Books to Pull You Out of the Downton Abbey "Show-Hole"!

Hello Bookworms,

          We’ve all seen the commercial, where the announcer talks about seeing the “final, final credits” and that you enter the “show hole” where “the struggle could not BE more real”. Many of you Downton Abbey fans out there (myself included) are anticipating this show hole when the series comes to an end in a few weeks. Well, I have some suggestions for a much needed round of book therapy to help you through the Downton’s Ended Slump!

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Lady Fiona Carnarvon

          For those of you who really love the series and every thing about it, you know that Lady Fiona Carnarvon in the Countess of Carnarvon, the current Lady of Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey was shot! Well, she has written a book about the history of the real Earl of Carnarvon during the time period that Downton Abbey is set! You will be interested to know that some of the details of their lives seem very reminiscent of the lives of the characters in Downton Abbey J .

Check out Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey!

Lady Catherine, The Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey by Lady Fiona Carnarvon

          If one book isn’t enough, The Countess of Carnarvon has gifted us with two!! Go to the next generation of the family that owned and ran Highclere Castle and see what new adventures and surprises are in store!!

Check out Lady Catherine, The Earl, and the RealDownton Abbey!

Still need more from Highclere? Read my interview with Lady Fiona Carnarvon!

The Love and Inheritance Novels by Fay Wheldon

          For those of you who don’t know, Fay Wheldon wrote the pilot for the hugely popular Upstairs Downstairs. But that and many novels and popular advertising slogans aren’t all she wrote. Fay Wheldon wrote a trilogy of novels that are a lot like Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs (they even span a similar time period as Downton Abbey). Full of love, money, and good old "rich aristocrat" family drama, I’ve put this series on my TBR list because I think it’s sure to be a hit (although you can trust I'll tell you in my reviews if they're not! ;) )!

Check out Book One in The Love and Inheritance Novels!

So there you go! Dig yourself out of that show hole and invest in some much needed book therapy with these fun novels! Happy Reading!

Until Next Time,

             Lizzie <3

A Look Back at 2014!

Hello Bookworms,

          2014 was a great year! In this post I’d like to take a moment and review the highlights of this year’s blog!

Let’s start with interviews!

          This year See Lizzie Read brought you two great reviews!

          This summer I was privileged to get to interview the Countess of Carnarvon, the current lady of Highclere Castle, the setting of Downton Abbey, and author of two books about Highclere’s history!

          This fall I was privileged to interview Maisie Dobbs author Jacqueline Winspear about her famous female detective and her brand new stand-alone novel The Care and Management of Lies!

There were many great reviews as well of fiction and non-fiction, novels as well as short stories! I was able to read 25 books this year and while I haven’t published reviews on all of them yet, I can tell you which 5 (in no particular order) were my favorites!

1. The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
2. Out of the Shadows by Georgina Doyle
3. Hobbit Lessons by Devin Brown
4. The Lost Library by A.M. Dean
5. C.S. Lewis, My Godfather by Laurence Harwood

          I thoroughly enjoyed 2014 and I cannot wait to share more reviews and interviews with you in 2015!!

Until Next Time,

                   Lizzie <3

See Lizzie Read 5 Minute High 5 with The Countess of Carnarvon!

Hello Bookworms!,

          I am excited about the interview I get to share with you all today! Fans of the popular BBC drama Downton Abbey get ready! Today’s 5 Minute High 5 is with Author of Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey and its sequel Lady Catherine, The Earl, and The Real Downton Abbey! That’s right! Today’s interview is with Lady Fiona Carnarvon of Highclere Castle!

1.    You have recently written 2 books about the history of Highclere Castle. What has it been like researching such a rich history?

 

It’s a tremendous privilege working through all the different archives here at Highclere. There are an enormous number of stories about what my predecessors have done and I really enjoy tying it in with the events that they were living through.

 

2.    Did you always intend to publish the history of Highclere Castle or was the project inspired by the television series Downton Abbey?

 

I had already researched the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon (who discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun with Howard Carter) and had published a photographic story about the two men. I therefore knew the story of his extraordinary wife Almina and it was a wonderful opportunity to publish it.

 

3.    Your two books follow the lives of Lady Almina and Lady Catherine as a means of telling the Castle’s story. How do you decide which family member’s story to follow?

 

I started with the 5^th countess, Lady Almina, because she made such an amazing contribution to other people’s lives. She worked tirelessly to save men’s lives although in the First World War they were often returning into battle yet again. I found the letters from the patients and their families very humbling.

 

4.    Are there plans for a third book?

 

I have started a photographic book looking at the rhythm of a year here at Highclere, recipes, and anecdotes.

 

5.    After all the research you have done, which figure from Highclere Castle’s past (that you have not met already) would you most like to have lunch with?

 

I find Egypt and the ancient culture and works of art completely fascinating so I would absolutely love to have lunch with the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon.

 

 

You can find Lady Carnarvon’s books in bookstores and online! I’ve included the links to purchasing Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey and Lady Catherine, The Earl, and The Real Downton Abbey below!

 

Buy Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey *Here*

Buy Lady Catherine, The Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey and *Here*

 

Read See Lizzie Read’s review of *Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey*

 

**A special thank you to Lady Carnarvon and Mrs. Julie Robins for working with me to bring this interview to the See Lizzie Read readership!

 

Until Next Time,

                   Lizzie <3