26-ish books for 2023

[Tinkhasflown]

A shiny new thread for 2023. There didn't appear to be one do hope it's ok that I have created it this year.

All welcome and note 26 is just a number. Everyone can set their own target and you are welcome here even if you only read 3 books a year.

I personally count the larger novel style books I read to my children and audio books I listen to. Others don't and there are no rules.

I look forward to all your suggestions again this year.

25: An Honest Man by Ben Fergusson. The story of 18 year old Ralf, growing up in West Berlin in 1989 as the fall of the Berlin Wall was approaching. A mixture of coming-of-age and Cold War espionage, this book is very atmospheric, the characters all seem real, I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

30 Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell
31 The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell
32 19 Claws and a Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica

17. The Last Rose of Shanghai - Weina Dai Randel.
    I enjoyed this by the end more than I did through it at times. I enjoyed the storyline perhaps a little more than the writing. It, bizarrely at times, felt both too long winded and went too fast. As in, you missed half a sentence and everything had changed immeasurably and you had to go back and check if something major had happened and you missed it. But...I did enjoy the story and the characters, and I love reading fiction where it gives me a better understanding of a part of history I didn't know much about. This was the story of a German Jewish man and a rich Shangai heiress in world war 2 in Shanghai.

Does anyone have any recommendations on Prime reading? (As this one was). Ive cancelled me prime membership but it goes on til next week so would like a freebie book til then.

Also any other recommendations of deals on good books on kindle. I need to stop buying so many but i prefer to read on my kindle for my eyesight.

33 Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Also any other recommendations of deals on good books on kindle. I need to stop buying so many but i prefer to read on my kindle for my eyesight

Do you check the Kindle daily deals every day? That's how I get most of my books, Lisa Jewell is today's featured author.

The Lie - C L Taylor - enjoyed.
I've just started The Au Pair - Emma Rous, which I'm really enjoying.

Not sure how many that is - I'm using this thread to keep count.

I just finished Cold Comfort Farm, can't believe I overlooked it for so long, and am about to start no. 34, a thriller called Hide and Seek.

14 Daughter of Auschwitz by Tova Friedman. Really important book - she's one of the last survivors, born in 1938. Her mother suffered from severe survivor's guilt but she sees her mission as explaining why and what happened.

Oh no. I didn't know about that. Thanks. I'll check in.

13 or 14 (have to check back): The Maid - Nita Prose. Enjoyed this. Easy read but Molly was an original protagonist which gave it something extra.

Now reading 'Fairytale' Stephen King. It's ages since I read a Stephen King and he never fails to draw me in. About a quarter way through at the moment....

17. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

A tough read in many ways but so well written and addictive! A solid 4 stars out of 5.

26 The Country of Others by Leila Slimani (audio). In 1944 Mathilde, a French woman, falls in love with a Moroccan soldier fighting for France, they marry and move to Morocco to a very different culture from her own. The story unfolds as the country moves towards liberation. I'm not sure what I made of this, the style made me feel detached from the characters and I didn't feel much engagement with them. Not sure if this was the writing style or the narration style TBH. Interesting from a cultural and historical POV though.

20. Mrs Palfrey at The Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor. A quiet story which I enjoyed. Elderly Mrs Palfrey moves into a hotel so she doesn't have to cook / clean etc any more and is one of a few other older long term residents. The story follows her relationships with the others, her family and a young lad she makes friends with. Some funny parts, some sad. Rather unflinching about old age and a lot of well observed social interactions.

34 The Secret Dead by S J Parris
35 My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

21. Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman I think this is actually aimed at younger readers- maybe year 7 or 8? Not sure - someone leant it me thinking I'd enjoy it and I did.
Main character is a New Yorker who moves South in 1964 at the time of starting the integrating of schools. She's conflicted because she hates how the new Black pupil is being treated but she is already unpopular as a Yankee and is desperate to make friends, and sticking up for the new girl would ruin that.

After a nearly 2 month dry spell where I couldn't get into anything, I managed 13 - Commonwealth - Ann Patchett
Loved it like the previous 2 I read for 11 and 12!

36 The Appeal by Janice Hallett.

62 The Road to Little Dribbling. Love Bill Bryson.

63 Ilona Andrews, Magic Tides. A novella, but a long one.

64 Shakespeare. Another Bill Bryson.
65 Re-read of Catalogue of Catastrophe by Jodi Taylor, so I was ready to read the newest one.
Currently reading The Good, the Bad and the History.

Next two....12. Love Marriage by Monica Ali. Really enjoyed this. Twists and turns in a London-based tale of tricky relationships.
And then..13. Let Me Lie by Clare MacKintosh. Standard psychological thriller fare but engaging nonetheless.
Just started We Begin at the End, enjoying it.

Finished no 18, The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. Feel good/chick lit/insert cliche here.

No that's no 15!

Hi, I have used this thread for some recommendations, it has been very helpful; I'm adding my list. I recommend all 7/10 and above.

= highly recommended
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Hamnet
and my favourite read in a long time:
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - do read it if you haven't already. Fannie Flagg makes most of the other authors on my list appear amateur in comparison.

1.	Little Wing - Freya North 7.5/10
2.	Still Life - Sarah Winman 8.5/10
3.	Cloud Cuckoo Land - Anthony Doerr 9.5/10<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Star" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/star-Bm6t10PJ.png">
4.	Lily - Rose Tremain 7.5/10
5.	The Keeper of Stories - Sally Page 7/10
6.	The Satsuma Complex - Bob Mortimer 7/10
7.	Olive Kitteridge - Elizabeth Strout 7/10
8.	Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber 6.5/10
9.	Mrs England - Stacey Halls 7.5/10
10.	The Birdcage - Eve Chase 6/10
11.	Hamnet - Maggie O&rsquo;Farrell 9/10<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Star" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/star-Bm6t10PJ.png">
12.	The Ballad of Never After - Garber 6/10
13.	Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg 10/10<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Star" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/star-Bm6t10PJ.png"> 
14.	Windmill Hill - Lucy Atkins 5/10<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Confused" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/confused-DVrVQwAF.png"> I was disappointed with Windmill Hill, starts slow and doesn&#039;t get any better. I would not recommend it. 
15.	The Dutch House - Anne Patchett

Just started this and already so much better than book 14..

15: Fairytale - Stephen King
Honestly - this man blows my mind. He is so much more than a horror writer. I HATE fantasy. Hate it! Be gone with your goblins, your fair maidens and your dungeons, and yet somehow I couldn't put this down.

About to start Still Life.

Book 15 The Death of Remembrance by Denzil Meyrick

@BobDear I also read Fairytale recently and thought it was good although a long book . I love his books generally , now reading Billy Summers .