Book Review Year 5 No 10
Dec. 31st, 2019 11:37 amI have read 54 books this year which I'm pleased about. I shall be setting my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 42 books again for next year, so much depends on circumstances and length of book; I'd rather exceed my challenge than stress out trying to reach it.
Tragedy at Law by Cyril Hare
A birthday present from![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stonepicnicking_okapi A fairly slow read, the clues being dropped in gradually, full of what are now historical details, but were current at the time of writing. A very satisfactory tale, and an outcome I half suspected but not sufficiently to ruin the story. I'm very glad Okapi introduced me to the author.
Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon by Nancy Atherton
The usual characters, a fun setting. As with a lot of long running series this could get formulaic, but I don't read them that frequently, and since it came from the library it's not costing me anything and is supporting the library.
Blood on the Tracks edited by Martin Edwards
15 railway mysteries from classic detective novelists. This was the holiday book I bought using MIL's book token. I enjoyed most of the stories, some weren't as good, but that's inevitable in an anthology. If you like short mystery/crime stories then it's well worth a read.
The Book of Gutsy Women by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton
vix_spes drew my attention to this book, so I checked the availability at the library to see they had three copies on order. I instantly reserved a copy so was the first to read one when they arrived in the libraries. It's a really good book, quite long, and full of women who have made a difference, some of whom I'd heard of and some I hadn't. Inevitably there is an American slant, and I knew of British women who could have been included instead, but that's a small point. (Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the American Girl Scouts is included, whereas Agnes Baden-Powell who had already founded the Girl Guides in the UK is only acknowledged.) It's probably a book which could be better appreciated by taking longer over, but with only three weeks before the book was due back at the library (I couldn't renew because it was already reserved by other readers), I had to get on with it. That I finished it in the time is testament to how good it is. Thoroughly recommended.
An English Murder by Cyril Hare
Since the story is set at Christmas I had decided to read it at the appropriate time, and was disappointed when I came to reserve it from the library that others had had the same idea. However, it came in the week before Christmas, so I was pleased to have it as a seasonal read. It's a good story, I didn't guess the murderer and read it very quickly, so quickly in fact SM read it after me and we still got it back before it was due. SM guessed whodunit and why and was very pleased with himself. The library has a couple more books by the author, so I have added them to my list for next year.
Crewel Yule by Monica Ferris
Another seasonal book, which I had saved to read. The story was a good undemanding seasonal read. I think I liked the descriptions of the crafts on sale as much as the main plot. The book has a pattern for a Christmas tree ornament in the back, so I shall take a copy to make next year.
verdande_mi posted a book meme, (here) and I've taken some of the questions:
What were your top five books of the year? The Red House Mystery (A A Milne); Proud (Juno Dawson); The Lie (Helen Dunmore); Going Postal (Terry Pratchett); Transcription (Kate Atkinson)
Did you discover any new authors you love this year? Vaseem Khan, Cyril Hare
How many books did you buy? No idea, very few new books, a lot cheap secondhand
Did you use your library? Yes, whenever possible
Did you read any books that were nominated or won awards? What did you think of them? The four books on the James Tait Black prize shortlist. Some I liked, some I didn't. The book I least liked won, which put me off reading awards shortlisted books.
Tragedy at Law by Cyril Hare
A birthday present from
stonepicnicking_okapi A fairly slow read, the clues being dropped in gradually, full of what are now historical details, but were current at the time of writing. A very satisfactory tale, and an outcome I half suspected but not sufficiently to ruin the story. I'm very glad Okapi introduced me to the author.Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon by Nancy Atherton
The usual characters, a fun setting. As with a lot of long running series this could get formulaic, but I don't read them that frequently, and since it came from the library it's not costing me anything and is supporting the library.
Blood on the Tracks edited by Martin Edwards
15 railway mysteries from classic detective novelists. This was the holiday book I bought using MIL's book token. I enjoyed most of the stories, some weren't as good, but that's inevitable in an anthology. If you like short mystery/crime stories then it's well worth a read.
The Book of Gutsy Women by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton
vix_spes drew my attention to this book, so I checked the availability at the library to see they had three copies on order. I instantly reserved a copy so was the first to read one when they arrived in the libraries. It's a really good book, quite long, and full of women who have made a difference, some of whom I'd heard of and some I hadn't. Inevitably there is an American slant, and I knew of British women who could have been included instead, but that's a small point. (Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the American Girl Scouts is included, whereas Agnes Baden-Powell who had already founded the Girl Guides in the UK is only acknowledged.) It's probably a book which could be better appreciated by taking longer over, but with only three weeks before the book was due back at the library (I couldn't renew because it was already reserved by other readers), I had to get on with it. That I finished it in the time is testament to how good it is. Thoroughly recommended.An English Murder by Cyril Hare
Since the story is set at Christmas I had decided to read it at the appropriate time, and was disappointed when I came to reserve it from the library that others had had the same idea. However, it came in the week before Christmas, so I was pleased to have it as a seasonal read. It's a good story, I didn't guess the murderer and read it very quickly, so quickly in fact SM read it after me and we still got it back before it was due. SM guessed whodunit and why and was very pleased with himself. The library has a couple more books by the author, so I have added them to my list for next year.
Crewel Yule by Monica Ferris
Another seasonal book, which I had saved to read. The story was a good undemanding seasonal read. I think I liked the descriptions of the crafts on sale as much as the main plot. The book has a pattern for a Christmas tree ornament in the back, so I shall take a copy to make next year.
verdande_mi posted a book meme, (here) and I've taken some of the questions:What were your top five books of the year? The Red House Mystery (A A Milne); Proud (Juno Dawson); The Lie (Helen Dunmore); Going Postal (Terry Pratchett); Transcription (Kate Atkinson)
Did you discover any new authors you love this year? Vaseem Khan, Cyril Hare
How many books did you buy? No idea, very few new books, a lot cheap secondhand
Did you use your library? Yes, whenever possible
Did you read any books that were nominated or won awards? What did you think of them? The four books on the James Tait Black prize shortlist. Some I liked, some I didn't. The book I least liked won, which put me off reading awards shortlisted books.
