*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

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.

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.

#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.

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

#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.

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.

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!

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

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.

Shuggie Bain, was a hard book to read, but worth every tortured word.
The Sleepover by Samantha King.... every parents nightmare when an everyday sleepover goes wrong, and the perils of the Internet.
The Muse by Jessie Burton... a complex book, about art and Spanish uprising, needed my concentration but worth it.

Liar wasn`t the best book I`ve ever read, but passable. 29 was The Mother and Baby Home, by Sheila Newberry, a nice light read, but enjoyable, set in the 1950s. Will be starting book 30 tomorrow, Salem Street, by Anna Jacobs. It`s the first of 5, the Gibson family saga, beginning in 1820. I`ve read all but this, the first one, but it was a while ago, so will read them all again.

#19. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths.

#16. Giving Up The Ghost by Hilary Mantel. It’s her memoir and quite stunning.

Book 16: ‘The Shortest Day’ by Colm Tiobin.
Book 17: “The Saracen’s Mark” by S.W. Perry.

6 Forgive Me - Susan Lewis, first I've read of hers, it was okay, not sure I'd rush to read another.
7 The Night Hawks - Elly Griffiths, love the Ruth Galloways, sometimes more for the ongoing characters and the way EG describes the North Norfolk coastal landscape, which gave me the impetus to visit that area so those descriptions do resonate. As always enjoyable read.
8 The Midnight Library, hugely successful, glowing reviewed book, not for me I thought it may have been a kind of Life after Life type of novel, from the description, insomuch as the main character, whilst in the library of the title gets the chance to right the wrongs and disappointments that have occurred at various junctures of her life. It didn't engage me, I found it pretty boring and do what I always do with books that disappoint just speed read it and just glad when I reached the end.
9 Real Tigers - Mick Heron My husband, who has been urging me to read this series, loves these books about mis fit MI5 agents consigned to Slough House to see out their working life as pen pushers, I gather this genre has loads of fans, I don't think I'll become one, I didn't enjoy this book at all, I don't feel tempted to try another.
10 Not so, for Val McDermid's Karen Pirie series, having discovered these I find them much better than her other books, I really enjoy them. This latest one "Still Life" was very good.
11 A Friend of the Family Lisa Jewel, one of her early ones, it was okay, I think she has got so much better, I love a lot of her later stuff.
12 The Burning Air - Erin Kelly. Erin Kelly, one of the writers on Broadchurch no less! This was quite good, without being outstanding, psychological crime would best describe her genre.
13 The Lies You Told - Harried Tyce. I loved her debut novel. Blood Orange, which seemed to divide opinions. This follow up was quite enjoyable. Two strands to it, female barrister coming back to London with daughter after stint in New York. Focus of the book, her first legal case after her career had been put on hold, due to marriage, motherhood and relocation to the US she returns due to marriage break down, and after inheriting the house of her not very nice mother, who makes a condition in her will that the granddaughter must attend the school that her mother attended. During school run she encounters a hard core clique of school gate/pta mothers with whom she has numerous runs ins with...however that changes after a while!
14 The Red Room Nicci French. Not one of her best but not one for the bin either.
15 Little Disasters - Sarah Vaughan Again loved her debut novel "Anatomy of a Scandal. Halfway through this one, really good so far, uncomfortable subject, baby under observation at hospital with a fractured skull. Examining doctor and mother of baby good friends.

#20. The Secret Of Annexe 3 by Colin Dexter.

I loved Salem Street, have just started the next in the Gibson saga, High Street, book 31.

#25 was The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander, a frothy, enjoyable light read. #26 was The Amulet by Ann Bennet, a straightforward story set in Singapore during WW2 and the year 2000. I enjoyed it very much. Sometimes a lighter book hits the spot.

#26 The Mystery of Henri Pick by David Foenkinos. A translation of a French novel, chosen for my book club’s latest read. It was ok, quite quirky, but not one I’d particularly recommend.
#27 The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gower. An historical novel, set in 1785-6 about a merchant, Jonah Hancock, who discovers that one of his ship’s captains has sold his ship for what appears to be a mermaid. It’s very descriptive of life in London at the end of the 18th century and, as in many historical novels at the moment, there’s a thread of magic and fantasy running through it. I enjoyed it.
#28 Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh About 2 sisters on trial in New York for the murder of their father, but they are accusing each other. Gripping if gruesome in parts!
I’m going to have a change from fiction next and read I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, about the girl who was shot by the Taliban.

High Street was very good, I`m enjoying re-reading this family saga. Now reading the next in the series, Ridge Hill, book 32.

I read over 200 books last year but am off to a slow start this year, decided to read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, am up to book 8 but its a hard slog

I’ve discovered I really enjoy Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books. Never expected to so haven’t tried before. Can’t put them down! Better late than never ?

I am reading A Year in Provance by Peter Mayle about as its title set in France I love travel books with good stories only and have loved The Island by Victoria Hislop Amazing read
I Volunteer in a book shop that gives them away free so that they are saved from Landfill so have lots of time to browze many titles I do love a Danelle Steele sometimes and have learnt some historical facts i wouldnt have known about before she must do her research throughly Especaily The Jewels all about Russian times in history approx 100 years ago Keep looking for that good read and escape I say

Polarbear
I have just discovered the Jack Reacher books, I decided to give them a try as everyone seems to rave about then, started at book one, so I’ve got a lot to look forward to.
I didn’t expect to like them, but they are very fast paced, rather gruesome at times, but very hard to put down.

sara1954 I had to laugh at the description of Reacher compared to Tom Cruise in the films. Still good films though too.