Woot, woot!
I came home late tonight to find a box from Barnes and Noble on my doorstep. At first, I had a panic attack. Someone had stolen my credit card! (My mother pointed out that it’d be a rather odd thief that had his purchases sent to me). I opened it up, wondering if maybe someone had sent me a late Christmas gift. Inside, was an ARC of The House at Riverton by Kate Morton. I had signed up at the B&N online book club, because the plot line sounded so good, but I didn’t expect to get a copy since I hadn’t received any e-mails. What a pleasant after-Christmas surprise! Listen to this description:
The House at Riverton is a gorgeous debut novel set in England between the wars. It is the story of an aristocratic family, a house, a mysterious death and a way of life that vanished forever, told in flashback by a woman who witnessed it all and kept a secret for decades.
Yay! I love the Edwardian era, and I especially love the upstairs-downstairs thing. Also, on the back Daphne du Maurier is mentioned. I don’t have much experience with Australian authors, but one of my favourite books of the year (speaking of which, if you haven’t already, check out the ‘Lists of 2007’ tab) was The Ghost Writer, by another Australian. Right now I’m in the middle of a mystery, The Last Full Measure, but I might set it aside for a little while. :D The universe has smiled upon me!
Tomorrow, expect a post about Colonial India and the day after that I’ll be focusing on memoirs. ;) Counting down the last days of 2007 in books is the only way to do it!
A Striped Armchair 
“The House at Riverton” sounds marvellous. I’ve been reading quite a few novels set in England between the wars lately, and I think I’ll have to add this one to the list!
Oh, luck you!! I read this earlier this year (couldn’t wait and splurged on the UK paperback) and really enjoyed it. She takes her time getting to where she wants to go (but in a good way). The details are excellent and I’m hoping she’ll write more!
Kate, it comes out in April!
Danielle, I knew I’d read about it somewhere, and I was fairly sure it was your blog, but then I was confused since you’re an American. :) Mystery solved!
What a fun surprise! That book is on my TBR list. I went to B&N today and saw they had their classics on sale – I left without buying any but now I’m contemplating going back! ha,ha..
Iliana, I got three of them. :) The Beautiful and The Damned, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Five Children and It/The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit. Fortunately, I had a gift card!