The Not So New 2024 50 Books a Year - Thread 2

37-Death of a Gentle Lady-M.C.Beaton-Another amusing short murder mystery, with Hamish Macbeth trying to find out who killed a Russian maid that he was due to marry.
After a little easy read, now on to something serious.

Just wondering how you all get books for your 'to read pile'. I have a friend who brings me a bag of books each time she visits a few times a year. We have similar tastes in authors so we look forward to swap day! In between I get lots of my books from two local swap telephone kiosks or my favourite Hospice charity shop. I hardly ever buy brand new. Where do you get your supplies?

The little Stranger. Sarah Water.
Love this author. This is a bit of a ghost story which is not my my normal go to, however, as I enjoy the author it was worthwhile.

I get quite a lot from the library Diggingdoris some are radom pick ups, favourite authors. I always read book reviews in the ST, on line Guardian, recommendations often here or MN so I either order them from library or buy them. If I read a book and love it I'll buy it afterwards. I get given books occasionally, one son works in publishing. I will also pass a book on to people with similar tastes to me.

No. 19. - Red Comet by Heather Clark. This is a very lengthy biography of Sylvia’s Plath. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many extracts of her work and that of her husband, Ted Hughes, are included, so it’s very comprehensive.

Our local libraries are both closed, so I use their free services to download ebooks and audio books, which I often listen to while walking or doing something tedious like cleaning. “Proper” books I get from charity shops (5 for £1 from my favourite hospice shop!), secondhand from WOB (World of Books), handed on from family and friends. I rarely buy new, only if it’s something specific that I need for my reading group and can’t find elsewhere, or if I go to an author’s event.

I’m getting better at parting with books I’ve read - to family and friends or the charity shops - but I still keep my favourites, just in case I want to read them again. I very rarely do, and I have an awful lot of full bookshelves, plus piles of books on the landing…

26 This House is Haunted - John Boyne

I'm not sure this would appeal to anyone who doesn't want to read a ghost story, I've probably only read one or two, but I picked the book up at my library, simply because it's by John Boyne.

This has all the hallmarks of the classic mid 19th century, old Gothic mansion which harbours secrets and has plenty of dark corners. The familiar tale of a young woman who takes up the post of a Governess in rural Norfolk to a young brother and sister, and who almost immediately senses a malign presence. Where are their parents? and why did the 4 previous Governesses die in unfortunate circumstances? In trying to eek out the truth, Eliza Caine, is met with obfuscation from the family solicitor who looks after the estate and pays her wages, the local clergyman, the local doctor and his wife, all for their own reasons, but who eventually become a support group for the troubled Eliza who is still reeling from the death of her much loved father.

John Boyne is a brilliant story teller and cranks up the tension as he slowly reveals layer by layer just why the children are living in, a seen- better- days grand house, in relative isolation. Would appeal to those who enjoy a good ghost story.

My apologies for not counting how many I’ve read, but just finished the first book in the Inspector Lynley series ‘A Great Deliverance’ by Elizabeth George. I really used to enjoy the TV programme, although can’t actually remember this particular one. I’d recommend it. Sorry if it has already been mentioned.

Hello all, new to this thread (and to GN!) This year I decided to try and get back into books after a long time away from reading.

So far, this year, I’ve read:

Under Western Eyes - Joseph Conrad
The Sorcerer’s House - Gene Wolfe
The Appeal - Janice Hallett
Germania - Simon Winder (but didn’t finish!)
The Man in the Brown Suit - Agatha Christie
The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler
Our Mutual Friend - Charles Dickens
Passage of Arms - Eric Ambler

And now just started:

Sisters by a River - Barbara Comyns

No particular theme or subject, mainly just choosing books that have been sitting on my bookshelf a long time. At 67, I think I’d better get on with reading them!

Welcome to Gransnet, grumpygoldfish (great name, btw) and I hope you like it! It can be a funny old place, but most people are friendly, and there’s usually something interesting going on.

My latest book was
22. Lucy by the Sea, Elizabeth Strout

I’d only read one of Elizabeth Strout’s before - Olive Kitteridge - but I need to search out more of them. This is the only one offered by our library service, but I see now that there are two previous books about Lucy Barton. Even though I’m not sure I like her as a character (she’s a bit of a whiner), I think I’ll enjoy learning more about her and her relationships with her husbands, daughters, siblings and parents, who all get a mention in this sequel. This one is set in 2020, and it portrays the worries and uncertainties of the pandemic well.

Book 92, Seven Minutes Later, by Bonnie Kistler. It was just about OK, but boring in places, too much high finance and business talk.

Maggiemaybe,
I really loved Lucy by the Sea, one of my favourite books of last year.

#36 was A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths, one of the Dr Ruth Galloway ones. I am reading them in order, I think this about #4. I won’t bother describing it as I think most of you have read the series. It was very good and, for once, no one tried to kill her! 8/10

Book 22 The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter. This author is well named for a writer of murder mysteries.

AliBeeee

#36 was A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths, one of the Dr Ruth Galloway ones. I am reading them in order, I think this about #4. I won’t bother describing it as I think most of you have read the series. It was very good and, for once, no one tried to kill her! 8/10

I bought the whole Dr Ruth Galloway set in dribs and drabs throughout the various lockdowns when the libraries were closed. I managed to pick up some of them "pre-loved" from World of Books.

At one stage I was running my own library service lending these out to friends and family in the correct order which became quite complicated but fun.

Whenever I run out of reading material, I re-read one of these. I think the whole series is great.

Yes we all loved the Ruth Galloways and lament Elly Griffiths decision to wind the series up, possibly she wanted to go out on a high before her creation became too tired. I thought there was extra mileage there. Her new domestic set up, Kate on the cusp of teen years. Her other books aren't as good imo.

Wouldn't it be great TerriBull if Elly Griffiths regretted winding up the series and decided to resurrect it? I agree that there could definitely be more to explore with the characters.

I have tried her other books and haven't enjoyed them nearly as much.

Yes it would Sparklefizz, I always thought Ruth's complicated domestic life and the host of supporting characters who featured were as interesting as the crimes. Hell! I don't think Nelson's dog had been introduced to Flint the cat, that could be a whole new sub plot initself,

Haha TerriBull . Yes, I totally agree. I like all the characters in the Ruth Galloway books which is rare, I find, and every character is well-rounded I think. In other books there's usually there's one I'm not keen on. As a great pet-lover I enjoy all the mentions of Flint and Bruno with all their little foibles.

I've just finished Book # 41 The Other Woman by Amanda Brookfield. This story seemed long drawn out and somewhat boring in places, but great bedtime reading.... just a few pages and I'm happy to turn out the light! A really good book will tempt me to keep reading much too late for my own good!!

#23 The Talisman Ring Georgette Heyer.
I am revisiting a GH book each month and this is May's. I hadn't read it for over 50 years but it did not disappoint. Part mystery, part romance it involves a missing heir unjustly accused of murder, a stolen ring that will prove his innocence and the attempts to retrieve said ring. Great stuff.

Book 28: Dark Fire by C. J Sansom- Rereading this second book in the Shardlake series, some years after my first read, I have enjoyed it even more this time. I hadn't remembered all the intricacies of the plots but the excitement and tension builds well. The febrile atmosphere around King Henry and his court filters down to lesser mortals believably. Shardlakes' likeable character continues to develop. His cynical and melancholy side stops him from being too perfect! I am well into the next book now!

Hi everyone I’ve been AWOL for a while but happily back in harness after some good news about Himself, following anxiously waiting for a scan result.

Anyhoo.
My book No.9 was “It All Comes Down to This” by Therese Anne Fowler.

I enjoyed it very much. One or two sticking places (for me) but on the whole an enjoyable read. This C&P:

“ Marti Geller is going to die soon, and she's hoping to take her secrets with her.

To do this, Marti has stipulated in her will that the family's summer home on Mount Desert Island, Maine, must be sold as soon as possible. This request comes as a shock to her three daughters, a trio of strong-minded women who are each hiding a secret of their own.

For the eldest daughter, Beck, the Maine cottage is essential to her secret wish to write a novel, and selling is the last thing she wants to do. But recently divorced Claire is privately too preoccupied with an unrequited love to be concerned about the sale, while the youngest daughter, Sophie, would never admit to her sisters that she desperately needs the sale in order to survive.

While the sisters argue over the fate of their late mother's property, enigmatic southerner C.J. Reynolds, with his own troubled past, is released from prison and begins to travel to Mount Desert Island.

As this seemingly unconnected group all head for the coast of Maine, nothing is as it seems.

And everything is about to change. . .

The new novel from New York Times bestselling author Therese Anne Fowler follows three sisters in the aftermath of the death of their matriarch, whose last request might change everything... Perfect for fans of Celeste Ng, Mary Beth Keane and Jodi Picoult.”

Now to choose book no. 10.

BYW Terribull I read ‘Pilgrim’ some five years ago (I remember because I was visiting a friend when I read it and she’s moved house since) and I loved it! It was tense and I raced through it. Highly recommend.

Thanks Urmston that seems to be the general consensus regarding "I Am Pilgrim" on to the ever growing "to be read pile" it will go.

So pleased for you and the good news relating to your husband aka as "Himself"

Just chosen my book No.10.
This.

I’m feeling strong enough mentally again to read non-fiction. (Recently I’ve felt the need to get ‘lost’ in a story to take me away and absorb me).

Thanks Terribull. 😊