2023 - 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

Sparklefizz - yes, I knew the book was based on the life of the poet, Charles Causley. I think that was what made me persevere with it. Perhaps that’s what made it different to his usual books which I enjoyed much more.
Dawnlands has just gone onto my must read list!

#5 Rosamund Lupton ‘Three Hours’ I raced through this, more or less gripped, in maybe 3 hours! Not my usual fare, wouldn’t watch a film of it, so thanks for the recommendation. Even if I was tearful at the end.

Enjoying King`s Croft, but it`s peppered with a lot of old Scottish slang words. Set in late 1800s to early 1900s.

Keeleklogger
I loved Karen Roses early books, I was a real fan, but I gradually got fed up with basically the same format in every book.
Damaged girl meets cool and aloof FBI Agent/ fire fighter/attorney who is built like a Greek God. They dislike each other on site, but of course, gradually become attracted to one another.
This always leads to a rather boring and predictable sex scene, which varies little from book to book.
Apologies, if this book was different.
She tells a good tale, but always in the same mould.

#4. The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard.

Have just finished ‘Spare’. (Borrowed from library).

Didn’t feel it had been written by a 12 year old, as some have said. To me, Harry definitely has unresolved issues concerning his mother’s death, Eton was not the right school for him, the army was good for him and suited him.

He makes no secret of the fact that he wanted to meet someone, get married and have a family when in his 20’s, when that didn’t happen he seemed quite desperate.

Meghan seemed to him the answer to all his prayers, but to me, instead of helping him through all his insecurities and anxieties, she has compounded them, resulting in the fallout and alienation with his family.

I’m sure there are issues and failings on all sides, but they didn’t need playing out in public.

I think the book needs to be read as a whole, not judged on snippets in the news.

Just about to order Small Pleasures from the library and realised I’d already read it. Unlike most of you I liked it but didn’t love it …

Re Mother's Boy by Patrick Gale, I had not realised this story was loosely based on the life of a real person I'd never heard of, namely Charles Causley. It wasn't until I read the Acknowledgments at the end of the book that I discovered this. Wish I'd realised at the start as I may have looked at the book differently.

Now into Book 4, the latest Philippa Gregory Dawnlands

Book 3 - The Good People by Hannah Kent. Loved her prose, especially the rhythm of her writing and was convinced by her evocation of early 19th century rural Ireland but so much grief and misery is hard to read.

Book 3 The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. Will give it a go.

Finished Bob Mortimer's autobiography. It was OK.
Book 4 is one a friend sent me for Christmas. It's called Dublin's Girl by Eimear Lawlor.

I really enjoyed The Complaints, by Ian Rankin. Book 8 is going to be King`s Croft, by Christine Marion Fraser.

I know I am late but please may I join.

Not sure I will get to 50 books but will do my best.

So far this year I have read:

#1 The Pebble Collector by Amanda James. It was more of a holiday read. Bit similar to Fern Britton's books. Set in Cornwall. A bit far fetched and sacchariney but a 'nice' read

#2 The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer. I read the actual book rather than audio but could hear Bob's voice reading it in my head. It was OK. Not especially outstanding. I have bought his autobiography (And Away) and am looking forward to reading it

#3 Himself by Jess Kidd. Reading this at the moment and really enjoying it. Set in Ireland with a bit of supernatural element. Also some dark comedy. I read The Hoarder by Jess Kidd a while ago and I can really recommend her books if you want to try something a bit different

I am currently using the Reading List app (it's free) to keep a note of what I have read etc. It's a free app and you can add books to your list by scanning the barcode, entering manually or searching online. You can note what you are reading and when you have finished a book. I have a huge box full of TBR books which I have scanned into the app. It saves me trawling through the box each time I want to find something new to read.

I have just finished Cold Blooded Liar by Karen Rose

Sam Reeves is a kindhearted psychologist who treats court-ordered clients. After one of his patients, a pathological liar starts revealing plausible new details from a long-unsolved serial murder case, he’s compelled to report anonymously to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) tip line, though his attempts to respect patient confidentiality land him facedown and cuffed by the aggressive Detective McKittrick.

San Diego homicide detective Kit McKittrick loves the water. She lives on a boat, and when she’s not solving crimes with the SDPD, she’s assisting her foster sister with her charter fishing business or playing with her poodle. But there’s nothing that intrigues Kit more than a cold case, so when an anonymous caller leads her on the path of a wanted killer, she’s determined to end the decade-long manhunt.

Sam is soon released but goes home with both a newfound distaste for the SDPD and a resolve, not unlike Kit’s to uncover the truth. Kit and Sam repeatedly butt heads in their separate investigations but are forced to work together to find one of the deadliest serial killers the city has faced in years

I will admit, some of the twists in the book may not be monumental or even surprising, but that's how these stories go. They are a gradual build to the problem solving. They weave in and out as the story needs them to. They create a cadence for the story being told at just the right pace. Nothing happens too fast or too slow. It just happens as the story unfolds.

I hope to get more of these characters soon. I know there will need to be a journey for them that will leave us all even more pleased with their budding relationship. I, for one. am looking forward to it

Many thanks to NetGalley and General Fiction Adult for an advance copy in return for a fair and honest review

This book is due to be published on 2 March 2023

5 stars

Pigma and Sara1954 Glad I'm not alone in thinking "Mother's Boy" is not PG's best..... and you're right about the laundry!

IrishDancing I enjoyed the 3rd Richard Osman book last year. A bit of light entertainment was just what I needed at the time and I thought the 3rd book was better than the 2nd.

I've reserved "Act of Oblivion" at the library based on recommendations here.

Sparklefizz- yes, I felt the same about Mother’s Boy, didn’t grab me. Have to agree with Sara1954 about the laundry! Shame, I enjoy his books normally. Had a good giggle at your light going out, mine wasn’t in the cupboard of doom and I can’t be bothered to look anywhere else so I’ll draw a line under that one! Just started Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan.

Sparklefizz
I know what you mean about ‘Mothers Boy’
I usually love Patrick Gale, but this definitely isn’t his best.
I thought there was far too much about laundry in it .

I hope I’m not too late to join in? I read the 3rd Richard Osman book (I know it’s a marmite thing) for light relief and also finished Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Boylan - I thought it excellent and learned a lot and thought a lot. I’m reading Robert Harris’s Act of Oblivion and really enjoying that without knowing whose side I’m on!

Pigma I felt the same. In fact my "light" went out because of the book Hope you find something better to get stuck into.

I am reading Patrick Gale's "Mother's Boy" which is ok but doesn't make me look forward to picking it up.

Got to the end of the Michelle Obama by skim reading. Not a lot of content really and quite tedious. I haven’t ‘recognised my light’ so couldn’t become empowered to use it or share it or become brighter through it, and I can’t use said light as a source of gladness. So it’s left me feeling a bit of a failure but I’ll keep looking around for the light and you never know…. It might be in the cupboard under the stairs maybe….I’ll have a look later. In the meantime, I’ll look for something else in my library stash to read alongside the Peter Swanson which is very light and ok for bedtime.

I am on my 4th book this year but doubt I will reach 50.
Love reading and am currently enjoying All the Broken Pieces by John Boyne

#4Kate Atkinson ‘Shrines of Gaiety’ I gradually warmed to this as Atkinson’s brilliant blend of dazzling scene setting and gritty, but often desperately decent, characters came together. This was a library book; I’ll buy it when cheapish on kindle as it derives a re-read, and I like the search feature for keeping track of characters.

I’m with the Michelle Obama book give-uppers; not my thing however much I admire her. And thanks for all the feedback here. Really helpful!

Lyndylou, thanks for the recommendation. I really enjoyed Small Pleasures, a lovely book, I’ll put In a Good Light in my list as I don’t think I’ve read it.
Sparklefizz - haha, you could be right, certainly worked a treat today!

Some nice comments on here about Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers which I read and enjoyed last year but my Book 3 this year was Clare's In a Good Light from 2009. Really enjoyed it, she is a sharp funny writer. It is about a girl growing up and her relationship with her brother and friends.

I loved Three Hours. Am currently enjoying The Complaints, by Ian Rankin. It`s about a department of the police that investigates (undercover) police officers suspected of committing crimes.

Pigma

Glad it’s not just me, Sparklefizz, finding myself skipping through it now, it sent me to sleep this afternoon but I needed a nap anyway!!

You've discovered the cure for insomnia!