During the last couple of months, I've been having trouble choosing books so I was getting desperate in the last weeks of my pregnancy to stock up on good reading material. However, I just couldn't seem to find anything that I was keen to read. Just before I gave birth I started rereading the Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane books by Dorothy Sayers, the best of which
are
Strong Poison,
Have His Carcase and
Gaudy Night. What comforting books they are! I was halfway through
Strong Poison when my water broke and I soon delivered my second son, Benjamin, on February 3rd at 2:03am. He came over two weeks early which was really a surprise since my first child arrived in the 41st week. Now that I'm busy nursing my new bundle of joy I've started book two in the series. If you haven't read these books yet, then you are in for a treat if you love witty and well-written detective novels from the 1930s. The mysteries are clever and I love the bantering dialogue between Lord Peter and Harriet Vane. Will she finally say yes to his endless proposals of marriage? At a time when I just feel too exhausted to think too much, too tired to read too long and am busy enjoying my new baby, then these are truly the only books I can read right now and the only ones I want to read.
Here's a picture of my baby when he was just a day old.
Congratulations! What a beautiful baby boy :-) I'm happy to hear that you are both doing well. What a time for your water to break :-) It's good that you found comforting reads - the right book can really put you at ease when you need it most.
ReplyDeleteYour post about DLS sounds delightful. I've just recently embarked upon reading all of DLS' Lord Peter books and have set up an informal challenge on my blog if you'd like to join. The link is http://rochester-reader.blogspot.com/p/as-my-whimsy-takes-me.html
Thank you for sharing with us and I look forward to reading your posts whenever you feel up to it.
Oh... I had to say - I think Benjamin is a beautiful name and it suits him :-)
ReplyDelete@Cristina - Thanks! What a wonderful idea to do a Lord Peter challenge. I've only read the 3 books above so I'd love to read more. I've added your button to my page.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! He is adorable. These books seem perfect for anyone in need of a little breathing room in their reading life. I remember those nursing days with a book in my hand and a feeding and sleeping baby in my lap. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteOh Congratulations! What a handsome boy he is, and he has a wonderful name too. I bet you are enjoying him so much! I'm glad you've found some books to suit your mood - I've never read any Dorothy Sayers but you're convincing me from your descriptions that I should!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - he is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDorothy Sayers has been on my wish list since Nymeth wrote about her books (last year?)... glad you are enjoying them.
Congratulations! :) SO CUTE!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. What a cute little bean.
ReplyDeleteCutie. My middle name is Benjamin. ;-) Does this mean your blog is now back on line??
ReplyDeleteCongrats! He's adorable.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've been thinking of picking up one of the Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane mysteries lately. I'm now even more encouraged to try them out.
Congratulations! I'm so happy for you, Mrs. B. Both of my daughters were early, and I was so very thankful. I haven't read this series, but am anxious to get to it. Wishing you lots of pleasant hours of reading together! Col
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! I wish you and your family all the very best, enjoy your time together with the baby! Once you're through with Dorothy Sayers, I would suggest moving on to Margery Allingham's Campion novels. THey're being re-issued at the moment, and are very fine, too. There was a TV series once which I can recommend as well, but the episodes are longer than you will find time (and attention span) for right now.
ReplyDeleteAgain, well done - now, don't read emails, go to sleep!
Congratulations - he's gorgeous! It's lovely to be able to see him! Have you started reading to him yet!?!
ReplyDeleteHow did I ever miss the precious post? What a cutie....congratulations.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you are nursing, taking care of the babe AND still blogging. When I had my kids, it was pre-blogging but with the nursing, I could barely manage to comb my hair in the morning much less blog about my reading.
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful boy! The Harriet Vane books are massive comfort reads for me -- my mother bought me the first one during my most stressy high school exam season, and it hit the spot.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Benjamin is adorable!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Mrs. B! What a lovely baby.:) I'm impressed that you can still blog with a new baby. I remember having difficulty finding time just to bathe when the kids were newborn.
ReplyDeleteVery intrigued with Dorothy Sayers. Will check her out.:)
Very belated congratulations! As someone who was six and a half weeks early, I approve of his eagerness to get started on life ;)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! He's a beautiful baby.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things which we need to consider during the pregnancy and also after the baby delivery therefore we can take many things for the care of the children.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your kind words. I hope to post as often as I can so let's see...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Benjamin. Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteBelated congratulations, Astrid! I have been out of the loop but luckily Verity alerted me to your news when I asked about you this week (we missed you during Persephone Reading Weekend and I realised that baby must have arrived!) Benjamin is a cutie -although I am sure he has changed so much over the past month- and has such a lovely, classic and distinguished name.
ReplyDeleteI have been lusting after the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries for some time.
aaaw, Benjamin. Astrid, congratulations! Cradling a baby in one arm while curling up to a new book sounds to me as good as it gets. If you like hardboiled fiction from the 30's, I strongly recommend Cornell Woolrich or Raymond Chandler. :)
ReplyDeleteSo pleased to meet you, Benjamin. What a fine looking baby you are! Have your mama read you lots of books until you can hold them yourself.
ReplyDelete