2026 - 50 Books a Year Challenge

42. Miriam’s Full English, Miriam Margolyes

Just like my relationship with Miriam herself really, I found this book a bit of a curate’s egg, good in parts. Much of it was very funny, full of insights to the human condition. On the other hand I’d to skip through the tedious fart chapter, and the constant political haranguing got a bit much, even for a bleeding heart leftie like me. It’s inconsistent as well at times - being shouted at to switch off our phones and take our f***ing headphones out while she’s reading us her audiobook….

On balance though, I’m glad I read it and would recommend.

75-I is for Innocent-Sue Grafton
Now I have managed to collect the full set of Kinsey stories I'm going to work my way through the alphabet.
Another interesting murder mystery, with a twist at the end.

#68 Murder in Galloway by Al8ne Templeton
Set in Galloway during the foot and mouth crisis, this is the first in a series with DI Marjory Fleming, who is also a farmer’s wife. This is her first murder enquiry. The terrible impact of foot and mouth in this very rural farming area is well described. A body is discovered when a pit is being dug to bury carcasses of slaughtered animals, it’s soon identified as a young woman from the south of England who hasn’t been in contact with her family for 15 years.
I really enjoyed it. 8/10

#69 The Names by Florence Knapp
I know this has been reviewed here already and I agree with previous posters that it is excellent. However, I found the core theme (which I won’t disclose) to be very dark and an uncomfortable read at times. Cora, the mother, had a very hard life in all 3 versions of her family’s lives. 9/10

56 The Death of Us Abigail Dean Audio

The story of married young couple, Isabel and Edward whose lives and continuing relationship is up ended when their home is broken into. Their reasonably happy existence shattered and how they cope in the aftermath forms the basis of this book. Their attacker, meanwhile increases his break ins and sexual attacks across London upping their seriousness into murder. Years later he's caught and they are required to give evidence at his trial, by that time their attacker has eroded all sense of their day to day normality. Interspersed into the non linear narrative, going backwards and forwards between the early '90s at the inception of Isobel and Edward's meeting and their getting together, until the trial in 2016 by which time they've separated. Scenes both in and out of court and reactions from the other victims whose lives have also been destroyed by the antagonist, a person in a position of authority who would have been trusted by the public is one a pivotal part. Disturbing but quite well written.

#80. The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFaden.

41. The Girl Who Was Taken, Charlie Donlea

Actually, several girls are taken in this thriller, but for different reasons. It’s a real page turner, well written, but the ending was a bit too open for my liking - I prefer all ends to be neatly tied up!

74-Cornish Clouds and Silver Lining Skies-Ali McNamara
This is the 4th in the St Felix series of magical romance stories. This time it brings meteorology into the story and the heroine is a ME sufferer, as is the author. I certainly learnt a lot from this book. Delightful read.

41 Moonology- Working with the Magic of Lunar Cycles
Thought I'd learn about a bit of astrology over the winter when I can't get out in the garden.

I joined this challenge to force me to read all the books I've bought and never read. Unfortunately, I'm still buying!

#79. Brain Damage by Freida McFaden.

#78. What The Dark Whispers by MJ Lee.

AliBeeee

#67 Love in Idleness by Amanda Craig
I think this was recommended here as it’s not a book I would have picked up otherwise. It’s witty and well written. 8/10

I love Amanda Craig books, although I didn't rate her latest so much. I'd thoroughly recommend Lie of the Land, The Golden Rule and The Three Graces.

My elderly iPad isn’t coping with the adverts on Gransnet any more (and some other sites) and it keeps crashing and refreshing, losing everything I have typed, so I am going to have to keep my entries brief until I finally replace it. Funnily enough, it has been fine while I type up this entry!

#67 Love in Idleness by Amanda Craig
I think this was recommended here as it’s not a book I would have picked up otherwise. It’s witty and well written. 8/10

55 Wild Dark Shore Charlotte McConaghy

I thought the writing in this book was beautiful in parts, particularly as to breathtaking descriptions of the natural world of seals, penguins and whales. Almost David Attenborough in how the wildlife was deftly evoked through the eyes of the 3 children who were among a handful of central characters.

Rowan, the main protagonist sets out on a perilous voyage, I think somewhere from the Australian coast, to a desolate island, Shearwater in the Antarctic in search of her husband who seems to have gone missing. He being part of a scientific party of researchers to the the world's largest seed bank stored in this site at the ends of the earth. Once an island full of scientists undertaking such studies, now with rising sea levels there are just a handful of people still there. As her boat approaches their destination, it is overwhelmed by a catastrophic storm, the captain of her small vessel is unable to save either himself and his one and only passenger.Rowan who finds herself washed ashore. Half dead she is nursed back to health by the Salt family, consisting of father and widower Dominic caretaker and protector of the seed bank living on Shearwater with his 3 children. Gradually as she recovers she is to immerse herself in becoming an intrinsic member of her new found family whilst simultaneously both she and Dominic are gradually to develop feelings for each other. However Rowan has her secrets as do the Salts. Sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave leave her with a growing disquiet as to what has actually happened to her husband. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, before the navy vessels arrive to take them back to the mainland, it becomes imperative that they trust each other enough to do what they can to protect the precious seeds until their scheduled time of departure arrives.

#77. It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell.

Book 28: The Map Makers Daughter by Clare Marchant
Book 29: Tennison by Lynda La Plante
Book 30:Hidden Killers by Lynda La Plante
Book 31 :Good Friday by Lynda La Plante
Book 32: Murder Mile by Lynda La Plante
Book 33: Dirty Dozen by Lynda La Plante. These Lynda La Plante books set mainly in the 1970s are about a female police officer who has to fight male prejudice in the police force while solving murders. They are set in London I have found them exciting.
Book 34: Chalk Dust and New Chapters by Gervase Phinn

73-H is for Homicide-Sue Grafton
260 pages of fast moving excitement, as Kinsey works undercover to catch a fraudulent insurance claims gang. I couldn't put this one down!

40. Honour, Elif Shafak

My favourite Elif Shafak of the three I’ve read so far. Spanning three generations, different time zones, and lives lived by the Euphrates and the Thames. It’s the story of Esma, her brother who is in prison for murder, her father who has left the family, her mother and her identical twin whose lives lead them down very different paths, and all the family members current and past whose fates are intertwined with theirs. It’s a compelling read.

72-Legacy of Sins-Anne Baker
When orphan Rose Quest turns 21, she needs her birth certificate to join the pension scheme where she works at Shearing's garment factory. She is shocked to see that she was born in the workhouse and starts to ask some very awkward questions about her mother. Then rumours spread that she was a love child of her boss, Edwin Shearing, which is a shock, as she has fallen in love with Edwin's son Ben. This would mean that they are brother and half sister.

An interesting family saga.

Continuing my list…
#64 Gone Again by Doug Johnstone
When Mark’s wife Lauren fails to pick up their young son from school, Mark spends the evening trying to contact her and checking with all her friends and family. As Lauren’s absence continues, we learn that it’s not the first time Lauren has disappeared and also that Mark has some violent incidents in his past. This was set around Portobello beach in Edinburgh, where I live, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it, but the ending was a bit overdone. 7/10
#65 A Rock and a Hard Place by JD Kirk
This is the most recent one in the DCI Logan series, set in the far north highlands, on the NC500 route. After some more lacklustre plots, this one was excellent. 9/10
#66 The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan
The second in the series about autistic DS George Cross, set in Bristol. A body is discovered on a building site a George and his long suffering partner investigate the victims complex life and relationships to determine what happened to him. Very good. 8/10

Bridey I really enjoyed The Truth About Ruby Cooper too and have recommended it to friends.

Terribull I read Middlesex a few years ago and though it was excellent.

I haven’t been on the thread for a few weeks, I am so sorry to hear the sad news about Sparklefizz, we often seemed to enjoy the same books.

I posted previously that I had broken my ankle, unfortunately as soon as that was healed I managed to trip, and I badly broke 2 fingers. It’s been a trying summer and I seemed to lose my reading mojo recently, hopefully it will be back soon.

Here’s my most recent reads:
#59 *Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
Bone was born to a teenaged mother, into a family of hard living, hard drinking and hard fighting men. When her stepfather Daddy Glen becomes increasingly more vicious toward her, Bone finds herself caught in a family triangle that tests the family bonds and pushes her mother Anney to a terrible decision. This was quite a hard read at times, but ultimately worth it. 8/10
#60 Where the Pieces Lie by JD Kirk
Not one of the best in the series. 7/10
#61 How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
I remembered this being a best seller when it came out so got it on kindle unlimited. It was pure tosh. 5/10 (and that’s generous)
#62 The Optician of Lampedusa by Emma Jane Kirby
This is based on the true story of an incident involving ordinary people who rescued drowning migrants off the coast of Sicily. The impact on their lives was profound and this very moving little book is written with intelligence and sympathy. The author is a journalist who has reported on the mass migrations of recent years. 9/10
#63 A Killer of Influence by JD Kirk
Another in the series about DCI Logan, set in Inverness. 8/10

#76. The Winter Cottage by Rachael Lucas.

I started George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London and found the 1st two chapters so depressing at the moment I had to stop. Back on the shelf now.

I am now reading Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers. A good start and I will review it when I finished.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

This book has been celebrated and highly recommended so I'm certainly in the minority with my review.

I found Olive to be a most unpleasant character. In fact I felt no empathy with any of the characters. Olive is described in the blurb as 'compassionate' but I found no compassion in any of her words or deeds.
I thought I was reading about America in the 1940s/50s but it was only vague references to Trump that I realised it is set in the present day.

I continued reading to the end hoping the disjointed stories of various people would link up with Olive in some way - or I hoped she might do an act of kindness to redeem her.

This was the first book I've read by this author and I doubt I'd be persuaded to try another by her.

The truth about Ruby Cooper... another good book by Liz Nugent.