Picture Day Friday: Mohabbat Maqbara, Junagarh, India
Mohabbat Maqbara in Junagarh, India was built in 1878-92 by Mohabbat Khanji and Bahadur Khanji. It houses the grave of Nawab Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai.
The yellow mausoleum, with its combination of Indo-Islamic and Gothic architectures, "is a masterpiece of its kind with finely designed arches, vertical columns and elaborate stone carvings on the walls and windows. Its silver-decorated portals, the winding staircases encircling its four tall minarets, the old step-well in the grounds, and its onion-shaped dome contribute to its splendor." [Wikipedia]
Posted on:
1/31/2014 07:50:00 AM
In January 2010, I was challenged by 
I also took part in Wendy Crutcher's 
I decided to let my TBR do double duty, so I also signed up to participate in the 
I have signed up for the 
Each chapter is a story, which explains one aspect of time. For example, the first chapter explores time as a circle, bending back on itself, and so that the world repeats itself endlessly. In the second chapter, time is a continuous stream, with occasional split-offs from the mainstream due to disturbances lead to those rivulets curving back in time. In one chapter, an infinity of worlds with an infinite number of choices at every crossroads is explored. And so on. Mechanical vs. cosmic time, cause and effect are erratic and out-of-sync, passage of time vs. passage of events, etc. The variations are many and discussed in a lighthearted and, at times, poignant fashion.
Unusually so, I read a lot of older books this year, including many re-reads. One of my goals for 2013 was to buy fewer books and to curb my buying habit, and in turn, to support my library by donating that money to the library and borrowing what I needed to read. I also ended p re-reading a whole bunch and re-discovering those books, which had brought me so much joy previously.
I read traditional Regency romances Hampshire Hoyden by Michelle Martin (Fawcett, Jun-93) and The Mad Miss Mathley by Michelle Martin (Fawcett, Aug-95) thrice this year. I loved them both so much. They were true traditional Regencies with clever dialogue, nuanced and in-depth character development, developing romantic interest, only kissing, and wit. 
In the latter part of the year, I embarked on Georgette Heyer's novels and read 13 of them almost back-to-back. My most memorable reads were The Corinthian (Sourcebooks, Jan-09), Faro's Daughter (Sourcebooks, Jan-08), The Nonesuch (Sourcebooks, Jan-09), Sylvester (Harlequin, Jan-04), and Frederica (Sourcebooks, Jan-08). Three of the books have unforgettable heroes, while the other two unforgettable heroines. Heyer is such a gifted writer, able to create such distinctive characters, even secondary ones. Her leisurely writing style allows her to explore fine nuances of situations, quirks, and dialogue.
More of my top faves in the traditional Regency realm were: Imprudent Lady by Joan Smith (Fawcett, Sep-78), The Sandalwood Princess by Loretta Chase (Avon, Nov-91), Mad Earl’s Bride by Loretta Chase (Avon, Jun-13), Lord Richard's Daughter by Joan Wolf (Signet, Jul-83), A London Season by Joan Wolf (Signet, Jan-81), Reforming Lord Ragsdale by Carla Kelly (Signet, Oct-95), and Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly (Signet, Dec-94).
Joanna Bourne's spy romances set in France and England always rise to the top of my year's reading list every year I re-read them. The Spymaster's Lady (Berkley, Jan-08) and The Black Hawk (Berkley, Nov-11)
Another series I love is C.S. Harris's St. Cyr Regency mysteries. This year's book What Darkness Brings (NAL, Mar-13) was no exception.
The following authors never fail to produce books that land them on my top favorites list. Always in my Dreams by Jo Goodman (Zebra, Nov-04) is a Victorian book set in the U.S., Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas (Berkley, Jan-13) is a contemporary western, Unlocked by Courtney Milan (self-pubbed, Sep-12) is a British Victorian novella, and The Good Daughter by Jane Porter (Berkley, Feb-13) is a women's fiction novel (or what, Jane calls Modern Lit).
The Wild Hunt (St. Martin's Press, Oct-91) was my first book by Elizabeth Chadwick and a haunting medieval at that. It certainly will not be my last. I look forward to reading other books in 2014.
A surprising addition to my Best Of list is The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, a middle grade novel by Hyperion in Jan-06. Excellent world-building with close ties to Greek mythology with just enough variance to add a historical feel to the fantasy.
