Books - October 2025
Oct. 25th, 2025 03:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitThe library refit has been done and looks maybe a bit better. But, they still need to replace the windows and get the new book racks put in, so it will be shut again next month, but fortunately only for a week this time.
In the meantime, this month I've read 7 books, so I'm up to 67 books for the year and should easily reach my 75 books goal.
Feast for the Ravens by Sarah Hawkswood
The next in the Bradecote and Catchpoll series. I bought this new as I was keen to read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in September 1145 in the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire, there's a dead body to identify and investigate and a fascinating plot, all of which give a distinct sense of both time and place.
Green for Danger by Christianna Brand
Shedunnit's book for October and one I happened to already have on my TBR shelf. My second Brand in three months and sufficient to make me decide not to read any more. I generally like war time setting, especially when written at the time (this was written in 1944) but the story felt implausible to me.
Seven Clues in Search of a Crime by Bruce Graeme
I'm not sure why I bought this book (second hand), clearly it had been recommended by someone. Although published in 1941 to me it read like a more modern novel, but written as a historical story. However the story is set in 1938 (there's mention of the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth which was launched that year), so maybe Graeme was feeling nostalgic for a more peaceful time when he wrote the book. I quite enjoyed the story, which involves the main character working out what is happening and why, but won't be actively hunting out further books in the series.
As If By Magic: Locked Room Mysteries and Other Miraculous Crimes edited by Martin Edwards
I bought this book of short stories to read on holiday. Sadly I didn't enjoy the majority - but then I'm not a fan of locked room mysteries, and I think I've read sufficient by now to be able to work out what happened since most rely on one of three explanations.
Maigret and the Ghost by Georges Simenon
I also read this on holiday and enjoyed the story. Set in Paris it has the usual Maigret selection of suspects and the solid police work which reveal the perpetrator. I continue to enjoy the Maigret stories, as I always have the sense of being present in the location when reading them.
Green Hands by Barbara Whitton
A reprint by the Imperial War Museum, this was written in 1943 and tells the story of three land girls and their year working on farms. Although not autobiographical, it's based on the author's own experiences and really does give a good sense of what life was like. For anyone interested in the period, I would recommend this book.
The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Cherry-Garrard was one of those who was on Robert Scott's attempt to reach the South Pole, although he was in one of the support parties and therefore didn't get to the Pole - and consequently survived to write about it. A couple of people recommended the book and said how good it was, so I decided to try it. I read the first half last year and then the second half over the last few months this year. It's a long book, and hard going. In the end I was disappointed. Yes, it was very hard going and the men involved suffered, but they had chosen to go. There was an Edwardian arrogance which led to mistakes being made. The book was published in 1922 and very clearly reflects the attitudes behind British imperialism.
In the meantime, this month I've read 7 books, so I'm up to 67 books for the year and should easily reach my 75 books goal.
Feast for the Ravens by Sarah Hawkswood
The next in the Bradecote and Catchpoll series. I bought this new as I was keen to read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in September 1145 in the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire, there's a dead body to identify and investigate and a fascinating plot, all of which give a distinct sense of both time and place.
Green for Danger by Christianna Brand
Shedunnit's book for October and one I happened to already have on my TBR shelf. My second Brand in three months and sufficient to make me decide not to read any more. I generally like war time setting, especially when written at the time (this was written in 1944) but the story felt implausible to me.
Seven Clues in Search of a Crime by Bruce Graeme
I'm not sure why I bought this book (second hand), clearly it had been recommended by someone. Although published in 1941 to me it read like a more modern novel, but written as a historical story. However the story is set in 1938 (there's mention of the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth which was launched that year), so maybe Graeme was feeling nostalgic for a more peaceful time when he wrote the book. I quite enjoyed the story, which involves the main character working out what is happening and why, but won't be actively hunting out further books in the series.
As If By Magic: Locked Room Mysteries and Other Miraculous Crimes edited by Martin Edwards
I bought this book of short stories to read on holiday. Sadly I didn't enjoy the majority - but then I'm not a fan of locked room mysteries, and I think I've read sufficient by now to be able to work out what happened since most rely on one of three explanations.
Maigret and the Ghost by Georges Simenon
I also read this on holiday and enjoyed the story. Set in Paris it has the usual Maigret selection of suspects and the solid police work which reveal the perpetrator. I continue to enjoy the Maigret stories, as I always have the sense of being present in the location when reading them.
Green Hands by Barbara Whitton
A reprint by the Imperial War Museum, this was written in 1943 and tells the story of three land girls and their year working on farms. Although not autobiographical, it's based on the author's own experiences and really does give a good sense of what life was like. For anyone interested in the period, I would recommend this book.
The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Cherry-Garrard was one of those who was on Robert Scott's attempt to reach the South Pole, although he was in one of the support parties and therefore didn't get to the Pole - and consequently survived to write about it. A couple of people recommended the book and said how good it was, so I decided to try it. I read the first half last year and then the second half over the last few months this year. It's a long book, and hard going. In the end I was disappointed. Yes, it was very hard going and the men involved suffered, but they had chosen to go. There was an Edwardian arrogance which led to mistakes being made. The book was published in 1922 and very clearly reflects the attitudes behind British imperialism.
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Date: 2025-10-28 10:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-10-29 02:55 pm (UTC)