26-ish books 2024

1. Pachinko - Min Jin Lee

I had a reading haitus. And missed it.

I really enjoyed Pachinko, I like these generational stories in other countries that give me a better understanding what it was like to live through the historical events that affected them. It brings it to life in a way a historical factual book doesn't.

I have just got a 30 day free trial of Prime and thought I'd get a couple of free books while I do, but there's nothing much I like the look of. I've downloaded The Reading List to try. Any recommendations that are on there?

I've also treated myself to Prophet Song for after my 30 days free books.

Going to catch up on all your reads.

It is @Asiatoyork but in a kind of "well I'm not going to let that get me down" way.

I have Hags on my kindle @drspouse Have put off reading it because I fear it will be demoralising

6 Alan Carr: the easy way to enjoy flying. Functional rather than reading for pleasure! Didn’t help FYI

I am SOOO far behind where I was at this point last year.

3 - At Home, by Bill Bryson.
4 - Smoke gets in your eyes by Caitlyn Doughty - biography of the woman who does the 'Ask a mortician' youtube things. DH likes her so bought me one of her books for my birthday.

5 - From Here to Eternity, travelling the world for a good death.

Finished no 7, Hags by Victoria Smith.

Masses of really interesting information but depressing as heck!

Bit of a slow start but just finished my fourth.

4.City of Girls - Elizabeth Gilbert. Perfectly fine but didn't enjoy this as much as I expected to. Can't pinpoint why. It had notes of Shrines of Gaiety but I didn't like it as much.

About to start Mrs England - Stacey Halls.

I'll look into her books; feel I should give her another go on one of her 'proper' novels.

Oh actually, that’s 4 and 5!

My list of book ideas is ever growing!

3 Remarkably bright creatures. A bit contrived and daft, but I enjoyed it a lot

4 The Fifth Sun (non fiction). Found this interesting, but not gripping

@TrustPenguins I went through a stage years ago of reading a lot of Iris Murdoch. I think my favourite is The Unicorn.

Something Special by Iris Murdoch

A (very) short story of a 'bold' Irish woman and 'respectable' young man. Surprising end. Not sure I quite got it.
It's the first Iris Murdoch I've read and doubt this is by far her best work...
2.5 out of 5.

@Aurora93 I've seen the film and read the book though it was a good few years ago. I enjoyed both though probably preferred the film (unusually) as I like Kate Winslett. Despite enjoying the book I found the characters all difficult to like.

3. The Good Immigrant 21 writers reflect on race in contemporary Britain. Edited by Nikesh Shukla.
Very much worth reading, if a bit depressing. Covers a wide range of topics.

1. This Christmas
2. A Terrible Kindness

Loved 2. A lovely story that covers being a chorister in Cambridge and the Aberfan Mining tragedy

I loved the TV series Outlander, haven't read the books but have heard they are amazing.

Sorry this is long!!

When reading comes up in general chit chat people ask what type of books I like to read. I feel daft saying “anything really” but it’s the truth. I’ll give anything a go. Nearly every genre I’ve tried I’ve liked. I’ll start out unsure but it doesn’t last long.

I thought I didn’t like crime but I’m a total convert. Loved the Vera books, and Roy Grace. Too many others to list but those are the stand outs so far.

I didn’t think I’d fancy historical fiction. It’s too trashy, not accurate enough, the discrepancies would be annoying. Wrong again.

I really didn’t fancy any fantasy until I read A Song of Ice and Fire in 3 weeks.

This is a bit of a ramble so try to stick with me. I’d heard mixed things about this next book. Time travelling, fantasy, historical fiction?? Nah. Not for me thanks. I downloaded a sample on to my kindle about 3 years ago. My choice to avoid was confirmed. Hideous. Not. For. Me.

It was reduced to 99p at the time the latest in the series came out. Huge glitzy displays in book shops.

I parted with 99p. It’s sat there. Ignored on my kindle.

You all know where this is going by now.

7- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 10 stars. Utter dross. I loved every moment. I couldn’t tell you why. I couldn’t tell you what I like about it. There’s a lot I could say that isn’t very flattering. But I’m too busy deciding whether the sequel is worth £4.99 or if I need to wait until I see it in Oxfam.

No 6, The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. Book group book. Somewhat gripping story but way too many anachronisms (Ms in the 18th century? Please!).

4. Still Life by Sarah Winman
I had high hopes for this one. Took a while to get into and eventually I grew to enjoy it, but not love it.
The great characters were the best thing about it.

Goodbyeimgoinghome
No, I haven’t.

I loved Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet. Couldn’t get on with The Paying Guests but I know how well-loved it is in these parts.

The Nightwatch and Little Stranger are definitely on my wish list....although I’m not doing any actual purchasing of books until I’ve made a dent in my current TBR pile.

Currently reading The Appeal. An unusual and quite entertaining read.

@SlightlyJaded totally. In that way it reminded me of a gentleman in Moscow. Not much actually going on but totally engrossing.

I have gushed about this on this thread - such an incredible book. A masterclass in being engrossing and heartstopping despite nothing much 'happening' for most of the book.

1. Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh, I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book in the series but it was reasonably enjoyable.
2. Audio book Tough Crowd by Graham Linehan. Interesting, see the feminist boards on MN for more information.
3. A History of Loneliness by John Boyne. A fantastic read, I love John Boyne's writing and The Hearts Invisible Furies is in my top 5 all time favourite books. This is a poignant and moving read about the Catholic Church and cover ups of child sexual abuse.
4. Audio book A Keeper by Graham Norton, I'm away on holiday at the moment and this has been an enjoyable listen on the beach. I like that it was narrated by GH as I find his voice lovely to listen to. Probably not wonderfully written but I enjoyed the storyline and how it shifts in time.

This is a great thread for finding new authors 😊

Finished 5 books so far so I am feeling pretty pleased with myself.

1. Stone Yard Devotional - Charlotte Wood
2. Strange Sally Diamond - Liz Nugent
3. Normal Rules Don’t Apply - Kate Atkinson
4. The Drowning Girls - Veronica Lando
5. Lessons In Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus

I have enjoyed everything. I generally love Kate Atkinson but don’t usually read short stories. However, I did like this collection especially the way the stories interconnected.

I know Lessons In Chemistry has been slated on MN but I thought it was a really fun read.

I have now started on The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney and also listening to Limberlost - Robbie Arnott on Libby.

5.The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka

this book is MAD! I don’t think I gave it due diligence, not one to read when you have other things on your mind or only have time at bedtime. It deserves really concentrated reading at least a chapter at a time and as a consequence I think I didn’t quite engage with the characters as much as I might otherwise have done - but if you want a bit of brain-working challenge, a crazy story that moves between the real world and the beyond, historical genocide, mafia style prose and second person narrative this is for you. Not surprised it won the Booker!

@BaconAndAvocado Yep, needed a January comfort read and there's nothing like a bit of childhood regression 😁