Kerry (CDVicarage) starts a Baker's Dozen thread in the 2024 75 Books Challenge
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2024
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1CDVicarage
Yes, this will be my thirteenth year in the 75 Challenge Group.
My user name reflects my address when i joined LibraryThing and, although I've moved house twice since then I haven't changed it. I now live in Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, famous these days as the birthplace of Harry Styles. He is definitely a local hero and we live on the pilgrimage route between the bakery, Mandeville's, where he had a Saturday job and the railway viaduct where he apparently once wrote his name on a brick and had his first kiss, (legends may have been manufactured!) and we see many groups of fans, clutching their Mandeville's bags and poring over the map on their phones, as they go between sites.
Although retired I have two part-time jobs: I spend two days a week working with my s-i-l at his small printing business - specialising in funeral orders of service - and six hours (usually more) spread over a week on the admin of Christ Church, West Didsbury, currently in interregnum. Our grandson, Toby, now three, spends two days (and often more) with us, which is a joy but exhausting. My mother, now 84, lives close by and, although mostly independent, she is starting to need more help.
Reading 75 titles in a year has never been a problem for me and I used to regard 200 as easily achieveable but family and work commitments have definitely cut that down - it's been 180 for the last two years. Of course it's quality not quantity that counts but quality is subjective and quantity is indisputable...
Those of you who have followed my past threads will know that they are not very busy and, although I am full of good intentions, I have rather fallen by the wayside in past years, but it's a New Year so I have New Resolutions!
My user name reflects my address when i joined LibraryThing and, although I've moved house twice since then I haven't changed it. I now live in Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, famous these days as the birthplace of Harry Styles. He is definitely a local hero and we live on the pilgrimage route between the bakery, Mandeville's, where he had a Saturday job and the railway viaduct where he apparently once wrote his name on a brick and had his first kiss, (legends may have been manufactured!) and we see many groups of fans, clutching their Mandeville's bags and poring over the map on their phones, as they go between sites.
Although retired I have two part-time jobs: I spend two days a week working with my s-i-l at his small printing business - specialising in funeral orders of service - and six hours (usually more) spread over a week on the admin of Christ Church, West Didsbury, currently in interregnum. Our grandson, Toby, now three, spends two days (and often more) with us, which is a joy but exhausting. My mother, now 84, lives close by and, although mostly independent, she is starting to need more help.
Reading 75 titles in a year has never been a problem for me and I used to regard 200 as easily achieveable but family and work commitments have definitely cut that down - it's been 180 for the last two years. Of course it's quality not quantity that counts but quality is subjective and quantity is indisputable...
Those of you who have followed my past threads will know that they are not very busy and, although I am full of good intentions, I have rather fallen by the wayside in past years, but it's a New Year so I have New Resolutions!
2CDVicarage
January:
1. Brother Dusty-Feet, 4th January
2. The Thirteen Days of Christmas, 6th January
3. Shot With Crimson, 6th January
4. Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise, 6th January
5. The Raging Storm, 8th January
6. The Sweet Remnants of Summer, 11th January
7. These Days, 13th January
8. The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee, 14th January
9. The Grand Sophy, read by Sarah Woodward, 15th January
10. Around the World in Eighty Days, 17th January
11. Walk the Blue Fields, 20th January
12. O, the Brave Music, 20th January
13. The Last Devil to Die, 25th January
14. The House of Doors, 25th January
15. The Good, the Bad and the History, read by Zara Ramm, 26th January
16. Slightly Foxed 77: Laughter in the Library Spring 2023, 27th January
17. The Master of Ballantrae, 28th January
18. The Great Deceiver, 29th January
19. The Chalet school and Cornelia, 29th January
Abandoned (so not counted towards the total)
Windmill Hill, by Lucy Atkins
1. Brother Dusty-Feet, 4th January
2. The Thirteen Days of Christmas, 6th January
3. Shot With Crimson, 6th January
4. Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise, 6th January
5. The Raging Storm, 8th January
6. The Sweet Remnants of Summer, 11th January
7. These Days, 13th January
8. The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee, 14th January
9. The Grand Sophy, read by Sarah Woodward, 15th January
10. Around the World in Eighty Days, 17th January
11. Walk the Blue Fields, 20th January
12. O, the Brave Music, 20th January
13. The Last Devil to Die, 25th January
14. The House of Doors, 25th January
15. The Good, the Bad and the History, read by Zara Ramm, 26th January
16. Slightly Foxed 77: Laughter in the Library Spring 2023, 27th January
17. The Master of Ballantrae, 28th January
18. The Great Deceiver, 29th January
19. The Chalet school and Cornelia, 29th January
Abandoned (so not counted towards the total)
Windmill Hill, by Lucy Atkins
3CDVicarage
February
20. Rivals of the Chalet School, 1st February
21. The Path to the Sea, 3rd February
22. A Bird in the Hand, 5th February, ROOT success
23. Slightly Foxed 78: A Familiar Country Summer 2023, 7th February
24. Doing Time, read by Zara Ramm, 8th February
25. Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School, 9th February
26. The Fair Miss Fortune, 11th February
27. The Thursday Murder Club, read by Lesley Manville, 14th February
28. Nina Balatka, 15th February
29. Latchkey Ladies, 17th February
30. Impact of Evidence, 18th February
31. Hard Time, read by Zara Ramm, 23rd February
32. A Man Called Ove, 23rd February
33. The Secret of High Eldersham, 24th February
34. Victorians Undone, 24th February
35. Slightly Foxed 79: U and I and Me, 25th February
36. Normal Rules Don't Apply, 25th February
37. The Secret Shore, 29th February
20. Rivals of the Chalet School, 1st February
21. The Path to the Sea, 3rd February
22. A Bird in the Hand, 5th February, ROOT success
23. Slightly Foxed 78: A Familiar Country Summer 2023, 7th February
24. Doing Time, read by Zara Ramm, 8th February
25. Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School, 9th February
26. The Fair Miss Fortune, 11th February
27. The Thursday Murder Club, read by Lesley Manville, 14th February
28. Nina Balatka, 15th February
29. Latchkey Ladies, 17th February
30. Impact of Evidence, 18th February
31. Hard Time, read by Zara Ramm, 23rd February
32. A Man Called Ove, 23rd February
33. The Secret of High Eldersham, 24th February
34. Victorians Undone, 24th February
35. Slightly Foxed 79: U and I and Me, 25th February
36. Normal Rules Don't Apply, 25th February
37. The Secret Shore, 29th February
4CDVicarage
March
38. Comfort Eating: What We Eat When Nobody's Looking, 1st March
39. Slightly Foxed 80: Arrows of Revelation Winter 2023, 3rd March
40. A Secret Garden Affair, 4th March
41. Clerical Errors, 7th March
42. Unholy Ghosts, 8th March
43. Idol Bones, 9th March
44. Holy Terrors, 11th March
45. Cotillion, read by Phyllida Nash, 11th March
46. Every Deadly Sin, 14th March
47. Mortal Spoils, 15th March
48. Heavenly Vices, 16th March
49. A Grave Disturbance, 17th march
50. Foolish Ways, 18th March
51. Uncommon Arrangements, 20th March
52. The Last Word, 22nd March
53. A Kind Man, 22nd March
54. The Corfe Castle Murders, 23rd March
55. The Clifftop Murders, 24th March
56. The Island Murders, 24th March
57. The Man who Died Twice, read by Lesley Manville, 25th March
58. The Chalet School and Jo, 28th March
59. Slightly Foxed: No. 22: Don't Give Up the Day Job, 30th March
38. Comfort Eating: What We Eat When Nobody's Looking, 1st March
39. Slightly Foxed 80: Arrows of Revelation Winter 2023, 3rd March
40. A Secret Garden Affair, 4th March
41. Clerical Errors, 7th March
42. Unholy Ghosts, 8th March
43. Idol Bones, 9th March
44. Holy Terrors, 11th March
45. Cotillion, read by Phyllida Nash, 11th March
46. Every Deadly Sin, 14th March
47. Mortal Spoils, 15th March
48. Heavenly Vices, 16th March
49. A Grave Disturbance, 17th march
50. Foolish Ways, 18th March
51. Uncommon Arrangements, 20th March
52. The Last Word, 22nd March
53. A Kind Man, 22nd March
54. The Corfe Castle Murders, 23rd March
55. The Clifftop Murders, 24th March
56. The Island Murders, 24th March
57. The Man who Died Twice, read by Lesley Manville, 25th March
58. The Chalet School and Jo, 28th March
59. Slightly Foxed: No. 22: Don't Give Up the Day Job, 30th March
5CDVicarage
April
60. The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream, 1st April
61. A Lesson in Dying, 3rd April
62. Saving Time, 4th April
63. Murder in My Backyard, 6th April
64. A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy, 6th April
65. Killjoy, 8th April
66. The Healers, 11th April
67. The Baby-Snatcher, 12th April
68. About Time,13th April
69. The Invisible Women's Club, 15th April
70. A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, 15th April
71. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, 16th April
72. Santa Grint, read by Zara Ramm, 18th April
73. He Who Whispers, 20th April
74. Steeple Chasing, 21st April
75. Slightly Foxed 23: Social Climbing, 21st April
76. Come, Tell Me How You Live, 24th April
77. The Salisbury Manuscript, 24th April
78. Storm Christopher, 25th April
79. Slightly Foxed 24: A Pash for Nash, 27th April
80. The Chalet Girls in Camp, 28th April
81. The Harbour Lights Mystery, 29th April
Devil's Breath, abandoned 16th April
60. The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream, 1st April
61. A Lesson in Dying, 3rd April
62. Saving Time, 4th April
63. Murder in My Backyard, 6th April
64. A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy, 6th April
65. Killjoy, 8th April
66. The Healers, 11th April
67. The Baby-Snatcher, 12th April
68. About Time,13th April
69. The Invisible Women's Club, 15th April
70. A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, 15th April
71. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, 16th April
72. Santa Grint, read by Zara Ramm, 18th April
73. He Who Whispers, 20th April
74. Steeple Chasing, 21st April
75. Slightly Foxed 23: Social Climbing, 21st April
76. Come, Tell Me How You Live, 24th April
77. The Salisbury Manuscript, 24th April
78. Storm Christopher, 25th April
79. Slightly Foxed 24: A Pash for Nash, 27th April
80. The Chalet Girls in Camp, 28th April
81. The Harbour Lights Mystery, 29th April
Devil's Breath, abandoned 16th April
6CDVicarage
May
82. The Unknown Ajax, read by Thomas Judd, 1st May
83. Northanger Abbey, 3rd May
84. Practically Perfect: Life Lessons from Mary Poppins, 6th May
85. Black Beauty, 7th May
86. The Wedding Dress Repair Shop, 10th May
87. Silas Marner, 11th May
88. Murder by Candlelight, 13th May
89. Atalanta, 13th May
90. Queen Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, 14th May
91. Pollyanna, 16th May
92. Parnassus on Wheels, 17th May
93. The Exploits of the Chalet Girls, 17th May
94. Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent, 17th May
95. The Chalet School Annexe, 20th May
96. The Chalet School and the Lintons, 24th May
97. The List of Suspicious Things, 26th May
98. The New House at the Chalet School, 30th May
99. Femina, 31st May
100. Lucia in London, read by Georgina Sutton, 31st May
Abandoned (so not counted towards total)
An Unsuitable Heiress, 11th May
82. The Unknown Ajax, read by Thomas Judd, 1st May
83. Northanger Abbey, 3rd May
84. Practically Perfect: Life Lessons from Mary Poppins, 6th May
85. Black Beauty, 7th May
86. The Wedding Dress Repair Shop, 10th May
87. Silas Marner, 11th May
88. Murder by Candlelight, 13th May
89. Atalanta, 13th May
90. Queen Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, 14th May
91. Pollyanna, 16th May
92. Parnassus on Wheels, 17th May
93. The Exploits of the Chalet Girls, 17th May
94. Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent, 17th May
95. The Chalet School Annexe, 20th May
96. The Chalet School and the Lintons, 24th May
97. The List of Suspicious Things, 26th May
98. The New House at the Chalet School, 30th May
99. Femina, 31st May
100. Lucia in London, read by Georgina Sutton, 31st May
Abandoned (so not counted towards total)
An Unsuitable Heiress, 11th May
7CDVicarage
June:
101. Julian of Norwich, 5th June
102. Killing Time, 7th June
103. Slightly Foxed 81: Stumbling With Precision Spring 2024, 8th June
104. The House in Cornwall, 8th June
105. The Scribbler No. 23 March 2023: A retrospective literary review, 8th June
106. Slightly Foxed 82: Spaced Out Summer 2024, 10th June
107. The Scribbler No. 24 July 2023: A retrospective literary review, 10th June
108. Under Another Sky, 10th June
109. The Stolen Seasons, 12th June
110. Jo Returns to the Chalet School, 15th June
111. Miss Mapp, read by Georgina Sutton, 15th June
112. Borrobil, 16th June ROOT
113. The Müller Twins at the Chalet School, 17th June
114. The Hidden Years, 17th June
115. The New Chalet School, 20th June
116. West, 22nd June
117. Gillian of the Chalet School, 23rd June
118. Two Chalet School Girls in India, 26th June
119. The Corinthian, read by Georgina Sutton, 26th June
120. The Ivy Tree, 30th June
Two abandons: River East, River West and The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, 21st June
101. Julian of Norwich, 5th June
102. Killing Time, 7th June
103. Slightly Foxed 81: Stumbling With Precision Spring 2024, 8th June
104. The House in Cornwall, 8th June
105. The Scribbler No. 23 March 2023: A retrospective literary review, 8th June
106. Slightly Foxed 82: Spaced Out Summer 2024, 10th June
107. The Scribbler No. 24 July 2023: A retrospective literary review, 10th June
108. Under Another Sky, 10th June
109. The Stolen Seasons, 12th June
110. Jo Returns to the Chalet School, 15th June
111. Miss Mapp, read by Georgina Sutton, 15th June
112. Borrobil, 16th June ROOT
113. The Müller Twins at the Chalet School, 17th June
114. The Hidden Years, 17th June
115. The New Chalet School, 20th June
116. West, 22nd June
117. Gillian of the Chalet School, 23rd June
118. Two Chalet School Girls in India, 26th June
119. The Corinthian, read by Georgina Sutton, 26th June
120. The Ivy Tree, 30th June
Two abandons: River East, River West and The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, 21st June
8CDVicarage
July
121. Smouldering Fire, 3rd July
122. The Keeper of Stories, 4th July
123. The Chalet School in Exile, 6th July
124. Joey And Patricia, 6th July
125. A Refuge for the Chalet School, 8th July
126. The Late Train to Gypsy Hill, 11th July
127. Mapp and Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, 11th July
128. The Chalet School in Guernsey, 13th July
129. The Numbered Account, 13th July
130. Stranded (short Story) by Ann Cleeves, 15th July
131. Death at La Fenice, 17th July
132. The Chalet School Goes To It, 17th July
133. Death in a Strange Country, 20th July
134. The Dangerous Islands, 21st July
135. The Chalet School and Robin, 21st July
136. Secrets of the Cottage by the Sea, 22nd July
137. Lucia's Progress, read by Georgina Sutton, 24th July
138. The Scribbler No. 25 November 2023: A retrospective literary review, 24th July
139. I Found You, 25th July
140. The Last Battle, 25th July
141. The Highland Twins at the Chalet School, 27th July
142. Death of an Author, 29th July
143. The Anonymous Venetian, 31st July
144. Flight of a Chalet School Girl, 31st July
Abandoned: Aunt Ivy's Cottage
The Way of All Flesh
121. Smouldering Fire, 3rd July
122. The Keeper of Stories, 4th July
123. The Chalet School in Exile, 6th July
124. Joey And Patricia, 6th July
125. A Refuge for the Chalet School, 8th July
126. The Late Train to Gypsy Hill, 11th July
127. Mapp and Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, 11th July
128. The Chalet School in Guernsey, 13th July
129. The Numbered Account, 13th July
130. Stranded (short Story) by Ann Cleeves, 15th July
131. Death at La Fenice, 17th July
132. The Chalet School Goes To It, 17th July
133. Death in a Strange Country, 20th July
134. The Dangerous Islands, 21st July
135. The Chalet School and Robin, 21st July
136. Secrets of the Cottage by the Sea, 22nd July
137. Lucia's Progress, read by Georgina Sutton, 24th July
138. The Scribbler No. 25 November 2023: A retrospective literary review, 24th July
139. I Found You, 25th July
140. The Last Battle, 25th July
141. The Highland Twins at the Chalet School, 27th July
142. Death of an Author, 29th July
143. The Anonymous Venetian, 31st July
144. Flight of a Chalet School Girl, 31st July
Abandoned: Aunt Ivy's Cottage
The Way of All Flesh
9CDVicarage
August
145. The Comfort of Ghosts, 1st August
146. Trouble for Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, 4th August
147. Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School, 5th August
148. Gay from China at the Chalet School, 8th August
149. The Scribbler No. 26 March 2024: A retrospective literary review , 8th August
150. Chocolat, 10th August
151. The Prisoner of Zenda, 11th August
152. A Venetian Reckoning, 12th August
153. Murder at the Monastery, 14th August
154. Acqua Alta, 16th August
155. Emergency in the Pyrenees, 18th August
156. The Talisman Ring, read by Phyllida Nash, 19th August
157. The Thirty-Nine Steps, read by David Thorn, 23rd August
158. The Fellowship of the Ring, 23rd August
159. The Scribbler No. 27 July 2024: A retrospective literary review, 24th August
160. The Two Towers, 25th August
161. The Return of the King, 29th August
162. The Sunday Philosophy Club, 31st August
145. The Comfort of Ghosts, 1st August
146. Trouble for Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, 4th August
147. Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School, 5th August
148. Gay from China at the Chalet School, 8th August
149. The Scribbler No. 26 March 2024: A retrospective literary review , 8th August
150. Chocolat, 10th August
151. The Prisoner of Zenda, 11th August
152. A Venetian Reckoning, 12th August
153. Murder at the Monastery, 14th August
154. Acqua Alta, 16th August
155. Emergency in the Pyrenees, 18th August
156. The Talisman Ring, read by Phyllida Nash, 19th August
157. The Thirty-Nine Steps, read by David Thorn, 23rd August
158. The Fellowship of the Ring, 23rd August
159. The Scribbler No. 27 July 2024: A retrospective literary review, 24th August
160. The Two Towers, 25th August
161. The Return of the King, 29th August
162. The Sunday Philosophy Club, 31st August
10CDVicarage
September:
163. Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, 1st September
164. The Right Attitude to Rain, 2nd September
165. Sylvester, read by Nicholas Rowe, 4th September
166. The Careful Use of Compliments, 4th September
167. The Comfort of Saturdays, 5th September
168. The Lost Art of Gratitude, 6th September
169. Slightly Foxed 83: Benefit of Clergy Autumn 2024, 8th September
170. The Charming Quirks of Others, 8th September
171. Slightly Foxed 25: A Date with Iris Spring 2010, 9th September
172. The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, 11th September
173. The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal, 13th September
174. Jo to the Rescue, 18th Spetember
175. This Rough Magic, 21st September
176. Mog the Forgetful Cat, 21st September
177. Frederica, read by Joe Jameson, 22nd September
178. The Mystery at the Chalet School and Robin Heeds the Call, 22nd September
179. Army Without Banners, 27th September
180. A Chalet School Headmistress, 30th September
163. Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, 1st September
164. The Right Attitude to Rain, 2nd September
165. Sylvester, read by Nicholas Rowe, 4th September
166. The Careful Use of Compliments, 4th September
167. The Comfort of Saturdays, 5th September
168. The Lost Art of Gratitude, 6th September
169. Slightly Foxed 83: Benefit of Clergy Autumn 2024, 8th September
170. The Charming Quirks of Others, 8th September
171. Slightly Foxed 25: A Date with Iris Spring 2010, 9th September
172. The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, 11th September
173. The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal, 13th September
174. Jo to the Rescue, 18th Spetember
175. This Rough Magic, 21st September
176. Mog the Forgetful Cat, 21st September
177. Frederica, read by Joe Jameson, 22nd September
178. The Mystery at the Chalet School and Robin Heeds the Call, 22nd September
179. Army Without Banners, 27th September
180. A Chalet School Headmistress, 30th September
11CDVicarage
October:
181. Behind the Scenes at the Museum, 2nd October
182. Sister Beneath the Sheet, 4th October
183. Tom Tackles the Chalet School, 5th October
184. Cousin Kate, read by Christina Cole, 5th October
185. The Chalet School and Rosalie: with A Slippery Slope, 6th October
186. The Secret Book of Flora Lea, 10th October
187. Hanging on the Wire, 13th October
188. The Bettany Twins and the Chalet School,17th October
189. The Reluctant Widow, read by Cornelius Garrett,
190. Pru and Me, 18th October
191. Sisters at the Chalet School, 24th October
192. Unruly, 27th October
193. A Guernsey Girl at the Chalet School, 28th October
194. Bournville, 31st October
181. Behind the Scenes at the Museum, 2nd October
182. Sister Beneath the Sheet, 4th October
183. Tom Tackles the Chalet School, 5th October
184. Cousin Kate, read by Christina Cole, 5th October
185. The Chalet School and Rosalie: with A Slippery Slope, 6th October
186. The Secret Book of Flora Lea, 10th October
187. Hanging on the Wire, 13th October
188. The Bettany Twins and the Chalet School,17th October
189. The Reluctant Widow, read by Cornelius Garrett,
190. Pru and Me, 18th October
191. Sisters at the Chalet School, 24th October
192. Unruly, 27th October
193. A Guernsey Girl at the Chalet School, 28th October
194. Bournville, 31st October
12CDVicarage
November:
195. All the Broken Places, 1st November
196. False Colours, read by Phyllida Nash, 2nd November
197. Stig of the Dump, read by Martin Jarvis, 4th November
198. The Episode at Toledo, 7th November
199. Shy Creatures, 10th November
200. Small Bomb at Dimperley, 11th November
201. Peace Comes to the Chalet School, 11th November
202. The Dark Wives, 13th November
203. Caldicott Place, 16th November
204. Champion of the Chalet School, 16th November
205. Miss Granby's Secret: or The Bastard of Pinsk, 17th November
206. The Malady in Madeira, 21st November
207. Village School, read by Phyllida Nash, 21st November
208. Julia in Ireland, 24th November
209. Three Go to the Chalet School, 25th November
210. Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea, 28th November
Abandoned: Weirdo by Sara Pascoe
195. All the Broken Places, 1st November
196. False Colours, read by Phyllida Nash, 2nd November
197. Stig of the Dump, read by Martin Jarvis, 4th November
198. The Episode at Toledo, 7th November
199. Shy Creatures, 10th November
200. Small Bomb at Dimperley, 11th November
201. Peace Comes to the Chalet School, 11th November
202. The Dark Wives, 13th November
203. Caldicott Place, 16th November
204. Champion of the Chalet School, 16th November
205. Miss Granby's Secret: or The Bastard of Pinsk, 17th November
206. The Malady in Madeira, 21st November
207. Village School, read by Phyllida Nash, 21st November
208. Julia in Ireland, 24th November
209. Three Go to the Chalet School, 25th November
210. Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea, 28th November
Abandoned: Weirdo by Sara Pascoe
13CDVicarage
December:
211. Emma, read by Juliet Stevenson, 2nd December
212. No Holly for Miss Quinn, read by Gwen Watford, 4th December
213. The Christmas Mouse, read by Gwen Watford, 8th December
214. The Houses in Between, 9th December
215. Ballet Shoes, 11th December
216. A Difficult Term for the Chalet School, 13th December
217. Winter in Thrush Green, read by June Barrie, 16th December
218. Mrs Harris Goes to New York, 16th December
219. A Christmas Cracker, 21st December
220. Love in a Cold Climate, read by Patricia Hodge, 22nd December
221. The Christmas Mystery, 24th December
222. Twelve Days of Christmas, 24th December
223. The Magic of Christmas, 26th December
224. The Story of Holly and Ivy, 27th December
225. A Christmas Carol, read by Anton Lesser, 27th December
226. Murder Under the Mistletoe, 28th December
227. Lights! Camera! Mayhem!, 28th December
228. Murder on the Train, 30th December
Abandoned: Remarkably Bright Creatures
211. Emma, read by Juliet Stevenson, 2nd December
212. No Holly for Miss Quinn, read by Gwen Watford, 4th December
213. The Christmas Mouse, read by Gwen Watford, 8th December
214. The Houses in Between, 9th December
215. Ballet Shoes, 11th December
216. A Difficult Term for the Chalet School, 13th December
217. Winter in Thrush Green, read by June Barrie, 16th December
218. Mrs Harris Goes to New York, 16th December
219. A Christmas Cracker, 21st December
220. Love in a Cold Climate, read by Patricia Hodge, 22nd December
221. The Christmas Mystery, 24th December
222. Twelve Days of Christmas, 24th December
223. The Magic of Christmas, 26th December
224. The Story of Holly and Ivy, 27th December
225. A Christmas Carol, read by Anton Lesser, 27th December
226. Murder Under the Mistletoe, 28th December
227. Lights! Camera! Mayhem!, 28th December
228. Murder on the Train, 30th December
Abandoned: Remarkably Bright Creatures
14CDVicarage
Well, that's my set-up complete so I hope I now get some visitors. I shall be doing some visiting as well - see you soon!
15PaulCranswick
Glad to be first up, Kerry. I will look forward to yet more of your prodigious reading in 2024.
Star dropped.
Star dropped.
16lauralkeet
Happy New Year, Kerry! I read the comments on your previous thread about leaving your long-time book group. I'm sure it's difficult but your rationale is perfectly valid. Relocation alone would be sufficient reason, and is the sort of thing people can hardly quarrel with and are unlikely to take personally. I hope the new year's reading is more enjoyable for you!
17RebaRelishesReading
Hope you have a pleasant farewell to 2023 and a very happy beginning to 2024!! I look forward to following your reading in the coming year.
18Tess_W
Your intro reminded me of myself, retired..BUT..2 days a week for this, 1/2 a day per week for that, etc., etc. Good luck with your 2024 reading!
22thornton37814
Hope you have a great year of reading! You always read such interesting British books that I want to read.
23vancouverdeb
Hi Kerry! Happy New Year!
25FAMeulstee
Happy reading in 2024, Kerry!
27streamsong
Happy New Year!
>1 CDVicarage: " I am full of good intentions, I have rather fallen by the wayside in past years " Ah you've described me perfectly. Nevertheless this is still the best place on the web!
>1 CDVicarage: " I am full of good intentions, I have rather fallen by the wayside in past years " Ah you've described me perfectly. Nevertheless this is still the best place on the web!
28johnsimpson
Hi Kerry, Happy New Year my dear.
30CDVicarage
Thank you to my fifteen (!) visitors for your New Year and reading wishes, they are all returned of course! And Happy New Year to any lurkers - I do more lurking than commenting so I like to remember you as well.
It's been a good reading start to the year with four titles finished and several more close to finishing:
Brother Dusty-Feet, finished 4th January. Another lovely story from Rosemary Sutcliff, but I still have plenty more to go. I think I still prefer the earlier set stories - Roman and Saxon Britain and Europe - but these ar good, too.
The Thirteen Days of Christmas, finished 6th January. This is another Christmas period re-read, and this year I read a chapter a day following the calendar. I have a lovely hardback copy of this with wonderful illustrations by Shirley Hughes.
Shot With Crimson, finished 6th January. I have enjoyed this series featuring a fictionalized Josephine Tey, once I'd got over my misgivings about using a real, fairly recently deceased person as a fictional character, and I expect there will be more to come as Josephine has about fifteen more years of life. This one introduces Daphne Du Maurier as a character and features the filming of Rebecca by Alfred Hitchcock.
Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise, finished 6th January. This hardly counts as it's an essay rather than a book, and I didn't need convincing anyway!
It's been a good reading start to the year with four titles finished and several more close to finishing:
Brother Dusty-Feet, finished 4th January. Another lovely story from Rosemary Sutcliff, but I still have plenty more to go. I think I still prefer the earlier set stories - Roman and Saxon Britain and Europe - but these ar good, too.
The Thirteen Days of Christmas, finished 6th January. This is another Christmas period re-read, and this year I read a chapter a day following the calendar. I have a lovely hardback copy of this with wonderful illustrations by Shirley Hughes.
Shot With Crimson, finished 6th January. I have enjoyed this series featuring a fictionalized Josephine Tey, once I'd got over my misgivings about using a real, fairly recently deceased person as a fictional character, and I expect there will be more to come as Josephine has about fifteen more years of life. This one introduces Daphne Du Maurier as a character and features the filming of Rebecca by Alfred Hitchcock.
Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise, finished 6th January. This hardly counts as it's an essay rather than a book, and I didn't need convincing anyway!
31CDVicarage
I am Currently Reading several titles at the moment: The Raging Storm, The Grand Sophy (my bedtime audiobook) and Walk the Blue Fields. I also have lined up The Sweet Remnants of Summer and The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee - the latest in two Alexander McCall Smith series. I had also, reluctantly started Betty by Tiffany McDaniel, but, as it's for the Book Group that I have decided to leave, I think I may abandon it. Although I like reading (and mostly re-reading) Christmas related books during December I realized that it did stop me reading other books that I was keen to start - I certainly can't blame anyone or anything for that as it's completely self-inflicted but I think I overdid it this time. I'll try and remeber that next December!
32thornton37814
>30 CDVicarage: I think the essay on children's books sounds interesting. I don't need convincing either!
33rosalita
Hello Kerry! I never look for threads in the new year groups until Jan. 1 and I must have missed you in the deluge. But I've got you starred now. I love your description of the Harry Styles pilgrims!
34CDVicarage
It's so sad to see the last message on my thread from Julia, so full of things to come. The news of her death was a shock - it seemed so sudden and unexpected. LT friendships can be so close and yet there is so much that I don't know about people, beyond what they read and other snippets revealed in threads. I realised that I didn't know Julia's surname and had never seen a picture of her until someone posted a picture yesterday, of a meet-up that she had attended some years ago. I shall certainly miss her input in the threads I follow.
35CDVicarage
It has been a good reading week for me - four titles finished:
The Raging Storm, finished 8th January. This is the third in Ann Cleeves Two Rivers series and, although it is as good as any of her books, the set-up hasn't grabbed me as much as Vera and Shetland did. Neither Vera nor Jimmy Perez had straightforward lives but Matthew's background seems even more disfunctional - it's tempting to tell him to pull his socks up and get over it sometimes, which isn't fair of me really. I'm sure there will be more entries in the series so things may improve!
The Sweet Remnants of Summer, finished 11th January. This is the fourteenth enrty in the Isabel Dalhousie series and I'm fully immersed in it. I love Alexander McCall Smith's (apparently) rambling storytelling and Isabel's tangential thinking. I think I'm quite like that - only not as erudite and coherent of course. As usual, not a lot actually happens in this story but I love the glimpse of the characters' lives.
These Days, finished 13th January. This was much more harrowing but so well expressed. The blitz in Belfast (as in other cities than London) is often forgotten and overlooked. This novel reveals the horror of it and the - to me - unimaginable way that civilians coped with the disruption and disaster. The family in this story is affected dramatically and may, perhaps, have had their lives changed in good as well as bad ways. But all is not explained and tied-up by the end - just like life!
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee, finished 14th January. This is the seventeenth entry in the 44 Scotland Street series and, as with Isabel Dalhousie just goes gently on.
The Raging Storm, finished 8th January. This is the third in Ann Cleeves Two Rivers series and, although it is as good as any of her books, the set-up hasn't grabbed me as much as Vera and Shetland did. Neither Vera nor Jimmy Perez had straightforward lives but Matthew's background seems even more disfunctional - it's tempting to tell him to pull his socks up and get over it sometimes, which isn't fair of me really. I'm sure there will be more entries in the series so things may improve!
The Sweet Remnants of Summer, finished 11th January. This is the fourteenth enrty in the Isabel Dalhousie series and I'm fully immersed in it. I love Alexander McCall Smith's (apparently) rambling storytelling and Isabel's tangential thinking. I think I'm quite like that - only not as erudite and coherent of course. As usual, not a lot actually happens in this story but I love the glimpse of the characters' lives.
These Days, finished 13th January. This was much more harrowing but so well expressed. The blitz in Belfast (as in other cities than London) is often forgotten and overlooked. This novel reveals the horror of it and the - to me - unimaginable way that civilians coped with the disruption and disaster. The family in this story is affected dramatically and may, perhaps, have had their lives changed in good as well as bad ways. But all is not explained and tied-up by the end - just like life!
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee, finished 14th January. This is the seventeenth entry in the 44 Scotland Street series and, as with Isabel Dalhousie just goes gently on.
36CDVicarage
I mentioned before, I think, that I have added a lot of ebooks to my catalogue as 'Possible ebooks' i.e. some will likely be removed if I ever start to read them and find I don't like them. This means that a lot of 'Recent Member-Uploaded Covers for Your Books' come up on my Home Page, especially for the 'classics' - do you know there are 890 member uploaded covers for Around the World in 80 Days - but it has also made me think about reading some of these books! and that is now (one of) my Currently Reading titles. It has also made me delete some titles, unread, already - I decided that James Bond was not for me based on the sexist cover designs of most of the editions. It will be sometime before I have been through all of the potential available covers but it's something I can do a little at a time...
As well as the covers here I have been correcting and adding editions elswhere. I have an account on Goodreads merely to keep track of my 'books read' - I don't use it for anything else - but someone suggested The StoryGraph to me, as an alternative. So, I exported my Goodreads data and imported them into a StoryGraph account. That was the easy part! Most of it imported perfectly well as far as title, author and reading date went but the editions weren't always correct. Of course, for a reading tracker that doesn't really matter, except that to me it does - it sears my librarian's soul to see that I apparently read a paperback when I know it was an ebook - so I have been making corrections. It's a fairly new system so their database is far from extensive. At the moment it is easier (to me) to add a new, correct, edition than to report the missing or incorrect data, so I hope it will be possible to combine entries in the future. I'm not really complaing about this as this sort of tinkering is something I enjoy but it does use up reading time so I have to be careful to keep a balance. There is no way that I would ever abandon LibraryThing but these 'extras' are good too.
As well as the covers here I have been correcting and adding editions elswhere. I have an account on Goodreads merely to keep track of my 'books read' - I don't use it for anything else - but someone suggested The StoryGraph to me, as an alternative. So, I exported my Goodreads data and imported them into a StoryGraph account. That was the easy part! Most of it imported perfectly well as far as title, author and reading date went but the editions weren't always correct. Of course, for a reading tracker that doesn't really matter, except that to me it does - it sears my librarian's soul to see that I apparently read a paperback when I know it was an ebook - so I have been making corrections. It's a fairly new system so their database is far from extensive. At the moment it is easier (to me) to add a new, correct, edition than to report the missing or incorrect data, so I hope it will be possible to combine entries in the future. I'm not really complaing about this as this sort of tinkering is something I enjoy but it does use up reading time so I have to be careful to keep a balance. There is no way that I would ever abandon LibraryThing but these 'extras' are good too.
37SandDune
>35 CDVicarage: I've just bought These Days on Kindle but haven't got around to reading it yet.
38klobrien2
>35 CDVicarage: Thanks for alerting me to another 44 Scotland Street! Still being reviewed for purchase at my library, but I’m patient.
Karen O
Karen O
39thornton37814
>35 CDVicarage: I agree with your assessment being that the new Cleeves series hasn't grabbed me like the others.
40quondame
>36 CDVicarage: Verifying your library's worth of books is daunting - you've twice as many entries as I do and I thought I had a lot. I may check StoryGraph to understand what people are talking about, but I think I'll be lax as to the editions I've read - since over 70% are library books in any case.
I'd need to base it on LT data rather than GR, which for me is only what I read on my Kindle, so it doesn't go back nearly as far and misses reads important enough to me that I'll resort to a physical book!
I'd need to base it on LT data rather than GR, which for me is only what I read on my Kindle, so it doesn't go back nearly as far and misses reads important enough to me that I'll resort to a physical book!
41CDVicarage
>40 quondame: My Goodreads records don't go back very far, only seven years, whereas my LT records now cover nearly seventeen years plus the pre-LT paper lists and an excel spreadsheet which I added. I wish I'd started keeping records much earlier! I may gradually add more to StoryGraph but I find it easy to get carried away and I must leave some reading time...
42CDVicarage
>39 thornton37814: I'm expecting (and hoping) it will improve as I get to know (and possibly love) the characters better. I also have ebook copies of her earlier series - George & Molly Palmer-Jones and Inspector Stephen Ramsay - unread so I may start on those soon.
43CDVicarage
>38 klobrien2: I was surprised to get this as an ebook from my library so soon. I like the Alexander McCallSmith books I have read well enough to be happy to buy them, at least when they are on 'special offer' but they are not often reduced in price.
44CDVicarage
Another good week as far as numbers go - four more titles finished:
The Grand Sophy, read by Sarah Woodward, finished 15th January. A bedtime re-read of a favourite.
Around the World in Eighty Days, finished 17th January. I like a 'Ripping Yarn' from time to time and this was one was forcibly brought to my attention as I was going through the 895 available member uploaded covers recently. (I still had to add my own as the cover my copy has wasn't listed by anyone else!) It was quite a good read but the attitudes are of their time and rather intruded on my enjoyment. This happens with other books too but sometimes I can 'read past' them and sometimes I can't.
Walk the Blue Fields, finished 20th January. This was a disappointment to me. I've recently read Small Things Like These and been impressed (it's not really a book you enjoy) and have Foster in my TBR list so was expecting more. I am not really a fan of short stories so some of the disappointment was inevitable but each story was too 'opaque' for me so I certainly missed 'something' in every one and probably 'most' of some. Plus, they were all full of unhappy, disfunctional people/situations - are there no happy people in Ireland?
O, the Brave Music, finished 20th January. This was better for me! Ruan's life was full of tragedy but there was also plenty of happiness and hope. We follow Ruan's life, pre-WW1, from the age of seven to nearly eighteen as she navigates her way through the clash of culture and attitudes within her family, and her friends and enemies.
The Grand Sophy, read by Sarah Woodward, finished 15th January. A bedtime re-read of a favourite.
Around the World in Eighty Days, finished 17th January. I like a 'Ripping Yarn' from time to time and this was one was forcibly brought to my attention as I was going through the 895 available member uploaded covers recently. (I still had to add my own as the cover my copy has wasn't listed by anyone else!) It was quite a good read but the attitudes are of their time and rather intruded on my enjoyment. This happens with other books too but sometimes I can 'read past' them and sometimes I can't.
Walk the Blue Fields, finished 20th January. This was a disappointment to me. I've recently read Small Things Like These and been impressed (it's not really a book you enjoy) and have Foster in my TBR list so was expecting more. I am not really a fan of short stories so some of the disappointment was inevitable but each story was too 'opaque' for me so I certainly missed 'something' in every one and probably 'most' of some. Plus, they were all full of unhappy, disfunctional people/situations - are there no happy people in Ireland?
O, the Brave Music, finished 20th January. This was better for me! Ruan's life was full of tragedy but there was also plenty of happiness and hope. We follow Ruan's life, pre-WW1, from the age of seven to nearly eighteen as she navigates her way through the clash of culture and attitudes within her family, and her friends and enemies.
45CDVicarage
Although there are thirty four titles in my Currently Reading collection I know I am not really currently reading some of them. In the week ahead I shall be continuing with The Master of Ballantrae, my current Chalet School title - a fill-in entitled The Chalet School and Cornelia, the audio version of The Good, the Bad and the History, and dipping into some of my long-term non-fiction books: Femina, A Distant Mirror and issues of Slightly Foxed and The Scribbler. I think that should keep me busy and interested!
46CDVicarage
Another good reading week - I must be on a roll - with five titles finished this week:
The Last Devil to Die, finished 25th January. I was pleased to get this so soon from the library but didn't mean to read it straightaway as I had other books that needed to be finished first. I'll just read the first chapter, I said to myself, but before I knew it I'd finished. Although Richard Osman says he will write more in the series he has other projects to follow first, and the story is left in a tied-up enough situation so I can wait.
The House of Doors, finished 25th January. I had read and very much liked The Garden of Evening Mists courtesy of my late Book Group so I expected to like this one, and I did but... It is based on real people - Somerset Maugham and Sun Yat Sen - and possibly some of the other characters were real too but I don't know and I don't know which parts of the narrative were 'true'. I'm always ambivalent about novels written about real, fairly recently deceased, people. How long should someone have been dead before they are 'fair game'? my other criticism is that the story wasn't explained, tied-up enough, for me. I don't (usually) need every 'i' dotted and 't' crossed but this time I would have liked more certainty.
The Good, the Bad and the History, read by Zara Ramm, finished 26th January. This has been my bedtime audiobook, although it wasn't very soothing! I read this in print when it was published last June and then didn't get around to the audio version until now, even though it was very good. I was slightly horrified to find how much of the story I'd forgotten although it came back as I listened.
Slightly Foxed 77: Laughter in the Library Spring 2023, finished 27th January. Even though we have been in our current house for eighteen months now I still haven't got a settled place for my paper copies of this and other periodicals so I haven't been reading them as quickly as I might have because they are not to hand. However this one did turn up and I have now finished, and enjoyed it. On to Summer 2023 now.
The Master of Ballantrae, finished 28th January. I like a good Ripping Yarn from time to time and, since Treasure Island and Kidnapped are favourites this one seemed a good idea. However I found it quite an effort - it seemed to go on and on - and I doubt I shall re-read it.
The Last Devil to Die, finished 25th January. I was pleased to get this so soon from the library but didn't mean to read it straightaway as I had other books that needed to be finished first. I'll just read the first chapter, I said to myself, but before I knew it I'd finished. Although Richard Osman says he will write more in the series he has other projects to follow first, and the story is left in a tied-up enough situation so I can wait.
The House of Doors, finished 25th January. I had read and very much liked The Garden of Evening Mists courtesy of my late Book Group so I expected to like this one, and I did but... It is based on real people - Somerset Maugham and Sun Yat Sen - and possibly some of the other characters were real too but I don't know and I don't know which parts of the narrative were 'true'. I'm always ambivalent about novels written about real, fairly recently deceased, people. How long should someone have been dead before they are 'fair game'? my other criticism is that the story wasn't explained, tied-up enough, for me. I don't (usually) need every 'i' dotted and 't' crossed but this time I would have liked more certainty.
The Good, the Bad and the History, read by Zara Ramm, finished 26th January. This has been my bedtime audiobook, although it wasn't very soothing! I read this in print when it was published last June and then didn't get around to the audio version until now, even though it was very good. I was slightly horrified to find how much of the story I'd forgotten although it came back as I listened.
Slightly Foxed 77: Laughter in the Library Spring 2023, finished 27th January. Even though we have been in our current house for eighteen months now I still haven't got a settled place for my paper copies of this and other periodicals so I haven't been reading them as quickly as I might have because they are not to hand. However this one did turn up and I have now finished, and enjoyed it. On to Summer 2023 now.
The Master of Ballantrae, finished 28th January. I like a good Ripping Yarn from time to time and, since Treasure Island and Kidnapped are favourites this one seemed a good idea. However I found it quite an effort - it seemed to go on and on - and I doubt I shall re-read it.
47CDVicarage
Although it's good to finish a book (or two or three) it means I have to decide what to read next. I know I'm part-way through quite a number (as detailed above) but I still want a new book: The next in the Brighton Mysteries series by Elly Griffiths was available for 99p last week so that - The Great Deceiver could be next. Or I got Light Over Liskeard from the library last week, but I'm not sure how 'dystopian' it is. Of course I shall be continuing, on and off, with my Chalet School read-through, and my regular periodicals Slightly Foxed and The Scribbler. Decisions, decisions... Watch this space!
48lauralkeet
I had a chuckle over you getting sucked into the fourth Thursday Murder Club book. It was a good one, wasn't it? I'm eager to see what Osman publishes during his time away from this series.
49RebaRelishesReading
My goodness, you're on fire! I started The Last Devil to Die the other day but I'm having a hard time finding time to get back to it. Your enjoyment is a good nudge...maybe when I finish here...but there is a lot of ice skating waiting too...
50CDVicarage
>48 lauralkeet: >49 RebaRelishesReading: There are some books that once I've started I have to keep on... The Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny grabbed me like that - they are so intense sometimes that I have to have a rest but find myself picking the book up again after five minutes!
I have audiobook versions of some of the Thursday Murder Club books so I am starting the series again. I found the first one quite hard work so I am hoping that, now I know the characters and the set-up better, I'll find it easier this time round.
I have audiobook versions of some of the Thursday Murder Club books so I am starting the series again. I found the first one quite hard work so I am hoping that, now I know the characters and the set-up better, I'll find it easier this time round.
51RebaRelishesReading
Ah, another Louise Penny fan :) When a new book comes out by her it goes straight to the top of my TBR pile. Do you know a new one is due in October?
It was really nice to meet you yesterday and hope we'll have many more chances for meet-up's in the future.
It was really nice to meet you yesterday and hope we'll have many more chances for meet-up's in the future.
52CDVicarage
>51 RebaRelishesReading: No, I didn't!
I think you've got your correspondents muddled - I haven't been to a meet-up, although I'd certainly like to.
I think you've got your correspondents muddled - I haven't been to a meet-up, although I'd certainly like to.
53RebaRelishesReading
>52 CDVicarage: Oh dear, Kerry. I'm hurrying through the threads because ice skating and/or a book are calling.. I'm so sorry. I do know the I didn't meet you yesterday...although I would love to have.
54CDVicarage
Quite a good reading week, in terms of numbers, but I was suffering a heavy cold so I could only manage comfort reads. Fortunately my Chalet School readthrough is always available and a new Elly Griffiths popped up just at the right time, too:
The Great Deceiver finished 29th January. Although I haven't taken to this series as well as to Ruth Galloway, it's still a good read and I finished this one pretty quickly. It's the seventh book in the series and when it started I couldn't see how Elly Griffiths could keep such a niche setting going but she has moved it on and developed the characters and settings very well, so I shall be very pleased to read the next one!
The Chalet School and Cornelia, finished 29th January. This is a fairly recently written fill-in to the Chalet School series and only my second reading of it. It covers the same term as Head Girl of the Chalet School so the plot is familiar but Katherine Bruce fills in some details about Cornelia that EBD only alluded to in passing.
Rivals of the Chalet School, finished 1st February. Back to an EBD original and, according to my LT record, only my third reading but I know I've read it several times before detailed records began. It's one of my favourites, set, when the school was fairly new, in Tyrol. There is a horribly sentimental episode towards the end but it still brings a tear to my eye every time. But EBD follows it up with a funny trick-playing episode so we're back to an even keel by the end!
The Path to the Sea, finished 3rd February. My hopes weren't particularly high for this. I'd read The Cornish House, Liz Fenwick's first novel, last year, and I wasn't surprised to learn it was her first as I felt she hadn't got the 'balance' right - the plot seemed rather contrived and the main characters were so horrible to each other that I couldn't see how they could forgive each other and move on. However this one, seven years and eight books later, was much better and I even sat up late to try and finish it I was so engrossed.
The Great Deceiver finished 29th January. Although I haven't taken to this series as well as to Ruth Galloway, it's still a good read and I finished this one pretty quickly. It's the seventh book in the series and when it started I couldn't see how Elly Griffiths could keep such a niche setting going but she has moved it on and developed the characters and settings very well, so I shall be very pleased to read the next one!
The Chalet School and Cornelia, finished 29th January. This is a fairly recently written fill-in to the Chalet School series and only my second reading of it. It covers the same term as Head Girl of the Chalet School so the plot is familiar but Katherine Bruce fills in some details about Cornelia that EBD only alluded to in passing.
Rivals of the Chalet School, finished 1st February. Back to an EBD original and, according to my LT record, only my third reading but I know I've read it several times before detailed records began. It's one of my favourites, set, when the school was fairly new, in Tyrol. There is a horribly sentimental episode towards the end but it still brings a tear to my eye every time. But EBD follows it up with a funny trick-playing episode so we're back to an even keel by the end!
The Path to the Sea, finished 3rd February. My hopes weren't particularly high for this. I'd read The Cornish House, Liz Fenwick's first novel, last year, and I wasn't surprised to learn it was her first as I felt she hadn't got the 'balance' right - the plot seemed rather contrived and the main characters were so horrible to each other that I couldn't see how they could forgive each other and move on. However this one, seven years and eight books later, was much better and I even sat up late to try and finish it I was so engrossed.
55CDVicarage
In January I finished nineteen books, which is a much better monthly total than for most of 2023:
Five paper books, twelve ebooks and two audiobooks, fifteen were new to me and only four were re-reads, none were ROOT successes. After December's reading, most of which was re-reads, I think that's a good ratio. Adding all the collected ebooks to my catalogue recently, I was rather shocked at the number of unread books I have, so I feel better that I'm doing something to reduce that number!
February, of course, is a much shorter month - actually and metaphorically - although it is a day longer this year, so I may not have such a good total at the next monthly round-up but I've started quite well.
Five paper books, twelve ebooks and two audiobooks, fifteen were new to me and only four were re-reads, none were ROOT successes. After December's reading, most of which was re-reads, I think that's a good ratio. Adding all the collected ebooks to my catalogue recently, I was rather shocked at the number of unread books I have, so I feel better that I'm doing something to reduce that number!
February, of course, is a much shorter month - actually and metaphorically - although it is a day longer this year, so I may not have such a good total at the next monthly round-up but I've started quite well.
56CDVicarage
Four titles finished this week, which I feel is a good 'average':
A Bird in the Hand, finished 5th February. This was Ann Cleeves' first published book (I think) and compared with her later books is a little lacking. I'm not sure if it is that she is now a better writer or if it is because it is the first in a series, with all the usual issues - lack of familiarity with characters, setting etc - but I didn't take to it. It hasn't put me off entirely, and I have the rest of the series available, so I shall continue at a later date.
Slightly Foxed 78: A Familiar Country Summer 2023, finished 7th February. The disruption of moving is still affecting my reading of these. They don't have a place in my bookcase until after I have read them so I have been unable to find the current issue and have fallen behind in reading them. It doesn't really matter, of course, as articles about long-published works can be read at any time. I'm still working my way through the digital editions from before my subscription started and I have now found all my paper copies so I might catch up!
Doing Time, read by Zara Ramm, finished 8th February. I'm re-reading (listening) to this series for my bedtime reading and enjoying it as much as ever. And even though I knew the story I had to fast-forward through a scary bit, which I would have happily read in daylight!
Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School, fiished 9th February. The next in my Chalet School read through. It's number six in the original series but number fifteen if you include the recent fill-ins. This is one of my favourite covers, in fact this section of five original stories all have lovely cover pictures by Nina K. Brisley.
A Bird in the Hand, finished 5th February. This was Ann Cleeves' first published book (I think) and compared with her later books is a little lacking. I'm not sure if it is that she is now a better writer or if it is because it is the first in a series, with all the usual issues - lack of familiarity with characters, setting etc - but I didn't take to it. It hasn't put me off entirely, and I have the rest of the series available, so I shall continue at a later date.
Slightly Foxed 78: A Familiar Country Summer 2023, finished 7th February. The disruption of moving is still affecting my reading of these. They don't have a place in my bookcase until after I have read them so I have been unable to find the current issue and have fallen behind in reading them. It doesn't really matter, of course, as articles about long-published works can be read at any time. I'm still working my way through the digital editions from before my subscription started and I have now found all my paper copies so I might catch up!
Doing Time, read by Zara Ramm, finished 8th February. I'm re-reading (listening) to this series for my bedtime reading and enjoying it as much as ever. And even though I knew the story I had to fast-forward through a scary bit, which I would have happily read in daylight!
Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School, fiished 9th February. The next in my Chalet School read through. It's number six in the original series but number fifteen if you include the recent fill-ins. This is one of my favourite covers, in fact this section of five original stories all have lovely cover pictures by Nina K. Brisley.
57PaulCranswick
>56 CDVicarage: You are right about the cover of Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School, Kerry, it is very fetching indeed, though I know nothing about the books!
Have a lovely weekend.
Have a lovely weekend.
59CDVicarage
Four titles finished this week:
The Fair Miss Fortune, finished 11th February. I read this some time ago as an audiobook and that was better than in print. It's a very 'slight' novel and the audio performance gave it added 'body'. However D. E. Stevenson is always a good, easy read so it was worth not very little effort required.
The Thursday Murder Club, read by Lesley Manville, finished 14th February. This one is a reverse of the previous book - I read it in print first and followed it up in audio. I have a bad habit of reading too fast and when i finished the print edition I was still a little confused as to what had actually happened. With an audio version I have to listen more slowly and should, therefore, be able to absorb the story better! However I listen at bedtime and sometimes fall asleep, and then wake again, so I'm sure I still missed some of the story. It's a good bedtime book as it has lots of quite short chapters so it's easy to stop and start each night, although it's also easy to listen to 'just one more chapter'.
Nina Balatka, finished 15th February. This is the latest in Liz's tutored read-through of Trollope's novels and compared with some of his others it's another 'slight' one - only two volumes, originally, instead of the usual three - and it's another one that I wouldn't have read on my own. But I am glad to be able to 'tick it off' the list!
Latchkey Ladies, finished 17th February. This was something of a disappointment. I'm not sure if it's because I was expecting something different (from the blurb etc) or if it really was a bit 'wandering' in its plot and character development. I have a few more books from Handheld Press and I hope they will be less disappointing - I loved Business as Usual, so I'm still hopeful.
The Fair Miss Fortune, finished 11th February. I read this some time ago as an audiobook and that was better than in print. It's a very 'slight' novel and the audio performance gave it added 'body'. However D. E. Stevenson is always a good, easy read so it was worth not very little effort required.
The Thursday Murder Club, read by Lesley Manville, finished 14th February. This one is a reverse of the previous book - I read it in print first and followed it up in audio. I have a bad habit of reading too fast and when i finished the print edition I was still a little confused as to what had actually happened. With an audio version I have to listen more slowly and should, therefore, be able to absorb the story better! However I listen at bedtime and sometimes fall asleep, and then wake again, so I'm sure I still missed some of the story. It's a good bedtime book as it has lots of quite short chapters so it's easy to stop and start each night, although it's also easy to listen to 'just one more chapter'.
Nina Balatka, finished 15th February. This is the latest in Liz's tutored read-through of Trollope's novels and compared with some of his others it's another 'slight' one - only two volumes, originally, instead of the usual three - and it's another one that I wouldn't have read on my own. But I am glad to be able to 'tick it off' the list!
Latchkey Ladies, finished 17th February. This was something of a disappointment. I'm not sure if it's because I was expecting something different (from the blurb etc) or if it really was a bit 'wandering' in its plot and character development. I have a few more books from Handheld Press and I hope they will be less disappointing - I loved Business as Usual, so I'm still hopeful.
60PaulCranswick
>58 CDVicarage: I still think that the cover in >56 CDVicarage: is the best, Kerry!
61thornton37814
>56 CDVicarage: I've had that Cleeves book on my Kindle for years and still haven't read it or the other early ones I purchased cheaply. The Chalet school series still looks interesting, but it is difficult to find in the U.S.
62vancouverdeb
Kerry, I read The Thursday Murder Club in January and it's not just you that could not follow what happened. I read the physical copy and even so, at the end I was a little puzzled about who killed who and why and thus I deducted half a star from what was otherwise a wonderful read.
63CDVicarage
>60 PaulCranswick: Yes, if I had to rank them I think the cover for Eustacia is the best!
64CDVicarage
>61 thornton37814: Chalet School books aren't particularly easy to find here, either. I wouldn't expect to find them in a Public Library except by Inter Library Loan (at a cost) and although they have been republished over the last twenty or so years it is by a very small independent publisher - Girls Gone By - so producing only small numbers of any title. Most of the (now adult) fans have bought them second-hand from ebay or other booksellers over the years, again, at a cost. When we moved and downsized eighteen months ago I made the decision to sell my complete hardback collection, as I had the newer paperbacks, and I got over £2000 for the eighty or so books (sold singly). I think that's more than I paid for them but, as the collection took many years to accumulate and I didn't keep records, I can't be sure!
65CDVicarage
>62 vancouverdeb: I also put it down to its being the first in a series so you have to learn the set-up and get to know the characters. As I recall the later books were easier to follow. Annoyingly the first two audiobooks are read by one narrator (Lesley Manville) and the last two by someone else, who, although she may be a good reader, is different.
66CDVicarage
Another good week with five titles finished:
Impact of Evidence, finished 18th February. After my disappointment with Latchkey Ladies I went back to what I thought would be a guaranteed 'good read' in the British Library Crime Classics series, and it was. I have read and liked a lot of books written by E. C. R. Lorac and Carol Carnac is another of her pseudonyms.
Hard Time, read by Zara Ramm, finished 23rd February. A bedtime re-read. This is the second in this series and the fifth is due out in June so I should have done a recent re-read of the whole series by then.
A Man Called Ove, finished 23rd February. This was the Public Library Book Group book and for a fairly short book has taken us a long time, partly because it provoked a lot of discussion (chatting) as we read it! We recently read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which I found a bit saccharine and I half-expected this one to be similar but Ove had enough acerbity/acidity in his character to make it much better.
The Secret of High Eldersham, finished 24th February. British Library Crime Classics not so reliable this time. The plot/subject was a bit too niche - witchcraft (or pseudo-witchcraft) with simple-minded and nasty rural locals ending up being put in their places by the upper classes. It was of its time and I can usually pass over those opinions but they seemed a bit too obtrusive this time. Otherwise the plot was good and unexpected so it wasn't a waste of time but I still prefer the Robert Macdonald series.
Victorians Undone, finished 24th February. This was an interesting approach to the Victorian era - five chapters: Lady Flora's Belly, Charles Darwin's Beard, George Eliot's Hand, Fanny Cornforth's Mouth and Sweet Fanny Adams - each of which was a starting point for a discussion of Victorian mores. It was a book I wouldn't have picked up on my own but it was recommended and pressed into my hand by the librarian who runs our book group. She surprises me in what she recommends as the group books are a bit 'light' for me but she is restricted by what she can get for those as we need about a dozen copies of each current title.
Impact of Evidence, finished 18th February. After my disappointment with Latchkey Ladies I went back to what I thought would be a guaranteed 'good read' in the British Library Crime Classics series, and it was. I have read and liked a lot of books written by E. C. R. Lorac and Carol Carnac is another of her pseudonyms.
Hard Time, read by Zara Ramm, finished 23rd February. A bedtime re-read. This is the second in this series and the fifth is due out in June so I should have done a recent re-read of the whole series by then.
A Man Called Ove, finished 23rd February. This was the Public Library Book Group book and for a fairly short book has taken us a long time, partly because it provoked a lot of discussion (chatting) as we read it! We recently read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which I found a bit saccharine and I half-expected this one to be similar but Ove had enough acerbity/acidity in his character to make it much better.
The Secret of High Eldersham, finished 24th February. British Library Crime Classics not so reliable this time. The plot/subject was a bit too niche - witchcraft (or pseudo-witchcraft) with simple-minded and nasty rural locals ending up being put in their places by the upper classes. It was of its time and I can usually pass over those opinions but they seemed a bit too obtrusive this time. Otherwise the plot was good and unexpected so it wasn't a waste of time but I still prefer the Robert Macdonald series.
Victorians Undone, finished 24th February. This was an interesting approach to the Victorian era - five chapters: Lady Flora's Belly, Charles Darwin's Beard, George Eliot's Hand, Fanny Cornforth's Mouth and Sweet Fanny Adams - each of which was a starting point for a discussion of Victorian mores. It was a book I wouldn't have picked up on my own but it was recommended and pressed into my hand by the librarian who runs our book group. She surprises me in what she recommends as the group books are a bit 'light' for me but she is restricted by what she can get for those as we need about a dozen copies of each current title.
67CDVicarage
I'm on my own for a week (well five days) as my husband is away so I shall be able to do what I want without considering another person - I wonder if I will read more or less?
68BLBera
Kerry - You've done a lot of great reading. I agreed with you about The Raging Storm; it wasn't as good as the previous two. I really look forward to These Days; I love good historical fiction. I love seeing some of the "vintage" reads as well. I hope your days on your own are full of good reads.
69lauralkeet
>67 CDVicarage: It's rare for me to have that much time on my own, I think the last time it happened was in 2019 when my husband went on a cycling trip. It felt luxurious in a way, but sometimes I was at sixes and sevens. There's only so much conversation you can have with the dog!
I hope you are enjoying your solo time / extra reading time.
I hope you are enjoying your solo time / extra reading time.
70SandDune
>69 lauralkeet: I'm going to have quite a bit of time on my own this year as Mr SandDune has signed up for numerous school trips. He's doing silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh trips in the spring, then a trip to Berlin, and he's umming and ahing about whether to sign up for a trip to Japan in the autumn. I think he thinks that it won't be too much longer until he retires, so he might as well do the trips before then. He's always enjoyed them (although they are hard work), and particularly now as he doesn't have the responsibility of organising them any more.
71CDVicarage
>69 lauralkeet: >70 SandDune: I did enjoy my week. I wasn't entirely alone as I still worked on Tuesday and Wednesday so saw my daughter, s-i-l and grandson. I was pleased to see Jon home on Friday afternoon but suddenly there seemed to be lots of trivial decisions to discuss and make: what shall we have for dinner? Is there any shopping we need? etc - decisions that I had been making, without discussion, all week!
72CDVicarage
My reading week - four titles finished:
Slightly Foxed 79: U and I and Me Autumn 2023, finished 25th February. The usual good selection of articles, although nothing added to the TBR list this time. When I finished this one and started no. 80, the latest one, I thought "I've caught up" and then the next issue arrived in the post this week!
Normal Rules Don't Apply, finished 25th February. Although I've never disliked a Kate Atkinson book I have found a few 'difficult'. This collection of short stories was lovely to read but surreal - fairy story-like. I'm also not really a fan of short stories, anyway.
The Secret Shore, finished 29th February. By the time I'd decided that I wasn't liking/enjoying this I was so far through that I had to finish it or I would have felt I'd wasted the time and effort I'd already put in! This is the third novel by Liz Fenwick that I've read and I've only really liked one of them so shall I ditch the other two ebooks, as yet unread, that I have or plough through them because I've paid for them (only 99p, I think)?
Comfort Eating: What we Eat when Nobody's Looking, finished 1st March. This was a slender volume, which turned out to be just right. It was funny, with serious bits, but didn't try and stretch the joke too far. The author is younger than I am but I could remember the era that she covered. It's very British so, much as I enjoyed it, I can't recommend it to non-Brits.
Slightly Foxed 79: U and I and Me Autumn 2023, finished 25th February. The usual good selection of articles, although nothing added to the TBR list this time. When I finished this one and started no. 80, the latest one, I thought "I've caught up" and then the next issue arrived in the post this week!
Normal Rules Don't Apply, finished 25th February. Although I've never disliked a Kate Atkinson book I have found a few 'difficult'. This collection of short stories was lovely to read but surreal - fairy story-like. I'm also not really a fan of short stories, anyway.
The Secret Shore, finished 29th February. By the time I'd decided that I wasn't liking/enjoying this I was so far through that I had to finish it or I would have felt I'd wasted the time and effort I'd already put in! This is the third novel by Liz Fenwick that I've read and I've only really liked one of them so shall I ditch the other two ebooks, as yet unread, that I have or plough through them because I've paid for them (only 99p, I think)?
Comfort Eating: What we Eat when Nobody's Looking, finished 1st March. This was a slender volume, which turned out to be just right. It was funny, with serious bits, but didn't try and stretch the joke too far. The author is younger than I am but I could remember the era that she covered. It's very British so, much as I enjoyed it, I can't recommend it to non-Brits.
73CDVicarage
As far as numbers go, February was a very good reading month. I finished eighteen titles: seven paper books, eight ebooks and three audiobooks. Of those six were re-reads ad twelve were new to me, and only one was a ROOT success. Nothing really 'wowed' me this month and even the ones I didn't care for were OK, so I think it's been a good month for quality as well as quantity!
74PaulCranswick
>73 CDVicarage: Well done, Kerry. My own reading in February fell pretty flat but I am hoping to do better in March!
75CDVicarage
Five titles finished this week and three are from a new series:
Slightly Foxed 80: Arrows of Revelation Winter 2023, finished 3rd March. Another good selection of articles.
A Secret Garden Affair, finished 4th March. I've enjoyed other books by Erica James but I found this one unneccessarily protracted but once I'd got so far I had to finish it.
Clerical Errors, Unholy Ghosts and Idol Bones, finished 7th, 9th and 9th March. I've had the first in this series - Theodora Braithwaite - for some time but only read it last week. I loved it and looked for the rest - eight more books. They were available in Kindle Unlimited or for sale at £1.99 each, which was a bit more than I wanted to pay, but then I found a 'Boxed' set of all nine books for 99p! Our main character, Theodora Braithwaite is a deacon in the Church of England in the time before women could be priests and the setting is very CofE. Reviews I have read, mostly from American readers, have commented that it is very complicated and they really don't understand it, even though there is a glossary of English usage for American readers. Much as I am loving the series I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't steeped in the culture of Englishness and the Cof E in particular! So far I am impressed by how the author has convincingly moved Theodora around so that you haven't ended up with one small village or organisation suffering an abnormally high number of murders. (I enjoy watching Midsomer Murders but you do wonder how the county of Midsomer can have any population left!) I've read three of the nine books so far and I hope the quality is maintained.
Slightly Foxed 80: Arrows of Revelation Winter 2023, finished 3rd March. Another good selection of articles.
A Secret Garden Affair, finished 4th March. I've enjoyed other books by Erica James but I found this one unneccessarily protracted but once I'd got so far I had to finish it.
Clerical Errors, Unholy Ghosts and Idol Bones, finished 7th, 9th and 9th March. I've had the first in this series - Theodora Braithwaite - for some time but only read it last week. I loved it and looked for the rest - eight more books. They were available in Kindle Unlimited or for sale at £1.99 each, which was a bit more than I wanted to pay, but then I found a 'Boxed' set of all nine books for 99p! Our main character, Theodora Braithwaite is a deacon in the Church of England in the time before women could be priests and the setting is very CofE. Reviews I have read, mostly from American readers, have commented that it is very complicated and they really don't understand it, even though there is a glossary of English usage for American readers. Much as I am loving the series I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't steeped in the culture of Englishness and the Cof E in particular! So far I am impressed by how the author has convincingly moved Theodora around so that you haven't ended up with one small village or organisation suffering an abnormally high number of murders. (I enjoy watching Midsomer Murders but you do wonder how the county of Midsomer can have any population left!) I've read three of the nine books so far and I hope the quality is maintained.
77CDVicarage
I'm a bit later in the day than ususal making my weekly round-up as we have had our grandson, Toby, with us this afternoon, and I'm also now tired enough to think about bed, even though it's only just after seven! Anyway, five titles finished this week:
Cotillion, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 11th March. A many times re-read for my bedtime book.It's definitely one of my top five Heyer favourites.
Holy Terrors, Every Deadly Sin, Mortal Spoils and Heavenly Vices, finished 11th to 16th March. I'm still whizzing my way through the series Theodora Braithwaite, (two more to go) and still liking them and being impressed by the way the author moves Theodora on, plausibly, from place to place. The ridiculousness of the situations is beginning to show more but the protagonist is also aware of it so it fits into the story.
Cotillion, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 11th March. A many times re-read for my bedtime book.It's definitely one of my top five Heyer favourites.
Holy Terrors, Every Deadly Sin, Mortal Spoils and Heavenly Vices, finished 11th to 16th March. I'm still whizzing my way through the series Theodora Braithwaite, (two more to go) and still liking them and being impressed by the way the author moves Theodora on, plausibly, from place to place. The ridiculousness of the situations is beginning to show more but the protagonist is also aware of it so it fits into the story.
78CDVicarage
>76 mstrust: I do my weekly round-up on Sundays, the reading is done fairly evenly through the week!
79CDVicarage
I've moved on to the next in the Thursday Murder Club series for my bedtime book - The Man who Died Twice, still with Lesley Manville as reader, and I shall be reading the final two books in the Theodora Braithwaite series this week. The next in the Harbinder Kaur series - The Last word - is available for 99p as an ebook at the moment so that will be coming up soon in my reading, too. Although it's lovely to find, and read straight through, a series it then leaves a big void when finished and I hope The Last Word will fill that.
80quondame
>79 CDVicarage: Yay! I was able to put The Last Word on hold! US Amazon wasn't offering it at a bargain price, but I didn't really want to buy anyway.
81CDVicarage
Another good week of reading in terms of quantity, and quality, I think - seven titles finished:
A Grave Disturbance and Foolish Ways, finished 17th and 18th March. The final two (of nine) in this series, and the stories held up well for the whole series. Theodora was moved very well and plausibly around so that she was in a different set-up for each story. I will repeat that, much as I enjoyed them, they will only appeal to a small niche of readers so I am not going to reccommend them unreservedly.
Uncommon Arrangements: Seven Marriages , finished 2oth March. This was a paper book that sat by my armchair in the living room so that I picked it up and read it intermittently over quite a long period - according to my notes I started it in August 2023. It was interesting but not riveting and all of the couples (or trios) involved were not attractive pleasant people - interesting to read about but not people I'd like to have known!
The Last Word, finished 22nd March. I was lucky to notice this ebook, briefly on offer for 99p, and bought and read it straightaway. I very much liked the Ruth Galloway series and I have enjoyed The Brighton Mysteries and this series too but they don't quite match up to Ruth. This is the fourth book featuring Harbinder Kaur and from the ending (and the title?) I think it might be the last.
A Kind Man, finished 22nd March. This was my Library Book Group book. It was quite short - it only took four meetings to read it - but there was a lot in it. As you would expect from Susan Hill, it is well written but a slightly odd plot, featuring a supernatural element which starts quite out of the blue in what had seemed a very 'down to earth' story.
The Corfe Castle Murders and The Clifftop Murders, finished 23rd and 24th March. I noticed these in my ebook library recently and the setting - Rural Dorset - was attractive. A DCI is seconded from Birmingham to Dorset and experiences a certain amount of culture shock as well as problems in her private life. While not great literature and not even great in their genre I have found them easy to read and I managed to resist reading the last page even though I hadn't guessed whodunnit. What really struck me was how similar they were in structure to a two-hour TV detective programme - Midsomer Murders or Vera, say - several red herrings of people with secrets that aren't necessarily anything to do with the murder and then the last frantic ten minutes or so (on TV) when our hero or heroine finally realises whodunnit and has to prevent a further murder at the last minute! Although there are nine stories in this series I only have one more in my library andmuch as I have enjoyed them - so far - I don't think I am inclined to spend the required sum to get the rest. Perhaps I'll have a month of Kindle Unlimited and read them then.
A Grave Disturbance and Foolish Ways, finished 17th and 18th March. The final two (of nine) in this series, and the stories held up well for the whole series. Theodora was moved very well and plausibly around so that she was in a different set-up for each story. I will repeat that, much as I enjoyed them, they will only appeal to a small niche of readers so I am not going to reccommend them unreservedly.
Uncommon Arrangements: Seven Marriages , finished 2oth March. This was a paper book that sat by my armchair in the living room so that I picked it up and read it intermittently over quite a long period - according to my notes I started it in August 2023. It was interesting but not riveting and all of the couples (or trios) involved were not attractive pleasant people - interesting to read about but not people I'd like to have known!
The Last Word, finished 22nd March. I was lucky to notice this ebook, briefly on offer for 99p, and bought and read it straightaway. I very much liked the Ruth Galloway series and I have enjoyed The Brighton Mysteries and this series too but they don't quite match up to Ruth. This is the fourth book featuring Harbinder Kaur and from the ending (and the title?) I think it might be the last.
A Kind Man, finished 22nd March. This was my Library Book Group book. It was quite short - it only took four meetings to read it - but there was a lot in it. As you would expect from Susan Hill, it is well written but a slightly odd plot, featuring a supernatural element which starts quite out of the blue in what had seemed a very 'down to earth' story.
The Corfe Castle Murders and The Clifftop Murders, finished 23rd and 24th March. I noticed these in my ebook library recently and the setting - Rural Dorset - was attractive. A DCI is seconded from Birmingham to Dorset and experiences a certain amount of culture shock as well as problems in her private life. While not great literature and not even great in their genre I have found them easy to read and I managed to resist reading the last page even though I hadn't guessed whodunnit. What really struck me was how similar they were in structure to a two-hour TV detective programme - Midsomer Murders or Vera, say - several red herrings of people with secrets that aren't necessarily anything to do with the murder and then the last frantic ten minutes or so (on TV) when our hero or heroine finally realises whodunnit and has to prevent a further murder at the last minute! Although there are nine stories in this series I only have one more in my library andmuch as I have enjoyed them - so far - I don't think I am inclined to spend the required sum to get the rest. Perhaps I'll have a month of Kindle Unlimited and read them then.
82elorin
>81 CDVicarage: I've put Uncommon Arrangements on my wishlist.
83CDVicarage
>82 elorin: I'm glad I didn't make it sound too bad! It was definitely worth reading but not something that I had to finish in a hurry. I like to have a book like that on the go, in fact I usually have several...
84CDVicarage
Only four titles finished this week:
The Island Murders, finished 24th March. This is the last title in this series that I have and, although it was a good enough story, I don't feel I want to continue with it.
The Man Who Died Twice, read by Lesley Manville, finished 25th March. This, the second book in the series is definitely easier to read/follow. I suppose, because I am more familiar with the characters and set-up and can concentrate more on the plot - lots of good twists.
The Chalet school and Jo, finished 28th March. This is the seventh book in the original series but is now the sixteenth if you include the fill-ins. Jo is now (unwillingly) Head Girl and, as well as all the usual activities and adventures, the school goes to Oberammergau to see the Passion Play as their treat for Madge's birthday celebrations. I saw the play in 2022 and this is the first time I have read this account since then. The book was first published in 1930 so presumably reflects that year's performance.
Slightly Foxed: No. 22: Don't Give Up the Day Job, finished 30th March. Another ebook version of a Slightly Foxed back- copy (I'm up to no. 81 in paper) and, although just as pleasant to read, none of the articles really grabbed me and added to my TBR list.
The Island Murders, finished 24th March. This is the last title in this series that I have and, although it was a good enough story, I don't feel I want to continue with it.
The Man Who Died Twice, read by Lesley Manville, finished 25th March. This, the second book in the series is definitely easier to read/follow. I suppose, because I am more familiar with the characters and set-up and can concentrate more on the plot - lots of good twists.
The Chalet school and Jo, finished 28th March. This is the seventh book in the original series but is now the sixteenth if you include the fill-ins. Jo is now (unwillingly) Head Girl and, as well as all the usual activities and adventures, the school goes to Oberammergau to see the Passion Play as their treat for Madge's birthday celebrations. I saw the play in 2022 and this is the first time I have read this account since then. The book was first published in 1930 so presumably reflects that year's performance.
Slightly Foxed: No. 22: Don't Give Up the Day Job, finished 30th March. Another ebook version of a Slightly Foxed back- copy (I'm up to no. 81 in paper) and, although just as pleasant to read, none of the articles really grabbed me and added to my TBR list.
85CDVicarage
It's April, so time to do a March round-up:
I've finished twenty-two titles this month - quite a lot, I think! Three paper books, seventeen ebooks and two audio books. Nineteen were new to me and three were re-reads. No ROOT successes. Nine of the new titles were part of one series - Theodora Braithwaite - which I enjoyed and read through very quickly and definitely caused the high number this month.
Of my current Currently Reading titles my re-reading of The Time Police and Chalet School series continues. The next Time Police is due to be published in June and I want to be ready! I've also just started the Inspector Ramsay series by Ann Cleeves and I see there is a new Vera title due in August. I also have a few historical non-fiction titles continuing as well as issues of The Scribbler and Slightly Foxed. So, enough to keep me going.
I've finished twenty-two titles this month - quite a lot, I think! Three paper books, seventeen ebooks and two audio books. Nineteen were new to me and three were re-reads. No ROOT successes. Nine of the new titles were part of one series - Theodora Braithwaite - which I enjoyed and read through very quickly and definitely caused the high number this month.
Of my current Currently Reading titles my re-reading of The Time Police and Chalet School series continues. The next Time Police is due to be published in June and I want to be ready! I've also just started the Inspector Ramsay series by Ann Cleeves and I see there is a new Vera title due in August. I also have a few historical non-fiction titles continuing as well as issues of The Scribbler and Slightly Foxed. So, enough to keep me going.
86CDVicarage
I've had a good, if quiet, Easter weekend. My best friend, Libby, came to stay, en route from Norwich to Bakewell, where she will be singing with a choir for a week. We first met at our Library and Information Science course back in the mid 80s and have been friends ever since. Libby has always worked as a librarian and is now Stock Control Manager (?) for Norfolk libraries and I've enjoyed a few days of bookish and library conversations. We don't have particularly similar reading tastes but I have got her started on The Chronicles of St Mary's.
If you are a church-goer you will know that it is a busy time, although for us, now Jon has retired, it is not as busy as it was in the past. I shall be going to the Hay Festival for the first time this year, which is both exciting and slightly daunting - will there be lots of clever and literary people to make me feel out of my depth? I'm going with some friends so I shall have company. I am also going to the biennial Bristol Conference on Girlsown literature in August, which I always enjoy, so more bookish times ahead.
If you are a church-goer you will know that it is a busy time, although for us, now Jon has retired, it is not as busy as it was in the past. I shall be going to the Hay Festival for the first time this year, which is both exciting and slightly daunting - will there be lots of clever and literary people to make me feel out of my depth? I'm going with some friends so I shall have company. I am also going to the biennial Bristol Conference on Girlsown literature in August, which I always enjoy, so more bookish times ahead.
87CDVicarage
Only four titles finished this week:
The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream, finished 1st April. An interesting book, filling in (for me) gaps in my historical knowledge, but the prose was a bit clunky and sometimes hard to follow. There was also too much of it; often a first time novelist will overwrite a book - 'I've done all this research so I'm going to use it regardless - and this would have been better with less in it. It must be difficult to write clearly about the subject as there are a lot of 'characters' involved and many have similar names, not in the format 'firstname surname' that we're more used to nowadays. The overall impression that it gave me was first this happened, then X did this, then Y did that etc. So I can't say I've read it cover-to-cover as I ended up skimming some parts.
A Lesson in Dying, Murder in My Backyard and A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy, finished 3rd to 6th April. These are the first three in another Ann Cleeves series, Inspector Stephen Ramsay. This is the second series that she has written and overlaps, in publishing dates, with the George & Molly Palmer-Jones series. And then she moved on to Vera. This one is an improvement on the first, particularly, for me, as it is set in North-east England - an area I know. Inspector Ramsay himself is not a very appealing character and his flaws are emphasised in each book (so far). However they are very readable and I shall certainly continue with the other three books.
The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream, finished 1st April. An interesting book, filling in (for me) gaps in my historical knowledge, but the prose was a bit clunky and sometimes hard to follow. There was also too much of it; often a first time novelist will overwrite a book - 'I've done all this research so I'm going to use it regardless - and this would have been better with less in it. It must be difficult to write clearly about the subject as there are a lot of 'characters' involved and many have similar names, not in the format 'firstname surname' that we're more used to nowadays. The overall impression that it gave me was first this happened, then X did this, then Y did that etc. So I can't say I've read it cover-to-cover as I ended up skimming some parts.
A Lesson in Dying, Murder in My Backyard and A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy, finished 3rd to 6th April. These are the first three in another Ann Cleeves series, Inspector Stephen Ramsay. This is the second series that she has written and overlaps, in publishing dates, with the George & Molly Palmer-Jones series. And then she moved on to Vera. This one is an improvement on the first, particularly, for me, as it is set in North-east England - an area I know. Inspector Ramsay himself is not a very appealing character and his flaws are emphasised in each book (so far). However they are very readable and I shall certainly continue with the other three books.
88thornton37814
>87 CDVicarage: I've had some of those older Cleeves books on my Kindle for ages and have not read them. I must try some of them.
90CDVicarage
>87 CDVicarage: Even worse - only three this week!
91CDVicarage
Actually, I've remembered another - four titles finished this week:
Killjoy, The Healers and The Baby-Snatcher, finished 8th to 12th April. I did go on and finish the Inspector Stephen Ramsay series. There are six books in the series but definite ending - it seems as though once Ann Cleeves started on the Vera series she decided to leave Inspector Ramsay where he was!
Saving Time and About Time, finished 4th and 13th April. I forgot to enter Saving time when I finished it so here it is now along with the fourth in the series, which I finished yesterday. They have been my bedtime (re-) reading and now I only have last year's Christmas short story to read until the fifth book in the series is published in June.
Killjoy, The Healers and The Baby-Snatcher, finished 8th to 12th April. I did go on and finish the Inspector Stephen Ramsay series. There are six books in the series but definite ending - it seems as though once Ann Cleeves started on the Vera series she decided to leave Inspector Ramsay where he was!
Saving Time and About Time, finished 4th and 13th April. I forgot to enter Saving time when I finished it so here it is now along with the fourth in the series, which I finished yesterday. They have been my bedtime (re-) reading and now I only have last year's Christmas short story to read until the fifth book in the series is published in June.
92CDVicarage
It's been a very good week, numbers-wise:
The Invisible Women's Club, finished 15th April. Another 'heartwarming' story. I seem to have read quite a few recently in which a grumpy/lonely old man/woman meets 'the rest of the world' and is redeemed in some way. None of them has been awful - and this one was quite interesting and slightly different - but they are really all the same, and often rather saccharine. Or perhaps that's me being a grumpy old woman!
A Distant Mirror, finished 15th April. This was very different - an excellent history of Western Europe during the 14th century, using the life of one man, Enguerrand de Coucy, to follow the happenings through. It wasn't a book that I could for long stretches and I like to have a 'serious' non-fiction book to read on-and-off on the go. According to my records I started this one in June 2020, so you can tell there's been plenty of 'off'.
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, finished 16th April. Another 'heartwarming' story! Again, it's perfectly pleasant and easy to read but... It's my fault, really, why did I read another book like it so soon?
Santa Grint, read by Zara Ramm, finished 18th April. The last (currently) in the Time Police series. It is a long short story, published for the Christmas before last. I now have to wait until June for the next full-length book in the series.
He Who Whispers, finished 20th April. Although I have found all the British Library Crime Classics that I have read to be worth reading there have been a few that I didin't really care for and this was one of them. It is sixteenth in the Dr Gideon Fell series but I don't think it matters that I haven't read the preceding fifteen. I didn't take to Dr Fell (and, no, I can't really tell you why) or the writing style, so, if another falls into my library, I shall read it, but I shan't be searching any out.
Steeple Chasing, finished 21st April. More non-fiction; the author travelled around Britain visiting churches and other holy sites in the months after lockdown had finished, and these are his descriptions of, and reflections on, his journey. Since I am British and used to ancient and modern church buildings, and probably take them for granted, I found the people he met more interesting and memorable than the buildings.
The Invisible Women's Club, finished 15th April. Another 'heartwarming' story. I seem to have read quite a few recently in which a grumpy/lonely old man/woman meets 'the rest of the world' and is redeemed in some way. None of them has been awful - and this one was quite interesting and slightly different - but they are really all the same, and often rather saccharine. Or perhaps that's me being a grumpy old woman!
A Distant Mirror, finished 15th April. This was very different - an excellent history of Western Europe during the 14th century, using the life of one man, Enguerrand de Coucy, to follow the happenings through. It wasn't a book that I could for long stretches and I like to have a 'serious' non-fiction book to read on-and-off on the go. According to my records I started this one in June 2020, so you can tell there's been plenty of 'off'.
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, finished 16th April. Another 'heartwarming' story! Again, it's perfectly pleasant and easy to read but... It's my fault, really, why did I read another book like it so soon?
Santa Grint, read by Zara Ramm, finished 18th April. The last (currently) in the Time Police series. It is a long short story, published for the Christmas before last. I now have to wait until June for the next full-length book in the series.
He Who Whispers, finished 20th April. Although I have found all the British Library Crime Classics that I have read to be worth reading there have been a few that I didin't really care for and this was one of them. It is sixteenth in the Dr Gideon Fell series but I don't think it matters that I haven't read the preceding fifteen. I didn't take to Dr Fell (and, no, I can't really tell you why) or the writing style, so, if another falls into my library, I shall read it, but I shan't be searching any out.
Steeple Chasing, finished 21st April. More non-fiction; the author travelled around Britain visiting churches and other holy sites in the months after lockdown had finished, and these are his descriptions of, and reflections on, his journey. Since I am British and used to ancient and modern church buildings, and probably take them for granted, I found the people he met more interesting and memorable than the buildings.
93quondame
>92 CDVicarage: Ah well, the tradition distaste for Fell. ;)
94vancouverdeb
I really enjoyed The Last List of Mabel Beaumont earlier this year, Kerry. Yes, I think you can read too many of similar books that are heartwarming and about the elderly. I read a two or three this year, but I have space them. I'm glad you were able to find The Maiden on kindle for a good price. Not here yet.
95CDVicarage
Only five titles finished this week and several were quite short:
Slightly Foxed: No. 23: Social Climbing Autumn 2009, finished 21st April. Still working my way through the back numbers.
Come, Tell Me How You Live, finished 24th April. I have been reading this on and off since the beginning of January. It started well - amusing and informative - but the dated (of its time) and patronising attitudes to the 'natives' became annoying after a while.
The Salisbury Manuscript, finished 24th April. I picked this up because I used to live in Salisbury and thought it would be interesting. It was - I could follow the protagonists along streets I knew - but the writing and plotting were not very good. There are two more in the series set in other cathedral cities - Durham and Ely - but I shan't be making an effort to find them.
Storm Christopher, finished 25th April. This is another short story in Jodi Taylor's Frogmorton Farm series and I was able to read it on publication day as I had a longish car journey. I don't know if Frogmorton Farm could take another full-length story but I'm sure there's capacity for a few more short stories!
Slightly Foxed: No. 24: A Pash for Nash, finished 27th April. These are ideal for reading in odd moments when I haven't the time or concentration for a full-length book and I still have twenty or so back numbers to read as well as keeping up with the new issues.
Slightly Foxed: No. 23: Social Climbing Autumn 2009, finished 21st April. Still working my way through the back numbers.
Come, Tell Me How You Live, finished 24th April. I have been reading this on and off since the beginning of January. It started well - amusing and informative - but the dated (of its time) and patronising attitudes to the 'natives' became annoying after a while.
The Salisbury Manuscript, finished 24th April. I picked this up because I used to live in Salisbury and thought it would be interesting. It was - I could follow the protagonists along streets I knew - but the writing and plotting were not very good. There are two more in the series set in other cathedral cities - Durham and Ely - but I shan't be making an effort to find them.
Storm Christopher, finished 25th April. This is another short story in Jodi Taylor's Frogmorton Farm series and I was able to read it on publication day as I had a longish car journey. I don't know if Frogmorton Farm could take another full-length story but I'm sure there's capacity for a few more short stories!
Slightly Foxed: No. 24: A Pash for Nash, finished 27th April. These are ideal for reading in odd moments when I haven't the time or concentration for a full-length book and I still have twenty or so back numbers to read as well as keeping up with the new issues.
96FAMeulstee
>95 CDVicarage: Congratulations on reaching 75, Kerry!
97CDVicarage
>96 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! I didn't notice that, I often forget the name of the group!
99CDVicarage
April round-up: Twenty-two titles finished and one abandoned a surprisingly high number! Three print books, three audio books and sixteen ebooks. Some of the non-fiction had been in Currently Reading for a long time, which is fine as they were not books to read in a hurry but were good to pick up and put down from time to time. There was nothing outstanding and some were disappointing but only one so bad that I abandoned!
I hadn't really noticed that I had passed 75 - the name of the group doesn't register particularly, just the people I share it with. If I continue at this rate I should pass 2x75 and possibly even 3x. Actual numbers aren't important except as a guide that I am enjoying reading, so I hope they continue to rise well!
I hadn't really noticed that I had passed 75 - the name of the group doesn't register particularly, just the people I share it with. If I continue at this rate I should pass 2x75 and possibly even 3x. Actual numbers aren't important except as a guide that I am enjoying reading, so I hope they continue to rise well!
100CDVicarage
This week's reading: four titles finished.
The Chalet Girls in Camp, finished 28th April. The latest in my current Chalet School read through and a lovely account of the Chalet School guides camping. When I read these as a child I preferred the school-set books but nowadays I enjoy the holiday books more.
The Harbour Lights Mystery, finished 29th April. The second in the Shell House Detectives series. This was one of the disappointing ones mentioned above. The first one was perfectly fine, and so was this one really. I have the third in my library and will read it but I don't think I shall make much effort to find anymore.
The Unknown Ajax, read by Thomas Judd, finished 1st May. I haven't been at all impressed with the new audio editions of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels but I didn't like the old version of this book so I gave the new one a try and it's good. It was the treatment of the Yorkshire talk that put me off the old version but Thomas Judd does it much better. It's not one of my top-five Heyers but it's still a good story!
Northanger Abbey, finished 3rd May. I needed something reliable and this filled the bill very well. For a long time this was one of my least favourite Jane Austens. It had been spoiled for me by the English teacher I had at about age twelve. When I re-read it as an adult, having read all the other titles, I appreciated it much more. I hadn't realised how funny it is. I still don't re-read it as often as Persuasion, say but I like it much more than I did.
The Chalet Girls in Camp, finished 28th April. The latest in my current Chalet School read through and a lovely account of the Chalet School guides camping. When I read these as a child I preferred the school-set books but nowadays I enjoy the holiday books more.
The Harbour Lights Mystery, finished 29th April. The second in the Shell House Detectives series. This was one of the disappointing ones mentioned above. The first one was perfectly fine, and so was this one really. I have the third in my library and will read it but I don't think I shall make much effort to find anymore.
The Unknown Ajax, read by Thomas Judd, finished 1st May. I haven't been at all impressed with the new audio editions of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels but I didn't like the old version of this book so I gave the new one a try and it's good. It was the treatment of the Yorkshire talk that put me off the old version but Thomas Judd does it much better. It's not one of my top-five Heyers but it's still a good story!
Northanger Abbey, finished 3rd May. I needed something reliable and this filled the bill very well. For a long time this was one of my least favourite Jane Austens. It had been spoiled for me by the English teacher I had at about age twelve. When I re-read it as an adult, having read all the other titles, I appreciated it much more. I hadn't realised how funny it is. I still don't re-read it as often as Persuasion, say but I like it much more than I did.
101kac522
>100 CDVicarage: I completely agree with you about Northanger Abbey--it wasn't until I read some of the novels referred to in the book, that it all made sense, especially the humor. I think it's under-appreciated, even by JA fans. Right now I'm finishing up my annual re-read of P&P.
102MickyFine
I've always been quite fond of Northanger Abbey and lucked out that when I took a class on Jane Austen during undergrad, my prof made reading it even more fun.
103mstrust
Congrats on surpassing 75!
I've always loved Northanger Abbey as it seems like she was writing it as a comedy. The villains are so very villainous.
I've always loved Northanger Abbey as it seems like she was writing it as a comedy. The villains are so very villainous.
104CDVicarage
Another Sunday, another reading report: four titles finished and one abandoned:
Practically Perfect: Life Lessons from Mary Poppins, finished 6th May. I would normally avoid books classified as 'Self Help' - and this one wasn't actually labelled that but it was close - but 'Mary Poppins', who could resist that. The author's name seemed vaguely familiar, and when I googled I recognised her photo but hadn't seen any of her comedy, although I think she was in a Midsomer Murder that I've watched. I whizzed throughthe book, agreeing with most of it.
Black Beauty, finished 7th May. A re-read. This cover is my Puffin edition, which I bought when I was about seven or eight and still have. I actually read an ebook as the paper copy is quite fragile. I probably read this a few times in my childhood but it's been a long time since the last reading and, although I thought I knew the story well there was a lot I'd forgotten. It's a heavily moral tale - something that passed me by as a child, I'm sure - and it's not nearly as long as I remembered - again a child's reading speed would be much less than mine nowadays. I'm glad I read it again but that will probably be the last time!
The Wedding Dress Repair Shop, finished 11th May. I've liked all the Trisha Ashley books I've read and this was no exception. I think it must be one of the later ones as many of those I have already read get sideways mentions. Although I don't read 'Chick Lit' for the excitement or tension of the story - you know it's going to end well - this one had even less tension than any of the others. But it's relaxing to read something that is so easy.
Silas Marner, finished 11th May. This has been my Library Book Group book but I shall miss the next meeting so I read to the end on my own. Everyone in the group said they liked it (although I don't think everyone was being perfectly honest) but it was a hard book to read aloud - it's verbose (compared with other books we've read) and the language is awkward, compared with modern writers. I did like it of course - I couldn't say I don't like George Eliot, could I? - but I shan't be rushing to re-read it. (Or any of her other books that I've read).
An Unsuitable Heiress, abandoned 11th May. I have read, and enjoyed, a Regency novel by this author before but this one didn't work for me. Obviously no-one matches up to Georgette Heyer and I didn't take to the Bridgerton novels either. This story seemed unrealistic, which is a ridiculous criticism as none of them are...
Practically Perfect: Life Lessons from Mary Poppins, finished 6th May. I would normally avoid books classified as 'Self Help' - and this one wasn't actually labelled that but it was close - but 'Mary Poppins', who could resist that. The author's name seemed vaguely familiar, and when I googled I recognised her photo but hadn't seen any of her comedy, although I think she was in a Midsomer Murder that I've watched. I whizzed throughthe book, agreeing with most of it.
Black Beauty, finished 7th May. A re-read. This cover is my Puffin edition, which I bought when I was about seven or eight and still have. I actually read an ebook as the paper copy is quite fragile. I probably read this a few times in my childhood but it's been a long time since the last reading and, although I thought I knew the story well there was a lot I'd forgotten. It's a heavily moral tale - something that passed me by as a child, I'm sure - and it's not nearly as long as I remembered - again a child's reading speed would be much less than mine nowadays. I'm glad I read it again but that will probably be the last time!
The Wedding Dress Repair Shop, finished 11th May. I've liked all the Trisha Ashley books I've read and this was no exception. I think it must be one of the later ones as many of those I have already read get sideways mentions. Although I don't read 'Chick Lit' for the excitement or tension of the story - you know it's going to end well - this one had even less tension than any of the others. But it's relaxing to read something that is so easy.
Silas Marner, finished 11th May. This has been my Library Book Group book but I shall miss the next meeting so I read to the end on my own. Everyone in the group said they liked it (although I don't think everyone was being perfectly honest) but it was a hard book to read aloud - it's verbose (compared with other books we've read) and the language is awkward, compared with modern writers. I did like it of course - I couldn't say I don't like George Eliot, could I? - but I shan't be rushing to re-read it. (Or any of her other books that I've read).
An Unsuitable Heiress, abandoned 11th May. I have read, and enjoyed, a Regency novel by this author before but this one didn't work for me. Obviously no-one matches up to Georgette Heyer and I didn't take to the Bridgerton novels either. This story seemed unrealistic, which is a ridiculous criticism as none of them are...
105CDVicarage
Amazingly, I've finished seven titles this week, although I haven't really done that much reading as several of them were started a good while ago:
Murder by Candlelight, finished 13th May. I've very much enjoyed previous books by Faith Martin - the Hillary Greene Updated and Ryder and Loveday series, particularly - but this is a new series (or will be when she writes/publishes the next one) set in the Golden Age of mysteries and is much more light-hearted, so I was a bit unsure when I started it. However I did enjoy it and look forward to the next one.
Atalanta, finished 13th May. This is a book that has been hanging around for quite a while.As a child I loved reading Myths and Legends, particularly those from Ancient Greece and recently I have very much liked the re-writings e.g. The Song of Achilles, A Thousand Ships and The Silence of the Girls. However this one didn't grab me: there was too much 'she did this, then she did this and then this' and it didn't really seem to get going as a novel until towards the end and by that time I was skimming rather than reading properly. I've just looked at my records and find I wasn't thrilled by Ariadne either so perhaps it's just this author's style that I don't care for. I have Elektra in my TBR pile, too, but it's not near the top at the moment.
Queen Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 14th May. I can remember the exact circumstances in which I first read the Mapp and Lucia series - early 1980s on a coach journey, lugging around a very heavy collection of all six novels entitled Make Way for Lucia and I have been re-reading them regularly ever since. When I was recovering from my cancer surgery, and feeling very sorry for myself, I read them straight through and felt much better. These audio versions are excellent - and were very good value as they are packaged in only two volumes - Georgina Sutton is one of my favourite readers of anything.
Pollyanna, finished 16th May. Although I thought I read quite widely as I grew up there are a lot of books I missed, and this is one of them. While it has a certain attraction to me as an adult, I think I would have loved as a child.
Parnassus on Wheels, finished 17th May. I've recently searched all through the Standard Ebooks catalogue - https://standardebooks.org/ebooks - and downloaded anything that looks interesting, including books that I have already read but didn't have a copy in my library, and this one attracted my attention. It's a slim volume and just suited me for this week. There is a second story, which I also downloaded, which will probably come soon.
Exploits of the Chalet Girls, finished 17th May. The next in my Chalet School read through. This is book nine in the original series but book eighteen if you count all the recent fill-ins.The school is still in Austria - the cover depicts the girls picking wildflowers (not to be done these days!) when out on one of their long walks. I am currently reading The Chalet School Annexe, a new book which covers the same term but takes place at the Annexe - a small school high up in the mountains near the sanatorium - where the younger 'delicate' girls go.
Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent, finished 17th May. This was an unexpectedly (to me) good book. It takes the form of an edited conversation between Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea. Mr. O'Hea asks leading questions and Judi Dench gives a masterclass in acting Shakespeare. They have known each other a long time and it really does come across as a conversation and I found it a rivetting read, and easy to pick up and put down as it it is divided into plays.
Murder by Candlelight, finished 13th May. I've very much enjoyed previous books by Faith Martin - the Hillary Greene Updated and Ryder and Loveday series, particularly - but this is a new series (or will be when she writes/publishes the next one) set in the Golden Age of mysteries and is much more light-hearted, so I was a bit unsure when I started it. However I did enjoy it and look forward to the next one.
Atalanta, finished 13th May. This is a book that has been hanging around for quite a while.As a child I loved reading Myths and Legends, particularly those from Ancient Greece and recently I have very much liked the re-writings e.g. The Song of Achilles, A Thousand Ships and The Silence of the Girls. However this one didn't grab me: there was too much 'she did this, then she did this and then this' and it didn't really seem to get going as a novel until towards the end and by that time I was skimming rather than reading properly. I've just looked at my records and find I wasn't thrilled by Ariadne either so perhaps it's just this author's style that I don't care for. I have Elektra in my TBR pile, too, but it's not near the top at the moment.
Queen Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 14th May. I can remember the exact circumstances in which I first read the Mapp and Lucia series - early 1980s on a coach journey, lugging around a very heavy collection of all six novels entitled Make Way for Lucia and I have been re-reading them regularly ever since. When I was recovering from my cancer surgery, and feeling very sorry for myself, I read them straight through and felt much better. These audio versions are excellent - and were very good value as they are packaged in only two volumes - Georgina Sutton is one of my favourite readers of anything.
Pollyanna, finished 16th May. Although I thought I read quite widely as I grew up there are a lot of books I missed, and this is one of them. While it has a certain attraction to me as an adult, I think I would have loved as a child.
Parnassus on Wheels, finished 17th May. I've recently searched all through the Standard Ebooks catalogue - https://standardebooks.org/ebooks - and downloaded anything that looks interesting, including books that I have already read but didn't have a copy in my library, and this one attracted my attention. It's a slim volume and just suited me for this week. There is a second story, which I also downloaded, which will probably come soon.
Exploits of the Chalet Girls, finished 17th May. The next in my Chalet School read through. This is book nine in the original series but book eighteen if you count all the recent fill-ins.The school is still in Austria - the cover depicts the girls picking wildflowers (not to be done these days!) when out on one of their long walks. I am currently reading The Chalet School Annexe, a new book which covers the same term but takes place at the Annexe - a small school high up in the mountains near the sanatorium - where the younger 'delicate' girls go.
Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent, finished 17th May. This was an unexpectedly (to me) good book. It takes the form of an edited conversation between Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea. Mr. O'Hea asks leading questions and Judi Dench gives a masterclass in acting Shakespeare. They have known each other a long time and it really does come across as a conversation and I found it a rivetting read, and easy to pick up and put down as it it is divided into plays.
106CDVicarage
I've got an exciting week coming up - I'm off the the Hay Book Festival on Friday for a long weekend. Four of us are staying in an Air B'n'B in Hay and I have seven Talks booked: Alice Roberts, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Caroline Lucas, Kaliane Bradley, Brenda Hale, Tom Holland and James Blunt. Between us we have quite a selection of choices; there is nothing that all four of us are attending and six events that only one of us has chosen. Although I have met the other three before (one of them is my sister!) one of them I only really know from online interaction, so it could be an interesting weekend!
108lauralkeet
Happy birthday, Kerry. I hope you have a wonderful time at the Hay festival and look forward to hearing all about it.
109RebaRelishesReading
>106 CDVicarage: I'm seriously jealous!! Hope you have a wonderful time.
110CDVicarage
>107 BLBera: Thank you Beth, and many happy returns to you as well!
And it's my Thingaversary tomorrow - seventeen years! Because I acquire so many books anyway, I don't mark the Thingaversary - including library books I've probably already added more than eighteen this month. I bet I'm still behind Paul Cranswick, though.
>109 RebaRelishesReading: It's something I've always wanted to do but it's also something I could do any year so, of course, I've never got round to it. All it needed was for someone else to say 'Let's do it' - and organise it - so I'm going!
And it's my Thingaversary tomorrow - seventeen years! Because I acquire so many books anyway, I don't mark the Thingaversary - including library books I've probably already added more than eighteen this month. I bet I'm still behind Paul Cranswick, though.
>109 RebaRelishesReading: It's something I've always wanted to do but it's also something I could do any year so, of course, I've never got round to it. All it needed was for someone else to say 'Let's do it' - and organise it - so I'm going!
111vancouverdeb
Happy Birthday, Kerry! Enjoy your trip to the Hay Book Festival! Sounds like a great time.
114thornton37814
Happy Thingaversary! I'm still trying to purchase the requisite number for mine back in March.
115CDVicarage
Two weeks to report on today. I had a lovely time at the Hay Festival (and bought a few books!). Over the three days that I was there I attended seven talks: Alice Roberts, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Caroline Lucas (currently a Green MP), Kaliane Bradley, which was a mistake as I thought I was going to see Francis Spufford, which I did as he was doing the interviewing, but I enjoyed it anyway and I think I will like her book - The Ministry of Time - a 'news panel' which included Brenda Hale (and others), Tom Holland, and James Blunt. I'm not a fan of his music but he is a good raconteur and had some interesting, and thought-provoking (to me) opinions on the use of Social Media. Plus there were bookshops - both new and second-hand. I enlarged my Ladybird Book collection, but as I was travelling home by train I couldn't buy as much as I would like... All of us got on well and I now know some previously online only friends much better. In some ways it was a bit overwhelming but, having been once, I'd like to go again, but probably not next year.
116CDVicarage
Now for my reading - two weeks' worth, but only six titles finished and I thought there would have been more:
The Chalet School Annexe, finished 20th May. This is a fairly recently written fill-in, which falls nineteenth in the total series (in chronological order). It covers the same term as Exploits of the Chalet Girls and, as ever, I'm impressed by how well the author fits in with the original stories. This is only the second reading for me but I remembered most of the incidents and it's good enough to be included in future read-throughs.
The Chalet School and the Lintons, finished 24th May. Straight on to the next in the series - originally the tenth and now the twentieth - and another favourite cover. The story is good with a potentially 'bad' girl changing her ways but a previous 'bad' girl getting worse and being expelled.
The List of Suspicious Things, finished 26th May. This was very good, almost too good as it is written from the perspective of a child - Miv (Mavis) goes from 10-ish to fifteen-ish, with the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper going on in the background throughout those years. As part of a naive plan to find the Ripper themselves, Miv and Sharon uncover some secrets closer to home and the reader is reminded of the terrible sexism, racism and violence against women that was common then (and is not eradicated now). In many ways it reminded me of The Trouble with Sheep and Goats, which I had also appreciated very much.
The New House at the Chalet School, finished 30th May. Back to the Chalet School and another good story, and good cover.
Lucia in London, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 31st May. A bedtime re-listen to one of my favourite series. I read this second in the series but it was written third, and is an excellent reading.
Femina, finished 31st May. This is one of my long-term non-fiction reads and was very interesting and well-written but is rather a 'heavy' subject so I only read a chapter now and again. I've started using Storygraph to record my actual reading - it gives me a record of how many pages or how many minutes I've read but it can't really cope with non-fiction as, when I mark a book like this as finished it assumes I've read it cover to cover which includes the notes, the biblography and the index!
The Chalet School Annexe, finished 20th May. This is a fairly recently written fill-in, which falls nineteenth in the total series (in chronological order). It covers the same term as Exploits of the Chalet Girls and, as ever, I'm impressed by how well the author fits in with the original stories. This is only the second reading for me but I remembered most of the incidents and it's good enough to be included in future read-throughs.
The Chalet School and the Lintons, finished 24th May. Straight on to the next in the series - originally the tenth and now the twentieth - and another favourite cover. The story is good with a potentially 'bad' girl changing her ways but a previous 'bad' girl getting worse and being expelled.
The List of Suspicious Things, finished 26th May. This was very good, almost too good as it is written from the perspective of a child - Miv (Mavis) goes from 10-ish to fifteen-ish, with the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper going on in the background throughout those years. As part of a naive plan to find the Ripper themselves, Miv and Sharon uncover some secrets closer to home and the reader is reminded of the terrible sexism, racism and violence against women that was common then (and is not eradicated now). In many ways it reminded me of The Trouble with Sheep and Goats, which I had also appreciated very much.
The New House at the Chalet School, finished 30th May. Back to the Chalet School and another good story, and good cover.
Lucia in London, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 31st May. A bedtime re-listen to one of my favourite series. I read this second in the series but it was written third, and is an excellent reading.
Femina, finished 31st May. This is one of my long-term non-fiction reads and was very interesting and well-written but is rather a 'heavy' subject so I only read a chapter now and again. I've started using Storygraph to record my actual reading - it gives me a record of how many pages or how many minutes I've read but it can't really cope with non-fiction as, when I mark a book like this as finished it assumes I've read it cover to cover which includes the notes, the biblography and the index!
117CDVicarage
May round-up: nineteen titles finished this month - and the last one was my one hundredth for the year. (And, since my inner challenge is two hundred in the year, I am spot on!) three paper books, thirteen ebooks and three audiobooks. Ten titles were new to me and the other nine were re-reads, although one of the audiobooks was a different version than I'd read previously. There was one abandoned - An Unsuitable Heiress. I also started Quo Vadis? but gave up after five pages as the translation used irritating (to me) 'historical' language. I'm still interested in reading the story but only if I can find a better translation.
119vancouverdeb
I did love The List of Suspicious Things as well, Kerry. It reminded me of The Trouble With Sheeps and Goats as well. I do loved Joanna Cannon's books.
120mstrust
Oh, I'd love to go to the Hay Festival, or Hay at any time! Sounds like you made the most of it. Do you have a list of your haul?
121CDVicarage
>120 mstrust: Very modest:
The last, I bought for Toby, my grandson, who shares his house with a cat (and his parents!) and I haven't added it to my catalogue and the only copy in LT is in Dutch. I expect that you can guess that the English is 'Where is the Cat?'
The last, I bought for Toby, my grandson, who shares his house with a cat (and his parents!) and I haven't added it to my catalogue and the only copy in LT is in Dutch. I expect that you can guess that the English is 'Where is the Cat?'
123CDVicarage
Another good week with five titles finished:
Julian of Norwich, finished 5th June. I first heard of Julian of Norwich when I read Katherine by Anya Seton some fifty years ago. I have never read her Revelations of Divine Love cover to cover but know the basic details. This book fills in the background of Julian's life and times.
Killing Time, finished 7th June. I've been waiting for this and started reading as soon as I got up. Annoyingly, I had other things to do on Thursday so I didn't manage to get it finished until the next day. It's another very good installment in the series with enough uncertainty to keep you anxious - Jodi Taylor has form when it comes to killing off characters - until the end. I've also got the audio version which I shall listen to soon.
Slightly Foxed 81: Stumbling With Precision Spring 2024 and The Scribbler No. 23 March 2023: A retrospective literary review, finished 8th June. I couldn't settle straightaway to anything else after Killing Time so it was a good time to finish off these two periodicals. More excellent articles in Slightly Foxed 81 and a good range in the Scribbler. The themes were books featuring the Silver Screen The Painted Garden, Love in a Mist - both of which I've read fairly recently - and several others; books featuring orphans - and there are plenty of those in children's literature; chocolate - Changes for the Chalet School, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chocolat and several mysteries featuring poisoned chocolates. The literary trail is through Cambridge.
The House in Cornwall, finished 8th June. Last title for this week was a lovely newly published (by Manderley Press) edition of this book which I had never encountered before. I loved it and would probably have loved it more as a child. It was an exciting story but didn't gloss over the difficulties the children had - they were often scared. Reading it as an adult I noticed the unlikely details and coincidences but I could also ingore them!
Julian of Norwich, finished 5th June. I first heard of Julian of Norwich when I read Katherine by Anya Seton some fifty years ago. I have never read her Revelations of Divine Love cover to cover but know the basic details. This book fills in the background of Julian's life and times.
Killing Time, finished 7th June. I've been waiting for this and started reading as soon as I got up. Annoyingly, I had other things to do on Thursday so I didn't manage to get it finished until the next day. It's another very good installment in the series with enough uncertainty to keep you anxious - Jodi Taylor has form when it comes to killing off characters - until the end. I've also got the audio version which I shall listen to soon.
Slightly Foxed 81: Stumbling With Precision Spring 2024 and The Scribbler No. 23 March 2023: A retrospective literary review, finished 8th June. I couldn't settle straightaway to anything else after Killing Time so it was a good time to finish off these two periodicals. More excellent articles in Slightly Foxed 81 and a good range in the Scribbler. The themes were books featuring the Silver Screen The Painted Garden, Love in a Mist - both of which I've read fairly recently - and several others; books featuring orphans - and there are plenty of those in children's literature; chocolate - Changes for the Chalet School, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chocolat and several mysteries featuring poisoned chocolates. The literary trail is through Cambridge.
The House in Cornwall, finished 8th June. Last title for this week was a lovely newly published (by Manderley Press) edition of this book which I had never encountered before. I loved it and would probably have loved it more as a child. It was an exciting story but didn't gloss over the difficulties the children had - they were often scared. Reading it as an adult I noticed the unlikely details and coincidences but I could also ingore them!
124quondame
>123 CDVicarage: none of my libraries have Killing Time available at this time, alas!
125PaulCranswick
>121 CDVicarage: My late mum had a huge collection of Ladybird books and I think I recognize one or two of the titles. I plan to go to the Hay festival next year.
Maybe an LT Meet-up?
Maybe an LT Meet-up?
126CDVicarage
>124 quondame: I am happy to buy books in the Chronicles of St Mary's and Time Police series on publication day but anything else I would wait for library or reduced copies. They are nerve wracking reads for me - in case, now the series are so long, the quality goes down. Jodi is still doing well for me but I've just read some critical comments about Killing Time in the Facebook group.
127CDVicarage
>125 PaulCranswick: I'd love to go again, Paul.
My Ladybird book collection concentrates on the Nature series, the Historical biographies and other non-fiction series. I try and get the older copies when I can, especially those with dustwrappers, or which once had dustwrappers.
My Ladybird book collection concentrates on the Nature series, the Historical biographies and other non-fiction series. I try and get the older copies when I can, especially those with dustwrappers, or which once had dustwrappers.
128PaulCranswick
>127 CDVicarage: Let's see whether we can drum up a bit of interest for a group meet-up in Hay next year, Kerry. I would very much like it.
129CDVicarage
I was shocked and saddened by the news about Anita, which I saw last night. It seems so cruel that just as Anita's health was improving and she and Frank were looking forward to life after Frank's retirement that she should be so suddenly taken.
I looked at Anita's list of favourite books for a suggestion for the In Memoriam read and found Emil and the Detectives, which I had been planning to read at some time so I shall start it soon and think of Anita as I read.
I looked at Anita's list of favourite books for a suggestion for the In Memoriam read and found Emil and the Detectives, which I had been planning to read at some time so I shall start it soon and think of Anita as I read.
130CDVicarage
I have six titles to list in my weekly report:
The Scribbler No. 24 July 2023: A retrospective literary review, finished 10th June. After finishing Killing Time I couldn't straightaway settle to something new so I used the time to finish a couple of periodicals. The themes of this one were books about Running Away, finishing with an interview with Elinor Lyon, Digging up the past, and Second Sight. The literary trail was through Harrogate.
Slightly Foxed 82: Spaced Out Summer 2024, finished 10th June. Another excellent issue of Slightly Foxed and I've now caught up with the latest paper copy. I've still got lots of back-copies to read as ebooks.
Under Another Sky, finished 10th June. This was a very interesting book, ostensibly about Roman Britain and the remains thereof, but it also followed a lot of threads onwards and sideways. Charlotte Higgins studied Classics and writes in a delightfully erudite style - as I was reading an ebook I was easily able to look up the words I couldn't deduce from my (much more modest) Latin studies. This is definitely a non-fiction book but I think I have read that it has now been made into a musical? Or perhaps I've imagined that.
The Stolen Seasons, finished 12th June. I followed it with this YA adventure story set in current day (well the 1960s) Hadrian's Wall. It was a jolly good read and I would have loved it when I was its intended age group as well.
Jo Returns to the Chalet School, finished 15th June. I had intended to have a rest from the Chalet School for a while but I had this one ready and found I'd read it!
Borrobil, finished 16th June. I've had this old Puffin edition for quite a few years and finally got around to reading it. It was rather a disappointment - and I think it would have been even if I had read it at the intended age - too much telling and very little showing. The author explained things to the reader, described them as they happened and then let a character explain them to another character. I rushed the final chapters as I couldn't take any more. The book is off to a charity shop tomorrow as I'm never going to re-read it.
The Scribbler No. 24 July 2023: A retrospective literary review, finished 10th June. After finishing Killing Time I couldn't straightaway settle to something new so I used the time to finish a couple of periodicals. The themes of this one were books about Running Away, finishing with an interview with Elinor Lyon, Digging up the past, and Second Sight. The literary trail was through Harrogate.
Slightly Foxed 82: Spaced Out Summer 2024, finished 10th June. Another excellent issue of Slightly Foxed and I've now caught up with the latest paper copy. I've still got lots of back-copies to read as ebooks.
Under Another Sky, finished 10th June. This was a very interesting book, ostensibly about Roman Britain and the remains thereof, but it also followed a lot of threads onwards and sideways. Charlotte Higgins studied Classics and writes in a delightfully erudite style - as I was reading an ebook I was easily able to look up the words I couldn't deduce from my (much more modest) Latin studies. This is definitely a non-fiction book but I think I have read that it has now been made into a musical? Or perhaps I've imagined that.
The Stolen Seasons, finished 12th June. I followed it with this YA adventure story set in current day (well the 1960s) Hadrian's Wall. It was a jolly good read and I would have loved it when I was its intended age group as well.
Jo Returns to the Chalet School, finished 15th June. I had intended to have a rest from the Chalet School for a while but I had this one ready and found I'd read it!
Borrobil, finished 16th June. I've had this old Puffin edition for quite a few years and finally got around to reading it. It was rather a disappointment - and I think it would have been even if I had read it at the intended age - too much telling and very little showing. The author explained things to the reader, described them as they happened and then let a character explain them to another character. I rushed the final chapters as I couldn't take any more. The book is off to a charity shop tomorrow as I'm never going to re-read it.
131SandDune
I read Under Another Sky a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. Can't quite imagine it as a musical though!
132RebaRelishesReading
>129 CDVicarage: Hi Kerry -- I definitely agree that the timing of Anita's death seems especially cruel.
133CDVicarage
Quite a busy week this week - four titles finished and two abandoned:
The Hidden Years, finished 17th June. This was a perfectly good read, if not wonderful, and suited the time of year and my mood. It seemed to promise something more startling than it delivered by way of plot but there was enough of a surprise to make me want to continue reading. And it was set in Cornwall which is always a plus point!
The Müller Twins at the Chalet School, finished 17th June. Another fairly new (originally published 2012) Chalet School fill-in which, according to my records I have read twice before this. It fits in well to the original story and I nearly always prefer the Austrian-set stories so it was a peasant re-read.
The New Chalet School, finished 20th June. I'm finding it difficult to find something to read next so a bit more Chalet School filled the gap. This story - 11 or 21 in the series - has a rather ridiculous thread about a feud between the school and some visiting children which results in the kidnapping of one of the young children of Madge Russell but an interesting (and quite exciting) account of a school trip which is delayed overnight by a storm and flooding. The 'New' in the title refers to the fact that the Chalet School has absorbed St Scholastika's - the school from Rivals of the Chalet School but by the end of the book the two schools have come to feel as one.
West, finished 22nd June. This was quite a short novel but contained a lot. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it: the parent in me thinks how could he leave his daughter for a wild-goose chase but if no-one ever made sacrifices to make discoveries where would the world be?
Two abandoned this week:
River East, River West, abandoned after about 35 pages. I find books which are outside my cultural experience can be difficult as I have the feeling that I am misssing some important nuances and this one was so far outside my knowledge that I was quite lost - and I wasn't in the mood for teenagers!
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, abandoned after about 40 pages. I had been looking forward to this - I'd had it on hold from the library for a while - as it seemed an interesting story but when I started it I realised I wasn't going to get very far - although I did try - as it was an epistolary novel. Although there were no actual letters but emails, text messages, newspaper article etc but there was no 'text' and, while I don't need every little detail explained, I did feel the need for some background.
The Hidden Years, finished 17th June. This was a perfectly good read, if not wonderful, and suited the time of year and my mood. It seemed to promise something more startling than it delivered by way of plot but there was enough of a surprise to make me want to continue reading. And it was set in Cornwall which is always a plus point!
The Müller Twins at the Chalet School, finished 17th June. Another fairly new (originally published 2012) Chalet School fill-in which, according to my records I have read twice before this. It fits in well to the original story and I nearly always prefer the Austrian-set stories so it was a peasant re-read.
The New Chalet School, finished 20th June. I'm finding it difficult to find something to read next so a bit more Chalet School filled the gap. This story - 11 or 21 in the series - has a rather ridiculous thread about a feud between the school and some visiting children which results in the kidnapping of one of the young children of Madge Russell but an interesting (and quite exciting) account of a school trip which is delayed overnight by a storm and flooding. The 'New' in the title refers to the fact that the Chalet School has absorbed St Scholastika's - the school from Rivals of the Chalet School but by the end of the book the two schools have come to feel as one.
West, finished 22nd June. This was quite a short novel but contained a lot. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it: the parent in me thinks how could he leave his daughter for a wild-goose chase but if no-one ever made sacrifices to make discoveries where would the world be?
Two abandoned this week:
River East, River West, abandoned after about 35 pages. I find books which are outside my cultural experience can be difficult as I have the feeling that I am misssing some important nuances and this one was so far outside my knowledge that I was quite lost - and I wasn't in the mood for teenagers!
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, abandoned after about 40 pages. I had been looking forward to this - I'd had it on hold from the library for a while - as it seemed an interesting story but when I started it I realised I wasn't going to get very far - although I did try - as it was an epistolary novel. Although there were no actual letters but emails, text messages, newspaper article etc but there was no 'text' and, while I don't need every little detail explained, I did feel the need for some background.
134thornton37814
>133 CDVicarage: You do a far better job abandoning books than I do. I need to do it more often.
135CDVicarage
I have two week's worth of reporting to do - I was on holiday last week and, although I had my phone with me, I prefer to do anything which requires much typing at my desktop computer. It was an eventful week: I spent the first weekend in Cornwall, on the Roseland peninsula, to attend the annual party of an online group that I am a member of. I first discovered it through an LT friend so I think of it as connected. The rest of the week I stayed with my sister in the New Forest (where she lives). And then the Election! I have been voting for forty-nine years now and this is the first time I have an MP that I voted for! Over the years we have moved a fair bit but, whether in Surrey, Sussex or North-East England and now Cheshire, I have always lived in a Tory held constituency before.
136CDVicarage
First week's reading:
Gillian of the Chalet School, finished 23rd June. An early fill-in to the original series, which fits in very well, plot-wise, with the original books and with the writing style.
The Corinthian, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 26th June. A many times re-read (listen) of one of my favourite Heyers.
Two Chalet School Girls in India, finished 26th June. This fill-in doesn't fit very well with the original stories. Although it is well known that EBD wrote (or planned to write) a story in which Joey went to India to visit her brother and sister-in-law, a manuscript has never been found or any notes giving a hint to the intended plot. While this is a good story and the characters are a good fit the plot doesn't fit very well with what comes later. The copyright for EBD's oevre is currently owned by Girls Gone By and when they publish new fill-ins they make sure that there is a good fit. This was published by Bettany Press, who have published other Chalet School fill-ins, prior to GGBP's acquisition of the copyright and their editing was less stringent.
The Ivy Tree, finished 30th June. This was a re-read and, even though there is an unexpected twist (at least to me) in the story, which I remembered it was still a good read. I thought I'd read it fairly recently but it was ten years ago!
Gillian of the Chalet School, finished 23rd June. An early fill-in to the original series, which fits in very well, plot-wise, with the original books and with the writing style.
The Corinthian, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 26th June. A many times re-read (listen) of one of my favourite Heyers.
Two Chalet School Girls in India, finished 26th June. This fill-in doesn't fit very well with the original stories. Although it is well known that EBD wrote (or planned to write) a story in which Joey went to India to visit her brother and sister-in-law, a manuscript has never been found or any notes giving a hint to the intended plot. While this is a good story and the characters are a good fit the plot doesn't fit very well with what comes later. The copyright for EBD's oevre is currently owned by Girls Gone By and when they publish new fill-ins they make sure that there is a good fit. This was published by Bettany Press, who have published other Chalet School fill-ins, prior to GGBP's acquisition of the copyright and their editing was less stringent.
The Ivy Tree, finished 30th June. This was a re-read and, even though there is an unexpected twist (at least to me) in the story, which I remembered it was still a good read. I thought I'd read it fairly recently but it was ten years ago!
137CDVicarage
So that's June over: I finished twenty titles and abandoned two. Twelve were paper books, six were ebooks and two were audiobooks. Twelve titles were new to me and eight were re-reads. There was even one ROOT success.
138CDVicarage
Four titles finished this week:
Smouldering Fire, finished 3rd July. This is the most dramatic (or melodramatic) book by D. E. Stevenson that I've read! A murder! As ever it was quite an easy read but not the best of hers that I've read.
The Keeper of Stories, finished 4th July. I thought this would be another standard 'curmudgeon/misfit/loner is redeemed and joins the rest of the human race' but it was much less sickly sweet than most of the others I've read and I liked it.
The Chalet School in Exile, finished 6th July. This is generally regarded as the best book in the series and is, I think, very impressive in its attitudes for the time. It was written contemporaneously(?), so before the outcome of WW2 was known. It is a book of two halves with a large time-gap in the middle which has meant that there is scope for some fill-ins.
Joey and Patricia, finished 6th July. And this is the first of the fill-ins. It is a novella (or even a long short story) not a full-length novel and, although it fits in plot-wise, it is a standalone and aimed more at adult rather than YA readers.
Smouldering Fire, finished 3rd July. This is the most dramatic (or melodramatic) book by D. E. Stevenson that I've read! A murder! As ever it was quite an easy read but not the best of hers that I've read.
The Keeper of Stories, finished 4th July. I thought this would be another standard 'curmudgeon/misfit/loner is redeemed and joins the rest of the human race' but it was much less sickly sweet than most of the others I've read and I liked it.
The Chalet School in Exile, finished 6th July. This is generally regarded as the best book in the series and is, I think, very impressive in its attitudes for the time. It was written contemporaneously(?), so before the outcome of WW2 was known. It is a book of two halves with a large time-gap in the middle which has meant that there is scope for some fill-ins.
Joey and Patricia, finished 6th July. And this is the first of the fill-ins. It is a novella (or even a long short story) not a full-length novel and, although it fits in plot-wise, it is a standalone and aimed more at adult rather than YA readers.
139laytonwoman3rd
The Ivy Tree is one of my favorite Mary Stewarts. I might want to read that one again myself. My records tell me I last read it "pre-LT", which means at least 18 years ago, but I'll bet it was more like 40 years ago now.
140SandDune
>135 CDVicarage: 'this is the first time I have an MP that I voted for' Same here!
141kac522
>135 CDVicarage:, >140 SandDune: Looks like your Labour wave splashed into France, and here's hoping it makes its way across the Atlantic to the USA in November.
142RebaRelishesReading
>135 CDVicarage: Must feel good to have an MP you actually voted for. Hope they do a good job for you. Hope you had a nice time in Cornwall -- it's a lovely place. Looks like you got a lot of reading done while you were away.
143laytonwoman3rd
>141 kac522: "here's hoping it makes its way across the Atlantic to the USA in November." From your lips to god's ear!
144CDVicarage
Five titles finished this week:
A Refuge for the Chalet School, finished 8th July. This is another fill-in, which fits in the middle of The Chalet School in Exile and covers the time from when Madge arrives on Guernsey up until the Chalet School re-opens. Amy Fletcher has written two other Chalet School books and she fits them in to the original series very well.
Mapp and Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 11th July. This is usually regarded as the best book in the series as it covers the time when the two characters first meet, and this is an excellent reading.
The Late Train to Gypsy Hill, finished 11th July. This is the first in a series (of two, so far) and I've already read the second, but it didn't matter that I'd read them out of order.
The Chalet School in Guernsey, finished 13th July. I'm whizzing ahead in my Chalet School read through but this is a very good part of the series. Katherine Bruce has written several (six) Chalet School books and I have liked them all very much. This is only the second time that I have read this one and I had forgotten nearly all the plot. It was disappointingly clunky to start with but I soon became engrossed in the story and it picked up a lot.
The Numbered Account, finished 13th July. This is the third in the Julia Probyn series and even though it is quite a long time since I read the first two it was easy to pick up the story. It was mostly a very easy, and delightful, read - life was so much simpler then! - but there were some jarring attitudes. It is set, I think in the late 1950s (published 1960) although it refers to the King, so must be pre-1952.
A Refuge for the Chalet School, finished 8th July. This is another fill-in, which fits in the middle of The Chalet School in Exile and covers the time from when Madge arrives on Guernsey up until the Chalet School re-opens. Amy Fletcher has written two other Chalet School books and she fits them in to the original series very well.
Mapp and Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 11th July. This is usually regarded as the best book in the series as it covers the time when the two characters first meet, and this is an excellent reading.
The Late Train to Gypsy Hill, finished 11th July. This is the first in a series (of two, so far) and I've already read the second, but it didn't matter that I'd read them out of order.
The Chalet School in Guernsey, finished 13th July. I'm whizzing ahead in my Chalet School read through but this is a very good part of the series. Katherine Bruce has written several (six) Chalet School books and I have liked them all very much. This is only the second time that I have read this one and I had forgotten nearly all the plot. It was disappointingly clunky to start with but I soon became engrossed in the story and it picked up a lot.
The Numbered Account, finished 13th July. This is the third in the Julia Probyn series and even though it is quite a long time since I read the first two it was easy to pick up the story. It was mostly a very easy, and delightful, read - life was so much simpler then! - but there were some jarring attitudes. It is set, I think in the late 1950s (published 1960) although it refers to the King, so must be pre-1952.
145CDVicarage
Six titles (including one short story) finished this week:
Stranded, finished 15th July. This was a free short story - a standalone, not connected with any of her series. It's a ghost story.
Death at La Fenice, finished 17th July. I've had the Commissario Brunetti series on my mental TBR list for a while and finally got round to reading this, the first in a very long (33 books) series. I liked it, certainly well enough to go on with the next story, but it's now in that awkward position of being 'dated' but not historical as it was first published in 1992 - more than thirty years ago. I also had some trouble in understanding the setting - I don't know the ins and outs of life and politics in Italy so throughout I had the feeling that I was missing something. I hope that in the next few books I shall at least begin to grasp these subtleties as the characters are certainly interesting.
The Chalet School Goes To It, finished 17th July. I'm still whizzing through my Chalet School re-read. This book was re-titled The Chalet School at War when it was re-issued in paperback in the 90s (?) and that does give a clearer indication of its plot! The School has had to leave Guernsey as invasion threatens and is now starting to live under wartime conditions in the Welsh/English borders (actually Hereford) i.e. rationing, blackout, air raids.
Death in a Strange Country, finished 20th July. Second in the Commissario Brunetti series. Again, though probably a new outlook/plot in its time, now slightly dated and less surprising. But I'm still enjoying the characters.
The Dangerous Islands, finished 21st July. This series is definitely 'dated' but enough to be enjoyable for that reason! It was first published in 1963 and evn then was probably past its best, but I do enjoy this type of 'Ripping Yarn'.
The Chalet School and Robin, finished 21st July. More Chalet school, this one is a fill-in, first published in 2003, so over twenty years old! It fits in very well with the original stories as does the writing style, and give some good possible reasons for later plot points.
Stranded, finished 15th July. This was a free short story - a standalone, not connected with any of her series.
Death at La Fenice, finished 17th July. I've had the Commissario Brunetti series on my mental TBR list for a while and finally got round to reading this, the first in a very long (33 books) series. I liked it, certainly well enough to go on with the next story, but it's now in that awkward position of being 'dated' but not historical as it was first published in 1992 - more than thirty years ago. I also had some trouble in understanding the setting - I don't know the ins and outs of life and politics in Italy so throughout I had the feeling that I was missing something. I hope that in the next few books I shall at least begin to grasp these subtleties as the characters are certainly interesting.
The Chalet School Goes To It, finished 17th July. I'm still whizzing through my Chalet School re-read. This book was re-titled The Chalet School at War when it was re-issued in paperback in the 90s (?) and that does give a clearer indication of its plot! The School has had to leave Guernsey as invasion threatens and is now starting to live under wartime conditions in the Welsh/English borders (actually Hereford) i.e. rationing, blackout, air raids.
Death in a Strange Country, finished 20th July. Second in the Commissario Brunetti series. Again, though probably a new outlook/plot in its time, now slightly dated and less surprising. But I'm still enjoying the characters.
The Dangerous Islands, finished 21st July. This series is definitely 'dated' but enough to be enjoyable for that reason! It was first published in 1963 and evn then was probably past its best, but I do enjoy this type of 'Ripping Yarn'.
The Chalet School and Robin, finished 21st July. More Chalet school, this one is a fill-in, first published in 2003, so over twenty years old! It fits in very well with the original stories as does the writing style, and give some good possible reasons for later plot points.
146CDVicarage
I shall be away at the weekend, and missed last Sunday, so I thought I'd finish off July now - nine titles finished since my last update:
Secrets of the Cottage by the Sea, finished 22nd July. This was a free ebook, set in the Scillies, and it was an easy pleasant read but I can't remember much about it now.
Lucia's Progress, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 24th July. I'm reading (listening) my way through this series as my bedtime reading. I love the books, and have read them in print many times, and these are excellent readings.
The Scribbler No. 25 November 2023: A retrospective literary review, finished 24th July. The themes are school stories and teachers, books by the Mitford sisters and their Desert Island Discs, books featuring art and artists and a literary trail through Victorian Oxford.
I Found You, finished 26th July. This is my Library Book Group book but as I shall be missing the meeting this week I decided to read to the end on my own. A perfectly enjoyable read with a twisty plot but not something I would have chosen on my own. Although I might now try some of her other titles.
The Last Battle, finished 26th July. I don't read this book from the Narnian series as often as the others because I don't like the ending - it goes on too long! I'm always rather surprised when I read any of these books now at how short they are - I first read them as a child and they took me ages to finish and now I can read them in one sitting.
The Highland Twins at the Chalet School, finished 27th July. Back to EBD, after several fill-ins, and it's a good one, if slightly fanciful in places (second sight).
Death of an Author, finished 29th July. Another in the British Library Crime Classics series. I've liked the Inspector Macdonald series by E. C. R. Lorac but this one is a standalone and, although good, I missed Macdonald.
The Anonymous Venetian, finished 31st July. The third in the Commissario Brunetti series and although I'm settling into the characters and set-up I still have the feeling of missing things because I'm not familiar enough with Italian or Venetian life. But I have started the next one!
Flight of a Chalet School Girl, finished 31st July. Another Chalet School Fill-in and this one covers the escape of Princess Elisaveta from Belsornia, after the Nazis invade. The author gives her reasoning behind the choices she made about plot, characters, dates etc in the afterword - always necessary as EBD was a bit random in her dating, ages etc. Katherine Bruce also explains why she made it a book for adults rather than Young Adults as the other stories are.
Secrets of the Cottage by the Sea, finished 22nd July. This was a free ebook, set in the Scillies, and it was an easy pleasant read but I can't remember much about it now.
Lucia's Progress, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 24th July. I'm reading (listening) my way through this series as my bedtime reading. I love the books, and have read them in print many times, and these are excellent readings.
The Scribbler No. 25 November 2023: A retrospective literary review, finished 24th July. The themes are school stories and teachers, books by the Mitford sisters and their Desert Island Discs, books featuring art and artists and a literary trail through Victorian Oxford.
I Found You, finished 26th July. This is my Library Book Group book but as I shall be missing the meeting this week I decided to read to the end on my own. A perfectly enjoyable read with a twisty plot but not something I would have chosen on my own. Although I might now try some of her other titles.
The Last Battle, finished 26th July. I don't read this book from the Narnian series as often as the others because I don't like the ending - it goes on too long! I'm always rather surprised when I read any of these books now at how short they are - I first read them as a child and they took me ages to finish and now I can read them in one sitting.
The Highland Twins at the Chalet School, finished 27th July. Back to EBD, after several fill-ins, and it's a good one, if slightly fanciful in places (second sight).
Death of an Author, finished 29th July. Another in the British Library Crime Classics series. I've liked the Inspector Macdonald series by E. C. R. Lorac but this one is a standalone and, although good, I missed Macdonald.
The Anonymous Venetian, finished 31st July. The third in the Commissario Brunetti series and although I'm settling into the characters and set-up I still have the feeling of missing things because I'm not familiar enough with Italian or Venetian life. But I have started the next one!
Flight of a Chalet School Girl, finished 31st July. Another Chalet School Fill-in and this one covers the escape of Princess Elisaveta from Belsornia, after the Nazis invade. The author gives her reasoning behind the choices she made about plot, characters, dates etc in the afterword - always necessary as EBD was a bit random in her dating, ages etc. Katherine Bruce also explains why she made it a book for adults rather than Young Adults as the other stories are.
147CDVicarage
I finished twenty four titles, and abandoned two, in July, which is quite a lot, I think. Eleven were paper books (although I may have read the ebook version), eleven were ebooks and two were audiobooks. Thirteen titles were new to me and eleven were re-reads.
I abandoned two titles this month Aunt Ivy's Cottage - a free ebook, which found I couldn't be bothered to continue, and The Way of All Flesh, which I got about half way through and decided I'd got the idea and didn't want to struggle through to the end. I think it's a book that was quite startling when it was published but seems a bit 'old hat' now.
I abandoned two titles this month Aunt Ivy's Cottage - a free ebook, which found I couldn't be bothered to continue, and The Way of All Flesh, which I got about half way through and decided I'd got the idea and didn't want to struggle through to the end. I think it's a book that was quite startling when it was published but seems a bit 'old hat' now.
148thornton37814
Lots of good reading here. I'm glad you put aside the books that weren't working for you. I'm better about doing that at times than I am at others.
149CDVicarage
Back into routine, at last. Six titles finished, so far, in August:
The Comfort of Ghosts, finished 1st August. The eighteenth, and final book in the Maisie Dobbs series and a good 'rounding off' of Maisie's career (but not her life!) The series was variable, with some rather poor stories, but most were worth reading. I may have another go at some time but not for a while.
Trouble for Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 4th August. Another series ending but only six books in this one, although I've read it many times in print and audio. This is an excellent reading.
Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School, finished 5th August. Back to the Chalet School. This section is set during WW2 and has some of my favourite titles so I'm reading through quite quickly at the moment.
Gay from China at the Chalet School, finished 8th August. Next in the series - 18th in the original series, but 36th if you include the fill-ins - and would be a good entry in the Books that made you cry List (for me). During the term, Jacynth's aunt dies and leaves her a beautifully written letter of farewell.
The Scribbler No. 26 March 2024: A retrospective literary review, finished 8th August. Articles/reviews of books about fictional Finishing Schools, What Girls Did in the Great War in fiction and Real Life, Essays and a literary trail in Kent - mostly Canterbury, Whitstable and Margate. Only one more to go and I'm up to date!
Chocolat, finished 10th August. This was a re-read. I first read it soon after it came out, so about 25 years ago! and I have since read the other three in the series. I don't think I enjoyed this as much this time - it was more magical/whimsical than I remembered but I did like the descriptions of the chocolates and as the story went on I was more caught up in it but I wasn't able to suspend disbelief as much as I had before.
The Comfort of Ghosts, finished 1st August. The eighteenth, and final book in the Maisie Dobbs series and a good 'rounding off' of Maisie's career (but not her life!) The series was variable, with some rather poor stories, but most were worth reading. I may have another go at some time but not for a while.
Trouble for Lucia, read by Georgina Sutton, finished 4th August. Another series ending but only six books in this one, although I've read it many times in print and audio. This is an excellent reading.
Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School, finished 5th August. Back to the Chalet School. This section is set during WW2 and has some of my favourite titles so I'm reading through quite quickly at the moment.
Gay from China at the Chalet School, finished 8th August. Next in the series - 18th in the original series, but 36th if you include the fill-ins - and would be a good entry in the Books that made you cry List (for me). During the term, Jacynth's aunt dies and leaves her a beautifully written letter of farewell.
The Scribbler No. 26 March 2024: A retrospective literary review, finished 8th August. Articles/reviews of books about fictional Finishing Schools, What Girls Did in the Great War in fiction and Real Life, Essays and a literary trail in Kent - mostly Canterbury, Whitstable and Margate. Only one more to go and I'm up to date!
Chocolat, finished 10th August. This was a re-read. I first read it soon after it came out, so about 25 years ago! and I have since read the other three in the series. I don't think I enjoyed this as much this time - it was more magical/whimsical than I remembered but I did like the descriptions of the chocolates and as the story went on I was more caught up in it but I wasn't able to suspend disbelief as much as I had before.
150PaulCranswick
Wonderful reading as always here, Kerry.
You reminded me again today (as did my stats) how much we miss dear Anita. I will, with your leave step into her shoes, and wish you congratulations on passing 2x75 already.
Have a great Sunday.
You reminded me again today (as did my stats) how much we miss dear Anita. I will, with your leave step into her shoes, and wish you congratulations on passing 2x75 already.
Have a great Sunday.
152vancouverdeb
I have the Comfort of Ghosts , but I've been putting off reading it because I have not read the previous book in the series, which for some reason doesn't appeal to me that much. It is also hard to access as I have it at the bottom of a pile of books. What suffering we readers endure! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have read all the others in the series.
153CDVicarage
Another week of reading - five titles finished this week:
The Prisoner of Zenda, finished 11th August. Nothing in my huge TBR pile really appealed so I decided it was time for a re-read of a Ripping Yarn and I did enjoy it!
A Venetian Reckoning, finished 12th August. Book four in this series and I'm still struggling a bit: I'm sure I'm missing the subtle nuances of the cultural set-up and it's set in that awkward period of recent history that I lived through but can't really remember the details of. I like the characters and I shall continue - at least for one more - as the series is well regarded.
Murder at the Monastery, finished 14th August. This, the third in the series, continues immediately on from book two. More recent history that I lived through but, because it's British, I can remember it better. As a mystery/detective story it doesn't quite work as the author doesn't give you enough clues/information to work it out yourself, although the culprit wasn't a surprise.
Acqua Alta, finished 16th August. An easier read - perhaps I am getting into the setting at last. I have one more in my TBR pile, which I will read, and then I will have to decide whether to continue with the series.
Emergency in the Pyrenees, finished 18th August. This series is set in the 1950s-60s and it shows! The main protagonists are wealthy upper class Brits with the (apparent) disdain and scorn for those of a lower class or (even worse) foreigners. However the stories are so easy to read and the descriptions of the exotic locations, food and drink etc are a real pleasure. As long as I remember that these people would not be pleasant to know in real life and that their opinions and beliefs are not acceptable today I shall go on enjoying the stories!
The Prisoner of Zenda, finished 11th August. Nothing in my huge TBR pile really appealed so I decided it was time for a re-read of a Ripping Yarn and I did enjoy it!
A Venetian Reckoning, finished 12th August. Book four in this series and I'm still struggling a bit: I'm sure I'm missing the subtle nuances of the cultural set-up and it's set in that awkward period of recent history that I lived through but can't really remember the details of. I like the characters and I shall continue - at least for one more - as the series is well regarded.
Murder at the Monastery, finished 14th August. This, the third in the series, continues immediately on from book two. More recent history that I lived through but, because it's British, I can remember it better. As a mystery/detective story it doesn't quite work as the author doesn't give you enough clues/information to work it out yourself, although the culprit wasn't a surprise.
Acqua Alta, finished 16th August. An easier read - perhaps I am getting into the setting at last. I have one more in my TBR pile, which I will read, and then I will have to decide whether to continue with the series.
Emergency in the Pyrenees, finished 18th August. This series is set in the 1950s-60s and it shows! The main protagonists are wealthy upper class Brits with the (apparent) disdain and scorn for those of a lower class or (even worse) foreigners. However the stories are so easy to read and the descriptions of the exotic locations, food and drink etc are a real pleasure. As long as I remember that these people would not be pleasant to know in real life and that their opinions and beliefs are not acceptable today I shall go on enjoying the stories!
154CDVicarage
Four titles finished this week:
The Talisman Ring, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 19th August. I've been at rather a loose end for bedtime audiobooks lately so I fell back on an old, and many times re-read, favourite.
The Thirty-Nine Steps, read by David Thorn, finished 23rd August. And another old favourite.
The Fellowship of the Ring, finished 23rd August. An online, but non-LT, friend commented that she read Lord of the Rings every few years and it made me think I would re-read it. I've most recently (2017) listened to the audio versions, read by Rob Inglis but decided to go for the print versions this time. I tend to skip over all the songs and poetry when I'm reading, which is harder to do in audio! But I have got the new audio versions, read by Andy Serkis in my library to try sometime. Although I think my favourite version is stiil the BBC radio adaptation, dating from the early 80s.
The Scribbler No. 27 July 2024: A retrospective literary review, finished 24th August. This is the latest issue and the themes are books featuring Winter Sports, Floods and Fictional Authors. The literary trail was through Bath. Several ideas for books new to me and reminders of ones I have already read.
The Talisman Ring, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 19th August. I've been at rather a loose end for bedtime audiobooks lately so I fell back on an old, and many times re-read, favourite.
The Thirty-Nine Steps, read by David Thorn, finished 23rd August. And another old favourite.
The Fellowship of the Ring, finished 23rd August. An online, but non-LT, friend commented that she read Lord of the Rings every few years and it made me think I would re-read it. I've most recently (2017) listened to the audio versions, read by Rob Inglis but decided to go for the print versions this time. I tend to skip over all the songs and poetry when I'm reading, which is harder to do in audio! But I have got the new audio versions, read by Andy Serkis in my library to try sometime. Although I think my favourite version is stiil the BBC radio adaptation, dating from the early 80s.
The Scribbler No. 27 July 2024: A retrospective literary review, finished 24th August. This is the latest issue and the themes are books featuring Winter Sports, Floods and Fictional Authors. The literary trail was through Bath. Several ideas for books new to me and reminders of ones I have already read.
155BLBera
Hi Kerry - I love the Donna Leon series and just finished #30, I think. I love the setting, and her descriptions of food always leave me with my mouth watering. It sounds like you are getting into the swing of them.
156CDVicarage
Four titles finished this last week:
The Two Towers and The Return of the King, finished 25th and 29th August. My first time reading Lord of the Rings was in September 1972 (I was 14) and it was a paperback copy of the whole story - this edition -
. It belonged to a friend who would only let me have it to the end of the week so I read it in five days (I don't think I did much homework that week!). The fact that I remember these details so clearly implies that it made quite an impression on me. I soon bought my own copy, upgraded to a hardback and then to the separate volumes over the years and now I have ebook versions, which I re-read periodically. It seems that I still whizz through it, although I do usually skip the poems and some bits that I find a bit dull. Although I enjoyed the Peter Jackson films my favourite dramatized version is the BBC audio adaptation - 
. I went through several versions of that, too - I recorded it from the radio when it was first broadcast (using a timer switch when I was away from home), then I bought this edition and some years later upgraded to the CDs.
The Sunday Philosophy Club, finished 31st August. Back to more re-reading. I read this series as it was written, fairly recently, I thought, although I first read this one in August 2005. I find them very easy to read and love Isabel's inner monologues. I do the same except not nearly as coherently or eruditely!
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, finished 1st September. Straight on to the next one!
The Two Towers and The Return of the King, finished 25th and 29th August. My first time reading Lord of the Rings was in September 1972 (I was 14) and it was a paperback copy of the whole story - this edition -
. It belonged to a friend who would only let me have it to the end of the week so I read it in five days (I don't think I did much homework that week!). The fact that I remember these details so clearly implies that it made quite an impression on me. I soon bought my own copy, upgraded to a hardback and then to the separate volumes over the years and now I have ebook versions, which I re-read periodically. It seems that I still whizz through it, although I do usually skip the poems and some bits that I find a bit dull. Although I enjoyed the Peter Jackson films my favourite dramatized version is the BBC audio adaptation - 
. I went through several versions of that, too - I recorded it from the radio when it was first broadcast (using a timer switch when I was away from home), then I bought this edition and some years later upgraded to the CDs.
The Sunday Philosophy Club, finished 31st August. Back to more re-reading. I read this series as it was written, fairly recently, I thought, although I first read this one in August 2005. I find them very easy to read and love Isabel's inner monologues. I do the same except not nearly as coherently or eruditely!
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, finished 1st September. Straight on to the next one!
157CDVicarage
August is over (and so, it seems, is summer) so a monthly update:
Eighteen titles finished this month - four paper books, eleven ebooks and three audiobooks. Seven were new to me and the other eleven were re-reads.
I'm eagerly awaiting the new Jodi Taylor title - The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal which will be published 12th September, the day before I go on a week's holiday so I should be able to read the print version straightaway and listen to the audio soon after. I shall also continue with the Isabel Dalhousie series and dip into the Chalet School if nothing else calls, and Slightly Foxed and The Scribbler issues. I have a lot of half-finished (or sometimes barely started) titles in my Currently Reading Collection, which I should weed, but that is both a problem and an advatage with ebooks, they don't take up space! If I had lots of currently reading paper books around the house I wouldn't be able to ignore them but ebooks are often out-of-sight-out-of-mind to me.
Eighteen titles finished this month - four paper books, eleven ebooks and three audiobooks. Seven were new to me and the other eleven were re-reads.
I'm eagerly awaiting the new Jodi Taylor title - The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal which will be published 12th September, the day before I go on a week's holiday so I should be able to read the print version straightaway and listen to the audio soon after. I shall also continue with the Isabel Dalhousie series and dip into the Chalet School if nothing else calls, and Slightly Foxed and The Scribbler issues. I have a lot of half-finished (or sometimes barely started) titles in my Currently Reading Collection, which I should weed, but that is both a problem and an advatage with ebooks, they don't take up space! If I had lots of currently reading paper books around the house I wouldn't be able to ignore them but ebooks are often out-of-sight-out-of-mind to me.
158kac522
>156 CDVicarage: I love the Isabel Dalhousie series, too. I love the ramblings that go on. I don't quite get on with his other series, but that's OK.
159PaulCranswick
168 books already, Kerry!
I feel a re-read of LOTR coming on (it would be my 4th).
Have a lovely weekend.
I feel a re-read of LOTR coming on (it would be my 4th).
Have a lovely weekend.
160CDVicarage
>159 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. We've had an exhausting weekend - Toby stayed over at our house for the first time! He spent Saturday with us as Clare and Richard were invited to a friend's wedding, taking part in the choir as well as being guests, so couldn't manage Toby as well. He's used to that (and so are we) but the sleeping here was a first. He was slow to settle but slept well - better than we did. It should be easier next time.
161CDVicarage
The Right attitude to Rain, 2nd September. The Careful Use of Compliments, 4th September The Comfort of Saturdays, 5th September. The Lost Art of Gratitude, 6th September Third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the series and the usual delightful read. However, reading them in quick succession – previous reads had been as they were published so spread out – means that I notice the repetition of the necessary background information that has to be included in each story for those who may not have read any other in the series.
Sylvester, read by Nicholas Rowe, 4th September. A re-read of one of my less favourite Georgette Heyer stories. Although I enjoyed the writing and the Regency details, I still don’t really like some of the characters and the plot seems rather contrived.
Slightly Foxed 83: Benefit of Clergy Autumn 2024, 8th September. The latest issue - a good one and I finished it very quickly. I’ve still got plenty of back issues to read online so I shall make do with those until the next issue, due in December.
162kac522
>161 CDVicarage: Ah, good point about reading the McCall Smith series in rapid succession--I also read them as they were published (about every year or so). If I do decide to re-read, I think I will take your advice and spread them out. Similar to re-reading Miss Read's books--a little space between books is a good thing.
163laytonwoman3rd
>175 CDVicarage: We're getting ready to do a re-read of LOTR in this house, too. It was the early 70's when my husband (as is now) introduced me to Tolkien, after he got hooked on him by an English professor when he was a freshman in college. Neither one of us know how many times we have read it since. It's family favorite, and we are not taking a six part night course at the local university on Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, which promises to be both fun and fascinating.
164CDVicarage
No report last week as I was on holiday - briefly. It was cut short as my mother was taken ill, so we came home early and my sister and I spent a day in A&E with her. We discovered that she had had a small stroke, which she had managed to conceal from us for two days. With hindsight it should have been obvious but Mum insisted she was OK and it's difficult to overrule your mother, even at my age. The effect of the stroke was to make it difficult for her to find words, but, after a night in hospital and some appropriate drugs, she was discharged, able to speak quite normally again. Of course, there will be follow-up observations and treatment. The brain scan showed evidence of an earlier very small stroke, and in all our minds, including Mum's, is the fear of more so we are all on edge. So, as holidays go, it wasn't a very good one.
165CDVicarage
But I did do some reading - eight titles finished over the last two weeks:
The Charming Quirks of Others, finished 8th September. Seventh in the series and I'm still enjoying them but it may be time for a break soon.
Slightly Foxed 25: A Date with Iris Spring 2010, finished 9th September. A Slightly Foxed backnumber, with perhaps less than usual of interest to me, but still a pleasant read.
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, finished 11th September. Eighth in the series and time for a break, I think, although I'm still enjoying them but there are some other books that I want to read coming up.
The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal, finished 13th Septemeber. The latest Jodi Taylor novel, which I have been waiting impatiently for, and started straightaway. It's a rather different story from the others as Smallhope and Pennyroyal are part of the St Mary's set-up and the Time Police, and we know some of their story already. This book fills in their back stories and, since there is time travel, what will happen in the future. My main issue with it is organisational - where does it go in either, or both, series? and how do I know where to read it in a future series re-read?
Jo to the Rescue, finished 18th September. The stress of the 'holiday' situation sent me back to some comfort reading - the next book in my Chalet School read through. When I was younger I didn't care so much for the holiday books, preferring the school setting, but now I like them more. Jo and her three friends - and a total of nine small children - go to stay in a fairly remote cottage in rural Yorkshire. It made my holiday seem less stressful!
This Rough Magic, finished 21st September. Another re-read: a fairly mild thriller but set on Corfu, so that was a pleasure to read about. It was first published in 1964 and there are aspects that feel dated - nylon fabric is seen as glamorous and sophisticated!
Mog the Forgetful Cat, finished 21st September. I found this in a charity shop and thought that Toby would like it, but decided that I should re-read it first.
Frederica, read by Joe Jameson, finished 22nd September. I haven't been very impressed by the new audio versions of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels but the older version of this that I have wasn't very good so I decided to use up one of my many Audible credits on this, and I'm glad I did as it's a very good reading. It didn't start very well as the reader mispronounced the author's name, but everything else was fine and he was very good at the characters' voices.
The Charming Quirks of Others, finished 8th September. Seventh in the series and I'm still enjoying them but it may be time for a break soon.
Slightly Foxed 25: A Date with Iris Spring 2010, finished 9th September. A Slightly Foxed backnumber, with perhaps less than usual of interest to me, but still a pleasant read.
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, finished 11th September. Eighth in the series and time for a break, I think, although I'm still enjoying them but there are some other books that I want to read coming up.
The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal, finished 13th Septemeber. The latest Jodi Taylor novel, which I have been waiting impatiently for, and started straightaway. It's a rather different story from the others as Smallhope and Pennyroyal are part of the St Mary's set-up and the Time Police, and we know some of their story already. This book fills in their back stories and, since there is time travel, what will happen in the future. My main issue with it is organisational - where does it go in either, or both, series? and how do I know where to read it in a future series re-read?
Jo to the Rescue, finished 18th September. The stress of the 'holiday' situation sent me back to some comfort reading - the next book in my Chalet School read through. When I was younger I didn't care so much for the holiday books, preferring the school setting, but now I like them more. Jo and her three friends - and a total of nine small children - go to stay in a fairly remote cottage in rural Yorkshire. It made my holiday seem less stressful!
This Rough Magic, finished 21st September. Another re-read: a fairly mild thriller but set on Corfu, so that was a pleasure to read about. It was first published in 1964 and there are aspects that feel dated - nylon fabric is seen as glamorous and sophisticated!
Mog the Forgetful Cat, finished 21st September. I found this in a charity shop and thought that Toby would like it, but decided that I should re-read it first.
Frederica, read by Joe Jameson, finished 22nd September. I haven't been very impressed by the new audio versions of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels but the older version of this that I have wasn't very good so I decided to use up one of my many Audible credits on this, and I'm glad I did as it's a very good reading. It didn't start very well as the reader mispronounced the author's name, but everything else was fine and he was very good at the characters' voices.
166lauralkeet
I'm sorry to read about your mum's stroke, Kerry. I'm sure that's worrisome. I hope the follow-up treatment helps reduce the anxiety you're all feeling.
167thornton37814
Sorry about your mum's stroke. Looks like you found some good books to read though.
168PaulCranswick
>164 CDVicarage: So sorry to hear about your mother, Kerry. A mild stroke is sometimes a little warning to us to do things a little differently. I hope she will be ok.
169BLBera
I hope your mom is on the mend, Kerry.
>161 CDVicarage: I usually don't try to binge read a series because all of the repetition does start to bother me. The McCall books do sound good, though.
>161 CDVicarage: I usually don't try to binge read a series because all of the repetition does start to bother me. The McCall books do sound good, though.
170vancouverdeb
I am so sorry to hear about your mum's mild stroke. I'm hope that she is one the mend, it sounds like it.
171CDVicarage
Only two titles finished this week:
The Mystery at the Chalet School and Robin Heeds the Call, finished 22nd September. The next in the Chalet School series, with a new short story. The main story is quite short, too, it was originally published in one of the Chalet school 'annuals' and only published much later as a separate book. It's fully illustrated but by an artist who hasn't read the books so the girls all have identical hairstles and wear the wrong uniform!
Army without Banners, finished 27th September. Originally published in 1942, it is is a fictionalised account of driving an ambulance during the Blitz of October 1940 to December 1941. Mildred, our narrator, also vists other voluntary services in London thus providing lots of information about the various services available.
The Mystery at the Chalet School and Robin Heeds the Call, finished 22nd September. The next in the Chalet School series, with a new short story. The main story is quite short, too, it was originally published in one of the Chalet school 'annuals' and only published much later as a separate book. It's fully illustrated but by an artist who hasn't read the books so the girls all have identical hairstles and wear the wrong uniform!
Army without Banners, finished 27th September. Originally published in 1942, it is is a fictionalised account of driving an ambulance during the Blitz of October 1940 to December 1941. Mildred, our narrator, also vists other voluntary services in London thus providing lots of information about the various services available.
172CDVicarage
Thanks, everyone, for your good wishes for my mum. It's been a hard week for us all but she is definitely improving and in many ways is back to normal but her confidence has taken a knock.
173lauralkeet
>172 CDVicarage: I'm glad to hear she's on the mend, Kerry. I hope she regains confidence, too.
174CDVicarage
Five titles finished this week:
A Chalet School Headmistress, finished 30th September. Another fill-in for my Chalet School read-through - this was first published in 2004 (twenty years ago!) and, according to my records, this is the fourth time I've read it but much of the story was new to me. I suppose I have read the original series so many times I can remember everything but the new (or not so new) fill-ins are taking longer to sink in. This is a good, well-written story set in the English/Welsh years which I particularly like.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum, finished 2nd October. A many times re-read (in print and audio), started during our aborted holiday near York, as I was hoping to visit some of the places mentioned. Even knowing the unexpected twist, I still enjoy the story very much, and, of course, to more observant readers the hints are clearly spread throughout.
Sister Beneath the Sheet, finished 4th October. This is the first in a series of eleven books. A mystery set pre-WW1 with the main protagonist a suffragette. It was easy to read and well-plotted, and I liked the unusual setting so I shall go on to read more, I think.
Tom Tackles the Chalet School, finished 5th October. Although Tom becomes quite an important character in later books, she starts here almost as an aside. This book actually consists of two long short stories like The Mystery at the Chalet School originally published in one of the Chalet Book for Girls annuals - this one in the second and third annuals. So, although it is a full-length novel here it is really two separate stories and was published out of order. This means that the usual info-dump for those who haven't read the others in the series occurs twice! As with Mystery, the illustrations are totally unsuited to the story - wrong uniforms and all girls looking much the same by way of features, hairstyles etc.
Cousin Kate, read by Christina Cole, finished 5th October. This is one of my least favourite of Georgette Heyer's Regency stories as it's really a Gothic romance. Although it has its amusing moments and characters, it is quite serious and melodramatic - there is murder and suicide!. It is also rather long, although (to my surprise) not the longest by seven or eight in the list. This is actually the second audio version I have and the reader is very good (better than my original version) - at different voices and narration - although she had some odd mispronunciations and emphases, but they didn't detract from the reading. However the story itself is definitely not one I particularly like so i doubt I'll be re-reading it often (if at all).
A Chalet School Headmistress, finished 30th September. Another fill-in for my Chalet School read-through - this was first published in 2004 (twenty years ago!) and, according to my records, this is the fourth time I've read it but much of the story was new to me. I suppose I have read the original series so many times I can remember everything but the new (or not so new) fill-ins are taking longer to sink in. This is a good, well-written story set in the English/Welsh years which I particularly like.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum, finished 2nd October. A many times re-read (in print and audio), started during our aborted holiday near York, as I was hoping to visit some of the places mentioned. Even knowing the unexpected twist, I still enjoy the story very much, and, of course, to more observant readers the hints are clearly spread throughout.
Sister Beneath the Sheet, finished 4th October. This is the first in a series of eleven books. A mystery set pre-WW1 with the main protagonist a suffragette. It was easy to read and well-plotted, and I liked the unusual setting so I shall go on to read more, I think.
Tom Tackles the Chalet School, finished 5th October. Although Tom becomes quite an important character in later books, she starts here almost as an aside. This book actually consists of two long short stories like The Mystery at the Chalet School originally published in one of the Chalet Book for Girls annuals - this one in the second and third annuals. So, although it is a full-length novel here it is really two separate stories and was published out of order. This means that the usual info-dump for those who haven't read the others in the series occurs twice! As with Mystery, the illustrations are totally unsuited to the story - wrong uniforms and all girls looking much the same by way of features, hairstyles etc.
Cousin Kate, read by Christina Cole, finished 5th October. This is one of my least favourite of Georgette Heyer's Regency stories as it's really a Gothic romance. Although it has its amusing moments and characters, it is quite serious and melodramatic - there is murder and suicide!. It is also rather long, although (to my surprise) not the longest by seven or eight in the list. This is actually the second audio version I have and the reader is very good (better than my original version) - at different voices and narration - although she had some odd mispronunciations and emphases, but they didn't detract from the reading. However the story itself is definitely not one I particularly like so i doubt I'll be re-reading it often (if at all).
175CDVicarage
September round-up:
Eighteen titles finished this month - five paper books, eleven ebooks and two audio books. Four were new to me and the other fourteen were re-reads. In terms of numbers I equalled August but there were fewer new books this month. It has been quite a stressful time and there has been a fair bit of comfort re-reading.
October has got off to a good start, I think, so perhaps things are changing!
Eighteen titles finished this month - five paper books, eleven ebooks and two audio books. Four were new to me and the other fourteen were re-reads. In terms of numbers I equalled August but there were fewer new books this month. It has been quite a stressful time and there has been a fair bit of comfort re-reading.
October has got off to a good start, I think, so perhaps things are changing!
176CDVicarage
I find myself with the morning free rather than the afternoon this week, so an earlier than usual weekly round-up. Three titles finished this week:
The Chalet School and Rosalie: with A Slippery Slope, finished 6th October. The next in the Chalet School series and a very slight entry. This rather short story was written originally to go in the fourth Chalet School annual but that never happened so it was published separately straight to paperback, which was unusual at that time. It's a nice enough story but definitely not one of the best.This edition, published more recently by Girls Gone By, includes a long short story filling in the background for a character missing from EBD's story.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea, finished 10th October. This turned out to be a sad disappointment. I had liked the sound of it from the blurb and Laura (I think) had also reported favourably on it. The story itself, I liked, although the coincidences towards the end stretched my credulity. The author is American and when she was writing about England she got quite a lot of details - facts and cultural references - wrong. I am not usually someone who complains about, or even notices, anachronisms but this time there were too many or they were too noticeable for me to ignore and they 'pulled' me out of the story each time.
Hanging on the Wire, finished 13th October. The second in the Nell Bray series and I'm still liking the set-up - Nell Bray is a Suffragette who investigates mysterious happenings (murders) connected with the campaign - but beginning to wonder how long it can realistically continue (there are eleven books in the series). Time has moved on by several years from the first book and WW1 is in progress. Nell is asked to investigate attempted (and later successful) murder in a psychiatric hospital in rural Wales. Of course the murderer could have been any of the characters but turns out to be one of the least likely. As before Nell dispenses her own justice/punishment/assistance regardless of the law. I don't have the next book in the series at the moment and I'm not inclined to make a great deal of effort to get it but if it turns up I shall probably continue with the series.
The Chalet School and Rosalie: with A Slippery Slope, finished 6th October. The next in the Chalet School series and a very slight entry. This rather short story was written originally to go in the fourth Chalet School annual but that never happened so it was published separately straight to paperback, which was unusual at that time. It's a nice enough story but definitely not one of the best.This edition, published more recently by Girls Gone By, includes a long short story filling in the background for a character missing from EBD's story.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea, finished 10th October. This turned out to be a sad disappointment. I had liked the sound of it from the blurb and Laura (I think) had also reported favourably on it. The story itself, I liked, although the coincidences towards the end stretched my credulity. The author is American and when she was writing about England she got quite a lot of details - facts and cultural references - wrong. I am not usually someone who complains about, or even notices, anachronisms but this time there were too many or they were too noticeable for me to ignore and they 'pulled' me out of the story each time.
Hanging on the Wire, finished 13th October. The second in the Nell Bray series and I'm still liking the set-up - Nell Bray is a Suffragette who investigates mysterious happenings (murders) connected with the campaign - but beginning to wonder how long it can realistically continue (there are eleven books in the series). Time has moved on by several years from the first book and WW1 is in progress. Nell is asked to investigate attempted (and later successful) murder in a psychiatric hospital in rural Wales. Of course the murderer could have been any of the characters but turns out to be one of the least likely. As before Nell dispenses her own justice/punishment/assistance regardless of the law. I don't have the next book in the series at the moment and I'm not inclined to make a great deal of effort to get it but if it turns up I shall probably continue with the series.
177CDVicarage
Three more titles finished this week:
The Bettany Twins and the Chalet School, finished 17th October. Another fairly recently written fill-in and this is only the second time I've read it so much of the story was unfamiliar. It was good to see more of the Bettany section of the family and to have a different viewpoint to observe the school. Although I know it did happen, I still found beyond belief that the English-dwelling contingent should have siblings, of eight years old, that they had never met before, since the outbreak of the war had prevented the India dwelling contingent from coming 'home' for that length of time.
The Reluctant Widow, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 18th October. One of my favourite Georgette Heyer's and an excellent reading. It's a many times (nine according to my records) re-read and I'm sure I shall be listening to or reading it again.
Pru and Me, finished 18th October. An interesting joint biography/autobiography which doesn't descend into a series of anecdotes, as many showbiz biographies can do. Both of these actors (and one of their sons) are among my favourite audiobook narrators but this wasn't mentioned at all!
The Bettany Twins and the Chalet School, finished 17th October. Another fairly recently written fill-in and this is only the second time I've read it so much of the story was unfamiliar. It was good to see more of the Bettany section of the family and to have a different viewpoint to observe the school. Although I know it did happen, I still found beyond belief that the English-dwelling contingent should have siblings, of eight years old, that they had never met before, since the outbreak of the war had prevented the India dwelling contingent from coming 'home' for that length of time.
The Reluctant Widow, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 18th October. One of my favourite Georgette Heyer's and an excellent reading. It's a many times (nine according to my records) re-read and I'm sure I shall be listening to or reading it again.
Pru and Me, finished 18th October. An interesting joint biography/autobiography which doesn't descend into a series of anecdotes, as many showbiz biographies can do. Both of these actors (and one of their sons) are among my favourite audiobook narrators but this wasn't mentioned at all!
178RebaRelishesReading
>177 CDVicarage: For a long time we watched their TV series on narrow boat travel as a last-thing-before-bedtime move toward sleep. I really came to like the whole family. Time to revisit them I think.
179CDVicarage
>178 RebaRelishesReading: yes, wasn't it a good series! Well, several series.
180CDVicarage
I didn't manage to get my weekly report done yesterday (Sunday) but have time today. Only two titles finished this week:
Sisters at the Chalet School, finished 24th October. Another fairly recent (published 2017) Chalet School fill-in. I have read it once before but much of the story felt new to me. It is set in the 'Armishire' (Hereford) period, towards the end of WW2. The title refers to two sets of sisters who start at the beginning of the Autumn term - the four Herbert sisters, ranging in age from 7 to 16, and the Maynard triplets who are 5, so the Kindergarten section of the school features much more than in other books.
Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens, finished 27th October. It is what it says on the tin! I feel I am fairly well-informed on the history of England so not much of it was new but the comments/explanations that David Mitchell makes did give me some different ideas. He is an amusing writer but the 'being funny' aspect did wear a bit in some places. The bad language also got a bit much sometimes.
Sisters at the Chalet School, finished 24th October. Another fairly recent (published 2017) Chalet School fill-in. I have read it once before but much of the story felt new to me. It is set in the 'Armishire' (Hereford) period, towards the end of WW2. The title refers to two sets of sisters who start at the beginning of the Autumn term - the four Herbert sisters, ranging in age from 7 to 16, and the Maynard triplets who are 5, so the Kindergarten section of the school features much more than in other books.
Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens, finished 27th October. It is what it says on the tin! I feel I am fairly well-informed on the history of England so not much of it was new but the comments/explanations that David Mitchell makes did give me some different ideas. He is an amusing writer but the 'being funny' aspect did wear a bit in some places. The bad language also got a bit much sometimes.
181vancouverdeb
Just wanted to let you know I very much enjoyed Shy Creatures, Kerry. I think you read Small Pleasures and enjoyed it.
182CDVicarage
>181 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, I noted your comments and it is already on my mental TBR list!
183CDVicarage
Four titles finished this week:
A Guernsey Girl at the Chalet School, finished 28th October. Another recent fill-in for the Chalet School series - this was only the second time I've read it - and another very good one. Amy Fletcher matches EBD in writing style and plotting, very well in this and the previous one. She even matches EBD's chapters where nothing much happens but we get a description of ordinary, daily life. That may sound like damning with faint praise but a lot of Chalet School fans like the comforting ordinariness of the stories.
Bournville, finished 31st October. Another story of ordinary life: the characters go from VE Day to Covid Lockdown in a series of jumps. Although it is not strictly part of a series some of the characters have appeared in other books by Jonathan Coe. There is no strong narrative arc, no startling drama and no real finale, we just follow the lives of the family members.
All the Broken Places, finished 1st November. This has been my Book Group book for several weeks now and we had so nearly finished on Friday that I read to the end at home. Although there were only a few short chapters to go John Boyne saved some unexpected (to me) occurrences and twists to the end. I haven't read The Boy in Striped Pajamas but this tells you enough about it to know what happened.
False Colours, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 2nd November. This was a bedtime re-read for me. Phyllida Nash is a favourite reader (especially for Georgette Heyer) but this is not one of my favourite Heyers and this is only my third listen. The plot has too much explaining between characters and not enough action. Although most of the other characters do, I could not warm to the charming but extravagant Mamma and don't understand why they tolerate her behaviour - even allowing for the mores of the time.
A Guernsey Girl at the Chalet School, finished 28th October. Another recent fill-in for the Chalet School series - this was only the second time I've read it - and another very good one. Amy Fletcher matches EBD in writing style and plotting, very well in this and the previous one. She even matches EBD's chapters where nothing much happens but we get a description of ordinary, daily life. That may sound like damning with faint praise but a lot of Chalet School fans like the comforting ordinariness of the stories.
Bournville, finished 31st October. Another story of ordinary life: the characters go from VE Day to Covid Lockdown in a series of jumps. Although it is not strictly part of a series some of the characters have appeared in other books by Jonathan Coe. There is no strong narrative arc, no startling drama and no real finale, we just follow the lives of the family members.
All the Broken Places, finished 1st November. This has been my Book Group book for several weeks now and we had so nearly finished on Friday that I read to the end at home. Although there were only a few short chapters to go John Boyne saved some unexpected (to me) occurrences and twists to the end. I haven't read The Boy in Striped Pajamas but this tells you enough about it to know what happened.
False Colours, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 2nd November. This was a bedtime re-read for me. Phyllida Nash is a favourite reader (especially for Georgette Heyer) but this is not one of my favourite Heyers and this is only my third listen. The plot has too much explaining between characters and not enough action. Although most of the other characters do, I could not warm to the charming but extravagant Mamma and don't understand why they tolerate her behaviour - even allowing for the mores of the time.
184CDVicarage
October is over so time for a monthly round-up:
I finished fourteen titles this month - five paper books (all Chalet School), seven ebooks and two audiobooks. Six titles were new to me, but no ROOT successes, and the others were re-reads.
November has started well - two titles finished so far - but I have no real plans, I'll just see what turns up!
I finished fourteen titles this month - five paper books (all Chalet School), seven ebooks and two audiobooks. Six titles were new to me, but no ROOT successes, and the others were re-reads.
November has started well - two titles finished so far - but I have no real plans, I'll just see what turns up!
185CDVicarage
Only one title finished this week! But several are nearly finished so I should make up for it next week:
The Episode at Toledo, finished 7th November. This is the sixth installment in a series of eight and it was the least good so far, partly, I think, because Julia, our central character, hardly appeared in it. There was too much explaining to each other from the other active characters in Spain and Portugal (Julia was in Scotland) and too many new characters who made only fleeting appearances. There was the same patronising attitude to the lower classes (lower than our main protagonists) and they were all foreigners (that is not English), too! Although, of course, it was mostly the main characters who were the foreigners. This sort of detail can sometimes put me off a story and sometimes I don't really notice it. I can't put my finger on what makes the difference but in this case, although I'm quite sure I wouldn't like these people if I met them in real life, I enjoy reading about their privileged lives.
The Episode at Toledo, finished 7th November. This is the sixth installment in a series of eight and it was the least good so far, partly, I think, because Julia, our central character, hardly appeared in it. There was too much explaining to each other from the other active characters in Spain and Portugal (Julia was in Scotland) and too many new characters who made only fleeting appearances. There was the same patronising attitude to the lower classes (lower than our main protagonists) and they were all foreigners (that is not English), too! Although, of course, it was mostly the main characters who were the foreigners. This sort of detail can sometimes put me off a story and sometimes I don't really notice it. I can't put my finger on what makes the difference but in this case, although I'm quite sure I wouldn't like these people if I met them in real life, I enjoy reading about their privileged lives.
186CDVicarage
Next week I'm expecting to finish the audio version of Village School, and Small Bomb at Dimperley, Peace Comes to the Chalet School and Shy Creatures in print and I have several more titles lined up to start. It won't be long before I'm tempted to start my Christmas reading - that will mostly be re-reads but I usually find something new each year. Last year I overdid it so i shall be trying to keep some non-Christmas books going too.
187CDVicarage
It has been a much better week with regard to quantity and, I think, quality - six titles finished:
Shy Creatures, finished 10th November. I have read and enjoyed most of Clare Chambers' books (although I still have a few to go) and this one is definitely one of the best. As with the previous one - Small Pleasures - it is set back in time, the early 1960s this time, and set in an area that I know well - I grew up in Limpsfield - so that adds to the attraction for me. As with Small Pleasures, the ending is left open and you can decide for yourself whether it will be a happy or sad one.
Small Bomb at Dimperley, finished 11th November. Another title I was pleased to get so soon from my library, although Amazon also had the ebook for 99p. I loved Lissa Evans' Noel Bostock trilogy and fully expected to like this, and I did. Set in a quirky and now dilapidated stately home immediately post WW2 with the youngest son, who didn't expect to inherit the Baronetcy, now having to placate his demanding family and maintain the estate. Although all ends happily, though perhaps not for everyone, the ending did seem quite suddenly wrapped up.
Peace Comes to the Chalet School, finished 11th November. One of my favourites of the new fill-ins, this is number 46 (of 92) in the full series and falls between 19c and 20 in the original series. You can probably tell from the title that it covers the summer term in 1945 and the descriptions of the announcement of the end of the war and the characters' reactions to it are very moving.
The Dark Wives, finished 13th November. Yet another title I was pleased to get so soon from my library and quickly read. This is the eleventh book in the Vera series but, since I've recently been watching the TV series, slightly confusing at first as it has different characters from the TV, but I soon got back to the originals although I found myself noticing the differences - why has Vera's DS been changed from being brought up Methodist in the books to Roman Catholic on TV? It was an easy read and nothing outstanding but still better than a lot of detective stories around.
Caldicott Place, finished 16th November. I have read a lot of Noel Streatfeild books, as a child and as an adult, but still keep coming across new ones! This one was thanks to an Amazon 99p bargain. It is a children's title and I read it fairly quickly. She is a writer who doesn't brush over the hardships and difficulties that children might suffer, or provide a fairy-tale ending and I can happily re-read even her children's stories.
Champion of the Chalet school, finished 16th November. Back to the Chalet school - number 47 in the full series. After an unsatisfactory Head Girl - she put her own work before the needs of the school - discipline is slack and behaviour is poor. A new Head Girl, who has to win over most of the rest of the prefects and the naughty Middles gets support from Betsy Lucy - the champion of the title - and by the end of term all is back on track!
Shy Creatures, finished 10th November. I have read and enjoyed most of Clare Chambers' books (although I still have a few to go) and this one is definitely one of the best. As with the previous one - Small Pleasures - it is set back in time, the early 1960s this time, and set in an area that I know well - I grew up in Limpsfield - so that adds to the attraction for me. As with Small Pleasures, the ending is left open and you can decide for yourself whether it will be a happy or sad one.
Small Bomb at Dimperley, finished 11th November. Another title I was pleased to get so soon from my library, although Amazon also had the ebook for 99p. I loved Lissa Evans' Noel Bostock trilogy and fully expected to like this, and I did. Set in a quirky and now dilapidated stately home immediately post WW2 with the youngest son, who didn't expect to inherit the Baronetcy, now having to placate his demanding family and maintain the estate. Although all ends happily, though perhaps not for everyone, the ending did seem quite suddenly wrapped up.
Peace Comes to the Chalet School, finished 11th November. One of my favourites of the new fill-ins, this is number 46 (of 92) in the full series and falls between 19c and 20 in the original series. You can probably tell from the title that it covers the summer term in 1945 and the descriptions of the announcement of the end of the war and the characters' reactions to it are very moving.
The Dark Wives, finished 13th November. Yet another title I was pleased to get so soon from my library and quickly read. This is the eleventh book in the Vera series but, since I've recently been watching the TV series, slightly confusing at first as it has different characters from the TV, but I soon got back to the originals although I found myself noticing the differences - why has Vera's DS been changed from being brought up Methodist in the books to Roman Catholic on TV? It was an easy read and nothing outstanding but still better than a lot of detective stories around.
Caldicott Place, finished 16th November. I have read a lot of Noel Streatfeild books, as a child and as an adult, but still keep coming across new ones! This one was thanks to an Amazon 99p bargain. It is a children's title and I read it fairly quickly. She is a writer who doesn't brush over the hardships and difficulties that children might suffer, or provide a fairy-tale ending and I can happily re-read even her children's stories.
Champion of the Chalet school, finished 16th November. Back to the Chalet school - number 47 in the full series. After an unsatisfactory Head Girl - she put her own work before the needs of the school - discipline is slack and behaviour is poor. A new Head Girl, who has to win over most of the rest of the prefects and the naughty Middles gets support from Betsy Lucy - the champion of the title - and by the end of term all is back on track!
188CDVicarage
I'm surprised that I finished so many titles this week as it's been quite busy. My mother, after her recent health scare, has decided to move to a warden-assisted flat so we are filling in lots of forms for solicitors and estate agents, mostly online, which is easier, on the whole, than paper copies but also means it's harder to ask questions. Fortunately the flat purchase should be quite straightforward and there is no hurry to sell mum's current house - she will own two properties for a while - so we don't have to buy and sell at the same time and move on one day.
My son, Andrew, came to stay for a few days later in the week, which also took up time, but it was lovely to have him here. He hasn't been here since last Christmas although I did see him briefly when I had a weekend in Bristol in August. We speak on the phone quite often but it's not the same as seeing him in the flesh!
I'm resisting anything Christmassy until at least the beginning of December although I do have in the back of my mind possible books for Christmas reading and music to put in a playlist for nearer the time. I rather overdid my Christmas reading last year so I shall keep non-Christmas books going too, this year. Of course the old favourites will be in the list - A Christmas Carol, the Miss Read Christmas stories, The Christmas Mystery throughout Advent and the Christmas chapters from others - The Wind in the Willows, End of Term, Jo of the Chalet School etc
My son, Andrew, came to stay for a few days later in the week, which also took up time, but it was lovely to have him here. He hasn't been here since last Christmas although I did see him briefly when I had a weekend in Bristol in August. We speak on the phone quite often but it's not the same as seeing him in the flesh!
I'm resisting anything Christmassy until at least the beginning of December although I do have in the back of my mind possible books for Christmas reading and music to put in a playlist for nearer the time. I rather overdid my Christmas reading last year so I shall keep non-Christmas books going too, this year. Of course the old favourites will be in the list - A Christmas Carol, the Miss Read Christmas stories, The Christmas Mystery throughout Advent and the Christmas chapters from others - The Wind in the Willows, End of Term, Jo of the Chalet School etc
189lauralkeet
Best of luck with your mum's move to the flat, Kerry. I'm glad you don't have to handle both residences at once. I love when our kids come to visit and am glad you had that time with Andrew.
190CDVicarage
Four titles finished this week:
Miss Granby's Secret: or The Bastard of Pinsk, finished 17th November. I was rather disappointed in this. The Dean Street Furrowed Middlebrow range rarely lets me down but despite an interesting blurb it turned out to be rather a silly book, with the joke going on too long. It probably was better in its time (first published 1941) but is nothing remarkable in these days.
Village School, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 21st November. A many times re-read and just right for bedtime reading. It's an excellent reading but Phyllida Nash is (for me) the voice of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels so it took a chapter or two to adjust my expectations!
The Malady in Madeira and Julia in Ireland finished 21st and 24th November. These are the final titles in a series of eight books and up to now I have been able to enjoy the (slightly ridiculous) stories as being of their time - 1950s and 60s - and allow for different attitudes. However these last two (from the 1970s) are definitely dated, rather than historical, and have frightful views (probably the author's own) on child rearing (corporal punishment for small children is a good thing and should be adminstered to one's own and other people's children), the lower classes (they are all simple peasants, if not half-witted and need to be managed), communists (they are all evil men, intent on destroying non-communist countries with underhand scientific weapons). Ann Bridge was apparently parodied as a character in Angela Thirkell's Barchester novels which rather surprised me until I read this series!
Miss Granby's Secret: or The Bastard of Pinsk, finished 17th November. I was rather disappointed in this. The Dean Street Furrowed Middlebrow range rarely lets me down but despite an interesting blurb it turned out to be rather a silly book, with the joke going on too long. It probably was better in its time (first published 1941) but is nothing remarkable in these days.
Village School, read by Phyllida Nash, finished 21st November. A many times re-read and just right for bedtime reading. It's an excellent reading but Phyllida Nash is (for me) the voice of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels so it took a chapter or two to adjust my expectations!
The Malady in Madeira and Julia in Ireland finished 21st and 24th November. These are the final titles in a series of eight books and up to now I have been able to enjoy the (slightly ridiculous) stories as being of their time - 1950s and 60s - and allow for different attitudes. However these last two (from the 1970s) are definitely dated, rather than historical, and have frightful views (probably the author's own) on child rearing (corporal punishment for small children is a good thing and should be adminstered to one's own and other people's children), the lower classes (they are all simple peasants, if not half-witted and need to be managed), communists (they are all evil men, intent on destroying non-communist countries with underhand scientific weapons). Ann Bridge was apparently parodied as a character in Angela Thirkell's Barchester novels which rather surprised me until I read this series!
191laytonwoman3rd
I just read Village Diary, which follows Village School. You can't beat Miss Read for comfort.
192CDVicarage
>191 laytonwoman3rd: I shall probably move on to Village Diary soon, although I might read the Christmas stories first.
193CDVicarage
Two titles finished and one abandoned this week:
Three Go to the Chalet School, finished 25th November. This is an important book in the Chalet School series as it introduces some new characters which feature prominently in the rest of the series, the most important being Mary-Lou Trelawney. She fills in schoolgirl Joey Bettany's place until Joey's triplets are old enough to do that! The cover to this edition demonstrates that the artist did not read the book as the uniform and the look of the girls are completely wrong.
Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea, finished 28th November. This was a 'meh' story and the first of a series, but I shan't be continuing with it. It was a pleasant enough story, and the setting was lovely but it didn't feel worth the effort.
Weirdo, abandoned. This was a disappointment as I enjoy seeing Sara Pascoe on TV, but it didn't grab me within two chapters.
Three Go to the Chalet School, finished 25th November. This is an important book in the Chalet School series as it introduces some new characters which feature prominently in the rest of the series, the most important being Mary-Lou Trelawney. She fills in schoolgirl Joey Bettany's place until Joey's triplets are old enough to do that! The cover to this edition demonstrates that the artist did not read the book as the uniform and the look of the girls are completely wrong.
Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea, finished 28th November. This was a 'meh' story and the first of a series, but I shan't be continuing with it. It was a pleasant enough story, and the setting was lovely but it didn't feel worth the effort.
Weirdo, abandoned. This was a disappointment as I enjoy seeing Sara Pascoe on TV, but it didn't grab me within two chapters.
194thornton37814
I always enjoy seeing what you've been reading. You always have some older books that sound interesting to me!
195CDVicarage
A rather quiet week, three titles finished, all audiobooks:
Emma, read by Juliet Stevenson, finished 2nd December. Another bedtime re-read.
No Holly for Miss Quinn, read by Gwen Watford, finished 4th December. the first of this year's Christmas reading and as I had a sleepless night I finished it rather sooner than I expected.
The Christmas Mouse, read by Gwen Watford, finished 8th December. More Christmas re-reading and again finished sooner than expected.
What next? I think it's Winter in Thrush Green. I'm saving A Christmas Carol till last.
Emma, read by Juliet Stevenson, finished 2nd December. Another bedtime re-read.
No Holly for Miss Quinn, read by Gwen Watford, finished 4th December. the first of this year's Christmas reading and as I had a sleepless night I finished it rather sooner than I expected.
The Christmas Mouse, read by Gwen Watford, finished 8th December. More Christmas re-reading and again finished sooner than expected.
What next? I think it's Winter in Thrush Green. I'm saving A Christmas Carol till last.
196kac522
>195 CDVicarage: I love the way Juliet Stevenson does Mr Woodhouse.
197CDVicarage
I've missed two weeks' worth of reports - one Sunday away and one with grandson, Toby, with us. Anyway, six titles finished in that time:
The Houses In Between, finished 9th December. This was rather a good story, first published in 1950s, telling the life story of Sara, born 1848 and signing off in 1946. If I had noticed that the paper edition had 729 pages I might have thought twice about reading it, but I didn't and, although it took quite a time the events carried the story along well. I think I'll try more by Howard Spring.
Ballet Shoes, finished 11th December. A Christmas re-read, although very little of the story actually takes place at Christmas.
A Difficult Term for the Chalet school, finished 13th December. A fairly recent Chalet School fill-in, and even though this was my third time of reading I remembered very little of the plot except where it fitted in with the original stories.
Winter in Thrush Green, read by June Barrie, finished 16th December. More Christmas re-reading.
Mrs Harris Goes to New York, finished 16th December. A sequel to Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, which I read two years ago.Slightly sentimental but the story didn't follow the expected (to me) thread.
A Christmas Cracker, finished 21st December. Another Christmas re-read, although, despite the title, it doesn't actually cover Christmas!
The Houses In Between, finished 9th December. This was rather a good story, first published in 1950s, telling the life story of Sara, born 1848 and signing off in 1946. If I had noticed that the paper edition had 729 pages I might have thought twice about reading it, but I didn't and, although it took quite a time the events carried the story along well. I think I'll try more by Howard Spring.
Ballet Shoes, finished 11th December. A Christmas re-read, although very little of the story actually takes place at Christmas.
A Difficult Term for the Chalet school, finished 13th December. A fairly recent Chalet School fill-in, and even though this was my third time of reading I remembered very little of the plot except where it fitted in with the original stories.
Winter in Thrush Green, read by June Barrie, finished 16th December. More Christmas re-reading.
Mrs Harris Goes to New York, finished 16th December. A sequel to Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, which I read two years ago.Slightly sentimental but the story didn't follow the expected (to me) thread.
A Christmas Cracker, finished 21st December. Another Christmas re-read, although, despite the title, it doesn't actually cover Christmas!
198CDVicarage
>196 kac522: I love all the Jane Austens narrated by Juliet Stevenson and was so pleased she finally recorded Pride and Prejudice as I had been making do with various inferior versions of it.
199kac522
>198 CDVicarage: Yes! Way back when I splurged on the Naxos boxed CD set of all the novels, and I was so disappointed that Stevenson read all of them except P&P. (She doesn't read Lady Susan, either, but that's done by a group of actors reading as each of the letter writers.) So I too was thrilled when I was able to get the Stevenson P&P, and have a complete set!
200PaulCranswick
>197 CDVicarage: I love Howard Spring's books, Kerry - well the four I have so far read anyway.
Fame is the Spur is probably his most well known book. I plan to read his book My Son, My Son next year some time.
Fame is the Spur is probably his most well known book. I plan to read his book My Son, My Son next year some time.
201vancouverdeb
Small Bomb at Dimperley sounds like a great read, Kerry. I have a hold on it my library, but as yet it is not in the library, but just on order. Merry Christmas!
204PaulCranswick
Thinking of you at this time, Kerry.
205CDVicarage
This will be my final weekly report for this year; amazingly I've finished eight titles since last Sunday:
Love in a Cold Climate, read by Patricia Hodge, finished 22nd December. A many times re-read (listen) and as enjoyable as ever.
The Christmas Mystery, finished 24th December. I have been reading this Advent Calendar book for nearly twenty five years, since my daughter was given a copy by her godmother. I like books that I can read a chapter a day.
Twelve Days of Christmas, finished 24th December.The Christmas books of Trisha Ashley have become part of my Christmas traditions over the last few years. I can't put my finger on why I like them more than other similar light romcoms but I do.
The Magic of Christmas, finished 26th December. Another Trisha Ashley, this is quite an early one, I think and not my favourite, but still a jolly Christmassy read.
The Story of Holly and Ivy, finished 27th December. This and the next few are mere novellas so they've boosted the numbers!
A Christmas Carol, read by Anton Lesser. No comment needed, really!
Murder Under the Mistletoe, finished 27th December. A long short story as a Christmas entry in the Canon Clement series. An ingenious murder.
Lights! Camera! Mayhem!, finished 27th December. The latest Christmas short story in the Chronicles of St Mary's and it seems to introduce a possible new regular character.
Love in a Cold Climate, read by Patricia Hodge, finished 22nd December. A many times re-read (listen) and as enjoyable as ever.
The Christmas Mystery, finished 24th December. I have been reading this Advent Calendar book for nearly twenty five years, since my daughter was given a copy by her godmother. I like books that I can read a chapter a day.
Twelve Days of Christmas, finished 24th December.The Christmas books of Trisha Ashley have become part of my Christmas traditions over the last few years. I can't put my finger on why I like them more than other similar light romcoms but I do.
The Magic of Christmas, finished 26th December. Another Trisha Ashley, this is quite an early one, I think and not my favourite, but still a jolly Christmassy read.
The Story of Holly and Ivy, finished 27th December. This and the next few are mere novellas so they've boosted the numbers!
A Christmas Carol, read by Anton Lesser. No comment needed, really!
Murder Under the Mistletoe, finished 27th December. A long short story as a Christmas entry in the Canon Clement series. An ingenious murder.
Lights! Camera! Mayhem!, finished 27th December. The latest Christmas short story in the Chronicles of St Mary's and it seems to introduce a possible new regular character.
206CDVicarage
>202 SandDune:, >203 johnsimpson:, >204 PaulCranswick:, thank you Paul, Rhian and John for your kind Christmas wishes. These days I don't really like Christmas so I keep things as low-key as possible - apart from Christmas reading, of course, where I often go overboard!
I shall be starting my 2025 thread today and then be visiting others so I hope to see you there!
I shall be starting my 2025 thread today and then be visiting others so I hope to see you there!
207CDVicarage
Here's my 2025 thread - 2025 with CDVicarage - do drop in!
208CDVicarage
I'm not going to finish any more books by the end of today so I shall make my annual round-up:
My numbers this year are up on last year - a total of 228 titles finished. I'm not going to count the breakdown of digital/paper/audio versions but I'm quite sure that more were read in digital format (roughly 140), more than usual in paper (50ish) and thirty three audio titles. I noted that I abandoned nine titles and there may have been more that didn't even get into my records. My ROOT successes may not have all been recorded - I must have managed more than two!
I have no reading plans for next year - other than that I will be reading something every day and will probably add to my library.
Happy New Year to you all!
My numbers this year are up on last year - a total of 228 titles finished. I'm not going to count the breakdown of digital/paper/audio versions but I'm quite sure that more were read in digital format (roughly 140), more than usual in paper (50ish) and thirty three audio titles. I noted that I abandoned nine titles and there may have been more that didn't even get into my records. My ROOT successes may not have all been recorded - I must have managed more than two!
I have no reading plans for next year - other than that I will be reading something every day and will probably add to my library.
Happy New Year to you all!
