Book Review Year 7 No 2
Mar. 1st, 2021 09:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitFebruary was a good reading month, in part because of the bumper arrival of library books. [Again letters in square brackets refer to my reading lists - the intention is to read one book from each list per month]
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
This was one of the most popular books of 2020 in the UK, so I decided, since it was the genre I like and mentioned on the Shedunnit podcast that I would read it. I reserved it from the library back in October, and was surprised to get it so soon, this was because they purchased more copies. The county currently owns 42 copies, and today there are 246 reservations for it, which gives some idea of its popularity. I enjoyed it - it's an easy read, quite long, but ultimately I wasn't that impressed. But as a lockdown distraction, it works very well, and the idea of having a group of pensioners living in a retirement complex doing the sleuthing is entertaining. [B3]
Letters from Father Christmas by J R R Tolkein
I reserved this book before Christmas, but it finally arrived in late January. This is the collection of letters and drawings Tolkein sent every year to his children as they were growing up. An enchanting read. [B4]
When the Wind Blows by Cyril Hare
Death comes to a provinicial amateur orchestra. Set in the late 1940s, the characters will resonate with anyone who's had dealings with similar orchestras or choirs. I really enjoyed reading it, as did SM, and it reminded him of his time within various choirs. Times may change, but people don't. [C2]
Dead Water by Ngaio Marsh
Continuing my read through the Roderick Alleyn books. This was another I had seen in the autumn, and which I did remember as I read it. It was an okay read, but not, for me, one of the better ones. [D2]
Testament of Friendship by Vera Brittain
A biography of Brittain's friend Winifred Holtby. Two years ago we visited Holtby's grave in Rudston in Yorkshire, and last year I read South Riding, which is thought to be her greatest novel. I wasn't as taken with Holtby as I thought I might be, and felt she was made out to be almost a saint. There was one quote of Holtby's that I really liked though: 'This alone is to be feared - the closed mind, the sleeping imagination, the death of the spirit.' [A2]
Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac
Carnac was another pseudonym of E C R Lorac, so I was keen to read this book. I therefore bought it using some of my mother-in-law's Christmas money (she usually gives me a book token - I saw no reason not to act as if she had!). It's set partly in London and partly in Austria, and although I found it a bit slower starting than some of her other books, it was important the set up was established properly and by the end I was reading it quickly, keen to find out what happened. (Also, I'm doing 7 Days 7 Covers and this was the first book which came to hand.)
It Walks by Night by John Dickson Carr
The Shedunnit book of the month for February. I managed to find a cheap secondhand copy. It was reasonable, but it wasn't particularly my style of book, and I found the narrator grating at times. It was interesting to have read it, and I may well try another Carr book, but he wouldn't rate amongst my favourite authors.
My current book bingo card:
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
This was one of the most popular books of 2020 in the UK, so I decided, since it was the genre I like and mentioned on the Shedunnit podcast that I would read it. I reserved it from the library back in October, and was surprised to get it so soon, this was because they purchased more copies. The county currently owns 42 copies, and today there are 246 reservations for it, which gives some idea of its popularity. I enjoyed it - it's an easy read, quite long, but ultimately I wasn't that impressed. But as a lockdown distraction, it works very well, and the idea of having a group of pensioners living in a retirement complex doing the sleuthing is entertaining. [B3]
Letters from Father Christmas by J R R Tolkein
I reserved this book before Christmas, but it finally arrived in late January. This is the collection of letters and drawings Tolkein sent every year to his children as they were growing up. An enchanting read. [B4]
When the Wind Blows by Cyril Hare
Death comes to a provinicial amateur orchestra. Set in the late 1940s, the characters will resonate with anyone who's had dealings with similar orchestras or choirs. I really enjoyed reading it, as did SM, and it reminded him of his time within various choirs. Times may change, but people don't. [C2]
Dead Water by Ngaio Marsh
Continuing my read through the Roderick Alleyn books. This was another I had seen in the autumn, and which I did remember as I read it. It was an okay read, but not, for me, one of the better ones. [D2]
Testament of Friendship by Vera Brittain
A biography of Brittain's friend Winifred Holtby. Two years ago we visited Holtby's grave in Rudston in Yorkshire, and last year I read South Riding, which is thought to be her greatest novel. I wasn't as taken with Holtby as I thought I might be, and felt she was made out to be almost a saint. There was one quote of Holtby's that I really liked though: 'This alone is to be feared - the closed mind, the sleeping imagination, the death of the spirit.' [A2]
Crossed Skis by Carol Carnac
Carnac was another pseudonym of E C R Lorac, so I was keen to read this book. I therefore bought it using some of my mother-in-law's Christmas money (she usually gives me a book token - I saw no reason not to act as if she had!). It's set partly in London and partly in Austria, and although I found it a bit slower starting than some of her other books, it was important the set up was established properly and by the end I was reading it quickly, keen to find out what happened. (Also, I'm doing 7 Days 7 Covers and this was the first book which came to hand.)
It Walks by Night by John Dickson Carr
The Shedunnit book of the month for February. I managed to find a cheap secondhand copy. It was reasonable, but it wasn't particularly my style of book, and I found the narrator grating at times. It was interesting to have read it, and I may well try another Carr book, but he wouldn't rate amongst my favourite authors.
My current book bingo card:
no subject
Date: 2021-03-01 11:54 pm (UTC)I am on the wait list for the audiobook version of The Thursday Murder Club. They say it will be 17 weeks :)
I'm sad I live in a place where Cyril Hare books aren't as plentiful on the ground. I haven't read that one.
I was very sad (but not surprised) at how many people didn't like It Walks by Night on the book club. I've resigned myself to the fact that the number of people who love all the books I love is 1, me. I just love it. And, yes, Jeff is grating but traveling overseas there are so many American Jeffs in pockets of the world, and they make me laugh. And fun fact, John Dickson Carr died about a 20-minute drive (and two years after) I was born. I definitely feel a kinship with him. I suppose it's like me when I look at a photo of Richard Armitage and tell myself 'I wish I liked him as much as Hobbit then we could squee together.'
no subject
Date: 2021-03-02 04:50 pm (UTC)The waiting time sounds about right - it's a longish book, although easy to read.
I'm slowly collecting the Hare books I can find - I have a saved search on Ebay to see if I can pick up cheap copies, but they're mostly the same books.
I was surprised that so many didn't like the JDC book and were quite strong in their opinions. I could see why you would like it though. I found the descriptions rather over the top at times and there were a few quirks which tended to put me off. You probably feel about Americans abroad how I feel about Brits abroad. For me it was more a number of small things added up to not particularly enjoying it. J's now reading it, so I'll see what he thinks.
no subject
Date: 2021-03-02 05:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-02 08:12 am (UTC)It's a pretty cover!
Shame that 'The Thursday Murder Club' didn't grab you more. Despite hearing the same from others, I intend to get a hold of it when circumstances alow.
no subject
Date: 2021-03-02 04:52 pm (UTC)The Thursday Murder Club is an entertaining read, and I'm sure you'll be happy enough with it if you don't go in with particularly high hopes. I've heard it described as the ideal Lockdown read, which might account for its popularity.