2022 50 BOOKS - OR AS MANY AS YOU CAN MANAGE

I loved Perfect People, but it was sad. Now on book 21, The Reapers, by John Connelly, a Charlie Parker book.

Liked The Reapers, but it was quite violent. Now reading Sweet Heart, by Peter James, but it dates back to 1990, it`s book 22.

I loved Sweet Heart, but it was quite creepy in places. Now on book 23, The Shakespeare Secret, by J.L.Carrell.

#16. The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell.

Latest book: Springtime at Hope Hall by Pam Rhodes. I thought this was going to be one of my easy enjoyable books to read but it wasn’t! Set just about 3 years ago but very dated in it’s outlook. Characters described well but just boring at the end. I can only give it 5/10 and won’t be reading any others in the series.

#17 All These Worlds Dennis E Taylor. Audiobook read by Ray Porter.
Number 3 in the Bobiverse sci-fi series. Great fun and much better listened to than read.
#18 Grave Peril Jim Butcher.
Again number 3 in a series, this time The Dresden Files about "Chicago's only Wizard P.I". Very entertaining.

No 10 Erebus by Michael Palin, about the ship that was lost, along with the Terror, on Franklin’s last voyage to find the NW Passage.

The Shakespeare Secret was OK, but I don`t think I`d go as far as recommending it, there were so many names it got confusing. Just started book 24, Interest of Justice, by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg. It`s started well, I think I`m going to like it, but it`s a little dated, 1993.

#17. Our House by Louise Candlish.

Having just watched this on tv, I ordered it from the library, really surprised a copy was available so soon.

Of course, I know what happens…..

#19 William Boyd ‘Any Human Heart’. I found this an interesting comparison to my #18, ‘Still Life’. 20th century coverage, picaresque life story, even longer. Less beauty, less narrative arc, more experiences, more grit, and for me more convincing and absorbing.

Becoming...Michelle (Obama) Far too long.
Summer's Lease John Mortimer; v. enjoyable
An Academic Question;Barbara Pym good but not her best.
Joanna Trollope x 2; entertaining but cannot remember the titles (one about a family pottery business), returned to the charity shop;
The Other Side of You; Salley Vickers; bit convoluted
The Travelling Bag Susan Hill, short stories, not a patch on Woman in Black.
Tried to read Winter by Ali Smith. Seriously bonkers!

Think I may be near your wavelength eazybee - thanks for reminding me of John Mortimer. Which Pym might be her best? I think I’ve tried in the past but not been taken with her. On the other hand I loved Ali Smith’s seasons and plan to reread them soon - though I think they may have dated a bit.

#18. The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves.

#20 Janice Hallett ‘The Twyford Code’. Enjoyed the ventriloquism, the implied tributes to Blyton, librarians, children. Felt it went into a bit too much of an unwinding spiral at the end.

Loved Interest of Justice. Now reading Sister, Missing, by Sophie McKenzie. I think it`s meannt for the teenage market, as it`s sequel to a book that won a Childrens book prize, but I`m liking it.

Sister, Missing was quite good. Just started book 26, Turnstone, by Graham Hurley.

13. Hell is Always Today, Jack Higgins
This was a bit different - a crime novel that started at the beginning, carried on through the middle and finished at the end. It was very simplistic, but made a change from all the dark psychological stuff.

14. The Family Tree, Sairish Hussain
The trials and tribulations of an Asian family, set in Bradford. A bit over-long, but enjoyable.

I’m going to have to stop downloading ebooks. Our local charity shop sells all its books 5 for £1, so I see one for the grandsons and end up adding another 4 for me. The pile of books waiting to be read will be taller than me if I don’t crack on with them.

My next read is for my book group - The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth.

No 11 The Stoning by Peter Papathanasiou. It’s not my usual genre, being ‘Outback Noir’ but I quite enjoyed it.

#22 was another nineties story - The Healers by Ann Cleeves. It featured DI Ramsay and l enjoyed it.
#23 was Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson about his travels in Continental Europe in 1990. Fun and informative as always with Bill Bryson and extra interesting as he travelled through the former Yugoslavia shortly before it split.
#24 was The Doll House by Phoebe Morgan. This one was set in 2017 so much more up to date than my recent reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this creepy suspense novel. The only thing that stopped me giving it five stars was that it was set in London and written by a British author but there were a lot of Americanisms in it. I have no problem with this in an American book but am not keen on it in a British book.

Have just finished ‘The Heron’s Cry’, the second Matthew Venn story. A lot better than the first one, think I am slightly warming to Matthew.

#19. Do Not Disturb by Claire Douglas.

I enjoyed Turnstone, which apparently is a bird. Now reading Heartsick, by Chelsea Cain. A woman murderer favours some very gruesome ways of killing people.

#19 The Crossing Places Elly Griffiths.
A murder mystery and the first in the Ruth Galloway series. The lead character is an archaeologist with a special interest in bones. At first I didn't think I was going to enjoy it. I couldn't warm to Ruth and the setting was very bleak and unappealing. But... I was soon drawn in and really enjoyed it.
#20 The Secret Chapter Genevieve Cogman.
This is 7th in The Invisible Library series, a fantasy with a difference. I really love this series and its characters.

Heartsick was good, if a bit gruesome in places. Have just started The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslian Charles.

My #21 Kent Haruf ‘Plainsong’. For my book group- listed as a classic (published 1999) and with a glowing introduction (to my mind, not always good signs). Plus it’s American rural small town life.

But. It’s. Beautiful. Every word counts, slowed me down to a pace where I pictured, and felt, every scene. Unforgettable.

Book 28, The Paris Library, is a bit slow going at the moment, but I`m persevering in the hope that it will get better.