Sorry have not posted for weeks, and just bringing my list across. Have four to review at the end.
List so far (Highlights in bold, low points in italics)
- The Wolf and The Raven - Steven MacKay
2.The Hobbit - JRRR Tolkien (Audible)
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Greenwitch - Susan Cooper
4.Child 44 - Tom Robb Smith
5.Fellowship of the Ring - JRRR Tolkien (Audible)
6.Into the Heart of Borneo - Redmond O'Hanlan
7.The No1 Ladies Detective agency
8.The Two Towers - JRRR Tolkien (Audible)
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Crosstalk - Connie Willis (Audible)
10.^The Forest - Edward Rutherfurd
11.Tom’s Midnight Garden - Philippa Pearce
12.1066 - Kaye Jones (Audible)
13.The Reformation - Edward Gosselin (Audible)
14.The Return of the King - JRRR Tolkien (Audible)
15.
Lion by Saroo Brierley (for Bookclub)
16.
The Muse by Jessie Burton (on Audible)
17. Henry VIII's wives - Julie Wheeler
18. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula de Guin
19.
Fall of Giants by Ken Follet
20. Stig of the Dump by Clive King
21. Edward I - A Great and Terrible King by Marc Morris
22.
Nomad by Alan partridge (on Audible)
23. Saigon by Anthony Grey.
24: CHarlotte's Web by EB White
25: Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris.
26:
The Light Years (The Cazalets 1) (Audible)
27: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Attwood
Read for Book Club. It has been reviewed many times on here, so not much I can add, but certainly and engaging and interesting read. There is so much unsaid, that I found quite frustrating but I do realise that is part of the appeal of the book to so many.
28: Empire of the Sun by CG Ballard. (Audible)
I saw the film many years ago, but had never read the book. The story of a boy living a life of colonial privilege with servants in 1930s Shanghai, whose life changes when the Japanese invade. He is separated from his parents and spends a while hiding in abandoned houses in Shanghai, until he is befriended by first some Japanese soldiers and then some Americans also in hiding. He is eventually caught and sent to an internment camp. A good story, told through the eyes of a child, bit grim in places. I did want to know more about how he adjusted to life after the war, and there is a sequel but it doesn't have great reviews.
29: A Place Called Winter - by Patrick Gale.
The story of Harry Cane in the early 1900s who is brought up as an English gentleman and has never worked. He is married and has a daughter, but has a homosexual affair and leaves his wife and family and emigrates to Canada to escape prison and disgrace. The Canadian government are offering free land to whoever can farm it, so he decides to become a farmer. He spends a year as a farmhand for board and lodgings learning how to farm and then sets out alone. Interesting story that kept my attention, when the book begins he is in a mental asylum and he cannot remember why he is there, the story comes out as he talks to his psychiatrist.
29: The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell
First in a trilogy about Arthur, narrated by one of his warriors, Derfel, as an old man. I first read these about 20 years ago, so listening on Audible is techincally a re-read, but enjoying it. Different from many of versions of the Arthur stories, Arthur is not a King but a Warlord, sworn to protect the boy-king Mordred. Morgan is a minor but intriguing character, Guinevere is a cow and Lancelot is a prat. Merlin is there, so is Galahad. A grown up version of Arthur, less chivilrous lords and ladies at Camelot, more blood and guts of Dark Ages Britain.
Currently listening to Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell (#2 of the Arthur Warlord series) on Audible
and currently reading The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd on Kindle for next month's bookclub