Luciaphiles Wanted

“That was her real métier, to render the trivialities of life intense for others. But how her schemes for the good of Tilling bored him!”

“She found herself entangled in the web she herself had woven, and never had any a spider known to natural history so completely encircled itself.” (Trouble for Lucia, E.F. Benson)

I have never seen the Lucia chronicles on a recommended booklist, heard about them in general conversation, or read a post about them – I simply judged the book by its simple, elegant cover and deemed it a worthy read. But here are the questions: how have I lived this much of a reading life without having heard of Lucia, how many other delicious books have I missed, and, how am I ever going to find out about them?

In the spirit of Lucia, upon finishing her book I gave a big, dramatic sigh, brushed away a semi-imagined tear, and moved on to the next thing. But, I have to say, the last few weeks without her have been a little dull. She motivated me, like her sometimes-resistant minions of Riesholm and Tilling, and lent an indifferent day an air of intrigue. Thus comes into play the title of this post – Luciaphiles wanted – which of you out there has read this lovely, big series and also misses Lucia? Let us all talk about her behind her back, as everyone did, and throw a hightum party to keep her alive.

Lucia doesn’t remind me of anything else, and requires too great an array of beverages to document, so I just want to note that Lucia must be read in the correct order – not all willy-nilly like a cheap episodic romance series. Here is the proper order: Queen Lucia, Lucia in London, Miss Mapp, The Male Impersonator, Mapp and Lucia, The Worshipful Lucia, and Trouble for Lucia. If you can, get them all in one volume.

Backlog

Although this past month has been just as full of reading and writing as ever, I have unfortunately been extremely negligent about posting at the BookLion. As I despair of posting individually on such a backlog of books, I will dedicate this post to briefly summarizing the reading month of August.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Although I haven’t read a physical copy, I highly recommend the audiobook version of Tina Fey’s Bossy Pants. Being an accomplished actress, Tina is able to deliver her humor and expression with a skill rarely heard in this form. The only times I furrowed my brow was whenever she replaced the word ‘book’ with ‘audiobook’, a rather clumsier word, and in my opinion, an audiobook is still a book. That being said, the book itself was, as she describes some of the SNL skits, a veiled and humorous cover for essentially feminist ideas.

The Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card

This little book was the perfect filler for a few hectic days – it was adventurous and active enough to keep me coming back, and light enough to help my mind refresh itself. Though I would not force it upon you or indicate that it was the paramount of Card’s works, you could do worse things with a few hours of your time. I have not decided whether to continue the series, as I have heard that the quality doesn’t remain consistent, but I will let the book marinate in the back of my mind for a while before making the final call.

Mapp and Lucia by E. F. Benson

I simply cannot use enough superlatives to describe the Lucia chronicles. Unlike the proceeding two excellent books, this is a must-read-for-a-complete-life book. Although I do not have the power to physically put the book in your hands over the internet, consider yourself seriously encouraged to go to your local library/bookstore and treat yourself to 1000 pages of unstinting delight. Lucia is perfect served with tea on a cool day, in a small dose over breakfast, or to read for hours in a lovely comfortable armchair. The only reason I have not gobbled up the rest is that I am savoring these last hundred pages, for I know I will be absolutely bereft without her. More detailed posts to come about Lucia, but I want to get in as many recommendations as possible.

Sherlock Holmes by Sir Authur Conan Doyle

I am currently enjoying these stories, which are much darker and gloomier than I had previously envisioned them as being. Who knew that Holmes, the famous reasoner, was a sometimes opium addict? Or that Sir Author Conan Doyle had to kill him off in order to stop the clamor from fans and publishers to focus on more ‘important’ works? I have twenty-four stories in my modern library edition, but would be thrilled to own a big, lovely hardback with all of the stories in one, does anyone know of such a volume?

Vitamix Recipe Book

Although I did read the whole thing, this is mostly a blatant advertisement for the Vitamix blender; a most useful wedding present. Some of the recipes describe hot soups, heated simply by the friction of the blade. An excellent purchase for the book lover, too, for it includes a thick volume as well as the kitchen appliance.

Make way for Lucia

“This was all splendid stuff for Luciaphils; it was amazing how at a first glance she recognized everybody. The gallery, too, was full of dears and darlings of a few weeks’ standing, and she completed a little diner party for next Tuesday long before she had made the circuit.” (Lucia in London by E. F. Benson)

I have one piece of advice for anyone contemplating a wedding in the distant or not-so-distant future: bring E.F. Benson’s Make Way for Lucia along. It is peppered with women without being girly, light and petty without tainting ones morals, and as classy a book as one could wish for. In fact, even if you aren’t getting married, consider yourself free to hunt down a copy of this delicious 1000 page escape into significant frivolity.

It is rare these days to find a book where the characters have not one redeeming feature, yet manage to absolutely engross the reader book after book. You may stick out your tongue at Lucia’s blatant social climbing, or feel sick at heart over Miss Mapp’s clear disregard of other’s emotions, but you will eat up everything these two say and soon get over any lingering moral qualms. I almost despair of the time when I have to return to reading modern novels with their sickly, huggable characters, who you would love to have over for afternoon tea and to talk over problems.

E.F. Benson has also done a wonderful job of creating suspense – quite a feat in a world consisting solely of societal advances and rebuttals. Miss Mapp and Lucia have remained stubbornly separate from each other so far, but I am about to embark on the next book, Mapp and Lucia, where they will not only meet, but move into the same town. I don’t know how I put the book down long enough to begin this post.

Beverage: This book calls for the champagne of teas, Darjeeling.

Reminds me of… Jeeves and Wooster for girls.