Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/07/2017)

One of the books I am in the middle of is Tessa Arlen's A Death By Any Other Name, the third book in her Edwardian mystery series featuring Lady Montfort and her housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson.

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.

Coming home after a holiday is almost as enjoyable as the holiday itself, Edith Jackson surveyed the familiar comfort of her bedroom and parlor, her eyes lingering over her beloved objects that she had collected over the years. Here it all was, just as she had left it: her small library in one corner, a pretty writing bureau by the window that she had been given by Mr. Hollyoak, the butler, to celebrate her appointment from first housemaid to housekeeper  ten years ago. She sat down in a deeply cushioned wing chair, a present to herself four years ago: a fireside chair that offered deep comfort for long winter afternoons with a good book. However humble or simple these simple objects appeared to be they nevertheless made her homecoming a welcome one.

Every Tuesday, Ambrosia from The Purple Booker hosts Teaser Teaser at which participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share two or more sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.

Teaser from page 6% of A Death By Any Other Name:

Mrs. Jackson said nothing, knowing that there was more to come, but she tilted her head in sympathetic encouragement. 

"The reason why I have come here, Mrs. Jackson, is that I don't believe it was accidental food poisoning at all."

and at 13% of A Death By Any Other Name: 

She flipped her notebook shut, but kept a finger in place, in case she might need to refer to her notes again. And Mrs. Jackson remembered that whenever Lady Montfort wanted to forestall any arguments in the process she intended to take with an investigation, she always cited Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as if she had just had a conversation with him on the telephone. 

What do you think? Would you keep reading?  

I just love this series, especially Mrs. Jackson. She isn't ever thrilled to be dragged into these investigations of the Lady Montfort's, but she's quite good at gathering information.

What are you reading at the moment?  Is it anything you would recommend?

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Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

For this week's  Top Ten Tuesday I am going with my Top Ten Secondary/Minor Characters I Wish Could Have Their Own Books.

1. Mma Makutsi from Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series ~ I am not caught up in the series by a long shot, but every book in the series in which she appears, Mma Makutsi steals the spotlight. She starts in the agency as a secretary and works her way up to assistant detective. She is diligent, loyal and hard working.

2. Jane from The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys ~ She is such an interesting character, a lost soul as she waits for news about her boyfriend to come back from the war. She loves with all her heart.

3. Laura Wheeler from Last Words by Rich Zahradnik ~ I am quite fond of Laura Wheeler, another reporter, who, unfortunately, because of the time period, isn't being taken as seriously as her skills and intelligence deserve. She is very capable, however, and part of me hopes she shows up that patriarchy that holds women back in future novels in the series. Yes, I know she's not the main character in the series.  But one can hope.

4. Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling ~ I nearly went with Luna Lovegood because she's one of my favorite characters from the series, and I really would love a book featuring just her (with secondary roles by other familiar characters, of course). But Neville Longbottom won my heart early on in the series as well. A bit clumsy and bullied--he is a character I think many can relate to. And yet by the end of the series, he is a formidable wizard and friend. 

5. Alosha from Uprooted by Naomi Novik ~ Time spent with the mage and sword-master Alosha is too short in Uprooted, if you ask me. I want to know more about her character, where she came from and what she's been through. She seems to have a level head and sees beyond the obvious. She's a heroine I could get behind.

6. Kylie from The Gargoyle Guardian Trilogy by Rebecca Chastain ~ She's Mika's bestfriend and a journalist who knows how to wield her magic. She's a loyal friend and not afraid to jump into the fray when needed.

7. Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling ~ She's my favorite character after Hermione, and I wish there had been more of her in the books. I would love to spend more time with Luna and get to know her. She is both curious and brilliant and seems to see the world in a very Luna sort of way.

8. Noeme from Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller ~ Noeme plays a major role in Slaying Dragons, and so I am not sure "minor" or even "secondary" is the most appropriate label for the character. Still, Devi is more at the forefront, and I would really like to know more about Noeme who loves her books and is always ready with a smile.

9. Any character--or even a new character!-from The Fairwick Chronicles by Juliet Dark. Please? Why hasn't the author written more set in this world?! I love the world Juliet Dark has created in this fantasy series. It's light and fun and there really needs to be more books!

10. Mycroft Holmes, brother to the famous fictional Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ~ a brilliant mind and a mystery himself, working for the government. There's much more I would like to know about him.

What secondary characters would you like to see in their own books?

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