Crime and more crime this month - In fact 10 out of the 13 that I'd reserved are crime and turned up all at once.
I think I requested that fat red book by Ken Follet because it has the Sutton Hoo Helmet on the cover! it's an historical novel of the sort that I used to often read, although it's actually set in the Viking period. I've not read any of his books before.
Also there are books by authors I know = three Donna Leon, Deborah Crombie, Margery Allingham, Anthony Berkeley, John Dickson Carr and Mike Ripley. Mark Pryor is a new-to-me crime author and 'Lucy by the Sea' by Elizabeth Strout is a book I know nothing about - must have seen it on someone's blog and the smallest book there is Pharmacopeia; A Dungeness notebook by Derek Jarman which Pat Weaver of Grass mentioned a while ago.
After a wet Friday and a stay at home Saturday I've already finished the crime novel by Deborah Crombie. I have enjoyed all this series (there are lots) but get annoyed with each one because the author is American but the books are set in London, the characters are English and every now and again words are used that we don't use here - it grates every time! And do we really still have chestnut sellers on the streets of London at Christmas?
Last month I collected these 15 books below but only read eight. I discovered I'd already read the children's book 'October, October' and couldn't get into several of the others.
'The Words I never Wrote' was really good as was 'The Bird in Winter'. There's a bit about the books I read on the separate Books Read 2023 page.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of places across England and Wales that were also affected. I'm glad to hear you are unscathed, though.
ReplyDeleteOur little library is in severe difficulties. I don't know what days it is open at the moment. However, it is now being run by volunteers and there are no volunteers coming forward to run it. If this continues, it won't be long before we will be without the library for the first time in decades. The only reason I don't use it now is because I can no longer hold books, and as far as listening to books goes, I have the attention span of a gnat. If I was well enough I would. be first in line to volunteer
I'd not watched much news but have now heard how widespread the flooding was in the Midlands and north - and people have also been flooded out of their Suffolk homes too - which doesn't happen often.
DeleteThe County Council handed library running over to Community Interest Companies several years ago and lots of volunteers involved now and things - touch wood- see to be going well. So sad to hear about your library and lack of volunteers.
You will ruin your eyes with all that reading ;) But seriously interested in the Jane Thynne. Does she belong to the Longleat Thynnes I wonder?
ReplyDeleteI looked her up, says she was born in Venezuela and grew up in London and is a freelance journalist!
DeleteWe have two book groups in our u3a and use rooms in the main library once a month. Unfortunately the books are rather older than we would like eg this month’s is 2014 but as it’s a no cost group we don’t complain. There is talk of charging us soon and in that case we will find an alternative venue and read newer titles! Catriona
ReplyDeleteW.I are starting a book group not sure if I'll enjoy it or not - I shall try it
DeleteYou should have your own bookshop.
ReplyDeleteWith library books?
DeleteLibraries and pubs, banks and post offices are disappearing all over the countryside. Village life is not what it used to be, I think.
ReplyDeleteBanks are even going from big towns. Village life is not simple - everything is still miles away
DeleteYes, a figure of 12,000 flooded homes was mentioned on the radio this morning. Really feel for the folk affected including my daughter up in Scotland. I didn’t get on with The Wilderness Cure, too personal and not relevant to my foraging here in the balmy South so I will continue with my tried and trusted wild garlic, sorrel, blackberry, damsons, cob nuts and field mushrooms - plus pheasant and wild but diced venison from the butcher! West Sussex Council still runs our libraries and I feel fortunate to have two good libraries within a couple of miles. Long may that last. Do you ever visit a physical library to browse the shelves? Whenever I go to Chichester I can happily spend an hour in the excellent large library in town just looking and choosing. Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteI don't often look round an actual library as the library van brings me all my reserved books and I'm not often short of books
DeleteAgree with Jabblog above - yes, village life often lacks these places which were previously central to community living......shame........
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It was a good reason for moving here, at least we still have a post office, shop and doctors
DeleteWo-hoo some great books, how long do you have to read them? Here in Wales books are renewed for you once, so 6 weeks to read them and then you can renew again yourself. Ha ha my stuff, to be honest I could do with a kick up the BTM and get on myself, but thank you for the thought.
ReplyDeleteOn the library van I can have them for 8 weeks and renew them if no one else wants them. People often do want them as they are often new books with waiting lists.
DeleteIn answer to your question yes there are still chestnut men in Oxford Street in the winter.
ReplyDeleteOh wow that is a surprise - thought they were a Victorian thing
DeleteAnd we have them in Norwich. One is in London Street every year.
DeleteI’ve made a note of some of these books as winter looms with plenty of reading time!
ReplyDeleteI adore Elizabeth Strout’s books; I can’t remember how I discovered her but I’ve gone on to read everything she’s written. She writes about ageing so well.
Always good to share book ideas. I'll see how I get on with Elizabeth Strout - I know nothing about her books at all.
DeleteYes I saw chestnut sellers in London last year when a group of us went for a walk.
ReplyDeleteWe have chestnut sellers in NYC, so there could be in London too. Sometimes Britishisms grate on American ears too, part of being two countries. British descriptions of Americans, esp their dialog, are often borderline offensive. I just try to overlook and go on.
ReplyDeleteOne of the oddest dissonances like this are Canadian Louise Penny's books. Almost all have word plays based on English, but the characters are supposedly speaking French.
The question is do many English authors write books set in the States? Would love to know.
DeleteYour new books look like very good reads. I am always impressed with your library van, we have nothing like that in Concord and Carlisle, Massachusetts. (The 2 libraries that I use.)
ReplyDeleteI've seen chestnut stands in London. Expensive and a bit touristy but rather nice, all the same. xx
ReplyDeleteI need to apologise to Deborah Crombie!
DeleteOh you are in for a treat with the Ken Follett books if you've not read him before. You will be reading your way through all the rest then. What joy to look forward to! I am hoping I will have the time to sit down with a book this afternoon - we shall see. The only time I get to listen to one of the very few I bought from Audible (forgot to cancel membership or there would have been just one!) is when I do the ironing. I have so very little "me time" these days.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I sometimes use the Concord, MA library but, Susan, if you want to see a library van, they exist in Boston and Watertown!
ReplyDeleteSue, I think you should write to Deborah Crombie and offer to proofread. I am sure she'd be horrified to realize Americanisms are sneaking in.
I tried the first Donna Leon because my mother likes that series but it didn't really pull me in. I like Louise Penny's and Crombie's books much better.
I think you'll probably enjoy the Ken Follett book (I've not read that one myself). But his book "The Pillars Of The Earth" is one of the best books I've ever read. And being about the building of a cathedral I think it would be right up your alley! xx
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy seeing the books you're picking up from the library. I am still working on books from the house. Sigh. Maybe there will come a time when books from the library are all I read!
ReplyDeleteI hope that small bit of flooding didn't involve your home! I love this month's selection, though I've read all the Leon. Is that the newest Crombie? I haven't been able to find it anywhere.
ReplyDelete