*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

#13 The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald. A Booker prize contender in the 70’s, this was beautifully written, the tale of a middle-aged woman attempting to start a bookshop in a 1950’s small town.

Well book No. 5 was ‘The Silent History’ by Donna Tartt but 80 pages in I’ve ditched it Terribull.

I’ve decided this one will be my No. 5 book. I read it many years ago, saw it on my bookcase last month when I was having a declutter and as I can only remember a little of it, I’d like to re-read it.

I've just finished reading Salley Vickers "Grandmothers" which I enjoyed and thought I'd mention it as it might be of interest to others on GN. It's about three women and their relationships with their grandchildren. Previously I read "The Librarian" by Vickers and I intend to read some of her other books. She has a very readable style. I'd be interested to read what others think who've read any of her books.

Qwerty

I also really enjoyed The Grandmothers, but I preferred The Librarian, I thought that was a really lovely book.

5th only (too much time on GN)
The President Is Missing - Bill Clinton & James Patterson
- And we think we've got problems! Good read with twists & turns.

Urmston, I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns. I liked The Kite Runner as well, but it didn`t grab me quite so much as "Suns".

#22 was Bear Town by Frederik Backman. It is about ice hockey and how obsessions and misogyny can become terrifying when coupled with fanaticism. I enjoyed it but there was a bit too much bad language for my liking.

#18 was The Masked City Genevieve Cogman- I'm really enjoying this series.
#19 Black Sheep and #20 Cotillion both Georgette Heyer - I have enjoyed her books for 50 years. I'm not sure what I shall read next.

No 11
So Much Time Left Over- Louis De Bernieres

I thought I was going to love this book about First World War fighter pilots trying to come to terms with a quieter life. The first chapter featuring Daniel and Rosie living an idyllic life in Ceylon, with their charming little daughter seemed very promising.

But disaster strikes, and we return to England to Rosies eccentric family, and suddenly everything seems a bit ridiculous.

My main problem with the book was that I just couldn’t really take to any of the characters, they all seemed completely unrealistic, and Rosie turned out to be the bitch from hell!

I quite enjoyed it, but it didn’t live up to its early promise.

Book 12
Sunday Morning Coming Down-Nicci French

I thought this was to be the last book in this series, but clearly there’s at least one more to go.

I really enjoy the Freida Klein novels, but I feel now that maybe enough is enough, the same group of people in every one, and Freida always one step ahead of the police.

It’s a fast paced novel, one which is hard to put down, but I feel it was a bit claustrophobic, would have benefited from some new characters, or a bit less of the old ones.

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.

#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.

#17. The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves.

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.

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.

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

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..

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.

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.

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'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.

#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!

#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.

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!

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