50 Books Challenge 2022 Part six

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the sixth thread of the 50 Books Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2022, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, it’s not too late to join, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

What are you reading?

Ballet Shoes -Noel Streatfeild

I am much to old ti be reading this for the first time! I’d probably have loved it at 8 of 9. What a shit Gum was.

Remus, thank you! Just what I needed and have downloaded a couple. Too many books recently have been non-cheery so I badly need some escapism.

Adding the Susan Scarlett books to my list too - I could do with some new comfort reads

55. A Gentleman in Moscow: Amor Towles.

This was a pleasure to read. I borrowed it from the library and liked it so much that I went out and bought my own paperback copy.

I was wondering before I started it if I would find it claustrophobic to read about a man who lived half his life in a hotel room under house arrest. Not at all. The Count is a wonderful character; noble, proud, optimistic, good-natured and a total charmer. He lives a very fulfilling life and rises above his circumstances.

While the Count stays in one place, other characters come and go and the story gives great insight of the turbulent years of Russian history from 1922 to the 1950s. I found it very absorbing. I really enjoyed references to 'War and Peace' as I'm reading that at the moment, in particular the character of Kutuzov, the one-eyed cat.

Recommended as a good tale about political intrigue, espionage, romance, philosophical reflection and how to enjoy life's simple pleasures.

14. People Like Her Ellery Lloyd I thought I'd reached peak rubbish psychological thrillers with Our House, but I think on balance that this was worse. In the interminable opening chapters, we are introduced to Emmy an instamum making money blogging about her life with a preschooler and baby. Husband Dan isn't keen, but is resigned to it as it is their sole source of income. Unsurprisingly, we learn that 'mum blogs' are carefuly curated rather than an unvarnished potrayal of real life and that parading your family on the internet for money is morally dubious at best Emmy is unlikeable and self-centred. By the time the stalker appears (they get their own 1st person chapters) you're rooting for them until they turn out to be a truly evil bunch of cliches. At one point they say something like 'my colleagues think im so kind and caring if only they knew ....'🙄 After a few wrong turns & red herrings their identity is revealed. The ending is unbelievable on several levels and lacks the conviction to follow through on the build up. Lots of good reviews on amazon & goodreads, but wasn't for me.

48 O Caledonia Elspeth Barker - Picked up after recommendations on here and read over a a couple of evenings. Despite inhaling it I’m not really sure where I stand - I didn’t unreservedly love it as I expected to from the positive reviews both here and from other writers. I like darkly comic, which was what I was expecting, but this was a bit more dark and never particularly funny I don’t think. But I really did ache for Janet at times, as unlovable as she was. I was a little disappointed by the ending though.

16.The Lighthouse Witches by C.J Cooke
I really enjoyed this one and it is my first highlighted bold of the year. Very good and I definitely recommend.
The author is a new discovery for me and have requested her next book The Ghost Woods as a Christmas present from DH.
I liked how it was told from different times from present day and the past from different character’s story’s. This is very haunting and atmospheric and I found the style of writing excellent.
Mysterious events happen on an island off the coast of Scotland where children seemingly go missing. It is thought that the Island is cursed by witches that were burnt at the stake many years ago.
A young single mum has a commission to paint a mural in an old lighthouse on the island. She travels there with her young daughters and low and behold this family disappear. What has happened to them.
This honestly had me truly gripped and as well as being very haunting had a thriller style to it.

I've loved these threads over the years, thank you for all the book recommendations. I'm signing out of Mumsnet now though so I'm just popping in to wish you many happy threads and good books.

Sorry to see you go bett, wishing you all the best

Really sorry to hear that @bettbburg Wishing you the very best.

Take care bett 🌷

Sorry to hear that @bettbburg, I'll miss you. Wishing you plain sailing and wonderful reads.

Much love @bettbburg ❤️

Tkae care @bettbburg, best wishes x

Take Care Betty

Oh bett, I’m so sorry. Take care of yourself. We will miss you on this thread ❤️

@bettbburg sending love. You will be missed on this thread.

Hope you’re ok bett, best wishes

Take care @bettbburg Sorry to see you go

I’m sorry to hear that @bettbburg , best wishes for the future.

@Midnightstar76 I really liked the Lighthouse Witches too! I read a couple of her earlier books off the back of that, and wasn’t impressed…hopefully the Ghost Woods will be more in the style of the Lighthouse Witches - I’ll look out for it!

Best wishes bett, take care 💐

Very best wishes bett, we will miss you.

bettbburg

Best wishes @bettbburg you'll be missed on the thread.

Take care of yourself, bett.