2022 50 BOOKS - OR AS MANY AS YOU CAN MANAGE

#44. I Follow You by Peter James.

I’ve read two books this week which Is unusual for me. The first was free offer on kindle The Secrets of Elephants by Vasundra Tailor Asian Historical Fiction. Second is Daughters of War by Dinah Jeffries set in Dordogne during 2nd world war. I enjoyed both these books.

I quite liked Bad Mothers United. Book 83 was The Tenko Club, a bit chick-littish, but OK. Now reading City of Scars, by J.D.Kirk. book 84.

No 26. The House of Arden by E Nesbit. I found this children’s book while I was clearing out my house and decided to read it. I’m so glad, as I really enjoyed it.

My book group had a good discussion about The Vanishing Half. Very interesting themes.

Book 34
Patrick Gale - Mothers Boy
Although a big Patrick Gale fan, this wasn’t one of my favourites, that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, but I wasn’t gripped.

It’s the story of the Cornish poet, Charles Causley, his years in the navy during the Second World War, and his hidden gay sexuality.

It’s very moving in parts, but somehow I felt it only really skimmed the surface, there must have been so much more to tell, sometimes I felt it was more about laundry than poetry.

Maggiemaybe

30. The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett
Identical twins leave their small hometown in the Deep South for the big city. One decides she’s going to pass as white and here their lives diverge. Years later their daughters’ paths cross and the lies start to unravel. A great read and interesting story, very well written.

31. Dolphin Junction, Mick Herron
Short crime stories, with twists. Enjoyable, but again I downloaded it to listen to on my walks and kept missing bits and having to rewind. I’m still not sure yet that I got one of the endings.

Maggiemaybe I agree, I read The Vanishing Half last year, loved it, it was definitely a stand out book for me.

I'm reading A Keeper by Graham Norton. It's very good.

#50 A Catalogue of Catastrophe Jodi Taylor.
Number 13, and latest, in the brilliant Chronicles of St Mary's series. Really enjoyed it but sad that I'm going to have to wait months for the next instalment.

30. The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett
Identical twins leave their small hometown in the Deep South for the big city. One decides she’s going to pass as white and here their lives diverge. Years later their daughters’ paths cross and the lies start to unravel. A great read and interesting story, very well written.

31. Dolphin Junction, Mick Herron
Short crime stories, with twists. Enjoyable, but again I downloaded it to listen to on my walks and kept missing bits and having to rewind. I’m still not sure yet that I got one of the endings.

I probably wouldn`t have bought it, but it was in a pile my daughter lent me.

I’m glad others have enjoyed it. I don’t know anyone in real life who’s read it.

I struggled with American Rust to start with, then suddenly it began to flow, and I enjoyed it.

SueDonin
I loved American Rust as well

25 American Rust by Philipp Meyer. It’s set in the rust belt of America and follows the lives of two young boys/men as they try to escape their current world. Something happens that throws a huge spoke in their wheels. It’s gloomy but I loved it.

The Bad Mothers Handbook wasn`t a fantastic read, but it was OK. I`m going to follow it with Bad Mothers United, by the same author, book 82.

#43. Dead Like You by Peter James.

The Taker by Alma Katsu....dont bother , awful.
Theroux the keyhole by Louis thearoux...The diaries of a covid grounded documentary maker Louis theroux...
Was nothing special, just his day to day ramblings
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell...sci- fi, fantasy...like reading Lord of the rings backwards!!! Loved it, hard work but totally pulled me 8n.
Bloody Brilliant Women by Cathy Newman..it covers indomitable women who defied the odds to alter history.

#61 was Passage Across The Mersey by Robert Bhatia. The author is the son of Helen Forrester, who wrote Twopence To Cross The Mersey. A fascinating biography into a very colourful life.
#62 was The Murder List by Jackie Kabler. This was an interesting mystery where the protagonist was sent a diary with the dates when four people were to be murdered - the final one to be the protagonist herself.
#63 was Shake Hands Forever by Ruth Rendell. This was a fairly early Wexford novel that I had never before read but enjoyed it thoroughly.

Book 81 is The Bad Mother`s Handbook, by Kate Long.

Loved The Jigsaw Man, but it was very gory.

#48 The Hanging Tree Ben Aaronovitch.
Number 6 in a series about a young P.C in the Met who is also a trainee wizard and whose girlfriend happens to be the goddess of a small London river. Investigating murder by magic but still abiding by police procedures is all part of the job. Very good.
#49 The Run Out Groove. Andrew Cartmel.
Number 2 in the Vinyl Detective series. It is a crime novel where the protagonist makes a career hunting down rare records for clients but whose enquiries lead to him, his girlfriend and their friends investigating historic crimes. I really enjoyed it.

#42. Dead Man’s Grip by Peter James.

Yes TerriBull, Lady In Waiting was an interesting read, but oh my word, what an insight into the lives of the aristocracy!

Her husband, mad as a hatter, what a life she had with him.

Made you feel glad to just be ordinary.

I enjoyed Walkers, fanciful though it was. Have just finished book 79,The Maidens, by Alex Michaelides, a good twist at the end. Have just started book 80, The Jigsaw Man, by Nadine Matheson. It`s her first book, and I haven`t read very far yet, but I think I`m going to like it.

TerriBull
I think ‘Something Might Happen’ was the first book I read of hers, it was a long time ago but I remember the ending was something I absolutely hadn’t seen coming.

Yes Sarah I liked the Rose Tremain book will read some others of hers, always good to find a new author

The Stopped Heart, extremely original what a page turner, really couldn't put it down. You will know who I'm referring to, when I say, that man what a horror I wanted to climb in the book and punch his lights out Julie Myerson conjured up such a creeping disquiet as we readers got further insights into his character. I think the other one of hers I read, many years ago, Something Might Happen. She is good must read some more of hers.