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.

Am reading both
16.Billy Summers-Stephen King
17.Tell me everything-Minka Kelly
I haven’t spent as much time reading recently, need to get back to it but I’ve been too tired and busy ,

1 Twelve Secrets
2 People of Abandoned Character
3 The Herd
4 Last One at The Party
5 The Last Thing to Burn
6 Moon Over Soho
7 The Girls Who Disappeared
8 The Chalk Man
9 The Unheard
10 Away with the Penguins
11 Whispers Underground
12 Pineapple Street
13 Trespasses
14 The Safe House

15 Go as a River
Loved this story, very emotional, beautifully descriptive, wonderful.

16 Girl, Woman, Other
Found this for £1 in a charity shop, what a find, brilliantly written, thoroughly enjoyed. Going to seek out some more of hers (Bernadine Evaristo)

Iamblossom
What did you think of Pineapple Street? I’m considering buying it.

I really enjoyed it. 👍🏻. First rule about being of the monied American upper classes, you don't talk about having money 🤐

18. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Didn't quite live up to the hype and although I did enjoy it (found it a quick & easy read), it was a bit unbelievable and the main character was a bit annoying!

I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.

37 Other Women by Emma Flint
38 The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell

Finished nos 16 The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness by Kyle Mann which was funny but a bit too sexist to fully recommend and no 17 What If 2 by Munroe Randall (the xkcc comics guy, who is actually a serious scientist). I'd recommend this one for anyone who likes weird and whacky science. It should have more biology though (overly full planet facts).

22. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Kacks by Rebecca Skloot. I found this fascinating. Henrietta was a Black woman who died of cervical cancer in 1950s America. She was able to get "treatment" (the treatment of the day) at a hospital funded by a progressive white male from a tobacco background, but while treating her the doctor took samples of the tumour without her knowledge or consent. His team were able to keep the cells alive, they multiplied and have been invaluable in many fields of science. The cells are still used all over the world. But her family knew nothing of it and when they find out their reactions are intense and varied.
Dominant themes are civil rights, racism, medical ethics, history of medical research, maybe also religion. My science is poor but luckily although detailed it wasn't too complex. The none science parts are written in an informal journalistic style with the author tracking down and interviewing Henrietta's family and the medical professionals involved.

Just finished The Au Pair, Emma Rous.
Really enjoyed it. Well written, brilliant story.
I'm not sure what's next though yesterday I picked up a Sydney Sheldon. Easy read.

38. The curfew, I am struggling to finish it though as it's quite slow.

1.One Minute Later by Susan Lewis

1. The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster
2. Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher
3. Undoctored by Adam Kay
4. The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler
5. The Library of Lost and found by Phaedra Patrick
6. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelidas

Did not see that ending coming at all!

1. Freckles by Cecelia Ahern

I have read some of her books before and really like her and like her reading style. No. 9. The Family Lie By Jake Cross No.10. The Man Who Died Twice By Richard Osman Haven't had time for so long but finally managed number 11. No. 11. The Maid By Nina Prose, this kept me guessing all the way through.

Book 16 No Sweet Sorrow by Denzil Meyrick

Has anyone read Small Pleasures by Claire Chambers?
I’m a quarter of the way through and I’m loving it.

Yes!
I enjoyed it too :)

I'm laid up in bed after an op and need a really easy audio book that I won't get too lost in if I drift off!
Can't quite manage the TV or print.

18. Thrown by Sara Cox. Hmmm...well, its not exactly high brow literature and it felt a bit 'obvious' in bits and bubblegum-ish but I warmed to it as a light read. I have a tendency to veer towards quite harrowing books telling difficult stories so it was a light break.

I read it earlier this year or last year and loved it. It was dicussed on the book programme on radio 4 the other day and I was pleasantly reminded of it.

39 Yellowface by R F Kuang.
40 Foster by Claire Keegan.

41 The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett.

For anyone interested that doesn't already have it, you can get a free month of kindle unlimited, just signed up.

I thought I had but looking at it I think I've missed it.

Thanks fir the recommendation, I'm going to put it in my list

I have also read and much enjoyed Small Pleasures!

2023 Books:

1 Twelve Secrets
2 People of Abandoned Character
3 The Herd
4 Last One at The Party
5 The Last Thing to Burn
6 Moon Over Soho
7 The Girls Who Disappeared
8 The Chalk Man
9 The Unheard
10 Away with the Penguins
11 Whispers Underground
12 Pineapple Street
13 Trespasses
14 The Safe House
15 Go as a River
16 Girl, Woman, Other

17 Killing Me Softly - Working my way through the Nicci French books, this one was excellent, a very believable description of a woman falling utterly in lust with a man the instant they met, and taking her existing life apart piece by piece as a result. "obliterating sex".... 😂

Loved Small Pleasures

1.One Minute Later by Susan Lewis

1. The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster
2. Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher
3. Undoctored by Adam Kay
4. The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler
5. The Library of Lost and found by Phaedra Patrick
6. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelidas
7. Freckles by Cecelia Ahern

No. 9. The Family Lie By Jake Cross No.10. The Man Who Died Twice By Richard Osman No. 11. The Maid By Nina Prose No. 12. Stranded by Sarah Goodwin