Fifty Books a Year (or fewer)

Just finished reading The Suspect, by Fiona Barton. It’s about two young girls who go missing on their gap year in Thailand. A good thriller.
Next on my list is The Kashmir Shawl, by Rosie Thomas, which has been passed on to me by my SiL.

Book 8:The Girl in the Corner by Amanda Prowse. It was ok but a bit dull and I had trouble liking any of the main characters.

I am now reading Daughters of the Dragon, a novel, by William Andrews. It’s about Korean “comfort women” during the 2nd world war in Japanese occupied Korea. The treatment of these women forced into prostitution was appalling. Although it’s written as a novel and, surprisingly, by a man, the story is based on fact. I find I can’t put it down even though it is quite upsetting.

Seem to have deleted my last post. Hey ho. Here we go again. Book no 3 was Ivy and Abe by Elizabeth Enfield.
Came highly recommended and was a Christmas present.
Was about a couple and the different senarios which played out when they met at different times in their lives. Not for me. Next The Guardian Angel by Kay Seeley. Unusual. It’s about a lad who is autistic , comes from a titled family and is protected and guided by his nanny. Quite good. Bit much of a happy ending!
Now onto The Almost Wife by Jade Beer. Not at all what I expected and highly recommended.

Finished About Grace by Anthony Doerr... beautifully descriptive and written, quite complex , may need to reread.
No 10 .The Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline.

Thanks Bathsheba I did ask myself why I kept reading to the end......

nanaK54 I gave up reading The Coordinates of Loss because, like you, it was too sad for me too. I usually love anything by Amanda Prowse and have got into the habit of just buying them without even bothering to read the synopsis, so sure am I that I will enjoy it. Got tripped up this time though

Granfromafar I did indeed enjoy The Edge of the Orchard. My son has lived in both Ohio and California so I had that extra interest and the factual information was very interesting.

My 11th book is The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young. She is an organic farmer and she tells of what she has learned about her animals over 50+ years of farming.

I've just finished The Gilded Edge by Danny Miller. A detective thriller set in the 60s, against a backdrop of aristocratic high society in London. A group of gamblers at an exclusive Mayfair club, all drawn from the super rich, Eton educated set. Then two murders - one of the Mayfair gamblers and another, seemingly unrelated murder of a young woman in Notting Hill. A brilliantly crafted story, that kept me on my toes right to the end!
I've also read The Wonderful Journey by Paul Geraghty. This was a book my granddaughter borrowed from her church - a lovely, emotive story about Sam and his Grandma, who came from Africa, many years ago, to live with Sam and his family. Now she wants to return home and she reminds Sam that just like the stories she has told him of Africa and taught him to visualise so clearly, he will still be able to be with her in his imagination, even though they'll be far apart. It seemed to be a metaphor for coping with the loss of a beloved grandparent, and I found it very moving.
Next book: Lark Song by Jane Bailey. I was inspired to buy this after hearing an interview with the author on Radio 2. She came across as such an interesting, warm and down-to-earth person, and I felt sure I would enjoy her writing. Time will tell!

Book 10 - The Coordinates of Loss Amanda Prowse - too sad for me really
Book 11 - Things we Never Said Nick Alexander - really enjoyed this book would recommend

SueDonim: Hope you enjoy The Orchard as much as I did. Love all Tracy Chevalier books.
Book 7 is The 100 year old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. Quirky but really good.

I finished my no 9, Henry Marsh's Admissions, his second memoir of his life in neurosurgery and how he views old age and creeping decrepitude. It's a thought-provoking read.

I'm now reading my tenth book, The Orchard by Tracy Chevalier, about growing apples in 19Ct Ohio!!! I'm enjoying it, actually.

I've got The Glovemakers Daughter on my shelf, passed on to me by my mum. I'll read it now GN's have spoken highly of it.

Good grief, some of you make me feel so inadequate.

It's week 7 and I've just finished book 6, the GN book club's The Suspect. I really enjoyed it (as reviewed on the book club page). I'm just starting Peter James's A Twist of the Knife now, which is his collection of short stories.

I've finally, just about, fingers crossed, shed the awful bug that everyone had. The only good it has brought is endless time to read.

With apologies for the length, here is the list I've read since my last post.

Death on a Longship - Marsali Taylor
Unnatural Death - Dorothy L Sayers

Murder on the Serpentine - Anne Perry (read almost all of hers, enjoyed them but now finding they follow the same theme)

A Medal for Murder - Frances Brody

Bookworm - Lucy Mangan (really enjoyed this, all about childhood reading, she's younger than I am but the book goes back and covers many old favourites)

Death on a Shetland Isle - Marsali Taylor
An Echo of Murder - Anne Perry
Murder in the Dark - Betsy Reavley
The Woman in Blue - Elly Griffiths
When the Music's Over - Peter Robinson (love the series)
Harbour Street - Ann Cleeves
The Vanishing Box - Elly Griffiths (new series, not as good)
Timetable of Death - Edward Marston
The Moth Catcher - Ann Cleeves

Headlong - Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (not her Morland historical series, this is her Bill Slider detective series which I love, the dialogue is spot on and most enjoyable)

Magpie Murders - Anthony Horowitz (quirky, a book about a book, I enjoyed it)

Drawing the Line - Judith Cutler (I've read all this series but hadn't realised I'd missed the very first one and knowing what happens to the characters didn't spoil it)

Sorry the list was so long!

On holiday in Florida, so reading more than usual. (Not into golf or theme parks so not much else to do) have just finished The Other family by Joanna Trollope. Enjoyed it, but a little bit formulaic and finished at a gallop which annoyed me.
Also read Strange Fits of passion by Anita Shreve. Deals with domestic violence and has many twists and turns while being very well written. Would recommend this one.
Finally The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan. Publishing history suggests this is an American book written by an English Expat. It’s written in the form of letters, diary entries and newspaper headlines which requires concentration, but tells a well rounded story of village life in the early days of WW2 in Kent. Some of the vocabulary is questionable. Did people say ‘patio’ in the 1940s? But a really enjoyable read.

You're sure to enjoy it Overthehills

Ordered The Glovemaker’s Daughter from the library - thanks for the recommendations.

Just finished Winter Loon by Susan Bernhard it is her first (published) novel and I thought it was brilliant. I would definitely recommend it.

Book 8
Follow the Dead by Lin Anderson.
Another shot of Tartan Noir.

Book 11 The House on cold hill-typical ghost story but an enjoyable read. Book 12 —3 things about Elsie-Joanne Cannon. What can I say- this book swallowed me whole, couldn’t put it down. A very warm hearted book and most memorable line-Even the smallest life can have the loudest echo. Very uplifting.

Hi MaggieMay60. I read The Glovemakers Daughter a couple of weeks ago. Like you I had read Leah Fleming books before so was hoping for a good read. She didn't disappoint highly recommend. Hope you enjoy it

Sorry that should have read Overthehills

Yes overthehill my sister passed it on to me and said it was brilliant. We're all different!

Agree with KatyK about The Prefect Girlfriend - ok but wouldn’t recommend.

I have just read book number 8. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith, Brilliant couldn't put it down! Have Also tried to read Peggy and Me by Miranda Hart - it was a Reading Group choice - absolute rubbish! Next book on the list is the Glovemakers Daughter by Leah Fleming, I am looking forward to that as I like her books.

Just finished Educated by Tara Westover, her memoir of growing up ‘on the grid’ in rural Idaho, brought up by very strict, Mormon parents who wouldn’t let her or her siblings go to school or have any mainstream medical treatment.
I won’t give too much away but she escapes from her controlling parents and an abusive brother, and finishes up with a Gates Scholarship to Trinity College Cambridge and earns a PhD.
Brilliantly written and one of the most moving books I’ve read for years.