Books - August 2025

[smallhobbit]

7 books this month, so 51 for the year, 1 ahead of my goal.

Maigret and the Hotel Majestic by Georges Simenon
This month's Shedunnit book club choice (also called The Cellars of the Majestic), so I was definitely going to read it.  Set mostly in Paris, although Maigret does go out of the city briefly.  The usual interesting plot and excellent mix of characters.

System Collapse by Martha Wells
The latest Murderbot, which brings me up to date with the series.  I enjoyed it, but for me, these later books don't quite have the feel the earlier ones had.  I won't be trying to watch the series, as I have my own version of Murderbot in my head.

A Vicarage Family: A Biography of Myself by Noel Streatfield
Fictional, but based on Noel Streatfield's early life (she was the author of Ballet Shoes).  Well worth reading, although the arrogance of Edwardian men of the upper and middle classes is astonishing.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The current Goodreads challenge is the Summer Challenge, and this was one of the books under the Challenge Faves category, and, since it's on my mental 'should read sometime' I read it.  It was okay, but definitely not one of the genre I like, so I wasn't particularly struck.  I wonder whether it's more the concept than the actual story which is why it is so popular.

War Among The Ladies by Eleanor Scott
A British Library Women Writers book, set in the 1920s at a girls' school.  The insight into the lives of the teachers and their very real concerns, but also the petty nature of some of their behaviour is brilliantly observed and written.  I had a real feel for how perilous life was for many unmarried women at the time.  

Music of the Night edited by Martin Edwards
Short stories by the Crime Writers' Association all with a connection to music in some way.  I was disappointed with many of the stories.

Stan the Killer by Georges Simenon
Three Maigret short stories.  I wouldn't normally buy a book like this new, but I had some Waterstone's points so I treated myself.  Three excellent stories, of the 'just one more page - oh, there's only another 10 left till the end of the story, I don't need to go to sleep yet!' variety.  I passed it onto J who said, "I'll take my time over it" and like me, isn't.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I have vague memories of enjoying Stan the killer, too.

[smallhobbit]

The thing about Maigret stories is that, although they're all different, the titles don't always help to differentiate them.

[thatjustwontbreak]

I have been resistant to watching Murderbot and reading your post made me realize that perhaps it is because I too have a version of him in my head that feels incongruent with Skarsgård.

[smallhobbit]

Yes, I think that when you've created your own world over a few years, you don't want to enter someone else's.

[therealsnape]

I'll check out "War among the Ladies". Sounds interesting. My husband, who was a SF lover, loved Fahrenheit 451, but it was the concept which meant the most to him.

[smallhobbit]

I've read a number of British Library Women Writers books and they've all been interesting and an insight into the times. I have a few more on my shelf for next year.
The concept is interesting, and I'm glad I've read it, but not my sort of book.

[debriswoman]

Great progress, and a nice selection 😊

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much 😄