Anywoot, the program is simple: when I read a modern or soon-to-be-released book that is Like a Classic Thing, I will tell you- read this, it is like this classic thing. Round One, commence:
I want to live in this cover. I want to sneak up behind the guy and ask for a smoke and steal the lady's dress.
I'm Sorry, What is That? Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, Viking Adult, July 2011
Goes Well With: The Great Gatsby
Explain Yourself, Upstart: Hokay so. The book is about Katey, a young woman who grew up poor in Brooklyn and has moved to Manhattan to work as a secretary in the 1930's. She goes to jazz clubs with her pretty roommate and in their travels they meet a wealthy, mysterious charmer with a secret past. This leads Katey into the world of the Upper East Side, where she drinks All the Martinis and goes to All the Parties. She navigates the world of her wealthy friends while trying to make it big in publishing. It's like Gatsby, if Nick was a girl and was less of a silly wanker and more of a no-nonsense working class sort. AND DID I MENTION MANHATTAN IN THE '30s? Swoon.
I'm Sorry, What is That? The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons, Plume, December 2011
Goes Well With: DOWNTON ABBEY, DOWNTON ABBEY! And also Jane Eyre and Rebecca, or Books Where The Nice Young Lady Goes to the Big Drafty House and There Are Romantic Shenanigans.
Explain Yourself, Upstart: Things that happen are thusly- Wealthy Jewish girl lives in Vienna in late 1930's. Hitler goes about being evil and the girl's parents are all, "To England you go, where you will unfortunately have to be a housemaid but also you won't die, so." The girl goes to England and becomes employed at a large, historic Mansion By The Sea, where the head butler is very We Do Things The Old Fashioned Way and the head housekeeper is all I Sympathize With Your Plight But You Suck at Polishing Silver. AND the owner of the house is a handsome, reserved, dashing older man of 40-ish. There is also a SON who is a rebellious, charming, sexy young man of 21-ish. SHENANIGANS, BEGIN. Then the Nazis come.
Sally forth, reading types.
Highly enjoyable! I'm almost ready to start reading classics again (I swore off of them after grad school). This might actually help.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Rules of Civility because Raych loved it so much and DUDE I am a fan.
ReplyDeleteWill put House of Tyneford on my TBR list.
*flounces off*
You got me when you mentioned Downton Abbey -- love it. I also love this idea!
ReplyDeleteI just finished The Great Gatsby and LOVE Downton Abbey. I'll have to give both these novels a try.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I'll be looking forward to these posts.
ReplyDeleteI checked out Rules of Civility out from the library based solely on my love of the time period and the wonderful cover art. I haven't managed to find time to pick it up and start yet, but I really should!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea on the new feature!
I'm reading The Great Gatsby now, so I'll keep a look out for Rules of Civility.
ReplyDeleteI like this new feature :)
sold! Both sound amazing. As usual, you are hilarious and pithy -- brava. I will get both of these books immediately. Shameful confession: I think The Great Gatsby might be my least fav Fitzgerald novel. I'm a godless heathen, I know!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out, mama pajama! I need to read HOUSE OF TYNESFORD because for the longest time I was convinced that DOWNTON ABBEY was based on a book, and didn't believe it when Google told me otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI still think you should read THE KEEP. It is like a male Jane Eyre, and kind of also like a male version of the Jane Austen novel where she gets her Hot Topic Gothface on.
(NORTHHANGER ABBEY, I was trying to be cool and pretend I didn't know the name but I do.)
I have added House at Tyneford to my TBR, since I adore Downton Abbey.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Gatsby goes well with Rules of Civility. I had a major urge to read some Fitzgerald after finishing Rules.
Onto my TBR these go! I've heard lots and lots of good things about Rules of Civility, but nothing whatsoever about House of Tyneford. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI want to read both of these, but if I put any more books on my TBR list, it will EXPLODE! And then my blog might explode. Explosions everywhere, like Nazis in the second book, only different.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, I love this feature.
ReplyDeleteI love The Great Gatsby and recently became OBSESSED with Downton Abbey. I love your new feature. I love books that are reminiscent of classics.
ReplyDeleteMore more MORE.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea for sharing the modern stuff you read. Now I'm definitely interested in book #2. :-)
ReplyDeleteI believe I will sally forth with both of these.
ReplyDeleteOh, agreed, at least about Rules of Civility. (haven't read the other one yet) In fact, I feel a bit sheepish 'cause I said in my original review of Rules of Civility that it was for fans of Gatsby without ever having read Gatsby. But now I've read both and I can say it and agree with you with impunity.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea, and a great way to let everyone know tht literary fiction is not dead! Both of these look well worth a read. Very well done. I look forward to more of these posts!
ReplyDeleteNice idea -- I might "borrow" it one day for my book club.
ReplyDeleteCool idea!!! I like it!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea and you hooked me on both books. I have no willpower when it comes to buying shiny new historical novels.
ReplyDeleteI could have read all of the above comments to make sure I am not saying something someone else has already said, but then I decided to not. SO. This a great. I love it. Give me more. (this is IN FACT what she said.) I am way behind on this because my life has been something like WORK, SCHOOL, WORK, HOMEWORK, repeat for the last couple of days. I think this is a good balance and utterly fantastical.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to describe these books!! I love it!! You're hilarious and right on spot all at the same time!!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving this. Just added both titles to my list. Thanks!
ReplyDelete