*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*

Finished my #3 book Lethal White Robert Galbraith's 4th Strike novel. Best so far in my opinion. My #4 book will be Stealing The Crown by T P Fielden a murder mystery set in wartime London involving the occupants of Buckingham Palace below and above stairs. The author is (under the name of Christopher Wilson) a Royal biographer. I read and enjoyed his biography of Camilla last year so am interested to read this.

Gosh, I'm lagging behind here! I've finished 'Shugie Bain', distressing and memorable! Now started my second book 'Where the Crawdads Sing' enjoying it so far!

Book number 2 - A Christmas Wish for the Land Girls by Jenny Holmes. The third book in this series and have read them all. I like fiction books about the Second World War so this series was very enjoyable. Likeable characters and an ‘easy read’. I then started The Book Club by C J Cooper but gave up after 2 chapters. Far too much of a modern setting for me, didn’t feel it was authentic and bad language used in the writing so not for me. There are so many books to enjoy that these days I don’t continue with a book if I don’t like it. Have now started The Wildflowers by Harriet Evans which seems much better. Will report further when I have finished it.

No 3. Motherwell by Deborah Orr.

My breath was taken away by this book, her account of life in the 60’s and 70’s is spot-on.

Just finished #4 Agatha Raisin .. Something Borrowed Something Dead by MC Beaton. Good quick read, though took me a few days. I have been given 18 paperbacks so decided I would work my way through them. Looking forward to the last book of The Seven Sisters and Ruth Hogan's latest out Aptil 1st. I cant remember the title sorry!

Well good start to 2021 - read 3 books so far.
Shroud for a Nightingale -P.D. James Quite atmospheric set in 1960s training hospital and ‘starring’ Chief Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh. I remember there being a tv series many years ago.
The Thursday Murder Club - new bestseller by Richard Osman a very different read! But enjoyed it very much.
The Fortnight in September - R.C. Sherriff. A gift from a friend which had been sat on my bookshelf for a few months as it wasn’t my usual sort of read. Turned out to be a case of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’! So engrossing and atmospheric - a retelling of a lower middle class family’s holiday in 1930s - wonderful - do give it a try!
On to the next one!

Read Thirteen a while ago with my book club and we all enjoyed it. Keep meaning to read some of his others - but so many books so little time!!

Sparky I’ve read A Fortnight in September* and loved it! How to make an entire story out of something so small - it’s amazing.

I’ve just finished Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce. Really enjoyed it It brought home to me how unpredictable people’s lives were during the Second World War and how they still managed to keep a sense of humour.
Before that I read Asta’s Book by Barbara Vine. Keeping a diary was popular in the early 20th Century and it has been an interesting way of learning about day to day life at that time ( and some Danish) . I enjoyed it, and I felt quite sorry for Asta being in a loveless marriage.
I think I must be in a ‘I love anything Danish’ mood at the moment as I am currently watching Seaside Hotel, (beautiful scenery) and I’ve also just finished reading Sandy Toksvig, Between the Stops

I'm reading The Foundling by Stacey Halls. I don't usually like books set that far in the past but I can't put it down.

Bakingmad I re read Asta's Book last year, it's a wonderful book, I read it first years ago. All I remembered was that Asta and her husband were Danish emigres to London, but little else about the story so it was really good to pick it up again. I think I read somewhere that Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine had Danish Grandparents and her background inspired her to write the book. It was definitely one of her best.

I’ve finished book 6, The Last of Us by Harriet Cummings. Very good, about an elderly lady who invites a young man to stay who turns up on her doorstep and it becomes obvious that they both have secrets from their past. Quite a few twists and turns. My sister bought me a subscription to the Willoughby Book Club for my birthday - you get a book a month through the post and this was my third one. It’s lovely, like getting a birthday present every month! I’ve enjoyed all three so far ?

Book No 3 was Just My Luck by Adele Parks about a family who win the lottery. I struggled with it as I didn't find much to like about most of the characters.

Book No 4 was The Other Passenger by Louise Candish. This one I really enjoyed, about a couple of men who make friends on the trip to work then one goes missing. Can't say much more as it would spoil the story but I found it intriguing and couldn't put it down till I had finished.

Anyone else read The Binding by Bridget Collins. Think it was her first novel and not usually my sort of thing but I did enjoy it.

Ready to start Billy Connelly’s Tall Tales and Wee Stories.

Yes Skallagrig I read The Binding, .it is my sort of thing and I enjoyed it too. My fourth this year has been The Thursday Murder Club - a gift from daughter. Light, easy and put a smile on my face.

Since Christmas I have read: “Warlord” by Bernard Cornwell; “Pandora’s Jar” by Natalie Haynes; and “Shuggie Bain” a brilliant but bleak first novel by Douglas Stuart, which I nearly gave up on a couple of times, but it sucks you in and then you can’t let go of it. I felt totally wiped out when I’d finished it and it’s haunted me since. Now I’m reading “The Darkest Evening” by Ann Cleeves - a Vera book - interspersed with “The National Trust Book of Scones” (which isn’t all about scones!), and Kathleen Jaimie’s “Sightlines”.

On book number 4. Have read The Darker Domain and The Skeleton Road by Val McDermid, now well into Troubled Blood, Robert Galbraith.

No 4 The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare.

Set in Nigeria, it’s about a 14yo girl’s forced marriage and her plans for her life. Much of it is set in Lagos, where I lived for five years, and it was odd reading about places I’d been to and the hotels and so on. It’s written in pigeon English but you soon get used to it.

So far this year I’ve read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, a story about parallel lives. There were times I felt like putting it down but glad I finished it, quite enjoyed it. Thursday Murder Club was a fun, clever read, Snuggie Bain as others have said was hard hitting and quite brutal about poverty and alcoholism and as someone said stays with you. Can anyone recommend a gripping murder mystery novel?

Just done #5 which I’m almost embarrassed to admit was Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. I have read it before (many moons ago) and although his writing isn’t the best, I think he tells a good story. I will admit to being annoyed when I spotted his errors but it was an ok book to while away some lockdown hours with.

The Heathrow Doctor - Dr Stephanie Green - not my usual 'doctor' book which so often seem to be amusing.
I got this from the supermarket it was in their Best Sellers in the summer - as part of DM s birthday present ? Very factual - too 'day in the life of'
DM didn't say a word - bless her.
Can't wait for the library to open again.

Book 5! Audio.. The Secret Midwife..Katy Weitz...excellent factual account of being a midwife...but I lost sleep as I wanted to hear more!

#6 Haven’t they Grown by Sophie Hannah
I really enjoy her writing and this book was no exception. Great story and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller.

Nice Work (If You Can Get It) by Celia Imrie
Okish, predictable but improbable too.
Thank goodness it wasn't too long as I rarely abandon a book.