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

Book 22, I have really lost count, Simply Lies by David Baldacci.
I am going through this thread and listing recommendations for authors that are new to me. I do need to widen my reading preferences.

The Moon Sister Lucinda Riley.
Book 5 in the Seven Sisters series. A mysterious billionaire Pa Salt adopts six baby girls from around the world and names them after the Pleiades. On his death he leaves each of them a clue to their history. This book is Tiggy's (Taygete) story who finds that she is related to a famous flamenco dancer. A good read.

Sorry that was book 24.

Book 96, I Will Keep You Safe, by Peter May. Not my favourite of his books, but a good read, with an unexpected ending.

#44. Ralph’s Party by Lisa Jewell.

Finished ‘Poor’ by Katriona O’Sullivan this afternoon. An inspiring read. What could have been a ‘misery genre’ was more nuanced and therefore thought provoking. Illustrates how we label people, tut at their supposed lifestyle choices (when there’s little or nothing to choose). Children of addicts have such a tough time of it, ever watchful for signs of drama.

The remarkable story of her ascent from the trenches [of poverty] and her determination to inspire others was. a vivid retelling by Katriona. Grateful for support and the helping hands as she grew up. That said, sorry but her now dead parents who had five kids, lived a chaotic drug and alcohol lifestyle where mum admitted on her death bed at 60 that she loved Katriona but ‘loved the drugs more’ infuriated me. Yet who am I to judge? But I did. Oh I did.

Right.
Off to find book No. 11.

Fiction this time…. 😁

I think I’d like to read a Shardlake novel by C J Sansom. I believe they’re well researched tales set in Tudor times. I’ve never read one but recall my mum used to love them.

Would some kind reader help me choose one? I don’t want to read a whole series. Are they stand alone thrillers? Does one stand out in particular? I’d choose it!

Thank you.

Urmstongran- I am currently rereading the Shardlake novels by C.J Sansom. You probably could just choose anyone and read it but I think that reading them in order makes sense as Shardlakes history and character develops throughout the series. The first book is Dissolution. I have re-read the first three books. From what I remember of reading the series some years ago I particularly enjoyed Heartstone which involves the Mary Rose.

23. One Perfect Morning, Pamela Crane

It starts with a murder - but of whom and by whom? We’re well into the book before we find out which of the three main couples in the book is involved. It’s a clever book in many ways, but for me it’s just too busy and improbable, with its themes of murder, rape, adultery, parenthood, domestic violence.

29 Prima Facie - Suzie Miller

This is the book from which the award winning one woman stage play featuring Jodie Comer which was a hit in both the West End and Broadway.

Slightly reminiscent of Anatomy of A Scandal, insomuch as the central character, Tessa Ensler is a young, 30ish successful barrister from a very working class background, having risen from a council estate in working class Luton, abandoned by a violent father aged six, raised in nevertheless a close knit family that consists of a very supportive mother working as a cleaner and a hot head of an older brother who has had his own skirmishes with the law.

Tessa, having won a place at Cambridge has clawed her way up in a world of privilege to become a highly regarded defence barrister particularly in rape cases. Her upward ascent is thrown into disarray when a date with a colleague goes horribly wrong and puts her in the same position of the women who have stood before her in court and whose experiences as a defence barrister for the defendant she is endeavouring to disprove. In reporting this crime to the police she has everything to lose, her reputation, her standing in the chambers where she is employed, the trust of colleagues, a certain amount of derision from a male dominated hierarchy, although there are those who steadfastly stick by her. The book throws up amongst other matters, the appallingly low conviction rate for sexual assault and the traumatic experience women undergo when the crime committed against them goes to court.

No. 20. - The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. I enjoyed this book, John Boyne is a great storyteller. I have read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas but none of his other books. I know Boyne has been highly recommended on this thread, so … any suggestions for which book I should select next? Thanks.

39-The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop-Caroline Roberts-This is the second one of hers I have enjoyed. Just a romantic story about a strong woman who copes with loss and running a business alone. Ideal holiday read.

Granny Bear huge John Boyne fan here, The Heart's Invisible Furies, was the first of his I read and it just swept me away, I felt bereft when I finished it.

I would recommend, All The Broken Places to you, because it's loosely connected to The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas and that will become apparent towards the end of the book. Also The History of Loneliness, again like The Heart's Invisible Furies set in his native Ireland and this book is a fierce critique of the catholic church in its complicit suppression of what was hidden for decades.

Ah - thank you Nonny - I’ve just got ‘Dissolution’ by C J Sansom on my Kindle. My book No. 11. I shall start it this evening!

P.s. Technology still has the ‘wow’ factor for me - fancy not having to leave home to get yourself a book to read! Just a few clicks and you’re good to go.

I'm not sure what number I'm on, but I average around 2-3 books per month. So I'll say #10

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. A story about some children taken from their itinerant Mississippi shanty-boat family to be adopted out in a cash-for-kids scheme in the 30's.
Based roughly on a true story, it tells the harrowing story of May, who was the eldest of 4 when here mother went into labour again with twins, and having to go to the hospital instead of birthing at home. While at the hospital, men from the Children's Aid Society come and take the remaining children, that are eventually adopted out without the parent's consent.

In the present day, Avery, a lawyer, is confused by her grandmother's conversation at a retirement home. Addled with dementia, she talks of relations that Avery knew nothing about. She proceeds to investigate the mysterious alter identity of her grandmother, with touching results.

Thank you TerriBull. I’ll see if I can borrow the books you have recommended from my local library, if not, I’ll try World of Books!

Book 97, Six Years, by Harlan Coben. A very good read, really enjoyed it.

#38 was Thin Air by Ann Cleeves one of the Shetland series. This one’s set on Unst, the most northerly inhabited island.
A group of university friends, now professionals living in London, visit Unst to celebrate a wedding. But on the foggy night of the wedding party, one of them vanishes. An email is received saying “Don’t bother looking for me. You won’t find me alive”. It was good, lots of atmosphere and twists.
We were in Shetland last year and stayed on Unst for a few nights so it was great to be able to visualise the locations. 8/10

Just finished Book 43 A Friend of the Family by Lisa Jewell. I thoroughly enjoyed this - gently humorous and with excellent characterisation about 3 adult (and very different) sons of Bernie and Gerry.

As the brothers have grown up, their problems have increased. Now a houseful of trouble is coming home to roost with broken relationships and family loyalties and resentments.

This was just the right book for me at the present time as I'm going through some major health problems and didn't want anything too heavy. This book was terrific - touching and funny.

Just finished ‘Ralph’s Party’ by Lisa Jewell, not impressed by it, not my favourite read of hers. I know it was her first.

#45. The Last Word by Elly Griffiths.

24. I Know What You’ve Done, Dorothy Koomson

Set in a wealthy Brighton suburb where everyone has secrets, most of them detailed in a journal thrust into the hands of one of the residents by a distraught neighbour who then collapses into a coma. I couldn’t warm to any of the characters, but enjoyed the story.

40-All Dressed in White-Mary Higgins Clark-A tv company is asked to investigate a missing daughter several years after the police have had no luck. Amanda helps run a profitable lingerie brand and was due to marry her lawyer fiance in two days time and had already made her will leaving him an enormous amount of money. The case was called The Runaway Bride and the tv team start to interview family and wedding guests to make a program about it. Practically all the family and guests have reasons to be on the suspects list, so was she murdered or did she run away?

After That Night, by Karin Slaughter. I liked it, but it`s not, IMO, the best book she has written. Forgot to add that it was book 98

No 16 We Were The Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. It’s taken me an age to read, but I’ve finally finished it! It’s a tale of a close-knit family’s disintegration after an evil event takes place. It kind of fizzled out at the end, which was a disappointment.

Book 99, The Sixpenny Orphan, by Glenda Young. A nice. light, but enjoyable read.