Some posts back, I had set out on a personal quest to reread Jane Austen classics, but as with all best laid plans, that idea flew out of the window the moment I stumbled upon an old copy of Baroness Orczy’s ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’. (I really like the cover art of the Dover publications edition so here’s an image of it.)

Having read this during my secondary school days, I was keen to reacquaint myself with one of my best loved heroes. I would have you know that his heroics started off as a stage play in 1901 as publishers in an England still mourning the death of Queen Victoria thought the public wasn’t ready for this new breed of escapist literature. It eventually made its debut in print in 1905. What’s amazing is that the Hungarian author, who’s the daughter of a Baron forced to flee his country, wrote this marvellous tale in English, her 3rd language.

Am so pleased that one of the books I released, ‘The Map of Love’ by Ahdaf Soueif, has been caught two days after I released it at the library’s cafe about a week ago.

A remarkable novel which tells the story of the history of the post-imperial Middle East, ‘Map’ is both a love story and a document of 30 years of bloodshed. This book is also the ‘best read’ of the short list by general agreement of the Booker Prize committee. You can read the release notes here, and track down the other books released.

So far, I’ve released five books, and the other four still in the wild are:
‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ by Helen Fielding — I love this book as much as the movie, it’s hilarious!

‘Madame Bovary’ by Gustav Flaubert – The author is a man ahead of his time! His story of the beautiful Madame Bovary scandalized Paris when it was first published in 1856. Today, it is recognised as a milestone in European literature.

‘Venetian Masque’ by Virginia Coffman

‘Guinevere’ by Norma Lorre Goodrich

If you wish to catch ‘em all, just hang out around Jurong East, or go hunt others down on Bookcrossing.com. As Charles Eliot puts it so eloquently,

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. “

There’s no doubt that romance writing is in Julia Quinn’s blood. She has proven yet again, with ‘It’s In His Kiss’ what a prodigious talent she is!! No wonder she’s been hailed as the contemporary Jane Austen by Jill Barnett.

Once again, the setting is elegant London and this is Hyacinth Bridgerton’s 3rd season. She has already rejected six proposals for her hand, but seems to be in no hurry to find a man to settle down. So, of course, someone has to look out for her. Enter the endearingly meddlesome Lady Danbury, who decides to pair off her grandson Gareth St. Clair with Hyacinth … and succeeds of course. With thanks to the discordant Smythe-Smith sisters for providing the perfect excuse for Lady D to bring the pair together at their musicale.

Just received my release kit last week, so am sorting through the books to register and getting ready to release my first book.

I’m sooo excited I’m almost shivering with anticipation! Later …