Fifty Books a Year (or fewer)

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

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.

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.

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.

Book9: A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult. It is about a hostage situation in a clinic for women’s health. The story is told backwards in time and I am trying to get the hang of this. I will persevere though as I am a big fan of Jodi.

I have some more books for my list
16 Necessary lies by Diane Chamberlain
17 The last quarter of the moon by Chi Zijian
18 The story collector by Evie Gaughan
19 The good Earth by Pearl S. Buck- I read her books when I was in my 20’s so it was a blast from the past to find one of hers in the library. I enjoyed it and an insight into the rise of humble Chinese farmers to rich noblemen.
20 The Atlas of us by Tracy Buchanan.

I have enjoyed all these books and am looking for some of the ones mentioned on this thread. A great way to get recommendations. Parsley3 I have just started a Jodi picoult-small great things- so looking forward to a good read.

Finished "The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes" by Ruth Hogan, it was ok, I struggled with it. Also "Truly Madly Guilty" by Liane Moriarty, very good couldn't put it down.
I have two Minette Walters now to chose from.

Book 13-Keeper of lost things -Ruth Hogan
Book 14_Forgive me -Leslie Pearse
Enjoyable relaxing reads.

Small,Great Things by Jodi Picoult is a fabulous story, Mops.
I enjoyed it very much.

Finished The Fear Index by Robert Harris - love all his books.
Then Rebecca’s Tale by Sally Beauman - interesting but sometimes unbelievable and sometimes too predictable!
Now reading Munich by Robert Harris - as good as all the rest so far.
Back from holiday so won’t be reading as much - I’m so impressed by the number many of you get through! As a former librarian I hope you all support your local libraries - use them or lose them ...

All my books come from my local library. OH gets his iBooks from there too. Libraries were very important to me as a child and they still are.

I’m just finishing off (in bed) A Twist of the Knife by Peter James. I must say I prefer his full-length novels to his short stories. And I’ve also read a thriller called The Rumour, by L Kara, which I felt started well but fizzled out. That’s 7 and 8 done. Next is The Green Road, about an Irish family.

I got two of the above from the local library, but sometimes want to have a particular book to keep or pass on, so buy instead. Though of course the bookshops/charity shops need support too. I’ve ordered my next reading group book from the library and I’m number 6 in the queue, so might have to buy that as well!

Book 12 Apple Tree Yard Louise Doughty - this was a 're-read' enjoyed just as much second time round!

Up to no. 11
Since I last posted I have read:-
Heart's Invisible Furies- John Boyne again as I rushed through it then had to read it slowly to do discussion points for Reading Group
Dry Hard- Nick Spalding- just for something light
A Man called Ove- Frederick Beckman- loved it!
Cocklebury Bay- Nicola May- light again
Lies Sleepind- Ben Aaronovitch- 7th in Rivers of London series
Best Friend- Shalini Boland- rubbish
My Grandmother Sends Her Regards- Frederick Beckman again- Lovely story.
Next will be 2nd Shardlake for Reading Group- Sovereign I think.
I'm enjoying keeping a record of what I read although to be honest I rarely read an actual book as I download everything onto Kindle so I can read if I wake up in the night so I don't disturb DH.

Book 10: A Brush With Death by Quintin Jardine.

Still finding Jennifer Donelly's A Gathering Light slow going! It's ok when I get going but I am not in a hurry to pick it up and finish it

Just read An Italian Holiday by Maeve Haran. It was OK. I think I'm hard to please book wise.

Just finished "Acid Row" by Minette Walters, another good book.

Just finished my last book for February this morning, here's what I've read for the shortest month of the year.

Book number 7 The Man With No Face - Peter May, I usually love his writing but just didn't enjoy this one, it was in fact it was his first ever effort from 1981 which has been slightly rejigged, but nevertheless it all felt very dated. I think he has honed his writing skills since this publication. The only book of his I haven't enjoyed.

8. Strictly Between Us - Jane Fallon (Audio) Usual standard JF plot, relationships, cheating and a fairly convoluted storyline, but not too taxing on the brain I quite enjoy her stuff.

9. Waiting For Sunrise - William Boyd - First of his books I've read, liked it, would certainly try some of his others. Starts off in 1911 Vienna, main character coerced into going behind enemy lines as a spy in the ensuing first World War

10 Losing You - Nicci French (Audio) Good crime plot, missing teenage daughter. easy to listen to

11. The Death of Mrs Westway - Somewhat implausible tale of a young woman who is contacted by a solicitor to advise that her grandmother (Mrs Westway) has died and she has been named in her will. It transpires that she is the main beneficiary of a vast estate complete with a Mrs Danveresque style housekeeper still in situ. The substantial inheritance is quite fortuitous for the young Ms Westway as she is being chased by debt collectors. Enjoyable far fetched yarn.

12 The Hunting Party - New Year Break in the wilds of Scotland, bunch of London yuppies, one ends up murdered, described as being an Agatha Christie for the present day. If only.........

13 All The Beautiful Lies - Peter Swanson I read a book of his a while back "The Kind Worth Killing" a really tense and twisty thriller, his subsequent follow ups didn't live up to that, but this one was pretty good, quite a page turner, without being as good as the first.

I probably read too much crime, I'm looking forward to my next book which will be a departure from that "Educated" loads of accolades and highly recommended.

My number 12 was An Unremarkable Body by Elisa Lodato. The plot entails a middle-aged woman's sudden death from the POV of her daughter. I have to say, it left me unmoved. It wasn't bad. It was like its title, really - unremarkable.

Now I've taken up The Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore as my no 13.

The Nine Tailors - Dorothy Sayers - enjoyed, first read it years and years ago
A Fatal Fall of Snow - Joyce Cato (also writes as Faith Martin)
Under an English Heaven - Alice K Boatright
Jessamine - Shani Struthers ('second sight", didn't much enjoy)

Now reading White Nights, Ann Cleeves

Finished “In Tearing Haste”, and Conn Iggulden’s “The Falcon of Sparta”. Now embarking on number ten; “Children of Jocasta” by Natalie Haynes.

Has anybody read any books by Gretta Mulroony?
I have just finished “Araby” which was I think her first book and it was simply amazing - unforgettable!

Finished One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline, a novel about an undercover officer stopping bombers, not my cup of tea.
Book 11..All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Dooer . Have a feeling I may have read this.

Just popped in to have a look at this thread and am delighted to have made a note of half a dozen books I’d like to buy - on Kindle or in paperback form - I like both!

As an aside, I stated a book club with a friend some 13 years ago and it’s still going strong with a few who’ve left and a few newer joins, but the main cohort of about 8 of us are still in it. The point of telling you this is that far and away one of our most popular reads was ‘A Year of Wonders’ by Geraldine Brookes and I haven’t seen it mentioned here so thought I’d share.

What a great forum! ????