2023 - 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

Book 36
French Braid - Anne Tyler
Just a pleasant easy read, maybe not one of her best, but still enjoyable.
Focusing on a family, gradually fragmenting, but still caring about and respecting one another, it’s classic Tyler.

Book 37
Snow - John Banville
Enjoyed this.
A priest is found murdered in an Irish country house.
He has been castrated.
A young detective is sent along to deal with it, knowing to some extent it will be hushed up whatever he discovers.
The inhabitants of the house all claim to know nothing, but gradually more things about the likeable Father Tom are discovered, making the motive clearer.
All set against a backdrop of snow.

#44. An Unsuitable Job For A Woman by PD James.

66-Falling by Emma Kavanagh-a plane crash and a murder nearby. Is there a link between them? Good plot but confused by out of context thoughts here and there. A bit like my mind at times!

#54 was Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. I found the time travelling aspect leading up to why a crime was committed fascinating. I only gave it 4 1/2 stars rather than five because I felt that there was far too much gratuitous use of the F word.

My daughter lent me Wrong Place, Wrong Time, I really enjoyed it.
I`m liking The Intercept up to now.

32 The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn. It’s a follow-on to The Salt Path.

The Intercept was really good, but I was disappointed when one of the good guys was killed off. Now reading book 103, The Informant, by Susan Wilkins, a gangland story.

35. Sing, Wild Bird, Sing, Jacqueline O’Mahony

Goodness, I loved this book, despite its subject matter of pure unrelenting misery! The main character is an unloved and motherless child who grows up to have a really hard life, first as a young wife during the Irish Famine - the story of the people of Doolough, who walked miles for help that didn’t come, is one I’d never heard, and was so hard to hear - and later as a betrayed and abused widow in New York and the American West. It’s beautifully written, and I’ll be looking for more by this Irish author.

61-The Dressmaker of Draper's Lane by Liz Trenow. Life in the 1700s of a single woman running her own business. She was a foundling and wants to find out about her family. This gives an insight to life in those times. Thank goodness we've moved on!

The Good Patient by Alex Stone - book 61.
An OK read but rather disjointed and kept jumping around. I wouldn't recommend it.

#45. Innocent Blood by PD James.

I finished The Informant. Didn`t think I was going to like it, not really keen on sleazy gangland stuff, but I actually enjoyed it. Have just started book 104, The Fear Index, by Robert Harris.

#45 Killing Floor Lee Child.
This book was mentioned up thread and I remembered that I had the audiobook in my Audible to be listened to 'pile'. The earlier commentator said they did not like narrator and could not finish it. The book is written in the first person and for me the narrator sounds exactly as I imagine Jack Reacher would speak. Quite violent but really exciting; I enjoyed it. It is the first in the series and I think I will probably look out for the next one. Not just yet though, I think I need something gentler.

Juno
I read The Killing Floor, a few years ago, and since then a couple more.
Not my usual reading choice, but I enjoyed it, and have another one on my TBR pile.

44 Atlas - Harry Whittaker and Lucinda Riley - The very final instalment of the Seven Sisters books wrapping up the series and providing all the revelations to the cryptic conundrums that characterised the central character, Pa Salt. This book I imagine from sleeve notes was compiled posthumously by Lucinda Riley's son Harry Whittaker, with the aid of her publishers. It will only resonate with those who have read at least some of the series, if not all, it really isn't a stand alone book as it constantly draws on much of the content in those previous books. It does reveal his origins, how he came to acquire the seven daughters from different parts of the world and the reasons behind the enmity between him, Atlas/Pa Salt, and his arch nemesis Kreeg Eszu (anagram of Greek Zeus! ) Ultimately whilst winding up the loose ends, I did at times feel the book was going over very well trodden ground in a somewhat tedious manner and at 750 pages, towards the end it all became very long winded. Having said that I have loved some of the series, particularly the ones set in Brazil, Australia, The Weald of Kent and the last one regarding the missing sister set largely in Ireland. Lucinda will be missed by many of her readers I'm sure.

Book 62 - Contacts by Mark Watson - well written and poignant but also witty in places.

James Chiltern sends a goodbye text to all his 158 contacts after important things in his life have all gone wrong.

Across the world the 158 phones light up and all of them wondering how to get hold of James, and can they find him before it's too late.

I enjoyed it, and it's something different.

36. And Away, Bob Mortimer

Honest, funny and warm, a good comfort read.

And 37 is Swing Time by Zadie Smith. I loved White Teeth, but didn’t care for The Autograph Man. I’m only a couple of chapters in, but already know I’m going to like this one.

The Fear Index wasn`t very good, but maybe just not my cup of tea. I got very confused with technical and business terms.
Have just started book 105, The Vanishing Point, by Val McDermid, I think I`m going to like this one.

#46. Murder Is Easy by Agatha Christie.

62-Book of the dead-Patricia Cornwall. Kay helps to find out who is torturing and killing in Italy and USA. This is one you have to concentrate fully on. Lots of technical detail but as usual good story telling. Kay's assistant Marino goes missing, so I must read her next book.

45 The End of Us Olivia Kiernan, my third Irish writer in a row. This was so good! lived up to the dark, twisty thriller blurb, so often books don't. Myles and Lana live in an up market enclave in Wimbledon Village, having overstretched themselves on their mortgage borrowings, ok until Myles investments go wrong, jeopardising the desirable house and life style. When they get invited to dinner at their new and seemingly wealthy next door neighbours, Myles and Lana over share their financial worries and a solution is suggested by the newcomers......Life Insurance Fraud! Therein lies the premise of what follows a clever multi layered plan, where the main players are not quite what they appear to be on the surface. Revelation upon revelation right up to the final pages! Definitely 5* for me!

33 The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell. Another winner from MO. It’s not as good as Hamnet but it’s an excellent read.

SueDonim

33 The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell. Another winner from MO. It’s not as good as Hamnet but it’s an excellent read.

I loved it too.

Book 63 Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory

This is based on the true story of John Tradescant, gardener to King Charles I and also to the Duke of Buckingham, set in the time as the country slides towards Civil War.

Philippa Gregory is known for her historical research and this book is good for people who enjoy both history, plants and gardening. I enjoyed it.

I have just come on to this thread to check what everyone is reading and goodness, it looks like we have reached the end of the line and this post will be the last here! Am going to start a new one tout suite!