The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson

The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson was initially published as A Countess Below Stairs, which after reading it I think would be a better title. Eva Ibbotson was born in Vienna, Austria in 1925 but when the Nazis came to power, her family escaped to Britain. Many of her books allude to the struggles and loss experienced by people during the war and obviously she had first-hand experience of this.
The Secret Countess is the story of Anna Grazinsky, a Russian Countess who has to flee to Britain after World War I. Anna has come from a life of wealth and privilege, she was doted on by her father and had everything that she could ever have wished for. Her father is killed fighting and she and her mother make their way to Britain with Miss Pinfold, her governess. Anna's family has lost everything and she is too proud to live off the charity of Miss Pinfold and so she seeks a position as a housemaid at Mersham; family seat of the Westerholmes. Here she tries to fit in and works hard but it is clear to all that she has come from greater things. Ibbotson describes Merhsam in a very detailed way and the house is very much part of the story. Anna soon meets Rupert, the new Earl and he is totally mesmerised by her. However, Rupert has agreed to marry Muriel Hardwicke, an orphaned heiress who will provide the finances to secure Mersham's future. Hardwicke is the opposite of Anna; she is a snob and totally obsessed with Eugenics and the staff and Westeholme family members do not take kindly to her ways.
Rupert eventually finds out Anna's true identity and he is already in love with her, the situation seems hopeless with his impending nuptials fast approaching. However, the others surrounding Anna and Rupert devise a plan to save the future of both of them and also the house. The story is very reminiscent of Jane Eye except that Rupert has a much more affable character than Mr Rochester! I am so pleased that I have discovered Eva Ibbotson, her books have this fantastic romantic, fairytale quality to them but still have a lot of substance.

Booking Through Thursday: The Best?

Ah it's my first Booking Through Thursday of 2009- Happy New Year everyone!!

It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?

Well I had a good think about this and there were 4 books that really stood out for me in 2008. I am in no way saying that these are the best 4 books ever written but they are the ones that brought me the most enjoyment, see what you think:

1. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini- I had really put off reading this because there was so much hype surrounding it and I was worried that I would be disappointed. However, I think it is one of the best books that I have ever read! For quite a short book there is so much in there; Hosseini is such a wonderful story teller and this book stays with you for a long time after you have turned the last page.
2. 31 Dream Street by Lisa Jewell- I loved this, it is chick lit really but Jewell has this brilliant way of drawing you straight in. I read this book in one night and everyone who has borrowed it has said that they couldn't put it down either.
3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- I cannot believe that it took me until 2008 to read this book. I will undoubtedly read this again and again and get something new from it each time. The character of Jane is so complex however plain and simple she appears to the outside world. Mr Rochester is a brilliant creation and the love he has for Jane survives against all odds.
4. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer- I was put off reading this as I thought I was perhaps too old but I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I think it is actually my favourite book of 2008. I get totally drawn in by a good old love story and this is exactly what this book is about. Yes there are vampires and werewolves and it is all very unrealistic but at the end of the day that is what fiction is all about. Many people have knocked Meyer's writing and no it is not the best, however she is totally character driven and I love that. So much work has gone into creating her characters that the reader can completely believe in them and that is what kept me turning the pages!
   

Weekend roundup!

I have had a really good weekend; my sister and her husband came to stay in the Shire on Friday night and went home this morning after breakfast. We had a lovely meal on Friday night at the new Carluccios restaurant that has opened in town; we all love Italian food so there were no complaints! On Saturday we slowly woke up and had breakfast then my sister and I went to have our hair cut and coloured. I really love going to have my hair done and it has taken me ages to find a hairdresser that I like but she is lovely and the salon is nice and they do hot chocolate and love hearts- what more could a girl ask for! We deposited the men in the pub so that they could watch the rugby and we took ourselves off into town for some retail therapy. I rarely get to go shopping with anyone other than Mr S so my sister helped me spend some more of my birthday vouchers on a dress for next weekend. Saturday night was very chilled out after a busy day, watched X factor and ate trifle! I am so glad that Daniel has gone; he's a lovely man but he was never going to win and it didn't seem fair that better singers were being voted off over him.


Today I have been REALLY lazy; we took Alfie for a walk this morning in the park and then gave him a bath. Through the power of BT vision I watched the first in the series of Jane Eyre that was on last year. I was reading the book when it was on so I had not wanted to spoil it by finidng out what happens before I had got to it in the book. It is a really good production though and made me want to read a good old classic so I have got my copy of Tess of the D'Urbervilles out which I have been meaning to read for ages. I didn't do any Hardy during my English degree for some reason so I am hoping that he is somebody that I will like as I know some people say that he is too heavy going.


So as you can see I have had a good weekend; I still don't feel 100% though. I feel like I am kind of on the outside looking in a lot of the time because I have so much on my mind. Maybe I will just get used to that or maybe it will change and gradually things will feel normal again. I am so lucky to have such supportive family and friends and I do truly appreciate that but I am starting to realise that it is down to me to change the way I feel and move on with life.