A selection of words and pictures to represent May’s reading:
commonplace book
noun
a book into which notable extracts from other works are copied for personal use.
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One had no right to play about with people’s lives. One should not interfere with their emotions. A word, a look, a smile, a frown, did something to another human being, waking response or aversion, and a web was woven which had no beginning and no end, spreading outward and inward too, merging, entangling, so that the struggle of one depended upon the struggle of the other.
The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier (1957)
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Miniature of the Empress Matilda
‘You think only men can run estates, yet many widows do, and women must when their men are at war. And all you want from us is male heirs. Too many men with power. Too many women without.’
The Stolen Crown by Carol McGrath (2023)
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You can deal with a mood – a mood is bound to pass, and the more violent it is, the more complete the reaction to it will be. But a calm and reasonable determination is very different, because it’s been arrived at slowly and isn’t likely to be laid aside.
Unfinished Portrait by Mary Westmacott (1934)
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‘It isn’t so easy, is it, to change who we are by changing where we are. The past has a nasty habit of following us around. I believe it’s called regret.’
‘My father said we should always look forward, not back, that you can’t change the past, but the past can change the future, if you want it to.’
The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor (2023)
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Engraving of the minotaur in the labyrinth – Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
The things you found in the mud went inevitably into Murdstone’s hands, but he could never take away the things you nurtured inside. Your memories. Your gifts.
Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale (2023)
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Favourite books read in May:
The Scapegoat
Authors read for the first time in May:
Robert Dinsdale
Places visited in my May reading:
France, England, the Atlantic Ocean
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Reading notes: I didn’t manage to finish many books in May, for various reasons, but I’m pleased that I at least found time to re-read The Scapegoat, which I’ve wanted to do for years. 20 Books of Summer starts tomorrow and I’m still not sure which book I’ll be picking up first but I’m looking forward to everything on my list. I’m also planning to take part in Reading the Meow later in the month.
How was your May? What are you hoping to read in June?
She Reads Novels 
I’ve got The Stolen Crown waiting to be read.
I hope you like it!
Oh my goodness I had to click on the link for Reading the Meow! I have 3 cats so that challenge looks like hilarious fun, lol.
I also want to read The Scapegoat. But I’m taking a break from anything heavy in June!
Yes, Reading the Meow should be fun! I already have a cat book lined up for that. I hope you enjoy your reading in June. The Scapegoat is great, but best to wait until you’re in the mood for it.
As ever, a pile of blogger-recommended books awaits my attention. I’d better add The Scapegoat to the list, maybe.
The Scapegoat is definitely worth adding to your list!
The Carol McGrath quote was particularly apposite, as true now as it was supposed to apply in the historical fiction. And I do want to read some more Christie-as-Westmacott.
I’ve recently started Charlotte Brontë’s Villette as the first of my summer reads and am finding it interesting as well as subtle – I’m already a tenth of the way through!
Yes, I thought the Carol McGrath quote was quite appropriate! I’m glad you’re finding Villette interesting. I’ve read and enjoyed all of the Brontës’ novels, although that’s not one of my personal favourites.
This month’s winner is the quote from The Scapegoat, so I’m glad to hear it was your favourite – re-reading is usually a safe bet!
I really need to do more re-reading. Every year I say I’m going to do it, but get distracted by too many new books instead!
I love both the Hazel Gaynor quote, and the Daphne du Maurier one, too!
Yes, I thought they were both great quotes!
Sounds like you did some great reading in May, with Daphne du Maurier and Robert Dinsdale’s new novel – I loved his The Toy Makers 💂♂️
I would like to read more by Robert Dinsdale, so I’m glad to hear you loved The Toy Makers!