I must read ...

   

     ... Trio, the new novel by the excellent Sue Gee (which will shortly be out).

    "Northumberland: the winter of 1937. In a remote moorland cottage, Steven Coulter, a young history teacher, is filled with sadness and longing at the death of his wife. Through a charismatic colleague, Frank Embleton, and Frank's sister, Diana, he is drawn into the beguiling world of a group of musicians, and falls gradually under their spell. But as war approaches a decision is made which calls all their lives quite shockingly into question. Moving between the beauty and isolation of the moors, a hill-town school and a graceful old country house, Trio delicately explores conscience and idealism, romantic love and most painful desire. Throughout it all, the power of music to disturb, uplift and affirm is unforgettably evoked."

    If you're not already acquainted with Sue Gee's work, here are posts on some of her other books:

    Coming Home

    Earth and Heaven

    Last Fling

    Reading in Bed

    The Mysteries of Glass

Comments

[Mary]

I loved Mysteries of Glass; wasn't it one of your book group books? I still miss your book group, Karen - you introduced me to several authors I loved.

[Fran H-B]

Thanks for reminding me about Sue Gee. Really enjoyed Reading in Bed and Mysteries of Glass. Just been on the library site and see several of the others are about in the county, mostly large print; what the criteria is to merit large print status I am not sure.....romance and popular crime writers make up the the majority on the shelves in my local.

[JennyM]

Great news! I always enjoy Sue Gee's books and have been looking forward to this one's publication.

[LizF]

Sue Gee is one of those authors whose books I seem to collect but still haven't got around to reading which is something I must remedy very soon especially as this new one looks very enticing!

I have literally just finished reading Helen Simonson's The Summer Before the War and cannot recommend it highly enough.
I thought her first book, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, was wonderful but this second is just gorgeous and I feel almost bereft that I have finished it!

I can also recommend The Anchoress in your New Arrivals sidebar - definitely an fascinating read about an intriguing subject.

[Mystica]

I've read two of her books a long while ago. Time to get back to those I've missed.

[LizF]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post which inspired me to read Trio.
I have just finished it, after reading as slowly as I possibly could, to make it last longer, and have loved it SO much that I am convinced it will be one of, if not THE Book of the Year for me.
The writing, the spirit of place, the characterisation, the whole historical atmosphere have combined to make it a magical read for me which I am sure will remain in my memory, and on my bookshelf, for many a year. Just magical!
Now on a mission to track down the other Sue Gee books I have bought over the years so I can catch up on what I have been missing.

[Cornflower]

So glad to hear that - thanks, Liz!