The readalongs feel particularly appropriate for Dickens as he was a writer who wanted to be talked about - he wrote his books for magazines so presumably readers would chat about what might happen next after the exciting endings. He also performed extracts from his works. There’s so much to discuss in his books (both good and bad). I don’t think I would have enjoyed reading A Tale of 2 Cities as much (or read it at all) without it.
49 . Ruth’s First Christmas Tree by Elly Griffiths - short story from the Ruth Galloway series in which Cathbad gives advice on Christmas decorations. Worth reading only for completion purposes as you need to know what has happened in previous books & it’s slight.
50 . The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths - beginning of a new series in which a policeman and a magician are reunited by a murder that might be related to their shared experience in the Second World War. This is a classic mystery where you can work out the murderer from rhe clues (I did). I liked the setting in post-War Brighton and in variety theatres (I can see the book making a good TV adaptation). I also liked that the detective pair had a close bond from the War, but they aren’t (so far) in an endless will they / won’t they romantic setup (there’s enough of that in other series and if it lasts too long* it just feels too contrived). I don’t think this is as good as the first Ruth Galloway book as it lacks the intense evocation of the Norfolk landscape - but equally there’s no equivalent of Ruth obsessing about her weight or her abysmal parenting.
*How long is too long when a detective duo falls in love? I think Dorothy L Sayers has the right pace - 4 books from meeting to honeymoon with a significant change in the relationship in each books. Then 2 (I think) additional books set during this time but with only one of the duo.
51 . Whiskey in Small Glasses by Denzil Meyrick - an author recommended by this thread. This is a gruesome mystery set in an isolated and decaying town on the Scottish coast, where 2 Glasgow detectives are sent to investigate. I liked the depiction of the location and the dialogue between the detectives & other characters. I found it hard to care about the main detective’s relationship with his wife (she really loves him but just has to have affairs) & kept hoping that he would leave her.
52 . A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - much discussed on its own thread. While this has defects (the romantic leads), this is more than compensated for by a fantastic opening with a stagecoach fearing highwaymen; Mme Defarge and her fearsome knitting and some fantastic descriptions of alcohol comsumption and heroism from Sydney Carton. A bold.
53 . An Awfully Big Adventure by Beryl Bainbridge - again discussed on its own thread. I enjoyed the depiction of post-War Liverpool and the theatre, but the events were just too unremittingly bleak & sordid and I found it hard to care about any of the characters.
54 . The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet - a history of the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul that was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize. This was an interesting way of looking at recent Afghan history by telling the story of the hotel (a 1960s brutalist block & haunt of journalists) & its employees from its glamorous beginnings through various regime changes. I found this interesting and learned a lot but it also took me quite a while to read - especially after reading Lady Hale’s book (sadly not shortlisted but much more readable). I can see why it was shortlisted as it gives a valuable insight into Afghanistan, but I don’t understand why it was preferred to Barbara Demick’s book, which had a comparable topic and was a much more compelling read.