26-ish books in 2022

[StColumbofNavron]

Roll up, roll up ...

Shiny new thread for 2022.

I am setting my target at 25 this year.

I want to read at least a min of 5 in hardcopy and at least 4 non-fiction.

@WeeFae have you read The Manningtree Witches yet? I haven't read The Mercies but from it seems to be a similar topic. I read The Manningtree Witches last year and enjoyed it.

@Weefae

I’ve read a witchy book about the Salem Witch trials. It was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. It was a while ago so I don’t remember tons of it but it was ok. Not as good as Burial Rites but probably an easier read.

9. A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara
The book starts off as an exploration of friendship between four men as they embark on their life in New York, post college, and attempt to achieve their dreams. The narrative flips between the view points of these four characters before focusing mainly on Jude, who it becomes clear has had a very troubled and traumatic past, resulting in various physical and mental issues.

My main thoughts about this book are that it was very long and drawn out - without giving away the ending, it was pretty clear from fairly early on how this story was likely to end - but it took an exhausting and draining amount of time to get there. Also, the author is clearly a sadist. I've never known a writer heap devastation upon abuse upon trauma on their main character (as well as many supporting characters) in such abundance.

My final thought was that the level of detail the author went in to regarding locations in New York, and the opulence of the characters lives was a bit over the top.

Overall I'm not sure what I thought of this book. I can't say I found it an enjoyable read, given that it was quite harrowing throughout, but it was definitely an experience and I am glad that I read it.

@Divebar2021 I would advise avoiding this book if you don't want o read more trauma involving small boys.

@livingonpurpose I think my problem with it was the fact that everyone else had relatively easy lives, even the main character seemed to achieve easy financial success - it was as though the author felt the trauma had to be offset with immense privilege to earn the trauma or the other way around? It didn’t sit as very real

I’m probably horrible sadist but I do gravitate towards books that explore darker experiences and immense grief and sadness

@livingonpurpose

All received. Thanks for the warning. I’m currently reading Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers which is free of small boys so far.

10. The Pursuit of Love - Nancy Mitford
I needed something lighter after reading A Little Life and this book did the trick. A fast and easy read, the narrator tells the story of her cousin Linda (who she grew up very close to) as she follows her childhood dream of finding true love and marriage - although with not much success, at least to start with.

From the blurb/reviews I was expecting the book to be funny, and whilst it didn't make me laugh at all, it was sort of amusing. Released in 1945 it is obviously quite dated and not very politically correct - although I got the feeling that some of this was intentional even then.
I'd say that I found it enjoyable but nothing special.

The Wizards of Once, Twice Magic - Cressida Cowell
This is a book that I read to my son, so I don't count it in my overall number but have decided to share here anyway in case anyone can benefit from the review. Second instalment in the Wizards of Once series by the How To Train Your Dragon author. I have to say that I don't really like this series of books - I find both the lead characters annoying and bratty. But my son loves them and so we keep on reading them. This book follows Warrior Wish and Wizard Xar as they attempt to collect ingredients for a spell to banish witches once and for all, but unfortunately the Kingwitch has other ideas and wants to steal Wish's magic for himself.

@KobaniDaughters - yes! Each one of the four friends achieve outstanding levels of success in their own fields, and had immense, almost obscene privilege. It was quite bizarre.

1. The Inheritance Of Loss by Kiran Desai
2. The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan
3. Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
4. Milkman by Anna Burns

1. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo - I read this to give myself a kick up the bum in preparation for having a declutter at the weekend, but I don't think it adds much if you've already seen the Netflix show. Kondo came across as a bit anxious and obsessive in parts, particularly when she talked about her childhood. She's quite open about her flaws though, and clearly a shrewd business woman.

livingonpurpose I couldn't put A Little Life down, even though it was incredibly harrowing.
The author has a new book out which looks really interesting.

1. Freckles by Cecelia Ahern (book)
2. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (audio)
3. The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri (audio)
4. Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian (audio)

5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling (audio). - I have been challenged to read the HPs this year by one of my teens. I had read this one before years ago but none of the rest of them. I found it a bit childish TBH but everyone tells me they get better.

@BaconAndAvocado I’m eagerly awaiting it - a friend has sent me a signed copy!

[quote KobaniDaughters]@BaconAndAvocado I’m eagerly awaiting it - a friend has sent me a signed copy![/quote]
Wow, lucky you!
I think my only signed book is one by Kate Atkinson.
I met her after a Waterstone's talk.
Tbh she was a bit underwhelming .....but I still love her books.

Love a book signing. I’ve got,

Jung Chang
Elif Shafak
Bethany Hughes
Orlando Figes
Louis de Bernieres
Joanna Bourke

Off the top of my head.

@WeeFae looking forward to reading The Mercies - have had it on my kindle for a while. I second The Sealwoman's Gift and I also enjoyed The Familiars by Stacey Halls which might be worth a try if you've not read it.

1. House of Glass: The story and secrets of a twentieth century Jewish family by Hadley Freeman. Fascinating family memoir by an excellent writer. I was really engrossed in this historical account which was meticulously researched and very thought provoking. Highly recommend.
2. Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes. This was hilarious in places and I loved the writing style so I'll definitely read another book by Marian Keyes. For me this book was too long to really hold my interest. I get that Rachel was supposed to be very self-absorbed and shallow but I felt this made her a bit difficult to connect with.

I'm now going to try Winter by Ali Smith and at long last, A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles.

Thank you for all the great recommendations, plenty to keep me busy!

WeeFae bear in mind that any dislike for A Gentleman in Moscow results in immediate dismissal from this thread 😂😂

Hahaha @BaconAndAvocado I still think about the Count and the hotel. DS3 and I like reading Thomas Taylor's books (Malamander, Gargantis and Shadowghast) and one of the main characters works in the Grand Nautilus Hotel in Eerie on Sea and my brain absolutely envisages the exact same hotel that I imagined for A Gentleman in Moscow and I indulge myself by imagining the Count living upstairs and coming into contact with Herbie.

@BaconAndAvocado

livingonpurpose I couldn't put A Little Life down, even though it was incredibly harrowing. The author has a new book out which looks really interesting.

BaconAndAvocado I agree - even though it was harrowing and had many annoying aspects to it, I couldn't put it down either! I'm unsure whether to read her new one though...so will await yours and KobaniDaughters reviews with interest.

StColumbofNavron
Yes, visiting the Metropole Hotel in Moscow is definitely on my bucket list!

I'm gutted that I only went to Moscow a few years ago and didn't visit, but I guess it wasn't on my radar then.

@DonEmmanuelsDingleberries

1. The Inheritance Of Loss by Kiran Desai

1. The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan
2. Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
3. Milkman by Anna Burns

1. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo - I read this to give myself a kick up the bum in preparation for having a declutter at the weekend, but I don't think it adds much if you've already seen the Netflix show. Kondo came across as a bit anxious and obsessive in parts, particularly when she talked about her childhood. She's quite open about her flaws though, and clearly a shrewd business woman.

@DonEmmanuelsDingleberries Look up Decluttering at the Speed of Light by Dana White. I found this much more relatable than Marie Kondo and her folding socks! Good listen on Audible too.

@yoshiblue thanks for the recommendation. I think I might have listened to a podcast of hers. Confessions of a Slob or something? I'm bad with names!

Finished book 6 - Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burn Out Generation by Anne Helen Petersen. To be honest I was just skimming this one by the end. It reads like an overly long op-ed, and I didn't feel that I gained any new information.

Starting The Secret History by Donna Tart today. It's been on my bookshelf for ages, so hope it's worth the wait.

@DonEmmanuelsDingleberries yes you’re right, she has a podcast but from memory it had loads of ads. I found listening to a targeted audiobook much better.

1. The House at Old Vine by Norah Lofts
2. The House at Sunset by Norah Lofts
3. Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss
4. The Girl with the Louding Voice by Adi Dare
5. The Red Tent by Anita Daimant
6. The Family from One End Street by Eve Garnett
7. Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney
8. Small Pleasures by Claire Chambers
9. The Pull of Stars by Emma Donoghue

10. The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave 11. A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe A sad but also lovely story about an 18-year-old embalmer who goes to Aberfan in the aftermath of the disaster and how that affects his life after. It also goes into his earlier life, the friendships he made and the bonds with his family.

If it's not too late, may I join?
I'm off to a slow start this year due to book 1 being
Blue Eyed Boy by Joanne Harris. I've loved everything else I've ever read by her but god this was hard work.
Nevermore recommended by a child I
teach - I like to read some kids / young adult books to keep in touch.
My Grandmother sends her regards and apologises Only a few chapters in but enjoying so far - it's by Fredrik Backmann who wrote A Man Called Ove, one of my favourites of all time.