Do You like book Nightbirds On Nantucket (1999)?
Reading this to my nieces. I read this so many times as a child but it is obvious to me now that Aiken had read a lot of Georgette Heyer - Dido uses a lot of slang that I have encountered nowhere else. I think that I as a child figured out all these expressions by context and it is interesting to see that the younger niece does that automatically and the 7th grader wants instant explanations. It will be nice when we reach the Twite books I never read.The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Black Hearts in Battersea and Nightbirds on Nantucket comprise an amazing trilogy, and one I reread many times in elementary school. I guess the real reason that I didn't embrace her later books in the series with the same enthusiasm is that most of them came out after I was in high school and had moved on to other authors. I have now collected most, and hope that my nieces, just introduced to the first three, will continue enthusiastically although they do not seem to love historical fiction as I did. Note to self - must go to Nantucket some time!I remember fondly the NY Betsy-Tacy group's visit to Books of Wonder to meet the now deceased Joan Aiken, and read sadly recently that her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge, passed away.
—CLM
I was drawn to this fun mystery adventure by the cover drawn by my beloved Edward Gorey and decided I must read a book that he involves himself with especially if there are pink whales in it! This was my first encounter with Joan Aiken and my favourite aspect of her work was the rich imagery of her characters. It was lovely getting to know every one of them - even the naughty ones - and the author's love of the island of Nantucket was a nice treat. Getting to know a place through the eyes of someone who so obviously loves it is always a bit of a thrill for me, and she did not disappoint. This short novel is great for those who like adventure, shenanigans, and mysteries. Perfect for fans of children's series such as Nancy Drew or Boxcar Children or for fans of Lemony Snicket's work - I absolutely saw Aiken's influence on the novelist's work here and look forward to more.
—Micha
As a part of the series I rate this four stars, but as a stand-alone three stars. This story does not require one to have read the previous books. It is a little slower than the first two, but having said that, it picks up and I read it every chance I could get. It seems that Dido grew up a lot since the second book, even though she really had no time to mature in between. Oh well. She's not as annoying in this one. I didn't like her very much in Battersea. A fun read. I'll be going to the library tomorrow to pick up the next one. What is it with whaling captains being strange guys?
—Colette
