The Bookworm's Thread 2019

Goldiegirl

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Good write-up, I'm encouraged to get hold of a copy at my library, novel or counterfactual dependent - which is it?

I would say it's accurate on the historical side - the author is a historian, so she knows her stuff

Wednesday2000

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

I'm 3/4 through the Clever Guts diet book.

I also finished off a book I started last year - The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray.

I've been rubbish this year as this is still all I've read!:rotfl: Just two books for 2019 so far.

Today I'm going to finish a book I started last year.

Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life.

Goldiegirl

I've just finished 'The Lost Daughter', by Gill Paul.

This was a dual time line story (my favourite format) set in Russia and Australia. Both strands of the story were equally as engaging, and it wasn't obvious how the strands were going to entwine, so it kept you guessing. Very well written, and I found that I cared about the characters.

Gill Paul is a new author for me, and I intend to read more of her books.

Next up is a Bernie Gunther book by Philip Kerr. This author was mentioned a couple of weeks ago, and it reminded me that I have one of his books on my shelf.

Wednesday2000

Today I finished another book I started last year. You are a Badass - Jen Sincero. It is a self-help book. It did have some useful advice.

4 books now this year.:cool:

Merlin's_Beard

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I've read other books by Kate Morton and enjoyed them, so will probably buy this one when it's a reasonable price on Kindle.

I've just finished 'The Marriage Game' by Alison Weir. Somebody gave me this book about 3 years ago.

This book was a novel about Elizabeth I's various protracted marriage negotiations.

I normally enjoy anything about the Tudors, but didn't like how Elizabeth was written in this book, and the negotiations were worse than the Brexit negotiations. Probably not a good choice of book at present!

I've read one or two Alison Weir's and while the history's always accurate, her personal views on whether she likes the historical figure or not seem to seep into all the interpretation of what they do until there seems to be "good" characters and "bad" ones instead of just people.

VfM4meplse

Merlin's_Beard wrote: »

I've read one or two Alison Weir's and while the history's always accurate, her personal views on whether she likes the historical figure or not seem to seep into all the interpretation of what they do until there seems to be "good" characters and "bad" ones instead of just people.

So was Good Queen Bess a goodie or a baddie? You can tell us, capital punishment for treason ended in 1998

Wednesday2000

I just pre-ordered The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent and Strange Tombs: An Essex Witch Museum Mystery by Syd Moore. They are both out in April.:)

Next up for me to read is Mark Edwards - In her Shadow.

Isabel’s life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead.

For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel’s death was an accident. But when Jessica’s young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt’s past, Jessica can’t shake the feeling that there’s a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.

As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel’s life was less than perfect and that Jessica’s might also be at risk.

Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?

VfM4meplse

I'm not doing well this month, have started and got 2/3-3/4 of the way through many - but completed precisely none

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I've just finished 'The Marriage Game' by Alison Weir. Somebody gave me this book about 3 years ago.

This book was a novel about Elizabeth I's various protracted marriage negotiations.

I normally enjoy anything about the Tudors, but didn't like how Elizabeth was written in this book, and the negotiations were worse than the Brexit negotiations. Probably not a good choice of book at present!

I sought this out in my local library yesterday. I read the afterward and the first 20 pages (c5% as a taster) before deciding whether it was worth borrowing. I found it tritely written and almost painful to read - perhaps it's because I had read extensively about Elizabeth I and her supporters as a child - I didn't care a jot for this story and actually felt cross for having wasted my time.

At least it has confirmed that whilst I love history, historical fiction is not for me.

RicardaRacoon

TIme to update what I've read lately.


Winter Solstice - Rosamunde Pilcher
I read this book almost each year since it came out and really love it. Usually read it pre-Christmas as it puts me into the right mood. There is something so calming about it and it isn't as shallow as most of the other books by her.

The Mitford Murders - Jessica Fellowes
I'm about 120 pages in and really enjoy it, it isn't too catching but nevertheless a good read. And I like the two Railway Policemen :-)


Also read a German book about a Jewess who is asked to guard the Konrad Adenauer, the Chancellor of post-war Germany, from a (Jewish) plot to kill him, but half of the time runs after wrong suspects....



My to-read list:
The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and disapperad - Jonas Jonasson
The Rivers of London Graphic Novels
The paying guest - Sarah Waters
The light years - Elizabeth Jane HOward

pollypenny

Transcriptions by Kate Atkinson.

Loved it. I think it's her best yet.