26-ish books in 2022

21. This Charming Man by Marian Keyes - The story of four women who are all connected in some way to the titular charming man, and their shared secret. I can't say too much without giving it away, but I was particularly drawn to Marnie's story and went between pitying her and wanting to shake her. I blame this book for giving me a Smiths shaped earworm.

22. How To Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann - Set in modern day New York, five 'fairytale' characters attend a support group to process their trauma. (One of the characters is actually a competitor from a Bachelor type reality show rather than a traditional fairytale, but it works)

I enjoyed hearing the five women's stories told from their own perspective, and watching their very different personalities interact with each other, but thought the twist at the end was a bit disappointing. Overall a quick, enjoyable read.

Still haven’t finished with the “ Under The Affluence “ but started
19 The Whistler - John Grisham
and finished
20 Elevation - Stephen King which was very short and quite odd but ok . I’m looking forward to his new book coming in September I think “ Fairytale “ which I’ve preordered . We’re on holiday and I forgot my kindle home and finished my book so I’m reading my magazines and newspapers . On the next trip I’ll make sure I have my kindle as usual …

Book 25 Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Science - Luke O'Neill A book looking at Science to answer some questions on current affairs. It had some good chapters particularly on finding for medicines and vaccines and some a bit boring imo. (Audio Book)

Book 26 Lucky by Alice Sebold A book about the authors rape when a college student. I wasn't sure about this book and have become more conflicted since learning that the person convicted had that conviction overturned.

Book 27 (Audio) Apples Never Fall - Liane Moriarty I was so disappointed in this book, both in the story and in the narration. The book is very drawn out with a disappointing ending. The Australian accent of the narrator really grated on me and I won't even begin on the woeful Irish accent she tried to put on!

Book 28 Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro This was just ok. I didn't get the hype over this book, but then this just wasn't my cup of tea...

These are cheating a little as they are the Radio 4 abridged audio versions, but I want to list them.

25: Takeaway by Angela Hui - the story of a girl growing up in her parents Chinese takeaway in Wales - fascinating story of the hard work and cultural expectations of the family and business.

26: Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen - the story of an 18 year old girl in 1990s Northern Ireland and her summer job in a factory while she waits to get her A level results to move to England. Set against the backdrop of the Peace Process, Maeve is in for a few shocks in her new job but is more than up to the task.

25 The Wool Pack by Cynthia Harnett which I found at a relative's house, loved it as a child! Sadly one of my DCs would never like this kind of book and the other isn't ready for it yet.
26 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John LeCarre. The first of my Jubilee Reads. Not going to lie, I find this kind of book confusing. But it's so well written.

21 - The Lie of the Land - Amanda Craig

Never heard of Amanda Craig, although I feel I should have. This was a really well written book and I found it quite gripping, but the ending became too far-fetched for me. Some of the themes and ideas explored were interesting though and it was a worthwhile read. Will keep an eye out for other books by her.

I finished
18 . Finders Keepers - Stephen King that was good
Next either finishing the Under Affluence or starting another John Grisham I think . Now 6 1/2 books left in my to read pile . I’m nearing an empty drawer but have more on kindle and a few book of DH or DS I might want to read . I’m still aiming to read a book a week but it’s not generally happening with everything else going on with the kids and the house plus being too tired in the evenings to read . Definitely reading more this year though as I intended to .

1. How We Disappeared – Jing Jing Lee
2. The Confession – Jessie Burtion
3. A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles
4. The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett
5. The Siege – Helen Dunmore
6. Rivers of London – Ben Aaronovitch
7. Circus of Wonders – Elizabeth Macneal
8. The Mad Women’s Ball – Victoria Mas
9. The Light Between Oceans – M.L Stedman
10. Sin Eater – Megan Campisi
11. The Paper Palace – Miranda Cowley Heller
12. The Huntress – Kate Quinn
13. The Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams
14. Klara and the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro
15. The Lamplighters – Emma Stonex
16. Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
17. Pachinko – Lee Min Jin
18. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane – Lisa See
19. Lily - Rose Tremain 20) Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter - Lizzie Pook I was almost put off by the tedious 'random job + relative' title but I was drawn to giving it a go from the beautiful cover and the blurb.(charity shop find - unread and published this year) I thoroughly enjoyed this - set in Northwestern Australia at the end of the 19th Century, the story focuses on Eliza's search for her father- a pearler who goes missing from his boat. It's got a great cast of characters and the descriptive writing is so beautiful - I learnt a lot about the landscape of the area as well as the birds and animals. Excellent read.

I've just finished The Confession by Jessie Burton - I really liked it.

About to start Mother Mother by Annie Mac

Hello, new to the thread! Currently reading The Paper Palace which is book number 15 this year. Next up Maybe in another life by TJR and Slow Burning Fire. Then it should be time to start on my autumn/winter pile! Read so far -

1. Worst Idea Ever by Jane Fallon 5/10
2. Hamnet 10/10
3. The Humans by Matt Haig 7/10
4. Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers 8/10
5. Mrs England by Stacey Hall 7/10
6. Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner 7/10
7. The Push by Audry Audrain 8/10
8. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover 7/10
9. Idol by Louise O'Neill 8/10

1. How We Disappeared – Jing Jing Lee
2. The Confession – Jessie Burtion
3. A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles
4. The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett
5. The Siege – Helen Dunmore
6. Rivers of London – Ben Aaronovitch
7. Circus of Wonders – Elizabeth Macneal
8. The Mad Women’s Ball – Victoria Mas
9. The Light Between Oceans – M.L Stedman
10. Sin Eater – Megan Campisi
11. The Paper Palace – Miranda Cowley Heller
12. The Huntress – Kate Quinn
13. The Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams
14. Klara and the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro
15. The Lamplighters – Emma Stonex
16. Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
17. Pachinko – Lee Min Jin
18. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane – Lisa See 19) Lily - Rose Tremain

I know this has had some lukewarm reviews but I enjoyed it. I was quite drawn to the main character and I thought it explored some interesting themes. Quite short too.

😂 - in fact these types of titles usually stop me from even starting a book, but in this case it was a very good book!! If you can look past the formulaic title it's a worthy read

😂

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
That does sound a lot like it used this formula to write the title:

twitter.com/AidanSevers/status/1556660712512053249?s=20&t=86PtKTT6YQ5FDoUBpYR_Hg

> The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane was recommended to me on here - I absolutely loved, it, devoured it in a weekend and was eagerly getting back to it whenever I could. This read forms part of my aim to include books by South East/Far East Asian authors and settings.

@YingMei I have Tea Girl TBR but also recommend Lisa See's previous book The Island of Sea Women, set on Jura, an island in South Korea, from the 1930s to the late 20th century (perhaps early 21st but I think that's unlikely).

24 Perfect by Rachel Joyce.
I guessed the twist, but I did enjoy this. Oddly the present day parts were more evocative than the past episodes.
I have one more of my original challenge, and I'm going to read some really light stuff, and some of the Jubilee list.

1. How We Disappeared – Jing Jing Lee
2. The Confession – Jessie Burtion
3. A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles
4. The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett
5. The Siege – Helen Dunmore
6. Rivers of London – Ben Aaronovitch
7. Circus of Wonders – Elizabeth Macneal
8. The Mad Women’s Ball – Victoria Mas
9. The Light Between Oceans – M.L Stedman
10. Sin Eater – Megan Campisi
11. The Paper Palace – Miranda Cowley Heller
12. The Huntress – Kate Quinn
13. The Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams
14. Klara and the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro
15. The Lamplighters – Emma Stonex
16. Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
17. Pachinko – Lee Min Jin 18) The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane – Lisa See

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane was recommended to me on here - I absolutely loved, it, devoured it in a weekend and was eagerly getting back to it whenever I could. This read forms part of my aim to include books by South East/Far East Asian authors and settings.

24: The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexandar MacColl Smith. I first read this and several more in the series years ago, but have got jumbled up as to which ones I've read now especially with the more recent ones so I'm starting again at the beginning. Lovely easy read, beautiful descriptions of Africa and a more traditional way of life.

1. The Midnight Bell - Patrick Hamilton
2. The Cat Who Saved Books - Sosuke Natsukawa
3. Circe - Madeline Miller
4. Galatea - Madeline Miller
5. Daughter of The Sea - Berlie Doherty
6. The Train Was On Time - Heinrich Böll
7. A Book of Dreams - Peter Reich
8. Mouthpieces - Eimear McBride
9. And Away… - Bob Mortimer
10. Me Moir - Vic Reeves
11. The Storyteller - Dave Grohl
12. Seven Steeples - Sara Baume
13. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck - Mark Manson
14. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work - Mason Currey
15. The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
16. The Silence of The Girls - Pat Barker
17. Acid for The Children - Flea
18. Dissolution of The Monasteries - G. Woodward

I love having several books on the go at once: non-fiction in the mornings, fiction at bedtime and an audiobook for car journeys, walks and when I’m cooking/cleaning but these have to be autobiographies read by the author or I lose focus!

I finished “How to kill your family “ and have been reading more “ Under The Affluence “ but also started more fiction in the form of
18 .Finders Keepers - Stephen King which seems good so far

Book 20 As you Were - Elaine Feeny this was ok, but I really struggled to warm to the main character.

Book 21 This Charming Man - Marian Keys an audio book that I really enjoyed despite the serious elements to the storyline.

Book 22 Break Sugar Cravings - Kathy Heshelow a self help book, just ok.

Book 23 Mammy Walshes A-Z of the Walsh Family - Marian Keys Quite a short read but some funny anecdotes.

Book 24 The Party Crasher - Sophie Kinsella An audio book that was ok. A light read, grand for my walks but very predictable.

I've started reading Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Isiguro, but finding it hard to get into... Also listening to Apple's Never fall by Liane Moriarty.

22 Difficult Women by Helen Lewis, a book group re-read.
23 The Nurse by Claire Allen, a thriller set in Derry.
Very different books but both very good.

Dropped off the thread and then did an international move and reading dropped off my to do list, but back into it. Fresh list, ones that I’ve loved in bold:

1. Piranesi
2. The Ocean at the End of the Lane
3. Still Life
4. Wayward
5. The Bass Rock
6. Hunger
7. The Female Persuasion
8. The Parted Earth
9. The Lost Daughter

Oh it was actually book 18