JenMDB is grateful for books - even the ones I will never read
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2019
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3The_Hibernator
Happy New Year, and good luck!
4FAMeulstee
Happy reading in 2019, Jen!
5JenMDB
January
#1. I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. Wouldn't say suspense but certainly a tense novel. A bit confusing in places because of the changes in the narrator but it is all resolved in the end.
#2 Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion. Trite and full of stereotypes. Made me want to never walk the Camino (which is probably a good thing).
#3 Foe by Iain Reid. Didn't need to read both Reid's book in one month. They are very similar. Think I prefer Foe because it is less confusing and more suspenseful.
#4 Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd. Sense of deja vu while reading this but....
#1. I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. Wouldn't say suspense but certainly a tense novel. A bit confusing in places because of the changes in the narrator but it is all resolved in the end.
#2 Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion. Trite and full of stereotypes. Made me want to never walk the Camino (which is probably a good thing).
#3 Foe by Iain Reid. Didn't need to read both Reid's book in one month. They are very similar. Think I prefer Foe because it is less confusing and more suspenseful.
#4 Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd. Sense of deja vu while reading this but....
6JenMDB
February
#5 You're It by Alan Broadbent and Franca Guiccardi
#6 Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng.
#7 Becoming by Michelle Obama. The first three-quarters were very interesting. Unfortunately, the White House parts seemed repetitive and a surprisingly dull.
#8 Rebel Dad by David McKinstry. The growing up gay in small town Canada in the 60s and 70s bit was interesting, as was the part about the author's partner who died of AIDS but the adoption/parenting bits seemed a bit of an excuse to hang the rest of the memoir on.
#9 Half Spent Was the Night by Ami McKay. What was that? a hardbound magazine story?
#10Dear Evelyn by Kathy Page. A whole marriage in one book. Harry's a good guy.
#5 You're It by Alan Broadbent and Franca Guiccardi
#6 Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng.
#7 Becoming by Michelle Obama. The first three-quarters were very interesting. Unfortunately, the White House parts seemed repetitive and a surprisingly dull.
#8 Rebel Dad by David McKinstry. The growing up gay in small town Canada in the 60s and 70s bit was interesting, as was the part about the author's partner who died of AIDS but the adoption/parenting bits seemed a bit of an excuse to hang the rest of the memoir on.
#9 Half Spent Was the Night by Ami McKay. What was that? a hardbound magazine story?
#10Dear Evelyn by Kathy Page. A whole marriage in one book. Harry's a good guy.
7JenMDB
March
#11 An Unsuitable Match by Joanna Trollope. Like easy listening music.
#12 Lear's Shadow by Claire Holden Rothman. I like the way Montreal comes to life in the story about a small acting company performing Shakespeare in the park.
#13 Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny. More Montreal. This time the seedier side but still with good old Gamache and Three Pines providing safe havens.
#14 Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver. Touches close to home in many places. Interesting & astute.
#15 Gate of Angels by Penelope Fitzgerald. Good book to slip in my bag on a day trip to the city. Interesting & quirky in an old fashioned way. Feels like it was written 100 years ago not 30.
#16 Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys. Liked the vivid description of the long sea voyage from England to Australia in 1939. Just enough action to keep the book from getting too boring. Interesting ending.
#11 An Unsuitable Match by Joanna Trollope. Like easy listening music.
#12 Lear's Shadow by Claire Holden Rothman. I like the way Montreal comes to life in the story about a small acting company performing Shakespeare in the park.
#13 Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny. More Montreal. This time the seedier side but still with good old Gamache and Three Pines providing safe havens.
#14 Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver. Touches close to home in many places. Interesting & astute.
#15 Gate of Angels by Penelope Fitzgerald. Good book to slip in my bag on a day trip to the city. Interesting & quirky in an old fashioned way. Feels like it was written 100 years ago not 30.
#16 Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys. Liked the vivid description of the long sea voyage from England to Australia in 1939. Just enough action to keep the book from getting too boring. Interesting ending.
8JenMDB
April
#17 A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult. Balanced but way too factual, predictable and boring. The chopped up narrative only slowed things down - didn't add any drama.
#18 The Lost Diaries of Susanna Moodie by Cecily Ross. Definitely based on the facts. Felt authentic & true.
#19 I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell. Excellent book. Beautifully written, delicately strung, thematically linked glimpses of life at the edge of death.
#20 The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Double header - time travel & murder mystery - keeps the wits awake.
#21 The Salt Path: a Memoir by Raynor Winn. Very satisfying. Have visited many of the places on their walking route but a very different perspective of Devon, Cornwall & Dorset. Life pared down to the bare essentials (well, maybe not the noodles).
#17 A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult. Balanced but way too factual, predictable and boring. The chopped up narrative only slowed things down - didn't add any drama.
#18 The Lost Diaries of Susanna Moodie by Cecily Ross. Definitely based on the facts. Felt authentic & true.
#19 I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell. Excellent book. Beautifully written, delicately strung, thematically linked glimpses of life at the edge of death.
#20 The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Double header - time travel & murder mystery - keeps the wits awake.
#21 The Salt Path: a Memoir by Raynor Winn. Very satisfying. Have visited many of the places on their walking route but a very different perspective of Devon, Cornwall & Dorset. Life pared down to the bare essentials (well, maybe not the noodles).
9JenMDB
May
#22 Leaving Berlin by Joseph Kanon. Post war pre wall.
#23 Saints and Misfits by S. K . Ali. Interesting but a bit too YA for me.
#24 The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley. Glad to see more of Dogger and that Flavia is finally recognizing that Undine is a mini-version of her.
#25 The Road to Grantchester by James Runcie. This book hit the spot. A lot of it is a faith journey and does not explain Sidney's love of jazz or his penchant for solving crimes but I really liked learning his back story.
#22 Leaving Berlin by Joseph Kanon. Post war pre wall.
#23 Saints and Misfits by S. K . Ali. Interesting but a bit too YA for me.
#24 The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley. Glad to see more of Dogger and that Flavia is finally recognizing that Undine is a mini-version of her.
#25 The Road to Grantchester by James Runcie. This book hit the spot. A lot of it is a faith journey and does not explain Sidney's love of jazz or his penchant for solving crimes but I really liked learning his back story.
10JenMDB
June
#26 Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. Is it funny or sad? A likeable Mildred.
#27 Happiness by Aminatta Forna. Agrees with my theory of trauma - it doesn't have to equal damage. Change yes. Resilience maybe.
#28 The Gown by Jennifer Robson. The historical bits were interesting. The personal storylines of Miriam and Ann a bit predictable. And the character of Heather just seemed naive, young and unconvincing as a journalist who must have been in her 40s based on her mother's year of birth.
#26 Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. Is it funny or sad? A likeable Mildred.
#27 Happiness by Aminatta Forna. Agrees with my theory of trauma - it doesn't have to equal damage. Change yes. Resilience maybe.
#28 The Gown by Jennifer Robson. The historical bits were interesting. The personal storylines of Miriam and Ann a bit predictable. And the character of Heather just seemed naive, young and unconvincing as a journalist who must have been in her 40s based on her mother's year of birth.
11JenMDB
July
#29 A Cotswold Mystery by Rebecca Tope. Like the housesitter encountering dead bodies idea but not a lot of depth. But perfect for a weekend at the cottage.
#30 Big Sky by Kate Atkinson. Much more satisfying. So good to have another Jackson Brodie book. I love me a well written detective novel.
#31 Old Baggage by Lissa Evans. Enjoyable take on the efforts of women who dedicated themselves to achieving voting rights for all women in the UK.
#32 Unsinkable by Silken Laumann.
#33 Dual Citizens by Alix Ohlin. Good bits. Boring bits. Overall, miss.
#34 Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngston. Loved this book. The writing, the characters, the style, the storyline. Just right.
#35 A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss. A dense but very readable tale. Liked Ben Weaver the boxer cum detective and his sidekick, Elias. Great atmosphere of early 18th century London and the beginnings of our bank system & stock market.
#36 Starlight by Richard Wagamese. I didn't expect to learn how to walk or listen. Loved the safe haven Frank creates. So much tension and the climax & resolution the biggest cliffhanger ever. RIP Richard Wagamese.
#29 A Cotswold Mystery by Rebecca Tope. Like the housesitter encountering dead bodies idea but not a lot of depth. But perfect for a weekend at the cottage.
#30 Big Sky by Kate Atkinson. Much more satisfying. So good to have another Jackson Brodie book. I love me a well written detective novel.
#31 Old Baggage by Lissa Evans. Enjoyable take on the efforts of women who dedicated themselves to achieving voting rights for all women in the UK.
#32 Unsinkable by Silken Laumann.
#33 Dual Citizens by Alix Ohlin. Good bits. Boring bits. Overall, miss.
#34 Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngston. Loved this book. The writing, the characters, the style, the storyline. Just right.
#35 A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss. A dense but very readable tale. Liked Ben Weaver the boxer cum detective and his sidekick, Elias. Great atmosphere of early 18th century London and the beginnings of our bank system & stock market.
#36 Starlight by Richard Wagamese. I didn't expect to learn how to walk or listen. Loved the safe haven Frank creates. So much tension and the climax & resolution the biggest cliffhanger ever. RIP Richard Wagamese.
12JenMDB
August
#37 American War by Omar El Akkad. Graphically imagined but very unsympathetic characters. So much hate. Is that our future?
#38 Coniston Case by Rebecca Tope. What's with the questioning climate change science? Enough of this pedestrian writing.
#39 The Millstone by Margaret Drabble. Dare I say dated? Some good lines, and reminded me of my mum and her friends but didn't really do anything for me.
#40 I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven. Now here's a book that I first read 40 years ago. I liked it then and I like it very much now. But the only real memory I had was the description of the grave trees for burials. Keeper.
#41 Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. Some wonderful descriptions of a river and a great meeting of science and legend as befits a late Victorian setting.
#42 Real Tigers by Mick Herron. Good deal for $3. Wanted to like it more. Maybe reading another title in the series will get me into the characters stories more - I suspect that's where some of the meat is.
#43 Lethal White by Robert Galbraith. Speaking of meat - no shortage of it here. Plausible development of Strike & Robin's relationship. Long but engaging.
#44 Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Recommended by my son. Seemed like a blend of so many other familiar stories & authors - Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Harry Potter, Terry Pratchett, Narnia, etc.
#45 The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton. Fine enough but I found the reference to York University in the 1920s very maddening as it didn't open until the 1960s.
#46 The Coffee Trader by David Liss. Did not enjoy this one nearly as much as A Conspiracy of Paper. Too complicated, disjointed, resolution was weak.
#37 American War by Omar El Akkad. Graphically imagined but very unsympathetic characters. So much hate. Is that our future?
#38 Coniston Case by Rebecca Tope. What's with the questioning climate change science? Enough of this pedestrian writing.
#39 The Millstone by Margaret Drabble. Dare I say dated? Some good lines, and reminded me of my mum and her friends but didn't really do anything for me.
#40 I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven. Now here's a book that I first read 40 years ago. I liked it then and I like it very much now. But the only real memory I had was the description of the grave trees for burials. Keeper.
#41 Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. Some wonderful descriptions of a river and a great meeting of science and legend as befits a late Victorian setting.
#42 Real Tigers by Mick Herron. Good deal for $3. Wanted to like it more. Maybe reading another title in the series will get me into the characters stories more - I suspect that's where some of the meat is.
#43 Lethal White by Robert Galbraith. Speaking of meat - no shortage of it here. Plausible development of Strike & Robin's relationship. Long but engaging.
#44 Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Recommended by my son. Seemed like a blend of so many other familiar stories & authors - Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Harry Potter, Terry Pratchett, Narnia, etc.
#45 The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton. Fine enough but I found the reference to York University in the 1920s very maddening as it didn't open until the 1960s.
#46 The Coffee Trader by David Liss. Did not enjoy this one nearly as much as A Conspiracy of Paper. Too complicated, disjointed, resolution was weak.
13JenMDB
September
#47 Dreadfulwater by Thomas King. Light, interesting setting and relationships between Thumps and other characters.
#48 Death in Shetland Waters by Marsali Taylor. Thought I'd like the setting - tall ship sailing from Norway to Ireland but I did not enjoy the writing, the story telling, the characters. Titanic museum in Belfast sounds worth a visit.
#49 No Cure for Love by Peter Robinson. I should have taken notice of the Hollywood setting and left this alone. Didn't do anything for me.
#50 The Ship That Flew by Hilda Lewis. Wonderful to re-read this gem.
#51 Spring by Ali Smith. Pulls no punches. Wonderful and disturbing. Dystopia now.
#52 Next of Kin by Nellie McClung.
#47 Dreadfulwater by Thomas King. Light, interesting setting and relationships between Thumps and other characters.
#48 Death in Shetland Waters by Marsali Taylor. Thought I'd like the setting - tall ship sailing from Norway to Ireland but I did not enjoy the writing, the story telling, the characters. Titanic museum in Belfast sounds worth a visit.
#49 No Cure for Love by Peter Robinson. I should have taken notice of the Hollywood setting and left this alone. Didn't do anything for me.
#50 The Ship That Flew by Hilda Lewis. Wonderful to re-read this gem.
#51 Spring by Ali Smith. Pulls no punches. Wonderful and disturbing. Dystopia now.
#52 Next of Kin by Nellie McClung.
14JenMDB
October
#53 The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos. Uneven but interesting to read something set in Romania.
#54 If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor. Haunting and ordinary.
#55 The Men and the Girls by Joanna Trollope. Re-reading before discarding. I can see why I might have liked it 20+ years ago but not doing it for me now.
#56 The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris. Modern day witchery in France. The tattooist reminds me of my sister. I felt for Vianne and her babies leaving home though.
#57 Beyond the Blue by Andrea McPherson. A re-read to reacquaint myself with my dad's childhood city.
#53 The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos. Uneven but interesting to read something set in Romania.
#54 If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor. Haunting and ordinary.
#55 The Men and the Girls by Joanna Trollope. Re-reading before discarding. I can see why I might have liked it 20+ years ago but not doing it for me now.
#56 The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris. Modern day witchery in France. The tattooist reminds me of my sister. I felt for Vianne and her babies leaving home though.
#57 Beyond the Blue by Andrea McPherson. A re-read to reacquaint myself with my dad's childhood city.
15JenMDB
November
#58 Middle England by Jonathan Coe. Best sex scene ever. Apart from that - all the little frictions and gripes that culminated in the Brexit mess.
#59 A Spectacle of Corruption by David Liss. Satisfying mystery/social-political history. Whigs, Tories and Jacobites, early election campaigns, and disguises.
#60 Love is Blind by William Boyd. Never read a book about a piano tuner before - or one that has taken me to Nicobar and the Andaman Islands. Interesting characters. Interesting fin de siecle setting.
#61 Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge. Was telling a friend about this book so dug it out for another re-read.
#62 A Good Wife: escaping the life I never chose by Samra Zafar.
#58 Middle England by Jonathan Coe. Best sex scene ever. Apart from that - all the little frictions and gripes that culminated in the Brexit mess.
#59 A Spectacle of Corruption by David Liss. Satisfying mystery/social-political history. Whigs, Tories and Jacobites, early election campaigns, and disguises.
#60 Love is Blind by William Boyd. Never read a book about a piano tuner before - or one that has taken me to Nicobar and the Andaman Islands. Interesting characters. Interesting fin de siecle setting.
#61 Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge. Was telling a friend about this book so dug it out for another re-read.
#62 A Good Wife: escaping the life I never chose by Samra Zafar.
16JenMDB
December:
#63 Bear Town by Fredrik Backman. Universal small town hockey story with a good dose of toxic masculinity thrown in. Compelling characters and very readable even if you don't like hockey. Or maybe especially if you don't like hockey.
#64 The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. Probably should have re-read A Handmaids Tale before rushing though this one but I retained enough of its substance over the past 30 years to do the sequel justice. Apart from the bit set in Toronto when Ada is hatching the plot for Baby Nicole to infiltrated Gilead (which seemed rushed and implausible), the rest of the book trips along quite chillingly. I like getting to know Aunt Lydia.
Only 64 books this year but a good finish in terms of quality.
#63 Bear Town by Fredrik Backman. Universal small town hockey story with a good dose of toxic masculinity thrown in. Compelling characters and very readable even if you don't like hockey. Or maybe especially if you don't like hockey.
#64 The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. Probably should have re-read A Handmaids Tale before rushing though this one but I retained enough of its substance over the past 30 years to do the sequel justice. Apart from the bit set in Toronto when Ada is hatching the plot for Baby Nicole to infiltrated Gilead (which seemed rushed and implausible), the rest of the book trips along quite chillingly. I like getting to know Aunt Lydia.
Only 64 books this year but a good finish in terms of quality.
