*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

Book 63 now, Montalbano again, Rounding the Mark.

24. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. My goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever been so immersed in a book as with this one. I had no memory of my Dh coming to bed after me the other night, though he says I spoke to him, I was so deeply embroiled in Shakespeare’s world.

This will be my book of the year unless something extraordinary comes up in the next six months.

#31. Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell.

Enjoyed that, now reading book 62, another Montalbano, The Paper Moon. I`ve read them all out of order, but it doesn`t matter, still enjoying them.

Book 61, started this morning, is another Inspector Montalbano book, The Patience of the Spider.

Some daft book about saving a Cornish theatre by Fern Britton.
It was ok.

I've downloaded a couple of books which I now realise I'd read years ago but they have been extensively re-written and have new titles.
Very annoying as they weren't free!

Well, I finished American Rust, didn`t enjoy it one bit, 587 pages of misery. I haven`t christened my next book yet.

#40 was The Careful Dresser by Linda Grant. An interesting insight into why clothes are so important to us.
#41 was I Murdered My Library, also by Linda Grant. This was a short read about how meaning of a large book collection to the author.
#42 was Digging to Australia by Lesley Glaister. I finished it but I found l could not relate to any of the characters, all of whom were unsympathetic.

#30. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell.

Greyduster, I liked Holy Island, but have never followed on with the others because I read so many reports of them not being very good. Maybe I should have made my own mind up.

Given up early on “Bricking It”. A load of tosh and too much bad language. So alternative book 22 is “Sycamore Gap”, the second in L.J. Ross’s Northumberland Murders series. I read the first, “Holy Island” and there seems to be a theme running through these stories which I don’t find quite believable, so I’m not sure I’ll read any more after this.

Book 60 just started, American Rust, by Philip Meyer.

#47 The Second Child by Caroline Bond. Similar to Jodie Picoult, the dilemma faced by two families who discover that their teenage daughters were mistakenly swapped at birth and one of them is severely disabled. A good read that makes you think.
#48 The Likeness by Tana French. 2nd in the series of books about Detective Cassie Maddox, set in and around Dublin. I really enjoyed it.
Now reading a Miss Read book for a bit of light relief! My mum used to love them and I read a few as a teenager and am enjoying revisiting them.

Book 59, The Footsteps of Anne Frank, by Ernst Schnabel.

#38 Project Hail Mary Andy Weir. I don't usually read much science fiction but really enjoyed it.
#39 Enchanters End Game David Eddings. The fifth and final part of the fantasy classic Belgariad series.
#40 Fool Moon Jim Butcher. The second in the Dresden Files series about a private investigator and wizard. Entertaining but I'm not in a rush to move onto the next in the series.

The Shape of Water, by Andrea Camilleri, another Montelbano book, number 58

#29. Watching You by Lisa Jewell.

Should really be reading The Moon Sister, but to be honest, I wanted a change from the Seven Sisters.

Ready for a bit of crime and murder again.

I've read 16 so far this year (unless I forgot to add one or two to my list on Librarything).

A recent standout was Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce. I have recommended it for my book group and will likely re-read it when it is chosen.

Just finished The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. The most depressing book ever. At least Shuggie Bain was funny at times, this was just sad all the way through. I normally love her books.

Just started a Ruth Rendell book - The Vault. Enjoying it so far. Over the years I have read several of her books, but not in order. I remember thinking Ruth wasn't keeping up with the times, being very formal, but I am enjoying it nonetheless. I don't think with mystery/detective books that you need to remember all the intricacies of the repeat character's lives to enjoy the story line.

Magpie by Sophie Draper...Psycho thriller that wasn't very thrilling.
The Midnight Library... by Matt Haigh, brilliant read, the what ifs and if onlys of life.
Lay me Down by Nicci Cloke ...There is a decent story in there, however each chapter is a different year in a totally random way so constantly having to recap was off putting.

Sue, I remember as a teenager in the dim and distant past going to see the film Greengage Summer. Can`t remember te story, but remember liking the film.
I`ve just finished another Montalbano book, The Wings of the Sphinx, book 56, and am now on book 57, yet another Montalbano book, The Track of Sand, I`m getting quite addicted to Inspector Montalbano!

23 The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden. I am sure I read it many moons ago but all I could recall was the blue door and what happened to Paul.

just finished American Dirt which opened my eyes to the dangerous plight of emigrants, heart wrenching at times but still a good read.Now started a book by Liane Moriarty the Husbands Secret , so early days. I would say so far this year I've possibly read about 10 books. I go through periods of reading a lot then dont lift a book for about a month.

I’m lagging behind a bit this year. Book 22 is “Bricking It” by Nick Spalding. Not sure whether it’s my cup of tea, but I’ll give it a go.

23 The Appeal Janice Hallett - Cracked through this book very quickly, I wasn't sure I was going to like it because of the format, the narrative unfolds pretty much through emails, "the actual appeal" being a money making exercise towards the cost of a treatment for a very sick child and the fund raising events within a small community to raise money for that purpose......with a murder and a lot of subterfuge along the way. A very novel novel!
24 Crooked Heart Lissa Hall I'm late to this book everyone seemed to be reading it a couple of years ago. I bought the author's other book a little while ago "Old Baggage" a prequel to this one, which I couldn't seem to get into. I must go back to that apropos of reading Crooked Heart which I found funny poignant and very good.
25 The Dinner Guest B P Walter. About two well heeled men married to each other with a teenage son. Right at the beginning one gets stabbed by a woman they have recently befriended, at one of the husband's book club. I did think "I know where this is going" but no it wasn't that obvious! a cracker of a page turner, kept me guessing as to the motive right up until the end. There is back story from twenty or so years ago that is interwoven with the present.
26 Missing Pieces - Tim Weaver. Quite a long winded story about a woman who gets stuck on an island, 100 miles or so from Long Island, just as it's being shut down for the winter...oh and two men are trying to kill her!...........and where was David Raker??? Nowhere to be seen! Tim Weaver is trying to bring his readers some new characters, I think he might use a couple of those from this story again. It didn't wow me, I missed your Missing Person Finder Tim, bring him back. This was okay but overly long, it could have done with some editing down from nearly 500 pages.
27 Circe - Madeline Miller. Have never read any Greek mythology before. Quite enjoyed this, not sure I'd clamour for more, it's all very vengeful and bloody at times and not ever having done ancient Greek history, it does seem actual events are woven in with the mythology of The Minotaur. Cyclops and other nasties. For example Troy and The Spartans are mentioned. Probably need to get myself an idiots guide to ancient civilizations, something from Horrible Histories, nothing too hard
28 A Version of the Truth B P Walter, because I enjoyed The Dinner Party Guest, I got this earlier one out of the library, again cracked along. The format slightly similar, working class girl in her first year at Oxford meets a load of horrible, debauched, privileged posh gits. What happened back then has a direct bearing on what comes to light 30 years hence. Fast moving pace, as with his other one switching between two time frames.

Heavens above some posters have already read a whole year's worth of books

The Pearl Sister
The Sun Sister (not as good)

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell - very good

The House at Mermaid's Cove by Lindsay Ashford (read in 2 nights)