in my Concise Oxford Dictionary and strangely, I find that it’s presented with a capital T!
Tannoy. n. propr. a type of public-address system.(20th c. : orig uncert)
I love your character of the month and I can see that there is no way to pick among these three. That means it was a terrific month!
I love this post. I’m happy to know I’m not the only one who makes friends with my favorite characters!
Thanks for choosing STAR GAZING’S Marianne, Margot. Brave of you, since she can be a little grouchy.;-) But I think she’d have loved to sit and chat with Agnes and Annie.
Your selection of favourite characters puts me in mind of a friend who declined to arrange her book collection alphabetically. She shelved them so authors would find themselves surrounded by others they would find simpatico. (She thought Virginia Woolf might find P G Wodehouse rather tiresome.)