THE BRAND NEW 2024 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

My number 3 was At the Table by Clare Powell. It follows a very eventful year in the life of the Maguire family all described through events at various meals and social functions. I thoroughly enjoyed it, a 9/10 from me. I think it’s a first novel, I found it quite original and will look out for future books from the author.

Interesting to see comments about the The Marriage Portrait. I read it last year immediately after a trip to Ferrara. I normally love everything Maggie O’Farrell writes, but I was quite disappointed in this. Her writing is always wonderful and she describes that area of Italy very atmospherically, but I thought it felt a bit forced. She had decided to write a book about a character in a poem (that I remembered from school) but I thought she was struggling to get a full story out of it.
I will be very interested to see other GN’s views on it.

I have launched into The Forgotten Tower by Lulu Taylor, so far so good! I bought Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer for my husband who very much enjoyed the read, might make this my second book

Alibee, I'm reading The Marriage Portrait at the moment about 200 pages in so far. Your comments are quite spot on for me. Very atmospheric in her descriptions, I haven't been to Ferrara, looks wonderful from what I've Googled, but have certainly visited Florence, Pisa, Verona, Sienna, Padua to get enough flavour of Renaissance Italy, her writing is wonderfully evocative in recreating the various courts and locations, but at times her narrative in this feels like she's describing a series of tableaux. Whilst I'm not finding it difficult to read, my thoughts so far, it's possibly not as engaging as some of her other works. I'll be back when I've finished it.

Book 10 Last Letter from Istanbul by Lucy Foley is set after the First World War when the country is occupied and covers the appalling treatment of Armenians. It is a novel that opens one’s eyes to this little known persecution.

Book 5, I Will Find You, by Harlan Coben, a really good read.

Book 4. Jo Browning Wroe: A Terrible Kindness
This has been sitting in my To Read pile for months. Given the setting: Aberfan and its aftermath from the perspective of a very young and newly qualified embalmer, you can appreciate why.
However, I'm so glad that I did eventually rescue it from the pile. I thought this was a quite exceptional work. Books rarely make me cry. But this one did.

#3 Lessons In Chemistry Bonnie Garmus.
I loved this book. The magnificent Elizabeth Zott is a scientist at a time (1960's America) when women were perceived as 'less than' men. Less intelligent, less practical, less valuable. If they worked, for which they didn't receive the same pay, credit for that work was often appropriated by men. These attitudes were not held by the brilliant Calvin Evans, a fellow scientist. They fall in love and defy the opinions of others. Forced out of her position as a research chemist after losing her soulmate she becomes a rather unusual TV cook.

#3. Scrublands by Chris Hammer.

Did you enjoy it Calendargirl?

Geminijen, I agree. I was greatly moved by A Terrible Kindness. Some of the details and descriptions, albeit sensitively handled, will stay with me forever.

#3 The Guilty Couple - C L Taylor.

Have only just started it Sparklefizz, (I post as soon as I’ve begun a book).

Having watched it on tv and ordered the book after your recommendation, I know the plot, but am sure I will enjoy it.

Book 4 I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

#7 Reread Elly Griffiths’ The Postscript Murders ahead of getting the sequel at the end of the month (I’m going to an event/interview with Ms Griffiths, which I hope will be fun)

Book 6, A Woman of Courage, by Rita Bradshaw.

Book No. 2. - “The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou” by Eleni Kyriacou. This book deals with some of the ethical and practical issues which arise when Zina (who is Greek) is put on trial for the murder of her daughter in law although she does not speak the language (English) in which she will be tried, hence she cannot participate directly in the court proceedings. The storyline is based on a true story which gives an added edge to the book. I couldn’t help but compare this book with “Hear No Evil” by Sarah Smith, which is also based on a true story. In Smith’s book, a deaf mother is accused of murdering her infant and faces trial without being able to hear or speak during the court proceedings. I preferred Sarah Smith’s book, although both were very interesting reads.

Book 6 The Confession of Katherine Howard by Suzanne Dunn.
I enjoy historical books about the Tudors but this one is way below any of Philippa Gregory's Tudors books and I don't really rate it.

Book 5 The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri.
Siope I have been to an event with Elly Griffiths and you won't be disappointed as she is both witty and entertaining.

Parsley That’s good to hear, thank you. She is at a new independent bookshop in my nearest town, which I’m keen to support, so it’s good to know I’ll enjoy myself as well!

Number 4 was my first non fiction of the year, The Out Trail by Mary Roberts Rinehart. The author was known as “the Agatha Christie of the US”, she produced a copious number of thrillers in the first half of the 20th century. She also travelled extensively and wrote travel journals, including visiting the front lines in France before the US joined WWI. This is a collection of some of her travel writing from the American west, in areas which are now more famous and in some cases, national parks. It was an excellent read, she had a dry wit and descriptive writing style. 8/10 from me.

Book 7 A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion

An enraged mother orders her daughter out of the car despite the protests of her other children. A sequence of events is set in train that is going to change the life of the family. Very atmospheric coming of age novel set in 70’s America. At times I wondered if I was reading a young adult novel. Not a criticism but it might appeal to teenage girls as well as grans.

I’m trying to read Sue Townsends The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year, because I liked her other books but I’m not really liking it.

Book 5, The Locked Room. My first time reading a Dr Ruth Galloway mystery by Elly Griffiths. I'll certainly read more of this series, I enjoyed this. Good characters, clever plot, detailed settings. Siope, I'm glad you got to see her in person. Sparklefizz, enjoy your Phillipa Gregory, I love her books. We saw her at an event in Glasgow some years ago, she was excellent to listen to and very entertaining.

Grannmarie As you are keen on the Dr Ruth Galloway books, it's best to read them in order so that you can see the progression of her relationship with Nelson. The first book in the series is The Crossing Places. I'm a great fan of this series and love the characters.

How lovely to go to one of Philippa Gregory's events. My daughter gave me her non fiction book "Normal Women: 100 Years of Making History" which she said is brilliant (she read it before wrapping it up for me for Xmas )

Book 7. Mislaid by Nell Zink
This was a joy - set in 60’s Virginia about a dysfunctional family. Funny and uplifting without being the slightest bit sentimental. Satisfying, almost Shakespearean ending.