The Ladies of Grace Adieu: and Other Stories | 
pickShort story collections are a mixed bag. I liked most of these, but some fell short. The stories are set in the same magical world as Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell, but only one (the title story — my favorite) features characters from that novel.
This evening‘s reading. I love this explanation of why one character is generally disliked: “ … never smiled unless there was some thing to smile at.” Makes sense to me! I‘ve spent most of my life being told I should smile more. Now that I‘m older, it doesn‘t happen that much — thank goodness.
so-soI absolutely loved this hardcover edition, but the story collection left me a little cold. I liked the references to Gaiman‘s Stardust and Queen Mary, but I the stories never pulled me in completely. There are selfish fairies, people in small towns that disappear, and a bridge that is built over night, but none of the tales felt like it did more than skim the surface. The illustrations by Charles Vess are lovely!
pickI loved the dry humour of Clarke's tales, as sharp on the one side as her dark, grotesque menace is on the other. It was pleasing to see her reference to Sylvia Townsend Warner's "Kindoms of Elfin", as that book is a definite predecessor of Clarke's conception of fairy.
One story which seemed very familiar as I was reading it was revealed as a retelling of the folktale "Tom Tit Tot", which sent me to Katherine Briggs' wonderful ??
"Magic comes from the dark and dreaming heart."
This has definitely been too long on my tbr. I've picked it up now partly from the box-ticking exercise to be reading more women authors, partly because I loved reading Drayton's Elizabethan poem, Nimphidia, earlier this month and want to return to Faerie, but mainly being reminded what a wonderful writer Susanna Clarke is. My dark and dreaming heart is ready to be immersed in magic ???♀️?
The loveliest surprise when this arrived! It's not one I ordered but I've been wanting to get this for ever so long and I was so surprised when I opened the envelope. I'm pretty sure this is from someone on Litsy so please let me know who you are so I can thank you 🥰💕
Downloading an audiobook for the drive tomorrow. Joining the Pfizer club and getting my first dose. Such a relief.
Speaking of Susanna Clarke, here's Day seven - #7days7covers #covercrush
Post a cover you love each day for seven days
No explanation needed. Tag someone new each day. I don't need to tag anybody else. Join in if you want to!
The book illustrator is Charles Vess. I'm sure the cover illustration is also his, but I couldn't find a cover designer credit anywhere.
Stamped case hardcover on the left, paperback on the right.
Mon/Tues are my weekends rn.
1. I have several cracked open, but I think I‘ll pick something different up tomorrow (or tonight).
2. The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Suzanna Clarke.
3. Poppies and peonies.
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain
pickI love the book but I have actually listened to the audio book when I am #audiocleaning several times. These are all short stories with fairies, but never in the way you expect. These are like a Jane Austen and Neil Gaiman collaboration.
so-soOverall I liked this collection of short tales about fae and magic set in the same literary universe as the authors grand doorstop of a book Strange and Norrell, but as with almost every short story collection, there were some absolute gems and a couple which just didn't drag me in.
Still a beautiful edition though
This is a lovely book of stories set in the Strange and Norrell universe and it is a beautifully made book, physically, as well.
I'm slightly obsessed with all this fairy business after finishing the BBC adaptation of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. However, I was like "Ms. Clarke, what about the ladies!!!!?" Then she was like, "umm they are in the other book." "Oh ok, I will read that one then." #SomethingForSept #ShortStories
pickA very entertaining story collection set in the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell with nods to Niel Gaiman and Charles Vess's Stardust. Jonathan Strange, the Duke of Wellington, and Mary Queen of Scots all make delightful cameos in this magical alternate history. A fantastic read!
