*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

Book 72, Legacy of Greyladies

#46 was The Real James Herriot by James Wight. This was more of a skim read, picking and choosing and enjoying the photos. It was written by James Herriot’s son but was more like an extended eulogy than the gentle, highly readable memoirs of the originals.
#47 was The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex, which tells of a mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from a lighthouse off the Cornish coast in December 1972. I enjoyed it but only gave it four stars because there were several anachronisms (the author was born in the eighties).
Bridie22, I really enjoyed The Music Shop and it remains my favourite of Rachel Joyce’s charming books.

Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior.
Heart warming easy read.
Look what you made me do by Helen Walmsley-johnson
A memoir, Helens story of her abusive relationship, plus factual data... staggering and sad.
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce.
A lovely uncomplicated love story to music.
The List by Carys Jones.
A pyscho thriller , page turner.

#36. A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson.

#44 The Vinyl Detective:Written in Dead Wax Andrew Cartmel. Nameless nerdy record collector hunts down the world's rarest jazz record encountering danger, murderous competitors and beautiful women. Unusual and enjoyable.
#45 Lockdown Peter May. Thriller set around a killer flu virus and a city in lockdown. The author wrote it 15 years ago but couldn't get it published because it was thought too unlikely! Unsettling but it makes you realise things could be worse.
I felt in need of something gentler next so am currently reading Friday's Child Georgette Heyer.

Book 71, now reading the next in the trilogy, Mistress of Greyladies.

#35. The Girls by Lisa Jewell.

Book 70, just started Heir to Greyladies, the first of a trilogy by Anna Jacobs.

#11
The Perfumed Sleeve by Laura Joh Rowland. The Sano Series set in 17th century Japan. I’ve read them in order. Very enjoyable.

#49 Storm in the Village by Miss Read. Lovely light nostalgic read.
#50 The Missing Sister by Lucinda Riley. The seventh of the Seven Sisters series that was meant to provide the answers to all the mysteries running through the books but rather frustratingly doesn’t! Lucinda Riley was apparently planning an 8th book but has sadly died so the mysteries may never be solved.
#51The Night Hawks by Ellie Griffiths. Latest in the Dr Ruth Galloway series. Enjoyable as always.
#52 The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Excellent, thought-provoking novel raising questions about racism but also about identity and honesty - how much of ourselves do we really reveal to others and how well do we know those closest to us?

Book 69, A Christmas to Remember, by Anton du Beke. It`s his 3rd book, set around a posh London hotel in 1938, and they`re all about the same people who live, stay or work there. I enjoyed the first 2, liking this as well.

Robert Harris "Fatherland" quite riveting, one of his early ones. It's inspired me to check which others I haven't yet read of his. I haven't kept a note of how many books I've read so far this year, about ten I think, so not likely I'll manage fifty.

#34. Gallows View by Peter Robinson.

Book 68, The Christmas Rose, by Dilly Court, the 3rd in the River Maid trilogy. Loving it.

25. A Net for Small Fishes by Lucy Jago. It’s a retelling of a 17thC murder scandal, refashioned as a Thelma & Louise story. I got bored and skimmed the last third. Other people have raved about it so maybe it’s just me!

#33. The Little Princesses by Marion Crawford.

Three Things About Elsie was a very odd book, can`t say enjoyable, can`t say not, just a strange book. Now on book 67, Bread, Jam and a Borrowed Pram, by Dot May Dunn, a true account of her life as a health visitor in the late 50s. It`s so hard to believe that some peoples living conditions were so bad by the late 50s.

#43 was Vintage Crime; a collection of short stories by members of the Crime Writers' Association authors, edited by Martin Edwards. Very enjoyable.
#44 was The Girl With Two Lives by Angela Hart; a true story about a foster child.
#45 was Mother Loves Me by Abby Davies . This was an easy, enjoyable story but required a huge suspension of disbelief.

IN loved Black Country Orphan. Just starting book 66, Three Things About Elsie, by Joanna Cannon, but it`s not grabbing me yet.

Just finished I Made a Mistake by Jane Corry. Fantastic family based psychological thriller. Beautifully crafted.

Book 65, Black Country Orphan, by Annie Murray, I love her books. I think this is going to be an emotional one.

#41 The Giver Of Stars JoJo Moyes. It is about packhorse librarians in rural Kentucky in the 30s. I really enjoyed it.
#42 Rivers Of London Ben Aaronovitch. A young London constable who is recruited into an arcane branch of the Met dealing with supernatural cases. So so good and the first of a series ?.
#43 Spellbreaker Charlie N. Holmberg. A bit odd. I finished it but didn't enjoy it.

#32. The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley.

Book 64, Excursion to Tindari, I think this is the last Montalbano in the batch. I`ve enjoyed them though.

I need to update my reading record:
The Midnight Library - Matt Haig loved this, found it very thought provoking
The Evening and The Morning - Ken Follett - I had forgotten what a brilliant writer he is. It’s a thick book but I was engrossed right up to the last page.
Saving Missy - well written and made me feel very positive after finishing it.
I am reading 2 books at the moment-
The Librarian - Sally Vickers easy to read and very relaxing bedtime story
A little life - Hanya Yanagihara I’m finding this very difficult to have any sympathy with the main characters. Is it worth persevering?