THE BRAND NEW 2024 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

#10. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths.

I agree with your advice for The Ink Black Heart Calendargirl it was hard work reading all those communications.

TerriBull I thought you'd enjoy The Amateur Marriage. I agree it's one of her best.

I love the World of Books. Both of my AC are bookworms like me and we buy each other books for birthdays and Christmases, but buy 2nd hand so that we can have more books for less dosh.

I have just given up on Book 18 The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. It wasn't badly written, but it was set in Alaska which was very interesting to start with, but then became depressing when winter set in and one male character had come back from the war in Vietnam with serious mental health problems which were exacerbated by the harsh life in an Alaskan winter when you have no money and no experience of living off grid.

I think I`ve recommended this book before, but am doing it again. Alaska, by James Michener. I bought it over 40 years ago, and get it out again every so often, I love it. It tells the story of the development of Alaska from thousands of years ago to modern times.

Book 29, The Corporal`s Wife, was an extremely good read, can recommend it.

11 The Amateur Marriage - Ann Tyler

Another well observed book about the dynamics of marriage and family life from well loved American author Ann Tyler.

Michael and Pauline swept up in the momentum of America's entry into WW2 when a lot of young people were throwing caution to the wind and marrying without getting to know their respective partner, find themselves in a marriage of diametrically opposed personalities that seem to rub each other up the wrong way and pull in different directions. Michael is steady, unadventurous, stoic and somewhat controlling, Pauline is gregarious, impulsive, passionate and impractical. The book beautifully catalogues the trials and tribulations of their lives within a marriage that is often beset by disagreements and bickering. Of their children, as so often the case with her books, one of them turns out to be incredibly difficult, in fact a thoroughly dislikeable person without any redeeming qualities. Much of the later part of the story hinges on the grief this daughter gives them as a family. The book takes the reader through the various stages of their lives and their immediate family and those on the periphery of their world as the years unfold through the births, deaths, business developments, house moves, separations, divorce, all the pivotal events that life throws at them right from the outset of their marriage in their early twenties until their retirement years.

A very absorbing read.

#12 Dead Water by Ann Cleeves one of the Shetland series. We spent 2 weeks in Shetland last summer (and survived, no murders!) and it’s great to be able to relate to the locations, journeys and weather.
In this story Jimmy Perez has been out of the loop following the death of his fiancée, but the murder of a London based, locally born, journalist working on an unknown big story sees him being drawn back in. I thought it was very good, it was a gripping read. 8/10

#13 A Thousand Moons by Sebastian Barry. This is a sequel to Days Without End which I read and loved a few years ago. I think it would be much better to read it first as there is so much back story.
This update is told from the viewpoint of Winona, an orphaned Lakota Indian orphan who was taken in and raised as a daughter by a couple of American Civil war soldiers. Winona is now in her mid-late teens, educated and working for the town lawyer, however as an ‘injun’ she has no status or recourse to the law when she experiences a traumatic event.
I found the style of Winona’s narrative to be difficult to get into. The book is only 290 pages, but I was about half way through before I started to really get into it. Despite that, since I finished it this morning, I keep thinking about the characters and their lives which doesn’t happen to me very often. 7/10

I hadn’t heard of the author Sue Gee and I liked the descriptions given so I will add her to my list.

Like many others here, I love Ann Tyler’s books, they are such gentle observations of real life lived by real characters.

I agree with the comments on Jane Harper’s Survivors too. I have really enjoyed her books, but I thought this one wasn’t as good as her previous ones.

Hellogirl1

I think I`ve recommended this book before, but am doing it again. Alaska, by James Michener. I bought it over 40 years ago, and get it out again every so often, I love it. It tells the story of the development of Alaska from thousands of years ago to modern times.

I'm going to reserve this from the library as it sounds very interesting. Thank you Hellogirl

Hi book lovers - I’ve just seen this thread… sorry I’m a little late joining. I’m an avid audio-booker and love “Audible”. I’m working my way through Martina Cole’s books at the mo, and Lynda La Plante, interspersed with some lighter reads. Anything with a storyline that grips me, but makes me laugh out loud too. I listen when I’m doing the housework, walking the dog, in the car, in fact whenever I can. Love it.

Book 9 : Still Life by Sarah Winman - Very enjoyable set in Florence and London during WW2 and after. Wonderful descriptions of Florence.

13-The Summer House-James Patterson. When six adults and a baby are murdered and a team of Rangers are accused, the army send in their investigation team. A thriller with twists and turns. A trip to Afghanistan, a corrupt politician and of course lots of shooting! Hang on to the end though as there's a surprise.

Nonny

Book 9 : Still Life by Sarah Winman - Very enjoyable set in Florence and London during WW2 and after. Wonderful descriptions of Florence.

I loved Still Life, which was one of my reading group’s choices. My friend’s group had it as their book at the same time, and then went on a short break to Florence together afterwards! My reading group’s nowhere near as adventurous - we just talk about the book for 15 minutes or so, then chat. And drink wine.

Book 26 Every Trick in the Book by Bernard O’Keefe - Like his previous two murder mysteries this features D.I. Garibaldi and is set in Barnes. I love books where I know the location and can picture where it’s all happening. Although I guessed the murderer early on, still an enjoyable read.

Book 30, The Samaritan, by Marcus Cross, a good thriller

#11. The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman.

Have commented on another thread about this series. I have read all four of them, but am not enamoured.

Far fetched, a simple read, but not worth all the hype at all.

Sorry, my mistake, the author of my last book was MASON Cross, not Marcus.

maggiemaybe
Nonny

There is a film of the same name. One of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Twas on Netflix.

Thank you, Seawoozle, I’ll certainly look out for it.

14-A Season for Murder-Ann Granger-A Mitchell and Markby village whodunnit. Detective Markby meets his old friend Meredith and together they investigate the death of a rider at the Boxing Day Hunt. Well-plotted mystery. Was it an accident or murder? An easy to read thriller, one of a series, and I shall look out for more of her books.

#9 The Running Grave Robert Galbraith. Audiobook narrated by Robert Glenister.
This is number 7 in the Cormoran Strike series. Strike and his detective partner Robin are hired to extract the client's son from a cult known as the Universal Humanitarian Church. A very long book (over 34 hours as an audiobook) but I enjoyed every word. So much better than the previous book in the series The Ink Black Heart.

No. 10 - The Only Story by Julian Barnes. Maggierose mentioned this book a week or so ago, which reminded me that it was on my bookshelf, unread. It has now been read and enjoyed. I like Barnes’ style of writing. I agree that the overwhelming emotion of sadness comes through.

I have just finished The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

She is an author I'd never heard of but I will look for other books by her.

Jake had had a best-selling novel but has not been able to follow it up, and is now reluctantly earning a living by teaching and mentoring aspiring authors in a small college.

An obnoxious student (who thinks he knows it all) shares some of the storyline for what he is claiming will be a bestseller.

Later Jake steals his plot because he is desperate to produce another book, and the resulting book is a runaway success, but Jake worries ... what if someone out there knows?

Somebody does!!

I'll say no more as I don't want to spoil it, but I really enjoyed this book and it became full of suspense.

Book 31, A Winter Grave, by Peter May. A good murder story, set in the snow and ice of the Scottish highlands in 2051. A lot of the world is now under water due to rising sea levels, including where I live, Boston!

Book 10: The Royal Secret by Andrew Taylor

Book 32, The Last Dance, the first of a new series by Mark Billingham. A good murder story with attached humour.