Found a copy of Arsène Lupin Le Bouchon de Cristal. Enjoyed watching the series on Netflix recently.
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Books/book club
*2021 - 50 BOOKS FOR THE YEAR*
(860 Posts)Welcome contributors to a new reading year! Some of us may achieve the 50 book bench mark, even surpass it, some may not, I didn't last year, that really isn't important. This is a thread for those who would like to keep a running tally of their reads over the year. Please come and share your thoughts, recommendations and even dislikes of the books you are reading.
As in previous years, all types of reading and listening matter can be included, fiction, non fiction, audio, biographies, memoirs even children's books if a trip down memory lane is your preference.
Here's wishing all those who wish to partake enjoyable reading for the coming year.
Sarahmob - I love Patricia Gibney - I've worked my way through all her books!!
I really enjoyed The Overstory by Richard Powers - it's about five trees.
#17 The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves, the latest Vera novel. Really enjoyed it. I’ll look out for Patricia Gibney, Sarahmob and mrshat, sounds like an author I’d enjoy. So many books, so little time!
#5 Bel Canto by Ann Patchett I love her books, all a bit different but she makes the characters seem real
#6 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens I was a little disappointed with this as it all seemed a bit predictable
About to start #7 The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
No 8 Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterley. It’s about the women of colour who were the human computers behind America’s defence and space programmes. The story is fascinating but the writing is poor. There’s a film which I will watch at some point.
No 9. The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton.
I loved this rollicking novel. It’s set in 1660’s London and follows the life of a young girl, H, as she is orphaned and has to fight to survive in a man’s world.
Just finished The Moving Finger.
A Miss Marple book, but feel very short changed, it’s 234 pages long, and Miss M only appeared at page 175.
Bit of a swiz.
#12. Service Of All The Dead by Colin Dexter.
Juno56
As a teenager I 'discovered' Georgette Heyer. In the succeeding 50 years I have periodically revisited her books. So #13 has been Devil's Cub.
Have you read These Old Shades? It's prequel to The Devil's Cub and was my first GH book, recommended by my mother in my teens. These two are still my favourite GH books.
My mum used to take a magazine - Woman's Journal - in which GH's books were serialized. I couldn't wait for her to finish with each issue so that I could read them myself. I haven't read them for at least 60 years, but really relished them at the time.
My latest ones are:
6. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. Very good, the first of her books I’ve read.
7. I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg. I’ve read a few of her books, she writes in a similar vein to Anne Tyler.
8. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. It was an entertaining read for a dull lockdown day.
I agree with NorthowramGran, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett was very good, I read it last year.
Queenie Malones Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan.
A tale of love and unconventional families, took me to half way through the book to sort the characters, but it was worth persevering.
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult.
Another moral dilemma from the author, slow start with lots of Egyptian history , but enjoyable.
How to listen by Katie Colombus.
How to talk about how we feel and how to truly listen to someone, with helpful guidance from trained samaritans.
Aah! So pleased to hear from Cambia that Where the Crawdads Sing is a favourite. I have it to read next. I am reading Hamnet at the moment and enjoying it. Before I was reading The Secret History by Donna Tart, very unusual and so well written. Also, before that The Girl With The Louding Voice. Loved it, For Christmas I was given Just My Luck which I read but wouldn’t recommend unless you feel in the mood for aggravating twaddle. However, also got The Thursday Club which I did enjoy.
Ps also read the first three Strike books. Really must start writing them down
#13. The Wench Is Dead by Colin Dexter.
Book 7
Knife -Jo Nesbo
Always enjoy a good Harry Hole thriller. This one I particularly enjoyed, it was fast, lots of twists and turns, and a very unexpected ending.
Book 8
Redhead by the Side of the Road-Anne Tyler
Love Anne Tyler, love her characters, love her style of writing.
This was quite a slim book, maybe not one of her best, but still full of wonderful characters, I very much enjoyed it.
Book 9
Die Trying-Lee Child
Lee Child is new to me. I often read about a new Jack Reacher coming out, and readers being so excited about it, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.
This is the second one I’ve read, starting from the beginning. Jack is certainly everyone’s idea of a superhero, he’s super fit, super intelligent, military hero, and sexy as hell, what’s not to like?
It’s not my usual type of book, but I did enjoy it, only downside for me, is that they are very gruesome and blood thirty in parts.
Bloodthirsty!
Finished #6, The Witches of New York by Ami McKay. It got off to a slow start but I did end up really enjoying this story.
#7 - The Cure for Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz. I'm part way through this strange story of a young woman in a remote farmhouse with a father whose PTSD from WWI seems to be getting worse. Set during WWII, the farmhands and brother are getting pressure to sign up, but the wife and daughter fear being alone with the father who is loosing his grasp on reality.
I know I`m 2 months late, but can I please join now? I`ve been so busy reading that I kept forgetting to join up in here. My books so far this year have been,
Scrublands--Chris Hammer
We`ll Meet Again--Rosie Archer
Christmas with the Spitfire Girls--Jenny Holmes
The Sunrise--Victoria Hislop
All the Rage-- Cara Hunter
Christmas with the Ops Room Girls--Vicky Beeby
Velvet Ribbon--Nadine Dorries
The Convent--Marie Hargreaves, with Ann and Joe Cusack
The Split--Sharon Bolton
Under the Mistletoe--Katie Flynn
Forces Sweethearts--Rosie Archer
Two Kinds of Truth-- Michael Connelly
The Christmas Killer--Alex Pine
Cops and Robbers-- Ed James
The Guest List-- Lucy Foley
All Fall Down--M.J.Arlidge
The Memory Wood--Sam Lloyd
The 20th Victim--James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
When the Past Kills--M.J.Lee
Stolen Moments--Rosie Harris
The Never List--Koethi Zan
I was given The Break, by Marian Keyes, but gave up on it, something I never do.
Presently reading The Other Passenger--Louise Candlish.
AnnSixty, have you read any of David Baldacci`s books? I love them.
Sorry this is such a long post!
Yes Blinko 27/02/21 20.21
These Old Shades is also one of my favourite GH books. I think it was the first one I ever read.
Please can I join. Not sure I will reach 50 books though, especially when the gardening takes off.
I've just finished ' where the crawdads sing'. by Delia Owens. Excellent book. I really enjoyed the characters.
About to start Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse- highly commended, so I will let you know
Hi, I discovered Jodi Picoult just before lockdown and have thoroughly enjoyed so far....
The Storyteller
Great Small things
She has written quite a few novels so look forward to the next one ?
AliBeee I’ve read a few of Jojo Moyes too. Not my usual choice but I enjoyed them all
Finished book 12, ‘The Night Crossing’ by Robert Masello. Another one of his entertaining supernatural romps, totally unbelievable but well written, it certainly rattles along. Not sure what book thirteen will be yet.
Im a fast reader, but that would be ALMOST a book a wk in a year, not actually doable for most, is it?
Realised I hadn't posted since early Jan so a few books to catch up on.
1 : Ellie Griffith's - Crossing Places. Good thriller.
2: Richard Patterson - Conviction.
3 : Gyles Brandreth - Have You Eaten Grandma? A good book to brush up you grammar with, plus his usual witty comments.
4: Lee Child- Trip Wire. Excellent.
5: Anthony Cappella- The Wedding Officer. Entertaining story set in Italy during WW2
6: Alan Bennett: Untold Stories. Autobiographical and mostly entertaining. Skipped a few of the more tedious diary entries!
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