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.

Has anyone seen this?
readinggroups.org/big-jubilee-read

I have read a few already, some I'd happily re-read, some I will not be re-reading (e.g. A Suitable Boy which was actually very good but SO LONG).

I'm not sure these are right but I'll carry on from where I was
20 Break in the Sun by Bernard Ashley - loved this as a child
21 The Frequency of Us by Keith Stuart. Really nice alternative world novel with a twist.

@Nordicmum and @SortingOffice

I really like Adrian McKinty's Sean Duffy books too - I still have Police at the Station ... (#6) TBR. I also enjoyed the first of his trilogy featuring an Irish guy who has become an illegal migrant in NYC, and must get to the others and his earlier books. I have The Chain to read and will look out for the new one.

I'm a bit sad that he apparently wasn't really able to break through to sustain his career as a full time writer with the Sean Duffy novels, and was considering giving up when he wrote The Chain. But as a long time crime reader I know I've been wary of a number of writers making big changes in their work, and when I've finally got round to reading the books, some I've loved, some aren't quite my thing, but if it helps them make a living and brings an audience to their backlist, that has to be a good thing.

@elkiedee I was so disappointed that I couldn't get into The Chain. I agree it's such a shame that a talented writer like McKinty can't make a living.

I just Googled Adrian McKinty and there's a detailed account of what happened on his Wikipedia page.

The Chain was a breakthrough novel - in 2017 AM said he couldn't pay his family's rent and bills etc and he was having to give up on being a full time writer and take up being an Uber driver. Another crime writer in the US, Don Winslow, persuaded his own publisher to take another look at AM and AM wrote The Chain - his success with that means that he's been able to write full time again.

Better still, there are two more Sean Duffy stories on the way. They've already been published but in German translation (I'd come across these listed and did wonder what the story was - but my knowledge of German is limited to an O level grade C over 37 years ago) but #7 is now scheduled for publication later this year.

@elkiedee I wonder what the titles will be? He always uses Tom Waites song titles.

23: Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson. Decided to take an old favourite on holiday with me, Bill never disappoints with his observant and witty style. Seems a bit dated now with references to British Rail etc but a great trip down memory lane.

16 Sunny Side Up. A Story of Kindness and Joy by Susan Calman

I love Susan Calman, and this book was funny, but I found it a bit rambling and the chapters were too long. Second half was better.

20. Three Apples Fell from the Sky Narine Abgaryan trans. by Lisa C. Hayden

This was such a lovely read. In a small, isolated Armenian village, Anatolia takes to her bed because today is the day that she will die. However, things take a turn and she doesn’t die. We get introduced to various personalities from the village and I quite would have liked a family tree to keep track
of everyone, but over all I really enjoyed this folksy, fairy tale like yarn laced with magical realism. It just worked.

I totally fell away from reading for months there but we went on a 10 day holiday and I read 3 books so getting back into the swing of it! Currently at 8/25 for the year but optimistic I'll get to 25.

My internet is really playing up but l need to list my books and catch up on the thread for book recommendations.

Finally finished The Bletchley Girls.

The one by Kathleen McGurl? I loved that book

20. Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley by M.C. Beaton - My gran was fond of a cozy mystery, and when she died a couple of years ago I inherited a stack of her Agatha Raisin books. I've been swamped at work so this was a perfect easy read, with the added bonus of reminding me of times spent reading with my gran.

I've now started This Charming Man by Marian Keyes. I haven't read any of her work before, but keep hearing good things about her on Mumsnet so hopefully it lives up to the hype!

I finished 3 books this month:

10. Rubbernecker - Belinda Bauer. Enjoyed this - part whodunnit, part thriller. There was a tiny plot hole that irritated me slightly but otherwise it was pretty well put together I thought.

11. America Unchained - Dave Gorman. This is a quest to drive across the USA from coast to coast by only spending money on food, accommodation and petrol in independent businesses (ie no chains). I love DG but I got the impression that this journey broke his spirit a bit.**

12. Blink - Malcolm Gladwell. Bought this in a Kindle deal on a whim and got a lot out of it.

I finished
17 .The Judge’s list - John Grisham
Am now finishing “How to kill your family “, still in the middle of the “Under The Affluence “but might start another faster to read fiction one at the same time as it . I now only have 9 more book physically in my to read pile , more on kindle though . I’m always trying to do one a week but it’s not normally happening since more than midway through the year ,if I get 26 I’ll be happy though . My goal was just in general to read more and that
‘s happening so I’m achieving that . I finished the John Grisham yesterday and am set on finishing this Bella Mackie today . I have a few days home alone while older DS doing a course and DH at his moms with the dog and DD . I have other stuff I should probably do like decluttering and organising or packing for a trip but that’s in 3 w so I am now reading when it’s all quiet !!!
.

And I also really like “ The Island “by Adrian McKinty so I recommend that to The Chain readers . I have not read his other books . I hope he’ll keep on writing and I’ll keep on buying them !

Just finished book 17 - Pachinko by Ming Jin Lee
One I've been meaning to read for ages and really enjoyed it. Part of my quest to read more Asian authors.

Oh it was actually book 18

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

10. Bombs on Aunt Dainty 11. On the Come Up 12. Here Comes the Sun 13. The Lincoln Highway 14. Red Clocks 15. Dear Edward 16. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime 17. Solitaire 18. Tasting Sunlight

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.

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.

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

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 always fall out of rhythm during the summer holidays but usually pick up again in September, so I think I’m still on track.

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!

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. 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 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.