*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

mrshat

#42 - Day of the Dead - Nicci French [Frieda Klein#8]
#43 - The Clockmaker's Daughter - Kate Moreton (currently reading).

Mrshat, I loved The Clockmaker's Daughter, I'm a Kate Moreton fan. Hope she's got another in the pipeline, it's been a long wait since that one was published.

#64. Cold Is The Grave by Peter Robinson.

#65. The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell.

#75. Deep Fear by Rachel Lynch
#76. 100 Classic. Stories in 100 Pages
#77. Fifty Shades of the USA by Anna McNuff
#78. Hippy Dinners by Abbie Ross
#79. The Gran Tour by Ben Aitken
#80. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
#81. Agatha Raisin Down the Hatch by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green
#82. The Good Bear by Sarah Lean
#83. The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
#84. Father Neil’s Little Orphan by Neil Boyd

Sisters of the Southern Cross by Jean Grainger

Hello, an avid reader, I managed only 48 last year, mostly on Kindle. Like most genres, well apart from biographies and Science fiction, I’m at present reading the Haunting Season, Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights, from Waterstones. My treat to me for Christmas. On Kindle reading the Rune House by L J Hubbard.

#85. The Fire Baby by Jim Kelly

#66. The Couple At No 9 by Claire Douglas.

I forgot the previous one:
The Lake House by Kate Morton

Loved Earthly Joys, was surprised to find out that the min character and his family actually existed. Book 134 was The Dark Path by Michelle Sacks, not over impressed by it, hate books without inverted commas for conversation. Now reading book 135, The Guardian Angel, by Elizabeth Gill, liking it so far.

#67. Aftermath by Peter Robinson.

I started off well and intended to keep posting here, but I see my last update was in March . I have kept track of my books though and I expect to finish #52 this afternoon, might make it to 53 by Hogmanay.

I will only list my highs and lows
10/10
1. A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier. My book of the year, absolutely wonderful
2. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. A re-read, before reading the sequel
3. Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout. Equally good

9/10
1. The Hours Before Dawn by Celia Fremlin. Written about 50 years ago, but still a great read
2. A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purcell. The incredible true story of Virginia Hall, who worked behind enemy lines during WW2
3. December by Elizabeth Winthrop
4. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
5. Still Life by Val McDermid
6. The Foundling by Stacey Halls
7. Big Brother by Lionel Shriver
8. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
9. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
10. A Place of Execution by Val McDermid
11. The Vanishing Half by Brid Bennett

At the other end, these are the books I gave up on, something I hate doing.
1. Motherwell by Deborah Orr
2. First Love by Gwendoline Riley (only 150 pages, but even that was too long)
3. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (interesting this author also made it into my top books of the year, above)

I really enjoyed The Guardian Angel. My next book will be the latest in a series by Anton du Bek, it`s called We`ll Meet Again. I enjoyed the other 3, so expect to enjoy this as well.

48 The Last Piece by Imogen Clark.

49 House of Glass by Hadley Freeman. It’s the story of her Jewish grandmother’s family and how they fared in the early years of the 20thC and during WW2.

Now to quickly read a fiftieth book before midnight on 31st!

#86 Murder by Magic Glynn Stewart. A novella that I wanted to be longer so I suppose I enjoyed it. Anyway it passed the time.
#87 The Seven Sisters Lucinda Riley. I was disappointed to find it over long and tedious in places as so many people have raved about the series. It was though quite enjoyable and the next one may be better. I was given the next one in the series so I will probably read it sometime. I really need something special to end the year but haven't decided what.

My final two books of the year

54 Left you Dead - Peter James latest Roy Grace quite enjoyable, a shattering development in his personal life, will say no more than that would be a spoiler for Roy Grace fans.

55 Small Pleasures - Claire Chambers as you say Sue Donin "a bit of an odd tale" having said that I did like it, I thought the writer evoked England of the late 1950s really well, complete with steam trains and London smog. Post rationing but the food sounded pretty grim nevertheless Well before the dawning of the 1960s a decade that brought some seismic changes. The story slow at first gained momentum towards the end, I liked the conclusion but it was abrupt, I did really want to know how the stoic Jean was going to cope when the s**t hit the fan, although as far as her mother was concerned, given that she'd taken to her bed, I'd have just encouraged her to stay there!

As we are at the end of the year, almost, anyone wanting to list all their books, best ones in bold. Do so here. Mine went as follows:

1 Mun and Dad Joanna Trollope
2 Such a Fun Age Kiely Reid
3 The Benefit of Hindsight Susan Hill
4 My Dark Vanessa Kate Elizabeth Russell
5 The Artemis File Adam Loxley
6 Forgive Me Susan Lewis
7 The Night Hawks Ellie Griffiths
8 The Midnight Library Matt Haig
9 Real Tigers Mick Heron
10 Still Life Val McDermid
11 A Friend of the Family Lisa Jewell
12 The Burning Air Erin Kelly
13 The Red Room Nicci French
14 The Lies You Told Harriet Tyce
15 Little Disasters Sarah Vaughan
16 The Salt Path Raynor Wynn
17 Hamnet Maggie O'Farrell
18 Ralph's Party Lisa Jewell
19 Take Six Girls - The Lives of the Mitford Sisters Laura Thompson
20 The Farm at the Edge of the World Sarah Vaughan
21 My Name is Elizabeth Barton - Elizabeth Strout
22 The Darkest Evening Anne Cleeves
23 The Radium Girls Kate Moore
24 The Appeal Janice Hallett
25 The Dinner Guest B P Walter
26 The Catch T M Logan
27 Lowborn Kerry Hudson
28 The Postscript Murders Ellie Griffths
29 The Push Ashley Audrain
30 Five Little Pigs Agatha Christie
31 Lord Edgware Dies Agatha Christie
32 Black Coffee Agatha Christie
33 The Maidens Alex Michaelides
34 The Secret Place Tana French
35 Greenwich Park Katherine Faulkner
36 The Vanishing Half Brit Bennet
37 Follow You Peter James
38 Believe Me J P Delaney
39 The Leopard Guiseppe Di Lampedusa
40 Home Stretch Graham Norton
41 Hostage Claire Mackintosh
42 The Night She Disappeared Lisa Jewell
43 Homecoming Susie Steiner
44 Ghosts Dolly Alderton
45 Everyone is still Alive Kathy Rentzenbrink
46 1979 Val McDermid
47 Brazzaville Beach William Boyd
48 Girl A Abigail Dean
49 Sorrow and Bliss Meg Mason
50 The Heights Louise Candlish
51 The Missing Sister Lucinda Riley
52 Death du Jour - Kathy Reichs
53 The Heron's Cry Anne Cleeves
54 Left You Dead Peter James
55 Small Pleasures Clair Chambers

That's me done for 2021!! Anyone else ?

21 My name is Elizabeth Lucy Barton

Well, I finished "The Clockmaker's Daughter and have just started
#44 - History of the Rain by Niall Williams.
It was a gift; I've never read anything by him before, a completely new Irish author to me, who was recommended. So far, 'interesting' is the best I can do but I'm getting into it. It is set in Co Clare in Ireland so I'm enjoying that bit .....
I'll not finish it before next year!! so I'm a bit disappointed with my total. I was hoping to make the 50 at least.
I have read some 'long' books tho'!!!
Happy New Year everyone.

I`m still on book 136, hoping to finish by midnight tomorrow, but doubtful

Sorry, can't remember the others but have just finished

The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home
by Joanna Nell

Hellogirl1

I`m still on book 136, hoping to finish by midnight tomorrow, but doubtful

OMG! Hellogirl, book 136 amazing! On the other hand, I wouldn't want to compile your list

I am a good way through #88 Moon Over Soho Ben Aaronovitch. The second in the Rivers of London series.
I am enjoying it very much but won't finish before Midnight. Does it count for 2021 or should it be #1 for 2022? I think I shall call it #88 and start something fresh for next year.
Sorry I don't think I can list them all.

Terribull, alas, I spend more time reading than I should, but it`s been my main pleasure for as long as I can remember.

Hurrah, I’ve just finished my fiftieth book!

#50. Ardnish by Angus Macdonald. It’s a prequel to a Scottish family saga. Enjoyable although not high literature.

And now…onto 2022’s books - I hope you’ll be starting a new thread, Terribull? I do so enjoy them!