26-ish books in 2022

Just finished Gaudy Night, by Dorothy L. Sayers.
This was the best of the Sayers books I've read recently. Like the others, it cast a light on a world that has completely disappeared.

I tend to use the 50 page rule or thereabouts too, but sometimes I'm glad if I push through, The Esses Serpent and ~The Marriage Portrait both turned out to be far better than the first chapters indicated, I am glad they were book club reads as I would have given up on both otherwise.

I like the sound of the Helen O'Hara one, I wasn't a huge fan of Dexy's but they are my era and I was in HMV in Oxford Street once as they arrived for an album signing session so I stayed, bought the album and got it signed. Probably still got it in the loft.

33 The Salt Path by Raynor Winn (audio) - another slow starter for me, I read the kindle sample a couple of years ago and decided against the full book but was browsing borrowbox last week for audio books that were actually available and my preferred genre for audio is memoirs so I gave it a go and it was absolutely delightful.

Other members include:(just dashed to my bookshelf)

The Crimson Petal and the White
The Cider House Rules
The Heart’s Invisible Furies
Still Life
Wise Children (would love to reread)
A Fraction of the Whole
Howard’s End

Nordicom
I also use the 50 page rule, there are far too many books out there!
Yes, I agree , Lisa Jewell’s offerings do not fall into the Very Special Book Category, but, for me, they’re an enjoyable distraction.

Recent members of the Very Special Book Category include:
All the Light They Cannot See
A Gentleman in Moscow
The Essex Serpent
A Little Life
Shuggie Bain
Hamnett
The Inkblack Heart.

Members are guaranteed a lifetime’s tenure on my bookshelf. Non-members are destined for the charity shop.

Just about to start Still Life which I know has a lot of love on here so I'm looking forward to that.

13. The Appeal - Janice Hallett
Was intrigued by the format but thought the conclusion was unfathomable. Would never have been able to work out whodunnit in a month of Sundays based on the evidence. Miss Marple can rest easy.

14. Sankofa - Chibundo Onuzu
Story of a woman who discovers a diary after her (white, Welsh) mother dies revealing who her (black, African) father is. His life is now very different from the one where he unknowingly fathered her. Daughter traces him and makes contact, against a backdrop of her life in London going through a divorce. I loved this book, it was light and funny but the themes of grief and loss and identity were strong. Some elements reminded me of my best friend's family background so I enjoyed it all the more because of that.

15. What's She Like - Helen O'Hara
Helen was a key member of Dexy's Midnight Runners, and if you are a fan of this band you will love this book. It's also the story of the choices a woman who loves music and is driven by creativity has to make. Sometimes her life is so spartan and yet she barely notices as she is so wrapped up in being in the band. Later in life she makes sacrifices for her family and finds her way back into music, which is joyful to read about.

And so far haven’t read at all on this trip but I will at home before bed again . I‘ve started the second one in the Thursday Murder club series and just bought a new Dean Koonz for this trip I might crack open too . Just been too tired and jet lagged here for my usual evening reading .

@BaconAndAvocado DH got me “ The Night She Disappeared “ and I finished it but although easy to read I though it was nothing special so I’m not interested in reading her other ones . Generally I give a book about 50 pages and if I’m bored or annoyed at the style of writing or find it hard work I move on , life’s short !

The last two books I've read have been from Scott Mariano's Benedict Hope series. I first started this series in 2010, found book 14(ish) a bit horrific so slowed down on reading them, and after a long break I love them again.

Book 10: The Moscow Cipher by Scott Mariani

Book 11: The Rebel's Revenge by Scott Mariani

Haven’t reported back for a while but here’s what I’ve been reading over the past couple of months.
8.Still Life by Sarah Winman A beautiful tale filled with very wonderful characters, mainly set in Italy. Loved it.

9.The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward This was just ok. Part thriller, part horror. Centred on the theme of Disassociative Identity Disorder.

10.The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo A fantastic, witty and insightful family saga. Enjoyed this immensely, particularly the character of acerbic Wendy. Lots of brilliant one-liners.

11.Malibu Rising by Taylor’s Jenkins Reid Holiday fluff, reminiscent of Jackie Collins. One dimensional. Won’t be reading any more of her books.

12.Apples Never Fall by Lianne Moriarty Quite enjoyable, another holiday read. Again, I won’t be reading any more of her books!

13.The Inkblack Heart by Robert Galbraith Another utterly fabulous book centred on Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott. A superb detective story paired with the ongoing will they/won’t they saga of the two main protagonists. Can’t wait for the next instalment.

14.The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell A great page turner with twists and turns. Does what it says on the tin.

15.Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson Loved this new offering from one of my favourite authors.

Can I join? I've read 2 Elizabeth Strout books My Name is Lucy Barton and Amy and Isabelle. I liked both of these.

Also read The Melting by Lize Spit. Liked it but a bit strange.

There are a couple of others I've read but forget the names.

We’ll we’re safely tucked into a One& Only resort so I think we’re ok 😁!

I wouldn't recommend reading the part where she goes to Mexico then, too scary!

@drspouse by coincidence we are on a holiday in the Mexican jungle / seaside atm 😁!

I've read 31 I am Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez, a YA book but plenty to get your teeth into.

32 The Stranding, by Kate Sawyer, post-apocalyptic novel which is not really my usual fare but was for a book group. I'm not completely sure about the book group which is very jolly hockey sticks and pronoun badges 20-something but will see how it goes as the books are interesting.

32 The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (kindle). The first half of the book I didn't really enjoy, somewhat depressing, but I persevered and the second half was much better and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

31: Coming to England by Floella Benjamin (audio). Floella and her family arrived in Britain from Trinidad in 1960, this book tells the story of her early life in Trinidad, the memorable journey across the Atlantic and her early years in Britain where she found she had to work hard to be accepted. Interesting and enjoyable, narrated in her inimitable style.

28 - The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal
Having read Circus of Wonders earlier this year I was really looking forward to this. It was well written and readable but it moved into 'thriller' territory which isn't my favourite. Bit slow moving in places too.

I finished Undoctored by Adam Kay , now starting
24 The man who died twice - Richard Osman ( the second Thursday Murder Club book

30 - Making It by Jay Blades (audio). This was fascinating, Jay has led such an interesting life. Born to a single mother, with no father figure in his life, encountering racism from an early age, struggling with education due to undiagnosed dyslexia, studying for a degree as a mature student with dyslexia diagnosed, then setting up various organisations to help improve the lives of undeprivileged young people, eventually leading to his role as the presenter of The Repair Shop.

I finished the Whistler by John Grisham but am still reading Evicted on my Kindle . In the meanwhile I read
22 Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman I got ages ago ( we have the two next ones too ) . It was ok ,quite easy to read . Then started
23 Undoctored Adam Kay which I like and have read his others too

@dalisdrippingclock so good. I think I am now likely to enter a book slump!

Oh didn't it? I loved this book.

27 The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
This was brilliant, absolutely lived up to the hype

29: Songbirds by Christy Lefteri (audio) - a beautifully written (and narrated) book, the tale of Nisha, the Sri Lankan maid to a widowed mother, Petra and her daughter in Cyprus. Nisha too is widowed and has a daughter at home in Sri Lanka, she also has a lover, Yiannis. Nisha goes missing one day, this book is told through the eyes of Petra and Yiannis as they search for her and realise how little they knew of the real Nisha.