Don't look now

     You'd be forgiven for thinking that lately I've been talking more about books to be read than ones I actually have read - though the quiet but steady progress from "Current reading" to "2008" (over there on the left) shows I am making headway - but as if to prove the point I have another to add to the TBR pile.
     As soon as I heard about Justine Picardie's novel Daphne I knew it was one for me, and in advance of Justine's appearance at next month's Edinburgh International Book Festival I can't wait to read it. It has been much talked about on bookish websites, but in case you're not familiar with it, here's the gist, cribbed from the flyleaf:

"1957. Daphne du Maurier despairs as her marriage falls apart....  She is haunted by regret and by her own creations - namely Rebecca, the heroine of her most famous novel. Seeking distraction, Daphne becomes passionately interested in Branwell, the reprobate brother of the Bronte sisters, and begins a correspondence with the enigmatic scholar Alex Symington as she researches a biography. But....soon truth and fiction have become indistinguishable.

"In present-day London, a young woman struggles with her thesis on du Maurier and the Brontes. Her husband, still seemingly in thrall to his brilliant, charismatic first wife, is frequently distant and mysterious... Retreating into the comfort of her library, she becomes absorbed into a fifty-year-old literary mystery".

I made the mistake of looking at the book this morning and now a chapter in I don't want to put it down - though I must for now - but doesn't it sound intriguing?   

Comments

[Lisa W]

You've got me hooked. I'll add it to my oh-so-long list!

[carole]

I think I must be in a minority of one, I started the book full of enthusiasm, but found myself getting steadily less impressed. Apart from thinking the modern day story was rather weak, I can't quite put my finger on why I ended up disappointed with it. Maybe I was sympathetic to characters who are depicted as weak or plain nasty. Will be interested in your review.

[Lisa]

I've heard so much about this book. It is definitely one I'm interested in.

[Maureen]

I'm afraid that I am another disappointed reader. I struggled on to the 200 page mark but just couldn't finish it. It has one of the most beautiful covers of the year, though.

[Juliet]

Carole is perhaps in the minority (at least in the blogosphere), but it's certainly not a minority of one. I too leapt on it with great eagerness, expecting to love it, but I found it most disappointing. It is undeniably very well-researched but it just didn't work on any level for me. Agree that it has the most wonderful cover, however.

[Terri (teelgee)]

Hello Karen - by the power vested in me by...someone...I bestowed upon you the two blogging awards you'll find on my post here: http://teelgee7.blogspot.com/2008/07/and-winners-are.html

[Carol]

Wow, it sure sounds like a good read, but reading the comments ... maybe not. It will be interesting to see what you think of it.

[Lyn Baines]

I loved it. I found the Daphne & Symington sections compelling reading. The contemporary sections with the unnamed student & the husband's mysterious first wife were less successful for me. The Rebecca references were just too obvious. I've always been fascinated by Du Maurier & the Brontes so I loved all the literary sleuthing in archives etc.

[Becca]

I'm sure you'll love it - I couldn't put it down when I read it, and will be reviewing it, along with her other works, shortly. Enjoy!

[jpicardie]

I'm looking forward to meeting you at the Edinburgh festival -- will you be wearing a cornflower in your lapel, or should I? Hope you enjoy the book...