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A Spear of Summer Grass
A Spear of Summer Grass | Deanna Raybourn
6 posts | 10 read | 15 to read
Paris, 1923 The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even among Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather's savanna manor house until gossip subsides. Fairlight is the crumbling, sun-bleached skeleton of a faded African dream, a world where dissolute expats are bolstered by gin and jazz records, cigarettes and safaris. As mistress of this wasted estate, Delilah falls into the decadent pleasures of society. Against the frivolity of her peers, Ryder White stands in sharp contrast. As foreign to Delilah as Africa, Ryder becomes her guide to the complex beauty of this unknown world. Giraffes, buffalo, lions and elephants roam the shores of Lake Wanyama amid swirls of red dust. Here, life is lush and teeming—yet fleeting and often cheap. Amidst the wonders—and dangers—of Africa, Delilah awakes to a land out of all proportion: extremes of heat, darkness, beauty and joy that cut to her very heart. Only when this sacred place is profaned by bloodshed does Delilah discover what is truly worth fighting for—and what she can no longer live without.
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Andrew65
A Spear of Summer Grass | Deanna Raybourn
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Pickpick

following pressure from her family and bad press Delilah heads off to Africa for a few months to allow the furore to die down. An author much more known for her mystery but this is a very different book that covers life in Africa, both its charms and horrors, as well as the strong racism and cheapness of life for the indigenous population. There is also some romance thrown in too. Good book for #Kenya for #ReadingAfrica2022

Andrew65 This was a very readable book, and whilst the first by this author , it won‘t be the last. @Kdgordon88 @robinb Book 5 read for July. (edited) 2y
BarbaraBB You‘re on a roll! 2y
Librarybelle I‘ve yet to read anything by this author, and she has so many interesting looking books! 2y
72 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Andrew65
A Spear of Summer Grass | Deanna Raybourn
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Started reading the tagged book, which I am reading for #ReadingAfrica2022. This covers #Kenya. My first book by this author that i have wanted to read for some time.

@Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Deblovestoread I‘ll be interested in your review. I enjoy her Veronica Speedwell series and am curious about her other books. (edited) 2y
Andrew65 @Kdgordon88 Will tag you in my review. 2y
robinb I‘m also a fan of her mystery series (both Speedwell and Lady Julia Grey). I‘d love to hear about this one. 😊 2y
62 likes3 comments
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MallenNC
A Spear of Summer Grass | Deanna Raybourn
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I‘ve never read this but the cover is gorgeous. #Grass #BloomingBibliophiles

OriginalCyn620 It is! 💚 4y
27 likes1 comment
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Verity
A Spear of Summer Grass | Deanna Raybourn
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Pickpick

Oh my. So good. Rich people problems and romance in colonial Africa. What more do you want? I ate this up with a spoon and immediately went off to find the real life stories that inspired it.

Tamra Love the cover! 5y
Melissa_J I wasn‘t a big fan of the story in this one as I didn‘t like Delilah, but I absolutely loved the setting! 5y
Verity @Tamra it‘s really something isn‘t it?! 5y
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Verity @Melissa_J i quite liked Delilah - my main problem was that I was waiting for it to end in tears/badly. But I think that says more about what I‘ve been reading recently than anything... 5y
Melissa_J Have you read this short story? It‘s about Ryder. 5y
Verity @Melissa_J yes! I have. Ages ago, before I read the book and then again after. But thank you. 5y
30 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Verity
A Spear of Summer Grass | Deanna Raybourn
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After the Royal Spyness, I‘m on a Happy Valley/Kenya colony reading kick...

16 likes1 stack add
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BeautyintheLibrary
A Spear of Summer Grass | Deanna Raybourn
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Two of my favorite things:
*Book recommendations from friends
*Lazy days, reading with my dog at my feet