Bookworms 2020

Rosa_Damascena

dolly84 said:

I have finished 'The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' by Stuart Turton.  This was really, really good.  The author describes it as a time travelling, body hopping, Agatha Christie locked room mystery, it must have taken one heck of a lot of organisation on his part to keep track of the story.  It is about a party at a once fine but now decrepit country pile, there is a murder which must be solved, the person tasked with solving it wakes up in a different guests body each day for 8 days, there are so many twists and turns and if you decide to read it just keep reading and enjoying it rather than trying to make sense of it as it all unfolds and becomes clear as it progresses.

Have now started reading The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber, this over 800 pages long - that should keep me quiet for a bit.

Intriguing first suggestion, and I await your assessment of The Crimson Petal and the White before I attempt it - been accruing dust in my classics section for quite some time. I lose momentum if I read longer books / those that need time to digest so have been reading books between 200-350 pages as I know that they can be easily completed within 3 days. 

ziggy2407

ziggy2407 said:

Started Book 15, based on recommendations from this thread "The Trouble with Goats and Sheep" 

Struggled with this and was glad when I'd finished it.  
Went searching my shelves for something to read, and discovered book 2 of the "Plague Times" so ordered book 1 from the library to read first ('cos of my strange/weird need to read in order).  So Book 16 was "A Lovely Way To Burn" by Louise Welsh which turned out to be an easy (and gripping) if not disturbing read about a modern day plague called The Sweats" sweeping through the world - felt a bit ironic reading it and then seeing the spread of the Coronavirus across the world.  Looking forward to reading the next instalment but unfortunately it will have to wait as I have a library book needs reading first.

Book 17 - re-reading a book from my teenage years "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers.

Keep the great reviews and suggestions coming, my to-read list is getting longer and more varied.

gettingtheresometime

dolly84 said:

I have finished 'The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' by Stuart Turton.  This was really, really good.  The author describes it as a time travelling, body hopping, Agatha Christie locked room mystery, it must have taken one heck of a lot of organisation on his part to keep track of the story.  It is about a party at a once fine but now decrepit country pile, there is a murder which must be solved, the person tasked with solving it wakes up in a different guests body each day for 8 days, there are so many twists and turns and if you decide to read it just keep reading and enjoying it rather than trying to make sense of it as it all unfolds and becomes clear as it progresses.

Have now started reading The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber, this over 800 pages long - that should keep me quiet for a bit.

I did try and read this once but it was during my cba phase so I may try & read it again.

I've just finished 'She lies in wait' by Gytha Lodge. 30 years ago a young girl went missing when she joined a group of her sister's friends and her sister on a overnight camping outing. When her body is found it reopens the case but do the group know more than they're letting on about that night? I enjoyed this as you never quite knew where it was going to lead....apparently it's the first in the series of books featuring the main character - just hope they don't become too 'samey'

Rosa_Damascena

Book 11:

8.5/10 - an absolute delight! Well worth reading.

pollypenny

I've not posted since back from America for some reason. 

I enjoyed Lenny Henry's Who Am I Again. 

Grrr, can't get back to plain text.   🤪

pollypenny

Just finishing, Khaki Town,  by an Australian writer, Judy Nunns.  My neighbour was given it by her Australian daughter-in-law. 

Set in Townsville, Queensland during WW2, it explores the rivalry between white soldiers, Australian and Americans, and 'negro' soldiers who'd been posted there.  It beautifully illustrates a little-publicised aspect of history.  

Rosa_Damascena

Book 12:


9/10. I've never listened to this journalist / broadcaster before, but was persuaded to read it by the glowing cover-endorsements from prominent peers. The chapter on "The Age Gap" was a particular eye-opener: I was aware of all the issues cited but never thought to put them together in the way the author did.

Fridayschild

I have now finished James Herriot's "All Creatures Great and Small".  Third time I have read it over a 40 year period and it still has the same impact as the very first time I read it. It's a wonderful chronicle of the pre-war period in the Yorkshire Dales, before antibiotics and many other medications that would revolutionize veterinary practice.  The author's love for the people and places of the Dales shines through again and again, and I look forward to reading the next one in a couple of books' time, but first.......

I was away for a few days and took this with me.

I'm afraid I was swayed by the hype in Waterstones and on the internet, and it hasn't lived up to expectations.  I will persevere but there are many annoyances, including use of language which is far to modern for the era ( which is not stated, but a time before motorized transport), and far too many stereotypes for my liking.  I hate giving up on a book so I will finish it as I'm now 3/4 of the way there.  Not highly recommended despite bestseller status.

Happy reading everyone!

FC

belfastgirl23

Some great suggestions here, I’ve just downloaded the James O’Brien and the Evelyn Hardcastle from the online library.

I’ve been reading away but not getting around to posting. I just finished The Beekeeper of Aleppo and thought it was fantastic. I’m reading Hilary Mantel’s ‘The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher’ at the minute, it’s brilliantly written but finding it tough going. I’ve also read a few more thrillers - another Baldacci one and a couple of James Pattersons. I think I need something more relaxing in these stressful times though

candygirl

am reading this at the moment,  about the mind/ body connection. Very interesting:)