The New Fifty Books A Year Thread 2020

This year so far: Jane Eyre & Wide Sargasso Sea, (study) The Gathering By Anne Enright (Book Group) and The Stone Circle, Ellie Griffiths, light relief.

Finished my fourth book - ‘The Help’, which I didn’t think would be a goer but couldn’t put it down. A really powerful story. I didn’t realise until this week that they had made it into a film, but I can’t imagine it having the same claustrophobic intensity as the book.
Now re-reading Pat Barker’s ‘Silence of the Girls’, which was on a library waiting list when I had it last, but DD bought me a copy for Christmas so I will now have time to savour it.

Ist book was The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley. This is the 5th book in the Seven Sisters series. Really enjoyed it.

2nd book was Perfect People by Peter James. A rather chilling tale but well written and enjoyable. I love all his Roy Grace thrillers set in the Brighton area.

3rd book is Another Day by David Levithan. Halfway through and feel it might be aimed at teens but will carry on with it. Slightly odd storyline.

Book 5 - Five steps to Happy - Ella Dove - enjoyed this
Book 6 - Meet me on the Beach - Hilary Boyd - was okay, nothing that will stay with me

The last time I posted I said that "Rivers of London" would be my 4th book. That didn't happen because I had to have an eye operation and so have been listening to audio books. So 4, 5 and 6 were: a collection of short stories called "The Long and Short of It" by Jodi Taylor - very good, "The Quiet Gentleman" by Georgette Heyer - reminded me of my DM who was a big fan of the author and "To Heaven By Water" by Justin Cartwright - tedious very tedious.
Maggiemaybe I'm sorry I haven't acknowledged your post of 25 Jan 19.27 I haven't been able to be online. How interesting that must have been! Thank you for sharing. X

I've just finished a fourth book, The Mitford Murders - Bright Young Dead by Jessica Fellowes, which I really enjoyed, followed by a fifth book, Thin Air - a ghost story by Michelle Paver, which I also enjoyed and finished in a couple of days.
I'm still dipping in and out of Mary Berry's autobiography, which is a gentle read, and I'm about to start another book by Michelle Paver Dark Matter - a ghost story and will report back when I've finished it, then I really do hope to start the Trevor Macdonald autobiography, which I've put on the back burner whilst I read the others!

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

5 - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous / Ocean Vuong / F

Jeanlizzie love all of Erskine books, she's a wonderful author who can scare the wits out of you at times.

Had to change my order of books to read, now reading How to Treat Your Back Problems by a New Zealand guy. It was recommended to me by my Physio who is treating my slipped disc.

Juno56, I was lucky enough to have afternoon tea with M C Beaton and her agent last year at the Bloody Scotland crime writing event in Stirling, and to attend An Evening With event with her and her Agatha Raisin star, Ashley Jensen, all courtesy of a Gransnet competition. M C Beaton was fascinating and it was a privilege to meet her. I was saddened to hear that she’d died.

4. The Rotters’ Club, Jonathan Coe
I really enjoyed this, and can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy, which follows the same group of people (here at grammar school in the 70s) and their families through the Blair years, then brings them up to date with the Brexit vote and its consequences.

5. Listening In, Jenny Eclair
Another easy read, short stories this time, some really good, others not quite up to the same standard but still readable. I like Jenny Eclair’s writing style.

I’ve a couple of reading group books to start now. Then I think I’ll have to read The Salt Path, following all the reviews on here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

TerriBull Thank you for explaining

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.

rosecarmel Because everybody is talking about novels!

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

What can't you join in on?

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

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.

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.

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

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 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