Books - October 2022
Oct. 28th, 2022 03:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitAnother 8 books this month, helped by a couple of days away in which I did a lot of reading.
Unlawful Killings: Life, Love and Murder: Trials at the Old Bailey by Her Honour Wendy Joseph QC
Wendy Joseph, a former high court judge at the Old Bailey, was interviewed on Shedunnit and was really interesting in what she was saying. The county library had a few copies of her new book, so I added myself to the waiting list (my automatic reaction when there's something that looks interesting but isn't immediately available) and waited about a month for my turn. The book takes a few of the trials (with certain details changed for obvious reasons) which raise questions and issues well beyond that of a standard whodunnit. Thoroughly recommended for anyone with an interest in crime fiction or the legal process, or life in general. [F21]
House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons by Kadiatu Kanneh-Masson
The Kanneh-Masons are a very talented musical family (classical strings and piano). A musician friend of mine highly related the book, and because it was available in my local library I decided to read it. (Except I'd forgotten both name and author when I got there, with the classic comment to the librarian 'I'm trying to find a book') They were brought up in Nottingham, and this is the mother explaining how much the family had to do to enable them to achieve what they have. It's an interesting book, but left me wondering what the final consequences will be. [F22]
Potshot by Robert B Parker
I cannot remember where I got this recommendation (probably an actor in an article somewhere). I thought it would be a standard good guy vs bad guys, but it was much better than that. Plenty of humour, a twisting plot, and a diversity of characters. I wouldn't make a point of looking for further books by Parker, but if one fell into my hands I'd happily read it. [A10]
Final Acts: Theatrical Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards
Another short story collection from BLCC. I enjoyed a few of the stories and had already read two of them. Not as good as some of the previous collections but worked okay as a holiday read. [F23]
Mrs Pringle of Fairacre by Miss Read
A pleasant Fairacre read, rather than telling a straight story there are short stories about the redoubtable Mrs Pringle. Still enjoyable. [D10]
Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie
Having read this month's Shedunnit book club read, I chose one of the others from the list, a Hercule Poirot story available at the library. I read it very quickly. An entertaining read, but possible not one of the best. [E10]
The Final Throw by Michael Gilbert
A typical Gilbert story, more thriller than detective, with plenty of twists and turns. I certainly didn't know where it was going until quite near the end but enjoyed realising how I had been sucked in and made assumptions which were entirely wrong. [C10]
The Rat-Pit by Patrick MacGill
I read one of MacGill's books last year and had also bought this one. I now have another which I shall keep until the latter part of next year - the books are good but full of misery, so I really don't want to read them too often. This is the story of Norah Ryan, daughter of a poor peasant family in Ireland, who joins a potato picking gang in Scotland around 1900. The poverty is acutely observed, and I felt for the characters. I would definitely recommend the book but chose when you read it. [B10]
[Letters refer to which of my reading lists the book belongs - F is all other]
Unlawful Killings: Life, Love and Murder: Trials at the Old Bailey by Her Honour Wendy Joseph QC
Wendy Joseph, a former high court judge at the Old Bailey, was interviewed on Shedunnit and was really interesting in what she was saying. The county library had a few copies of her new book, so I added myself to the waiting list (my automatic reaction when there's something that looks interesting but isn't immediately available) and waited about a month for my turn. The book takes a few of the trials (with certain details changed for obvious reasons) which raise questions and issues well beyond that of a standard whodunnit. Thoroughly recommended for anyone with an interest in crime fiction or the legal process, or life in general. [F21]
House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons by Kadiatu Kanneh-Masson
The Kanneh-Masons are a very talented musical family (classical strings and piano). A musician friend of mine highly related the book, and because it was available in my local library I decided to read it. (Except I'd forgotten both name and author when I got there, with the classic comment to the librarian 'I'm trying to find a book') They were brought up in Nottingham, and this is the mother explaining how much the family had to do to enable them to achieve what they have. It's an interesting book, but left me wondering what the final consequences will be. [F22]
Potshot by Robert B Parker
I cannot remember where I got this recommendation (probably an actor in an article somewhere). I thought it would be a standard good guy vs bad guys, but it was much better than that. Plenty of humour, a twisting plot, and a diversity of characters. I wouldn't make a point of looking for further books by Parker, but if one fell into my hands I'd happily read it. [A10]
Final Acts: Theatrical Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards
Another short story collection from BLCC. I enjoyed a few of the stories and had already read two of them. Not as good as some of the previous collections but worked okay as a holiday read. [F23]
Mrs Pringle of Fairacre by Miss Read
A pleasant Fairacre read, rather than telling a straight story there are short stories about the redoubtable Mrs Pringle. Still enjoyable. [D10]
Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie
Having read this month's Shedunnit book club read, I chose one of the others from the list, a Hercule Poirot story available at the library. I read it very quickly. An entertaining read, but possible not one of the best. [E10]
The Final Throw by Michael Gilbert
A typical Gilbert story, more thriller than detective, with plenty of twists and turns. I certainly didn't know where it was going until quite near the end but enjoyed realising how I had been sucked in and made assumptions which were entirely wrong. [C10]
The Rat-Pit by Patrick MacGill
I read one of MacGill's books last year and had also bought this one. I now have another which I shall keep until the latter part of next year - the books are good but full of misery, so I really don't want to read them too often. This is the story of Norah Ryan, daughter of a poor peasant family in Ireland, who joins a potato picking gang in Scotland around 1900. The poverty is acutely observed, and I felt for the characters. I would definitely recommend the book but chose when you read it. [B10]
[Letters refer to which of my reading lists the book belongs - F is all other]
no subject
Date: 2022-10-29 09:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-10-30 08:12 am (UTC)