Saturday 5 August 2017

Library Book Photo and Book Review

Here's my regular photo of the books collected from the library van. Two(the Song Collector and Homecoming) are books I've seen mentioned on a blog and thought I'd like to have a look at. I might not like them but there again it might give me a  new author to read.
 'The Devils Breath' is the next in the series that I came across a couple of months ago. The one by George Bellairs is another of his books reprinted from the 50's. 'New Boy' is the latest  by Tracy Chevallier,it's subtitled Othello Retold - I usually like her books but this sounds different. 'Walk the line' by Mark Mason is a book about following the London underground lines but overground. 'The Story of Classic Crime in 100 books' by Martin Edwards - the amazon description says
'The main aim of detective stories is to entertain, but the best cast a light on human behaviour, and display both literary ambition and accomplishment. Even unpretentious detective stories, written for unashamedly commercial reasons, can give us clues to the past, and give us insight into a long-vanished world that, for all its imperfections, continues to fascinate. This book, written by award-winning crime writer and president of the Detection Club, Martin Edwards, serves as a companion to the British Library's internationally acclaimed series of Crime Classics. Long-forgotten stories republished in the series have won a devoted new readership, with several titles entering the bestseller charts and sales outstripping those of highly acclaimed contemporary thrillers'.

And finally 'Eat Well for Less' a cookery book to browse, this is the one that accompanies the TV series of the same name with the annoying Greg Wallace.


Four weeks ago I brought home these. The ones I've read have been added to the Books read 2017 page. I didn't like the New Mrs Clifton - the storyline was too obvious and I've still got  Small Island by Little Train to read.

I also read two of my own books - one by Barbara Pym and Company in the Evening by Ursula Orange.

 I've just finished this - what a treat of a book it was too.

Vicky is a young happily divorced single mother with a good job but when war breaks out and her brother is killed she agrees to have her pregnant sister-in-law come to live with her. Rene had been living with Vicky's mother who thinks it would be good for Vicky to have "company in the evening".
The book is written in the first person and Vicky thinks "Of all the unhappiness my divorce has brought upon me, loneliness has never been in the least a part. Lack of company in the evening is to me an absolute luxury".
Unfortunately Rene and Blakey (the elderly housekeeper) don't see eye to eye on anything and once the baby arrives there is a lot of friction in the house. Add in an unexpected meeting with her ex-husband, a difficult client at work and an illness for her little daughter and this makes a brilliant story.

First published in 1944 this is one of the Furrowed Middlebrow reprints by Dean Street Press and was a birthday present in April. Now I'd like to read one of her other books " Tom Tiddlers Ground", I shall add it to the other 90 books on my wish list!

Thank you for comments on the un-frugal month of July!

Back Soon
Sue









9 comments:

  1. I've just ordered Chevalier's New Boy from the library so look forward to your thoughts once you've finished reading it.
    The only one of her novels I couldn't get into was her last one about the apple growers. Have high hopes for this one once my turn arrives

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I sort-of enjoyed At the Edge of the Orchard but had to read bits twice to really follow what was happening.It was quite a dark book.

      Delete
  2. I am slowly getting back into reading and finding it very comforting at the moment. Also I have joined a book club and so am forced to read a book I may not have chosen. Last month's Cloudstreet by Tim Winton was a case in point and once I got into it I enjoyed it very much, This month it is Zadie Smith's Swing Time - not an easy read but very cleverly written and now I really want to know how it ends.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We formed a reading group at work, and I have found loads of new to me authors, I am enjoying my expanded reading.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I like the sound of 'Company in the Evening'. My reading wish list is pretty long too xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad I am not alone in finding Greg Wallace annoying-x-

    ReplyDelete
  6. Currently reading Rabbi Daniel Lapin's books - very educational.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love to visit the local libraries and borrow books...I always find both fiction and non-fiction of interest. When my sisters and I were young, my Mum would take us to the library van that visited our small town. We typically went at night dressed in our pyjamas. I remember it being such a wonderful thing to spend time choosing books. Meg:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am always looking for new books to read so thanks Sue for your post of ones you are reading and have enjoyed.

    ReplyDelete