Bookreview: Agatha Christie: An Autobiography

Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Non-fiction, Autobiography
Published: 1977
Personal rating: 5/5
Yearly count: 25

This autobiography by Agatha Christie is a work of art. She tells her life's story in her own unique way. It's like you're sitting at the kitchen table with her, just talking. I loved reading it, not only because Agatha Christie's life has been a very interesting one, but also because of the rich historical details such a book as this contains. I greatly recommend this book, even to those who don't like Agatha Christie's detectives.

Sunday Salon: 2010 Challenges

Just a quick Sunday Salon post this time to let you know which challenges I'll be undertaking in 2010. No more challenges will be added (unless there is an Agatha Christie challenge in 2010). I'll be discussing these challenges in detail during the following weeks, along with my (possible) reading list.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



My teaser this week is from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.

"Is your emminence not afraid that the fate of Ravaillae would deter those who might be for an instant tempted to imitate his example?"
"In all times and all countries, especially in those countries which are devided within by religious faith, there are always fanatics who would be well contented to be regarded as martyrs."

Mailbox Monday & What Are You Reading?

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

The first book that came into my home this week is a non-fiction book in Dutch about the Netherlands. It details the history of the Netherlands from prehistoric times until April 2009, when Queens Day ended in a drama with the Royal Family being attacked. Very up to date, and a great body for my historical studies when it comes to the Netherlands.


The second book to come into my house this week is Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder. It's the second book of the Studies Trilogy, and I loved the first book. I can't wait to read this one!


The third book to come into my house this week is Splendid, the first novel written by Julia Quinn. I'm most excited by this, because I'm planning to read all of Julia Quinn's novels after loving her Bridgerton's series, and this is the first one she wrote, and where I'll start my journey through her books.




It's Monday! What are you reading?

Books I completed this week:

An Autobiography by Agatha Christie

Books to read this week:

I want to finsih The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, and then I'll start Five Go Off to Camp by Enid Blyton.




Pictures taken from Julia Quinn's site, bol.com, and Maria V. Snyder's site.

Sunday Salon: Oops, I Did It Again!

I knew I said I wasn't going to do any more reading challenges besides the Book Around the World Challenge, but I couldn't help myself. I'm joining the Year of the Historical: A 2010 Challenge.

Now why would I do that? Well, most of you might not know it, but I'm following a history study, and part of that is that I read historical fiction set in the times that I'm studying at that moment. Unfortunately, my history studies have fallen by the wayside this year, and I'm going to pick it up again, which also means reading historical fiction. As such, this challenge is going to help me keep up my studies, and my studies will make sure I can manage this challenge. Win-win all around!

I'm also hosting my own challenge again in 2010, but it's not going to be the Genre Challenge. That was fun for once, but I don't think I'd like it again. However, I am going to hist the Reading Western Europe Challenge, which is a challenge to help people get started/continue their Book Around the World Challenge. So that's not, in fact, a new challenge for me, just a challenge to do a challenge, more or less. Of course, you could just join without doing Book Around the World. Everyone is welcome! Sign up can be done in this post.

How many challenges have you signed up for for 2010 already?

Bookreview: An Unthymely Death and Other Garden Mysteries

Author: Susan Wittig Albert
Genre: Detective
Published: 2003
Personal rating: 5/5
Yearly short story count: 10

A delightful new treasury of ten mysteries featuring China Bayles, Ruby Wilcox, and their Pecan Springs friends, old and new. Also included: a Texas-size roundup of China's best recipes, craft ideas, gardening tips, and herb lore. A great take-along to the beach or relaxing fun after an afternoon's gardening!

Lovely short stories about China Bayles! It falls somewhere between Bloodroot and Indigo Dying. I recommend you read it where it belongs, because there are several plot points of previous books that are given away in this one, because it's assumed you read those books already. I loved the herb snippets in between, and honestly can't tell you which short story is my favorite. Very, very recommended!


Description and picture of the book were taken from Susan Wittig Albert’s site.

Bookreview: Bloodroot

Author: Susan Wittig Albert
Genre: Detective
Published: 2001
Personal rating: 5/5
Yearly count: 24

Jordan's Crossing....Just the thought of her family's Mississippi plantation is enough to set China Bayles adrift on a sea of memories. The sweet perfume of magnolia blossoms mixed with the hot, heady smells of the swamp. The house, perched on the banks of the Bloodroot River, a trenchant reminder of the bitterest, bloodiest moments in the country's history. And the secrets. The shameful, stifling secrets that have kept her away for so long....

Bloodroot takes China to a place where her family's legacy of silence is broken at last, and the past finally, unforgettably, speaks the truth.

I loved, loved, loved this one. It combined my passion for herbs/gardening, history, and detectives. What more could a girl want. Very engaging, very well written, lots of plot points to keep you on the edge of your seat. A real page turner! Highly recommended.

Description and picture of the book were taken from Susan Wittig Albert’s site.