*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

I loved All the Days of Our Lives. Now reading book 110, Where Earth Meets Sky, by Annie Murray, set in India at the beginning of the 20th century, liking it a lot.

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason.
Slow start, but an emotional book, one womans life with mental health issues and their effect on her and the people around her.
The Exit by Belinda Bauer.
Tongue in cheek novel about a very serious issue and what can go wrong.
The Sixties by Jenny Diski.
Brilliant book, loved this book ...made me proud to be a relic of those days!.
Night Music by Jojo Moyes.
Easy, lovely read with a few twists and turns, always a happy ending.

Loved the last book, now reading book 111, Poppy Day, also by Annie Murray.

#70 Death at Wentworth Court Carola Dunn.
First in a series of mysteries featuring the Hon Daisy Dalrymple.
Set in the 1920s it is a mixture of P G Wodehouse and Agatha Christie. Not as good as either of those authors but spiffing fun all the same.

I don't keep count of how many I read/listen to. It's quite a lot although I mostly read in bed now so it's slowed a bit.

At the moment I'm reading Diane cook's 'the new wilderness'.

I use the local library in Bruges, they have a really good English section. Books are very expensive here so I'm grateful for the Library. Also Audible and sometimes charity shops.

36 Waterland by Graham Swift. Don’t bother, is my advice! There’s a lot about eels and incest and it’s very dreary.

SD my son did that book at A level and I do remember he felt pretty much the same about it as you! it certainly didn't tempt me. So there you are great minds think alike about woeful books

#52. Abattoir Blues by Peter Robinson.

Oh, your poor son, Terribull! I really wouldn’t have thought it was suitable to teach to teenage boys - far too much potential for sniggering and guffawing. ?

#71 Making History Stephen Fry.
This was an audiobook read by Stephen Fry and Richard E Grant. An alternate history. Suppose you could ensure that Adolf Hitler had never been born? I really enjoyed it.

Poppy Day was lovely, some poignant bits as is usual with Annie Murray`s books. Just starting book 112, my last Annie Murray for a while, it`s called Miss Purdy`s Class.

#53. Past Reason Hated by Peter Robinson.

Loved Miss Purdy`s Class. Now reading The Queen`s Governess, by Karen Harper, set in the 1500s.

Sorry, that`s book 113.

#72 The Keeper of Happy Endings Barbara Davis.
This was from my pile of 'free' Kindle books courtesy of Amazon Prime First Reads. I didn't have high expectations but actually I enjoyed it.
#73 Case Histories Kate Atkinson.
This series featuring a PI called Jackson Brodie was recommended to me as being out of the ordinary and I finally got around to reading the first one. I found it quite difficult to get into at first, there are lots of characters and it is quite complex but I really enjoyed it and will probably read others in the series at some point.

The Queen`s Governess was really quite good. I Googled and found that the central character, Kat Ashley, actually did exist. She looked after Elizabeth 1 from the age of 3, when her mother was beheaded, until her mid twenties, gave her the love she didn`t get from her father.
My next book, 114, is going to be The Kitchen Maid, by Val Wood.

#54. The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell.

#74:^Lies, Damn Lies and History^ Jodi Taylor.
Another very enjoyable volume of the Chronicles of St Mary's.
#75 Left-Handed Booksellers of London Garth Nix.
I think this may be intended for YA readers but it was entertaining.

I loved The Kitchen Maid. Now reading book 115, Richard, by Kathryn, a book about Richard Whiteley, who I liked a lot, by his partner, Kathryn Apanowicz. So far, it`s a bit boring, dealing a lot with his school and university days, but hoping it will get bettet.

Better!

#67 was One Last Child by Anni Taylor, an Australian crime author about the disappearance and reemergence of five small children.
#68 was The Lullaby Man, also by Anni Taylor, the second in the trilogy. I enjoyed both very much.
#69 was Specks and Planks by Jeff Lucas, a Christian author who delivers a serious message in a humorous, identifiable manner.
#70 was Just Like The Other Girls by Claire Douglas; a thriller with an end l really did not expect.

#55. Watching The Dark by Peter Robinson.

The Richard Whiteley book did get better, I was in tears near to the end.

No 37 Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon. It’s a Victorian classic which is for my book group. Loads of dreary descriptions which I skipped over.

Book 116 is Child Taken, by Darren Young, looking good up to now.