*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

I read it earlier in the year, mrstin and felt as if I had been put through a wringer. A brilliant debut novel but not for the faint hearted.

Started Shuggie Bain a few days ago, fantastic book but not happy reading.

I’ve posted this on books to read thread but it doesn’t go so am putting this on here instead.

“The Smell of Summer Grass” by Adam Nicholson.

A lovely, lovely book. I’m halfway through and my goodness it makes me smile. Made nicer by the fact that it is my neck of the woods.

As I said on other post, I love the description of horses bottoms!

My last few are
9. The Hours Before Dawn by Celia Fremlin. Written about 50 years ago, but still a very relatable story of the impact of having a young baby who just doesn’t sleep at night.
10. Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby. Okay
11. A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks. This is really 5 novellas in one book, 3 were okay, but the other 2 were pretty poor.
12. Holding by Graham Norton. Fluffy, readable, nonsense.
13. The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young. Excellent, who knew!

I also started, but gave up on, Motherwell by Deborah Orr. As someone the same age, who grew up in the same area, the early descriptions were all very relatable, but I just couldn’t get into her writing. I very rarely give up on a book so that was disappointing.

I was about to start Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout, by I think I will reread Olive Kitteridge again first as it’s a few years since I read it and I remember I really enjoyed it.

#25 was an easy read: A Poison Tree by J. E. Mayhew, which I just what I needed at the end of a very tiring term. It was an enjoyable police procedural and is the first of a series of which I might well read another in the future.

SueDonin
I really enjoyed Pine, It was something a bit different, very sad, but I liked the strange little community she put together.

#Pine by Francine Toon. It’s a modern-day gothic horror novel. I don’t normally choose scary books but my DD gave it to me for Christmas.

I enjoyed "Troubled Blood", though I thought it could have done with a bit of editing as it seemed over long. I always enjoy the Robert Galbraith books and I like the televised versions too.

Sara1954 I preferred "The Librarian" too. My husband enjoyed it as well whereas he wouldn't like "The Grandmothers". I'm currently reading Mark Mills "The Whaleboat House". It's not grabbing me as much as some of his others but I'll persevere.

Have just finished The Darkest Evening, the latest Vera story. Thought it was the best and most interesting, as some have been a bit plodding.

#18. Maia’s Story-The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley. Two friends have raved about this series, plus Gransnet recommendations. I am getting into it, but so far it seems slightly Mills and Boon to me.

Probably been reading too many crime novels lately.

Liar, by Lesley Pearse, is OK, but not really holding me like other books of hers have, but I will persevere.

Current read is The Canterbury Murders by E.M. Powell; book 15. Another medieval whodunnit in the Brother Cadfael vein. I gave up on The Three Body Problem.....
We have a small book depository in our community orchard, and I found a fairly new copy of Hunter Davies’ “The Co-op’s Got Bananas” so I have quarantined it for now!

#23 was The Dead Tracks by Tim Weaver, a thrilling, twist a page novel starring David Raker, a Missing Persons Investigator. Having had this edge of seat read for several days l felt a need for something more calming, which I found in #24; A Child of the Regiment by Bernice Anderson. This was a charming memoir about growing up as the daughter of two Salvation Army officers in the post war years.

#24 Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior. An enjoyable feel-good read with a happy ending! Just right for current circumstances!
#25 The Sun Sister by Lucinda Riley. 6th in the Seven Sisters series. I’ve loved all these books and am now happily anticipating the 7th which is due out at the end of May ? They’re hefty tomes (800+ pages) but easy to read.
I’m already half way through the 50 books in a year but I think my pace of reading will slow down when we’re allowed to go out and about!

I've just finished The Apothecary's Daughter by Jane Adams.

I think it was the wrong choice after reading Fire Blossom and Fires of Change by Sarah Lark about the time of the Maori Wars as I needed to read something lighter.

Lost Cause was good, but I twigged the murderer about two thirds of the way through. Book 28, to be started tomorrow, will be Liar, by Lesley Pearse.

I loved A Fortnight in September. It speaks volumes about lower middle class England in the years between the wars, doesn’t it? Lots of lovely descriptions.

Book 13
Anything is Possible - Elizabeth Strout

This is a perfectly lovely book. Exquisite writing, some wonderful characters, heartwarming and moving.
If you haven’t read it, please do, you won’t be disappointed.

Latest 2 books:
The Wartime Midwives by Daisy Styles
and
The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy.

Both easy enjoyable books to read.
Felicity Hayes-McCoy’s book is set in Ireland and she has written a non fiction book about her move to living in Ireland so I will now try to read this..

Just finished reading A Fortnight in September by Sheriff
What a lovely book! Easy to read, very descriptive and I felt I was on holiday with them too ( I wish!) I can’t remember who recommended it, but thank you

According to my Kindle I’m on #27 Just finished The Sabre’s Edge-book 5 out of a 13 book series and starting book 6, Rumours of War by Allan Mallinson.
Do we count audio books too? I haven’t so far, but they’re so useful when I’m out walking.

Lost Cause is looking like it will be a good read. It`s part of a series, I didn`t know when I bought it, but it isn`t vital to have read the earlier books.

#17. The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves.

#14. A Tuscan Memory by Angela Petch. It’s an ok read. I think it’s part of a trilogy, which might make it a better read.

I`ve just finished book number 26, The Jam Factory Girls, nice read in a lighter vein. Book 27 will be Lost Cause, by Rachel Lynch.