I’ll finish 2021 on about 130 books, way ahead of my Goodreads Challenge target of 100 (yay!)
I just thought I’d take a few minutes to share some of the BRILLIANT books I’ve read this year – 5 fiction, 5 non-fiction. Hope you find something to pique your interest here, just in case Santa didn’t bring you enough books!
This will be my last post of 2021, so wishing you all a Happy New Year and I’ll see you in 2022. Thanks to everyone who has visited my blog this year or chatted to me on Twitter – it has been an absolute pleasure.
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Having absolutely adored Elizabeth Macneal’s debut novel, ‘The Doll Factory’, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I was so sure that I would love this book that I’ve also pre-ordered the independent bookshop hardback version…so pretty!
I can now confirm that this has proved money well spent!
April has been a great month for my reading – the Easter holidays gave me plenty of time and I have read some absolutely brilliant books this month.
I’ve read 13 books this month and managed to creep my NetGalley percentage up to 77%. I’ve got slightly ahead of my HUGE pile of May blog tours but next month is also looking pretty busy.
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Taking on a World of Words. Anyone can take part and it is a great way of sharing what you have just finished reading, what you are currently reading and what is next on the TBR.
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Taking on a World of Words. Anyone can take part and it is a great way of sharing what you have just finished reading, what you are currently reading and what is next on the TBR.
It has been – quite simply – the longest month ever. I’ve found it hard to concentrate on reading at times and have fallen back on the genre that I know keeps me engaged – crime fiction!
I’ve read 10 books this month, of which 7 were crime novels.
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January Wrap-Up
I started the month with the rather interesting ‘How Not To Be Wrong: The Art of Changing Your Mind’ by James O’Brien. I loved his previous book (‘How to be Right’), but was particularly fascinated by O’Brien’s exploration of his own prejudices and entrenched beliefs. It certainly gave me food for thought and I would recommend it.
Next up were a slew of brilliant crime novels that I would recommend whole-heartedly.
I read ‘Dark Memories’ by Liz Mistry, the latest in the DS Nikki Parekh series set in the seedy underworld of Bradford. This is a shocking tale of crime and abuse, but the fabulous Parekh/Malik investigative team at the heart of the novel makes it compelling. My review (for a blog tour for Rachel’s Random Resources) is here.
Another blog tour read was ‘Silent Graves’ by Sally Rigby and this proved another excellent police procedural. Although is the 9th book in the Cavendish and Walker series (a female duo of investigators), I think it works well as a standalone. In this book, West Mercia Police are grappling with a historical case as two skeletons turn up on a building site. You can read my blog tour review (for Damp Pebbles) here.
This was followed by ‘The Appeal’ by Janice Hallett which I read as a buddy read organised by Viper Books. Along with the lovely LockyLovesBooks, I tried to guess the murderer in this innovative and engaging crime novel – a novel presented through the emails, voicemails and texts of its main protagonists. I proved a terrible detective but had a lot of fun – you can read my review here.
Next up was ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ by Agatha Christie. I read this with my blogger friends at The Write Reads and we had a lot of fun discussing it – although, once again, I got nowhere near the solution! A classic crime novel with such clever plotting – Christie really was a master of her craft!
After this, I had a brief break from crime to read Margaret Atwood’s new poetry collection, ‘Dearly’. This is a beautiful and insightful book about loss, grief, ageing, female bodies and the environment – and I loved it. I was lucky enough to have both the hardback (purchased) and audiobook (from NetGalley) – you can read my review about both formats here.
Following this, I went back to crime for the tense and pacey ‘The Jigsaw Man’ by Nadine Matheson – I won a copy of this from the publisher and was so excited to read it ahead of publication. This serial killer crime novel is gruesome and terrifying – and I raced through it. My review will follow nearer publication later on in February.
Another blog tour read followed, ‘Bad Habits’ by Flynn Meaney. This is a very funny and lively YA comedy which sees its heroine, Alex, try to stage a version of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ at her strict Catholic boarding school. Thanks to the publisher (Penguin) and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review. My review, for The Write Reads, will be on the blog tomorrow.
My last books of the month took me back to crime fiction (of course!).
I read ‘An Eye for an Eye’ by Carol Wyer for a Damp Pebbles blog tour – this is another brilliant police procedural with a female lead, in this case the damaged but insightful DI Kate Young. The plotting of this one, based around a serial killer in Staffordshire, is so clever and it is an absolute page turner. My review is due up on 7th February.
I finished this month with ‘Dark Truths’ by AJ Cross, another cleverly-plotted police procedural featuring DI Bernard Watts and his rookie sidekick, PC Chloe Judd investigating the brutal murder of a jogger on a rural trail. They are being helped in their investigations by forensic psychologist Will Traynor, but he seems to have his own agenda… This is the first in a series featuring Traynor and I look forward to reading more. The paperback is published on 4th February and my review will follow on the blog.
As always, thanks to blog tour organisers, publishers, authors and NetGalley for granting me access to books in exchange for an honest review.
February TBR
As always, I have more books to read than I can possibly get through! Any TBR I write is always a small proportion of books I have to read for blog tours, books I should read for NetGalley and a wish list of many other fabulous-looking reads. I am never accurate in predicting what I will actually read!
So, here is my best guess of books that have caught my eye for February. Affiliate links are at the end of the list for anyone who likes the look of any of these…
I have a blog tour for ‘Botanical Curses and Poisons’ by Fez Inkwright in February and am looking forward to diving into this beautiful book about the darker side of plants.
I also have a blog tour for ‘Old Bones’ by Helen Kitson (published by the excellent Louise Walters Books) in February too – this looks to be a gorgeous and gentle story of a group of older women.
My final blog tour for the month will be ‘Seven Days’ by Michelle Kidd. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, ‘The Phoenix Project’, and look forward to another lively thriller.
I also want to read ‘Ruthless Women’ by Melanie Blake, sold to me by NetGalley as a thriller about ambition on the set of a soap opera. I’m looking forward to glamour, glitz and some…ruthless women!
NetGalley have also granted me the fabulous-looking ‘Circus of Wonders’ by Elizabeth Macneal. I loved her first book, ‘The Doll Factory’, and cannot wait to read this new slice of quality historical fiction.
I’m also going to be reading ‘Paris by Starlight’ by Robert Dinsdale with my lovely blogger friends in the Tsundoku Squad. This is a new writer to me but I look forward to chats and lots of fun with them.
Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mysterious Affair at Styles’ is also on my February list as I join a Poirot readalong with The Write Reads crew. I need to catch up this book – Poirot Book 1 – before I can join the chat there!
Finally, I really want to clear some of my NetGalley shelf – it has more fabulous books in it than I can list and I am determined to make some headway this month. If only I can keep away from the ‘Request’ button…
That’s the plan anyway. See you here in a month’s time when I reveal that I actually read 10 more police procedurals because I am OBSESSED…
Header photo with thanks to Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash.
I’ve been tagged by the lovely Emandherbooks to do this tag inspired by New Year’s Resolutions, but with a bookish twist. This tag was created by Mikaela Reads and it is very tricky!
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1. Exercise More – name a book that has made you want to leap up out of your seat (for any reason).
I recently read ‘The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires’ by Grady Hendrix, a book which made me jump in horror but also in frustration! Some of the horror was a lot more horror-y (yes, it’s a word!) than I was really comfortable with – let’s just say rats and insects and unconventional vampire eating methods and leave it there! However, it also made me kind of cross in places as the women of the book club (who I hoped would be lovely but fierce Southern ladies who had each others’ backs) just weren’t very united.
There’s lots in the book to enjoy – if you have a stronger stomach than me!
2. Get Organised – a book with an exceptional plot
I don’t think you can beat Agatha Christie for brilliant plotting. I’m reading ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ with my book group at the moment and it is absolutely brilliant. It is making me want to read and re-read other Christie novels – I’ve always had a soft spot for a Poirot book.
My favourite Christie book is probably ‘Dead Man’s Folly’ so I’ll choose that for this resolution.
3. Learn A New Skill – a book which taught you something
I read lots of non-fiction books with the vague hope that I’ll learn something – I always do, but unfortunately have a memory like a sieve so don’t actually retain much!
However, a few books I’ve read in the last year have really taught me to look at things differently and challenge my thinking. ‘Difficult Women’ by Helen Lewis made me think about how far the fight for gender equality has come (but how far there is left to go) while ‘How Not to be Wrong’ by James O’Brien got me to identify my own in-built prejudices and the possible reasons for them. On a lighter note, James Felton’s ’52 Times Britain was a Bellend: The History You Didn’t Get Taught at School’ gave me a new perspective on historical ‘truths’ (and made me laugh too!)
4. Live Life To The Fullest – a book which inspired you
I’m really not sure I read that kind of inspirational book!
However, Ruby Wax’s ‘And Now For The Good News’ gave me a shot of positivity that there are good people out there achieving amazing things. In the face of 2020, that was quite inspirational.
5. Save more money / spend less money – the most expensive book you’ve bought and was it worth it?
I once spent £50 on a book at the Hay Festival just so I could meet its author and get it signed. That author was Brian May and it was worth every penny! The book is fabulous too, by the way – ‘Queen in 3D’.
6. Spend More Time With Family and Friends – a character you would want to be best mates with
One of my absolute favourite books is ‘I Capture the Castle’ by Dodie Smith. From the second I first read it as a teenager, I was absolutely captivated by the eccentric and charming Mortmain family (especially Cassandra, our narrator).
7. Travel More – a book with a location you’d love to visit
I tend to read a lot of historical fiction, so it’s usually more about when I’d like to visit rather than where!
However, I remember being fascinated by the descriptions of Mesa Verde, Colorado in ‘The Professor’s House’ by Willa Cather. I read this book at university a long time ago and the setting really interested me because of the old cliff-dwellings. In the pre-Internet days (remember them?!), I couldn’t imagine these amazing houses built into the rock and always kind of hoped I’d get to go one day.
8. Read More – a book you are desperate to read this year
I’m really keen to read the new book by Elizabeth Macneal, ‘Circus of Wonders’. I loved her last book, ‘The Doll Factory’ and this one looks just perfect! The blurb had me at ‘Gothic Victoriana…’
There you have it! Hope you’ve enjoyed my answers and I’d like to tag anyone who fancies giving this a go – it is quite a challenge!
Header photo with thanks to Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
