*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

I’ve read nine books so far this year. Finished Being the Supervet last night straight after Becoming the Supervet. Both quite lengthy but very inspiring. Have just sorted through the books on my Kindle and borrowed 10 from Kindle Unlimited (free subscription for a few months). Listening to a children’s book, The Silver Sword, via Libby, and reading Criminal Wirral on BorrowBox. Will probably also start The Dig this week. Got the book for a fiver - along with The Queen’s Gambit - after watching both on Netflix.

Ready to start MC Beaton's The Quiche of Death.
Took me longer than planned to finish Lupin but really enjoyed it,it's of unexpected twists.

#15. The Dead Of Jericho by Colin Dexter.

No 11. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. A classic that seems v dated now.

Baking mad, l felt exactly the same way - l enjoyed the first half, particularly as the author was a similar age to me and l could relate to a lot of her early memories, but l found the second half tedious too, for the same reasons as you.
I have just finished #18, The Hoarder by Jess Kidd, as l had seen some people recommending it, but it was not really to my taste. I did not like the supernatural element and skipped some of those bits, and the surprise element was blatantly obvious. Not really to my taste. I started The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse today and am already gripped. Much more to my taste.

Just finished reading Motherwell by Deborah Orr
I enjoyed the first half of the book with her descriptions of life in the 60’s as I could relate to them. However it became very tedious after that, constantly referring to Narcissistic behaviour in people she met and I found it quite depressing towards the end. I hadn’t realised that she had died only a few years after writing it, until I read some reviews.
That was number 9, now starting The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding - a bit of history to stimulate my brain!

Just popped on to post my next set of books I have read
12- The glass house by Eve Chase
13- Anna by Amanda Prowse
14- A Study in Stone by Michael Campling
15- Sunrise on the coast by Lilac Mills
16- The secret of the Seaside by Agatha Ball
17- All his pretty girls by Charley Cox
18- The Cornish Village School- breaking the rules by Kitty Wilson
19- Of moths and butterflies by V.R. Christensen.
These are a mixture of book types as I’ve just started getting books on my iPad (as have run out of actual books) and have just been mostly trying the free books.

Just finished book No. 4

What a find! Especially on International Women’s Day.
It was ‘Miller’s Valley’ by Anna Quindlen. Never read one of hers before. Bit like Anne Tyler’s style and I loved it.

Set in small town America from the 1950’s onwards. A matriarchal theme is at the heart of this novel, set on a small farm. A mother who is a nurse (father the farmer) pushes and encourages her smart daughter to consider college and other women, a teacher, a doctor, a benefactor - all contribute in their way.

It’s a real page turner. I love books about family dynamics and this is is stellar. Quindlen invests here tale with rare pathos and even rarer psychological acumen. I’m so glad I came across this book!

I`ve just finished The Other Passenger, by Louise Candlish. It was passably OK, but I wasn`t thrilled with it, and was pleased to come to the end.
I`m now reading something in a lighter vein, Better Days Ahead, by Mary Wood. It`s set during WW2, mainly set around the fortunes and misfortunes of 2 girls, 1 in Leeds and the other in London.

Foxie
I know, it certainly makes for very uncomfortable reading, but brilliantly done.

Oh I like a Shriver! Actually re-read We need to talk about Kevin last year and it was as chilling!

Book 10
The Motion of the Body Through Space
Lionel Shriver

This is classic Shriver, sharp, witty, clever dialogue, and extremely well written characters.
I thought at the beginning, that I wasn’t going to be interested enough in the story to really enjoy it as much as her previous books, but gradually I was drawn in.

It’s the tale of a man, who having been forced into early retirement, takes up triathlons. Not gripping you yet? Well there are many characters ranging between horrible, and totally obnoxious. Even our leading man and his wife aren’t sympathetic characters, but gradually you become involved with them, and towards the end you’re really hoping for a happy ending.

I think I know a lot more about triathlons than I ever wanted to know, but Lionel Shriver has managed to make it entertaining.

Thanks, starting to find my way around and always pleased to get suggestions for reading!

Welcome to Gransnet Foxie48, and to this thread I hope you enjoy your time here.

I've only just found GN so very late to this thread. I've been reading rather a lot of late so my 2021 list is quite long. Thanks for some suggestions, definitely going to download Tidelands, I haven't read anything by PG for ages having binged on her historical books some years back, also Crown of Blood.
Books so far this year in no particular order:
1/2.Half a Yellow Sun and Americanah both by Chimanda, Ngozi Adichie and are excellent
3. The Dutch House, Ann Patchett, recommend
4. Memoirs of a Geisha Girl, Arthur Golden I now know what a geisha does, off style at time though.
Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell, loved it
5. I feel Bad about My Neck, Nora Ephron, not as funny or cutting as I'd hoped.
6. Those Who are loved Victoria Hislop interesting story about the civil war in Greece, not the strongest writing though
7. Beekeeper of Aleppo, Christy Lefteri, loved it

I've got Circe, Madeline Miller and The Cutting Stone on the book shelf so pleased others have enjoyed them.

Just thinking about starting on some Agatha Christie books or maybe Daphne du Maurier. Feel like I need a change of genre.

#17, another quick, easy read, A Promise of Ankles by Alexander McCall Smith. It is in his 44, Scotland Street series, which l have enjoyed since the first book. A lovely, whimsical book with the usual cast of thousands.

#20 Five Hundred Miles From You by Jenny Colman. Enjoyable if predictable chick lit, good escapism.
Juno56 I love the Invisible Library series ?

I'm on a bit of a fantasy fest at present, a favourite genre.
#14 The Invisible Library Genevieve Cogman - I enjoyed this very much. It is the first in a series so I shall be revisiting this particular fantasy world. #15 Belgareth the Sorcerer David and Leigh Eddings and I am currently reading #16 Polgara the Sorceress by the same authors. I have read David Eddings' The Belgariad and The Mallorean (ten books in all) multiple times, they are my favourite books of the fantasy genre. Belgareth and Polgara are sort of prequels being a 'history' of the events and people leading up to the Belgariad.

#14. The Jewel That Was Ours by Colin Dexter.

Was able to read 64 books last year. Looking to break the 75-mark in 2021

No 10 The Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger.

#16 was an easy read, Ellie and the Harp Maker by Hazel Prior. It is a feel good book, in the style of Rachel Joyce, set on Exmoor about a young woman, with low self esteem and a bullying husband, who meets an innocent, high functioning autistic harp maker. Although there were no real surprises, it was very enjoyable and satisfying and l enjoyed it very much.

I've just finished The Fire Blossom by Sarah Lark about early European settlement in New Zealand and have started the sequel Fires of Change.
They have been translated from German by an American translator so the style is slightly clunky with some inappropriate American terminology for the time and place. However, I'm finding them interesting especially the researched interactions with Maori people.

The same author wrote The Land of the Long White Cloud series also about early European settlement in New Zealand.

bonji, I love Jenny Colgan too. I’m currently reading her latest, Five Hundred Miles From You ?