Book Review Year 6 No 10

[smallhobbit]

My final review of the year.  Having set my Goodreads challenge to 42 books, I was very pleased to read 63 - exactly half as much again which was rather gratifying.

Fire in the Thatch - E C R Lorac

I really am enjoying the Lorac books.  Unlike the previous two, set in London, this one is set in the Devon countryside.  The sense of place is so good, and I liked the descriptions (something I'm not generally a fan of), as well as the sense of period (again WWII) with all the restrictions and how they affected daily life (and, of course, committing murder).  Inspector MacDonald is rapidly becoming my hero.


Christmas at Fairace - Miss Read

I do like to read books set at Christmas in December, and this was my first.  Charming stories, but although set in Fairacre, they were about specific individuals, rather than the village.  Nevertheless a happy festive read.


We are Never Meeting in Real Life - Samantha Irby

Again this year I asked for book recs on ushobwri and this was the first I borrowed from the library.  Samantha Irby is an interesting character, but her writing style doesn't appeal to me.  Definitely worth reading, but I wouldn't read any more.


Murder in the Snow - Gladys Mitchell

The book is subtitled a Cotswold Christmas mystery, so double the appeal.  It turned out to be the Shedunnit book club book for December.  Not a book I particularly enjoyed, and looking at the book club discussion I wasn't alone in this.  I might read some more Mitchell, but won't be in a hurry to do so.


Aunt Dimity and the Summer King - Nancy Atherton

I think the writer is running out of plausible plots.  At least Mitchell's Cotswolds was believable, this is turning into fairyland.  Yes, I will continue, there are only four left of the series at the moment, and I still like the characters, even if the plots are failing.


Fell Murder - E C R Lorac

All the above were from the library, I bought this one with my mother-in-law's book token.  This one is set in the Fells, specifically in the Lune Valley in Lancashire, just south of the Lake District.  Again, Lorac's description of place is superb, I could just visualise the setting.  It's set slightly earlier in WWII, and again all the restrictions of the war are there in the story.  Her details about the farming community are excellent.  Lorac is definitely my find of the year.


A Surprise for Christmas (and other seasonal mysteries) - edited by Martin Edwards

I bought this for myself as my Christmas treat.  An entertaining collection of Golden Age and just after mysteries, a couple of which I had read before, but mostly new.  Just right for reading over Christmas.


Having well exceeded my Goodreads Challenge this year, I intend going for 50 books next year.  I could make it higher, by why stress.  So that's four books per month, plus the two books I'm currently reading but won't finish until early January.

And in order to ensure I read a variety I have produced four lists (A to D) with the aim to read one book from each list each month.
A: 11 books on my library 'this looks interesting' list, so I shall actually read them.
B: 5 books suggested by ushobwri members, plus 5 books already on my library reserved list.  The currently reserved won't all arrive at once, three I'm in a (sometimes very long) queue, one the library has ordered but not yet received, and one is on its way.
C: 11 books from my own To Be Read shelf, so they finally get read.
D: 11 books from my currently reading series, mainly Ngaio Marsh and Miss Read.
The eagle-eyed among you will have spotted that this only totals 43 out of 48 books, but that leaves 5 Christmas books for December.

Comments

[aome]

I agree about Dimity (and also the Crewel World series by Monica Ferris) - I'm sure a lot of series authors struggle to think of new and creative plots. But I still like the characters, so I keep reading. Of course, it probably helps that I've never been to the Cotswolds, and therefore have no idea how realistic it is (or isn't).

[smallhobbit]

I'm sure the Crewel World series will go the same way, I'm not as far along with that. And also I won't know if it's unrealistic.

The whole idea of controlling who can live in the properties rather negates both Bree and Jack inheriting their cottages.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I'm glad you're still enjoying the Lorac. She is still on my TBR. So you read the collection, too? I liked it a lot. The icicle dagger was my favourite. The cover is so festive, too.

[smallhobbit]

Yes, I'm on my 5th Lorac. I then pass them on to J who enjoys them too.

I'm glad you enjoyed the collection. I thought it had a great selection of stories.

[debriswoman]

You are admirably organised:-)

[smallhobbit]

I wondered if I was too organised, but it's flexible and the whole point is to actually read some of the books on the list/shelf so it would be good if I managed that :)

[moth2fic]

I've added Fell Murder to my list of books to buy when my moratorium on book acquisition ends! I'm fascinated because the Lune Valley is where I went to boarding school.

[smallhobbit]

Whether or not you like the plot, I'm sure you'll enjoy the descriptions. Lorac's sense of place is excellent, and she lived in the area for part of her life.