Fifty Books a Year (or fewer)

Just finished 'The Glove maker's daughter' by Leah Fleming. Thoroughly recommend. The story is told by said daughter a 'friend seeker' or early 'Quaker' and follows her through her travels from Yorkshire Dales, making the journey across to the New World and the making of a new settlement and life. A good read and educational.

My January books so far:

The Glass House Ann Cleeves
The Robber Bride Margaret Atwood
The Rumour Lesley Kara
The Missing Girl Jenny Quintana (audio)
The Chalk Pit Elly Griffiths
The Dark Circle Linda Grant.

As usual a mixed bag, Ann Cleeves is always highly readable. I've only just discovered Elly Griffiths as a crime writer. On holiday a few months ago I ran out of books and went to the library of left behind books in the hotel where we were staying and I picked up The Dark Angel, the latest Ruth Galloway, but my first of hers. I am now working my way back through her catalogue, piecing together the personal relationships of the main characters in reverse, The Chalk Pit is the 2nd book I've read so far. Definitely like her writing.

I quite enjoyed The Robber Bride, Margaret Atwood remains one of my favourite authors, absolutely loved The Blind Assassin, Alias Grace and Cat's Eye, this one wasn't up there with any of those but very readable. The story of 3 friends, their troubled childhoods, their relationships and the shadowy figure of Zenia (The Robber Bride) of the story. The 3 women meet for lunches after Zenia's funeral who they learn has betrayed them all at some stage but is also a professional liar, so a certain amount of ambiguity about her character.

The Rumour picked up from Sainsburys, I'd told myself to stop picking up books whilst I'm shopping for groceries, mainly because I tend to opt for lame psychological thrillers thinking they will be good and more often than not they aren't, this was no exception to that pattern. Disappointing!

The Missing Girl, audio book from my local library. I like to listen to audiobooks when I'm dropping off to sleep, trouble is I find I can't remember a damn thing about the story in the morning and inevitably have to listen to the disc again, so it's a long drawn out process. This was story was ok, a bit laboured, maybe that was down to me having to replay it so often.

My favourite book so far has been The Dark Circle by Linda Grant. I picked this up at the library as I'd read a couple of her books before and really enjoyed them. Didn't read the blurb and only realised once I got into it that the whole book was set in a TB sanatorium just post war, soon after the inception of the National Health Service. It tells the story of two 18 year old London Jewish working class twins Lenny and Miriam who are sent to such a place that previously only served well to do private patients. The story unfolds with the relationships they make in the sanatorium with fellow residents and as the narrative progresses the miracle drug streptomycin is launched but limited to treat just a few. A strange subject for a book but knowing very little about TB, I nevertheless found it interesting and a good read.

Just started The Man With No Face by Peter May. One of his first he wrote in the early 80s which has just been re published.

Gosh,yes, Marilyn French. I read this book in the 1970s and it made a huge impression on me. As did Fear of Flying by Erica Jong. I will read these again to see if my 70 year old self is as impressed as my 24 year old self was.

I've only just noticed this post so I'll have to think back and check my kindle to see what I bought since the start of the year. I do always have at least 2 books on the go simultaneously. Am I the only one to read in the bathroom? Always a book going there! Then my kindle for bedtime reading as my bedroom is never heated so sitting up is not an option in winter ?so much easier snuggled in with a backlit kindle.
And then a real book for those times during the day I sit down long enough to read, specially the winter evenings.
I'm finally catching up with Harry potter this year, having held out as the hype always put me right off. I'm on no.5 now, Harry potter and the order of the phoenix.
To my surprise I'm enjoying them tremendously, j.k.Rowling is one clever lady. I started as my oldest gd likes talking about her books with me and and I couldn't do that with all the Harry potter stuff, so she persuaded me to have a go....
My daytime book is Sepulchre by Kate Moss which I'm enjoying and my bathroom book is the Women's Room by Marylin French, why haven't i read her long ago??? Can't think...it shows women have come a long way since that was written, pretty hard hitting and so well observed. So far men are getting a pretty bad press, might change later in the book though..maybe! Yes times have certainly changed but I'm off the age to be able to identify with so many of the women and the situations they found themselves in. Echos of Spare Rib!

Don’t worry, it won’t be. I read it a few months ago and found it quite entertaining if a bit on the silly side. Let us know how you get on with it.

Book 6. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal.
Oh er, this might be too saucy for my gentile upbringing. ?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Just finished East End Angels byRosie Hendry. This is about ambulances drivers and is set in London’s East End at the time of the Blitz. I was born in Walthamstow in 1947 so can identify with some of the book from odd things my parents and grandmother said. It was an ‘easy read’ but some of the incidents described quite horrific. Just started The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths as really enjoyed her books in the Dr Ruth Galloway series.

Is there any way of compiling a list of all the books mentioned here other than trawling through and extracting them myself?

Just finished a book I picked up at a local car boot sale which turned out to be such a good read 'Wax Fruit' by Guy McCrone. A family saga set in Victorian times in Glasgow, for anyone who knows Glasgow I'm sure this would be even more enjoyable, as someone who has only been there one, it was educational! I enjoyed the book so much I have bought the two follow-ons to read on my Kindle. It was different as it focused on about 10 years in the family's life so was quite in-depth. On a completely different note, as a dog lover I really enjoyed 'Daisy's Gift' by Claire Guest which is all about how she founded the charity Medical Detection Dogs. Absolutely fascinating how dogs are able to sniff out diseases and be helpers to people with chronic life-threatening diseases.

Just finished the second in the series by Ann Cleeve, " White Nights" . those of you who have read them, are the rest of the books set in the same place with Fran and Pereze? I'd like a change of scene so going back to L.J.Ross books about D.C.I.Ryan
Tho I may find the same thing happens there!

My first one was A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. This really resonated with me because I’ve done short walks on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia so could picture the scenery accurately. It was interesting not only for the amusing way Bryson recounts his experiences with Katz his old school friend who accompanied him, and the people they met, but also for all the information about the changing ecology of the Appalachians.

Then I moved on to Lizzie Siddal by Lucinda Hawksley, a fascinating account of the life of one of the few women artists of the 19th century to have achieved any acclaim, and her tortured relationship with Dante Gabriel Rossetti. She was the model for Millais’ Ophelia and many other paintings.
Anyone interested in the Pre-Raphaelites and their circle would enjoy this book.

Just finished my second Roy Grace novel. A very easy read. Now starting Sarah Waters The Little Stranger. For some reason the blurb is ringing a bell for me. Maybe have read it before, oh well I’ll soon find out!!!!

I decided against The Handmaid’s Tale for my fourth bookin favour of Robert Goddard’s The Ends of the Earth because it’s library book and overdue! It’s the third in a trilogy about a WWI flying ace trying to solve the mystery of his father’s murder. I enjoyed the first book but the second was a bit tedious. The third is better and I’m enjoying the twists and turns.

Finished book 7 Elizabeth is Missing Emma Healey - just made me feel sad

Started a Richard Russo but had to leave it for the time being, I will go back to it in another week or two. Read instead "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" Amanda Prowse, an easy read which I wanted because of this lurgy.

Going to read "The Heart's Invisible Furies" now.

Just finished The Stranger Diaries by Ellie Griffiths. A stand alone novel, there does seem enough scope to continue writing about DS Kaur, a likeable character. Enjoyed the present day story, found the Gothic ghost bit rather tedious. The new Ruth Galloway book is out in a week or so, really look forward to that. My next book will be the latest Rebus, been a while since I’ve read about him.

Thank you, I will bear it in mind if I enjoy this one.

Hi matson, I haven't read 'Among the lemon trees' but I would recommend another of her books 'Secrets under the Sun'

Oh good, Overthehills, I’m glad it’s not just me!

My book 4 is Jo Nesbo’s The Snowman, and it’s so much better, less stilted for a start even though it’s a translation into English.

I agree wholeheartedly about The Librarian Maggiemaybe - very tedious.
I’ve finised my 4th book Quintin Jardine’s “Cold Case” and really enjoyed it. I know the area it’s set in very well.
My next book is Margaret Atwood's “The Handmaid’s Tale”. I didn’t watch it on TV and I’m not convinced I’ll like it.

Finished book 6 Into the darkest corner...brilliant psychological thriller, couldn't put it down !
Book 7...Among the lemon trees by Nadia Marks, looks like a lighter read this time.

Book 5 Clock Dance by Anne Tyler.
“A bittersweet novel of hope and regret,fulfilment and renewal.”

Finished my first Roy Grace book. An enjoyable read. Moving on to the second book Looking good dead.

No 4-Lies Sleeping-Ben Aaronvitch.
7th book in Rivers of London series.