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.

> 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).

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

😂

😂 - 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

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.

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

10. 1984 (re-read) 11. The Yellow Wallpaper 12. Malibu Rising by TJR 7/10 13. Verity by Colleen Hoover 6/10 14. One True Loves by TJR 7/10

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

About to start Mother Mother by Annie Mac

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 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 .

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.

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.

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.

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...

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 …

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.

I've been away for 4 weeks with no internet, so may posts - I am slowly catching up.

My updates:

Three Apples Fell from the Sky, Marine Abgaryan
I can't recall if I already listed this one. This tells the story of a small Armenian village and its dwindling population. It is witty and lovely, the characters are really well drawn. Not an awful lot happens and the things that do are actually pretty traumatic, but they are a stoic bunch and keep going. I really enjoyed this.

Keeping the House, Tice Cin
This is set in north London in places I recognise and about Turkish Cypriots/Turks in London and the drugs trade. It is a bit experimental and the style took a bit of getting used to and I didn't really get a handle on the characters totally. I did like all the references to Turkish culture, family etc but that was clearly because I recognise them myself.

Three Bags Full, Leonie Swann
I bought this after reading the 'Why are Sheep so Stupid' thread on here (it was very funnny). Someone recommended it. A flock of sheep find their shepherd dead in their field and set about investigating his murder. This was wonderful, silly, witty and just what I needed.

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, Mariana Enriquez, trans. by Megan McDowell

A series of short stories for bookclub. I don't love the short story form and I don't really like creepy/disturbing things and this was both. It was very well written/translated and had elements of magical realism, black magic, magic, spirits and was generally weird and very creepy. One story woke me up in the middle of the night and I switched to only reading it at the beach. I will also never be able to walk the streets of Barcelona again. It also has this amazing cover.

@YingMei I think it was prob me who recommended Tea Girl. I absolutely loved it. Loved it. I cannot make tea without thinking about it. I read it before Pachinko so was less enamoured with Pachinko than most, though I still liked it a lot.

I'm on 23 so well on target.

Haven't updated in a while.

17. Daisy Jones and the Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
18. The Girls in the Garden - Lisa Jewell
19. The Making of Us - Lisa Jewell

Gave all three 4 stars on GR

22 - Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller

There was so much sadness in this book, but it's a very engaging read which I finished quickly.

27 Hackney Child by Hope Daniels. Very harrowing story of neglect and abuse, which took place while I was a teenager so seems very close to home.
28 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, loved this, no idea why I've never read it. I might try it on the DCs (they are a bit resistant to longer chapter books at the moment).

@drspouse

How old are your DCs? I'm not sure that DS1 (now 15 and about to start his GCSE exam year at school) reads much for pleasure now, but he did read quite a lot between 7 and 12 - before that he could read perfectly well and seemed to enjoy bedtime stories and poems but not to be interested in reading on his own. His breakthrough books were from the Horrible Science books and a book called the Hundred Mile an Hour Dog, originally discovered in a park cafe.

They are 8 and 10 but both probably have lower reading ages and the 10 year old resists everything that isn't HIS idea (he has ADHD/demand avoidance). He prefers funny/zany books and superheroes anyway.
DD couldn't read this by herself and she prefers funny also though she's OK with fantasy e.g. Kevin the flying pony.

Have you read them the Agatha Parrot books by Kjartan Poskitt, drspouse? I thought they were hilarious.

Those look good for DD!

27: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (audio) - dragged on a bit in places but a great end to the series. My first ever listen/read of the HP books is complete

23 - Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller

I can't really make up my mind about this, the writing was lovely but the story I found a little unconvincing in places.