26-ish books in 2022

Nope but I've now added to my tbr list on Goodreads!

[quote Puddock1]@Manteo click on the italic sign below the text box (you sometimes need to press twice) and then a list of styles come up. Select bold and then type between the two asterisks that appear.[/quote]
Thanks

Morning!

I’ve started number 3 this morning. I have quite a long commute which I normally spend mindlessly scrolling the internet but I’m going to try to read instead. I’ve gone for The Red House by AA Milne. It was Milne’s only mystery novel - his attempt at a locked room whodunnit. I’m enjoying it so far, it’s very pure genre which I quite like! I’ve got a few on my list like this that I got from another novel I read last year called the Honjin Murders, one of the characters in that is obsessed with locked room mysteries and it lists some of the ones in his collection.

Finished book 2 last night Just Ignore Him by Alan Davies Sad read about his childhood.
TW child abuse

7 pages already? Hello gang, I’m in again this year - so many great recs on last years thread

@Puddock1 I adored Beartown, there’s a follow up to it I haven’t read so will put that on tbr list

1. Piranesi - Susanna Clarke

@Manteo click on the italic sign below the text box (you sometimes need to press twice) and then a list of styles come up. Select bold and then type between the two asterisks that appear.

@LadyMacnet - I'd say maybe not. It is written in a simple and straightforward style but it is centred around mental health and although there's nothing particularly graphic it could be difficult, as the main character has reached the point where they are about to take their own life. I did cry at one point. There is some fairly mild sexual content too. Maybe 15+.

Finished book one of 2022 - The Witchfinder's Sister by Beth Underdown (still don't know how to do bold, can someone advise?). I felt only a little more than indifferent to it. A book about witch trials in the 1600s should surely feel atmospheric, tense... something?? The ending where the main character talks about moving somewhere new made me LOL though.

I've been following some book related things on TikTok, there's one in a book shop and the woman asks her colleagues to pick a book based on X, the other day was pick the book that got them into reading and another was pick the book that had an amazing ending. I've gotten some recommendations that I've added to my TBR list on Goodreads.

Just finished book 2 of 2022, I read it quickly because I would lose it at midnight (KU subscription).

1. The House at Old Vine by Norah Lofts
2. The House at Sunset by Norah Lofts

This was just a continuation of her Suffolk House trilogy, covering the history of the house up until 1950s. I enjoyed the series, seems well researched historically and is a light and easy read. I grew up in the area it is based apon so found the local history fascinating.

Not sure which to read next - Piranesi or Paperback Crush. Two very different books!

@ExtremelyDetermined I have had my eye on Midnight Library for a while. Do you think it is suitable for younger teens?
@Puddock1 I love Adrian Mole. The description of his school trip to London is one of the funniest things I’ve read.

I’m still reading No One is Talking About This. I have to say I am finding it very hard going but I’m half way through so I will plough on.

1. Beartown by Fredrik Backman I chose to start the year with this book having enjoyed A Man Called Ove and reading brilliant reviews. The story focuses on the community of a failing small town that has pinned it's hopes and dreams on their successful junior ice hockey team. When the star of the team is accused of rape, Beartown is thrown into turmoil and the story follows the reactions of the town. It was a sombre read that addressed difficult subjects with great sensitivity and there were some poignant moments that genuinely brought a tear to my eye. However, I felt it was too long and had too many characters with sub-plots that detracted from the main story . Cynical me also felt that the author was trying too hard to be profound at times. Glad I read it but think I'll give the sequel a miss.
I'm fancying something lighter now! I might re-read The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend.

@highlandcoo there were definitely some weird bits in Winter that I didn't really get - specifically the floating head - so will be interested to see how you interpret it!

@livingonpurpose thank you! I will give Winter a go.

I hope it's not too tricksy as I really prefer straightforward narratives, but I liked Ali Smith when i saw her interviewed and sometimes it's good to try something completely different.

Hi, I posted on/followed this thread for parts of last year. I've read quite a bit in the last few days and it's now taking me a while to catch up with various book related social media.

I read most genres and like to have several books on the go with a variety between them, including fiction/non fiction, genre and subject, settings.

@highlandcoo not sure about Spring and Summer, but Autumn and Winter were completely standalone books so can be read in any order.

@livingonpurpose if I'm going to read Winter do I need to read Autumn first?

If so, I'll need to wait till next September .. couldn't possibly read Autumn now. That would feel all kinds of wrong

@Fridafever Piranesi was in my top 3 books of 2021 - I'm glad you loved it too!

3. Winter - Ali Smith
The second in her seasons quartet of books - I read Autumn late last year. Her style of writing is very unusual - almost poetic - and it's definitely a style that challenges me. As with Autumn there is a storyline but not much resolution. However, if I just let myself go and enjoy each line of what I'm reading I find I quite like it! I have the next book, Spring, on reserve through my library app.

I’ve just finished number 2 of the year.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke I loved this! It’s a really fascinating book, like a puzzle but also very moving in places. Very much recommend it. It’s about a man living in a vast endless house with a statues and strange tides.

Just trying to decide what to start next! Maybe The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo which is a sort of gentle Agatha Christie style murder mystery written in the 1940s but only just translated I think. Either that or Foe by Ian Reid. I don’t know anything much about it but loved his other book, Im thinking of ending things.