The New Fifty Books A Year Thread 2020

Book 2 was My Sister’s Bones by Nuala Elwood. It’s for my book group. It’s not the sort of book I’d normally read, I guess it’s a thriller, though I’m not entirely sure of the genre. It was quite good, I wanted to know what happened next. However, I’m quite familiar with the town it’s set in and got cross at the artistic licence taken with the descriptions!

Book 3 Also for book group. The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad. It’s quite an old book (2003) but it provoked a lot of discussion.

Book 5 Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd
Described as the life and many deaths of Britain’s top forensic pathologist and this is exactly what it is. Dr Shepherd tells us of his training and career alongside his family life. His cases include several headline cases which most of us will remember. Less famous but still very interesting cases have had name changes.
I found the processes of post-mortems and court cases most interesting. A well written book.

2nd book read - Half a World Away by Mike Gayle - 2 children adopted by different families, the differences in their lives and their reunion. Enjoyed this book, another easy bedtime read.
3rd book completed is the first of a trilogy by Shari Low - One Day in Winter, following 24 hours in the lives of people all connected to each other although they may not be aware of it.
On to the 2nd of the trilogy now....

@Caramac I too enjoyed My name is Eva, so much so I pre-ordered her next book Burning Island, which is due to download in a few days. Will be adding it to my digital library of reads

I read the Salt Path recently and was a bit disappointed with it as I didn't think it lived up to the glowing reviews. It didn't quite do it for me and I thought it was just an OK read. Spotting a couple of inaccuracies about the path probably didn't help.

I'm currently re reading Tai Pan by James Clavell, author of the wonderful Shogun.

James Clavell's books made a huge impression on me back in the day - I remember coming across the concept of FGM in one. A horrific description - the picture has stayed with me ever since.

I read the Salt Path in less than a day - I loved it! Mark Wallington's "500 Mile Walkies" is one of the very few books I have read more than once and loved, and as their walk was inspired by that very book I was hooked from the start. It also reminded me a bit of the Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, in the way that they just decided to keep on going, although they weren't really properly equipped.

Since then I have read a couple more books, one in German, which wasn't very good, and one by Caimh McDonnell. Although I said above I rarely read any books more than once, I am absolutely addicted to his books and could start again as soon as I've finished one.

I rather messed up the organisation on my Kindle, and lots of books I have already read have now re-appeared in the "To Read" section, so I fear I will be reading quite a few for the second time over the next months. Usually I don't even notice till I'm more than 2/3 of the way through!

#3 The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Just started “Everybody Died So I Got a Dog” by Emily Dean. It’s a biography and so far it is very funny, but tissues will be required later, I think!
Was slightly disappointed with Kate Atkinson’s “Transcription”; I thought it was a bit ‘ham fisted’.

I have two distinct categories of books I don’t like. The ones I’m really not keen on, which I skim through to the end, just to find out what the conclusion is or to see if they improve. And the ones I really can’t stand, that get ditched as soon as I realise they’re on the list. I count the skimmed ones as read, but not the ditched ones.

These are my first of 2020.

1. Waiting for the Other Shoe, Maggie Handley
A reading group choice about adoption. None of us enjoyed it.
2. ‘Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas, Adam Kay
An easy short read, and enjoyable, though I found the constant long footnotes distracting.
3. Haven’t They Grown, Sophie Hannah
The GN Book Club choice. Disappointing, imho.

DH bought me Jonathan Coe’s Middle England. It’s the last in a trilogy, so I’ve just started the first, The Rotters’ Club. So far, so good - I definitely won’t be skimming or ditching.

My first book of the year is Kingdom of shadows by barbara erskine, a bit of a departure for me in terms of things i would pick to read but so far I'm really enjoying it
I used to be a finisher as well, but life's too short to read a bad book

Finished reading Dead in Devon by Stephanie Austin. It was set in Ashburton an old stannary town in Devon, a place I have visited. An easy read, good characterisations and a fast moving story. A new author but if she continues to use the same main characters in future books they will grow on you.
Currently reading The Secret Hours by Santa Montefiore. A follow on from The Deverill Triology.

My first four books of 2020
1. Can You see me - Lynne Lee - didn't enjoy, not sure why I stuck with it
2. Half a World Away - Mike Gayle - really enjoyed and would recommend
3. the Food f love - Amanda Prowse - a really good read, subject matter is anorexia and I learned a lot and this book will stay with me I think
4. When I was You - Minka Kent - clever storytelling but an uncomfortable read

Book 3 was "Minerva" by
M C Beaton (better known for Agatha Raisin and Hamish McBeth). Ms Beaton sadly passed away a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to read one of her books as a sort of homage. If you like Georgette Heyer you will enjoy Ms Beaton's Regency 'romps'. Book 4 will be 'Rivers of London' by Ben Aaronovitch.

Haven't They Grown by Sophie Hannah and Lies, Lies, Lies by Adele Parks.
Felt the Adele Parks book was a bit difficult to get in to in the first few chapters but I persevered and really enjoyed it in the end.

I've just read through the proceeding posts and noticed praise for The Salt Path, so I just wanted to say if that book stirred an interest in the landscape try Philip Marsden's Rising Ground. Just Cornwall of course, so evocative.
I'm reading non-fiction at the moment so can't really join in

What can't you join in on?

1 - The Honey Bus / Meredith May / NF

2 - The Salt Path / Raynor Winn / NF

3 - The Velveteen Rabbit / Margery Williams / F

4 - Maid / Stephanie Land / NF

rosecarmel Because everybody is talking about novels!

Gaunt, sorry if I didn't make it clear in the opening post, but the thread is for any type of book, including non fiction, so please don't feel reading that type of book precludes you from joining in. I've always included the non fiction books I've read in my "50" total. As previously stated, I lifted the idea from MN, and that's certainly how it works over there.

TerriBull Thank you for explaining

Just about to start no 5, so a quick update on the first four.

1. The Rumour-Lesley Kara
The initial idea was white interesting, a small seaside town hears a rumour that a convicted child killer is in their midst under a new identity. The rest is quite predictable, not much depth to the characters, and I actually felt that there were too many unnecessary characters, I kept having to look back to see who was who. Not a favourite.

2. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe-Carson McCullers.
Bursting with atmosphere, brilliant characterisations, it’s what it says, a simple, rather sad story of the rise and fall of a cafe in rural America.

3. The Lamp of the Wicked-Phil Rickman
I’ve only recently discovered these books. They are based around Merrily Watkins, a vicar on the welsh borders. She is also the diocese deliverance expert (exorcist)
The books are not sensationalist, they’re very believable with some strong characters, I just wish Merrily would stop referring to her daughter as ‘the kid’

4. The Last Widow- Karin Slaughter
I keep on reading Karin Slaughters books, because I loved the early ones so much. This one was back with her long running characters Sara, Will, Faith and Amanda, and I admit to having quite a crush on Will!
The first half of the book I couldn’t get into, terrorist organisations, white suprematists, kidnappings, but the second half did pick up.

Book 6 The Actress by Elizabeth Sims
Although this book had a lot going for it I sometimes got confused with who and where. I felt most characters were well drawn but a major female character was under developed and therefore her actions less believable.

Book 7 Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks
I’ve read a few of AP books but felt this was quite different. I really enjoyed this book partly because of the twists and turns. It was easy to follow and the ending was brilliant.

My fourth book was Salt Creek (not Salt Path!) by Lucy Treloar.

It’s set in 1850’s S Australia, and tells the tale of a settler family struggling to make a living off the land and the ‘natives’ who were of course the original inhabitants. It’s a book that will stay with me for some time, I think. I loved it.

The second and third books I have read this year are - Duke of the Dark Moors, by Audrey Ashwood. A typical Regency romance. which was self-published by the author.

The third book just finished is The Lost Sister, by Kendra Elliot. A detective thriller set in Oregon, with grisly murders being investigated by a top DI.

Both books enjoyable in their own way, but nothing special.