Best reads - Club Together Book Club?
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Just finished the second book in Richard Osman's "The Thursday Murder Club" series The Man Who Died Twice. Obviously the same set of characters as the first book but this one delves into Elizabeth's murky past as a previous M15 operative. As with the first book very easy to read (light weight some would say!) and perhaps some might not find it a challenge but good fun nonetheless.
For those that don't know the books are centred around four residents of a "Retirement Village" Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are the main characters.
David
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Just downloaded it. I have wanted to read it for while but had forgotten all about it. Thanks brue.
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I've just ordered Bob Mortimer's memoir "And Away..." it seems to be a favourite with many and not too dispiriting in these changed times. Decided not to wait for the cheaper paperback or use Kindle which was similar to the hardback cost. I expect the audio version read by Bob Mortimer himself is also a good listen.
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Moulesy, there is a complete 5 book series of Nordic noir which might interest you, The Modus series by Anne Holt, "the godmother of modern Norwegian crime fiction” (Jo Nesbø), on offer on Kindle for £1:99 at the moment.
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As usual I got a Matt Parker book for Christmas, this time Things to make and do in the fourth dimension. Don't be out off by the title it's actually readable by anyone as all his books are.
If you want to win a free drink in the pub, bet someone their beer glass is further around than it is taller.
Or to impress pick any digit from 1 to 9, and write it down three times to make a three digit number. Then add the same three digits and divide that sum into your three digit number (eg 777 divided by 21) You'll always get 37. The answer as to why is on page 9.
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If anyone's into historical novels backed by serious research, Nicola Griffith's "Hild" kept me immersed, I found it a great read. It doesn't pull its punches. As well as the story, I feel to know a lot more about A/Saxon life, too.
As she says, it's not history, she made it up, but it's very believable, about the early life of Hild who became Abbess at Whitby.
Two copies https://www.wob.com/en-gb/category/all?search=nicola%20griffith%20hild
which also avoids using the dreadful Amazon!0 -
I wondered how Richard Osman had so much insider info about a retirement community, listening to him on Desert Island Discs today has revealed all, his Mum lives in a community and was very worried when he decided to write his first book. She didn't want him to fictionalise any of the people living there, but it certainlay inspired him!
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Brue
One of my ex MD's lived in a retirement community here in MK. He told me once that if any of the residents needed help with any of the professions they were well represented by the various residents. It is usually a life style choice to live in such places so there are bound to be "interesting characters" so fertile ground for any author. I am waiting for a film or TV series based on the books which seems to be likely.
Margaret has just finished reading the second book and whilst she enjoyed it more than the first she is still not convinced they are her type of book!
David
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DK. I'm familiar with retirement communities too and like the way he has brought all sorts of characters out of obscurity and given them lives of their own. He mentioned on Desert Island Discs that older people can become invisible and it's a refreshing outlook on the experiences people bring to all stages of life. I'm not sure I'll read the latest book but I'm glad he wrote a sequel.
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Have read various books recently including the 2 most recent Jason Bourne books Evolution and Treachery. Also finished SG MacLean’s Damien Seeker series and 3 quick reads by Rosie Lear featuring Matthias Barton and based in Dorset where I understand she lives. Looking forward to reading a mix of books perhaps some more up to date detective novels next. Happy New Year to All and enjoy your books.
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I've found the festive season a good time to get stuck into reading. Can't say I watched more than the odd half hour each day of tele and as neither the weather or myself were the best it was a good excuse to indulge.
Catching up with the Caro Ramsay series and getting into a few of the backlog on Kindle, one bought the first few weeks back of Covid back in 2020. Not worth mentioning as it wasn't worth it.
Just re-read The Curator by M.W.Craven, picked up from the library before the break.
N1805 - S.G.MacLean has a new book out later this year in the autumn called the Bookseller of Inverness. A new series apparently set just after the Battle of Culloden.
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N1805 or in fact anyone else interested, here are a few books that differ in tone and style of writing that I liked reading and went on to read more of the authors works, or in fact had already read some. All crime novels which you said you might try soon.
A Sci-Fi murder mystery, but without aliens, set on a space station orbiting earth - Author is Chris Brookmyre and the book is Places in the Darkness. His Jack Parlabane novels are worth seeking out as well.
Sarah Hilary and the D.I.Rome series starting with Someone Else's Skin.
Colin Cotterill with a retired coroner in Laos in the 1970s starting with The Coroners Lunch, which actually isn't the best in the series but sets the characters. The books have a lot of humour in them and are not too gruesome.
Lawrence Block and a small series about a hit man in America, first one strangely called The Hit Man.
Not too gruesome either considering the subject matter and there is some good humour between the Booking Agent and the hit man.All different types of books
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Wherenext – Thanks for SG MacLean info. I did read Devil’s Recruit but it didn’t appeal to me so haven’t bothered with her other books. I generally take a look at Fantastic Fiction website in the Autumn (occasionally at other times also) to see if any of my favourite authors are bringing out new books especially for Xmas. I then keep an eye on our local library to see if they get them in as they are mostly well-read authors. The Sci Fi is not my thing but I will definitely check out the library for the others. I have also kept an eye out at book swaps at sites and am at present reading one on those - Rebels and Traitors by Lindsey Davis with characters based during the English Civil War. mid 1600's
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I've just finished reading Bob Mortimer's autobiography "And Away." It was a very readable book, laced with humour and tinged with sadness. If you've enjoyed his fishing programme with Paul Whitehouse you will have heard snippets from his life story before but it's presented afresh and with many more details. It's an unusual story as on stage success suddenly pushed him into the limelight so the path travelled is very interesting, so are the people he encounters along the way.
The trouble with autobiographies is they can't reveal all due to many characters in them being alive so there are some quite big blanks in the book but it's still a good read and I did laugh out loud reading some of the events!
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Grand series of books, have read most of them. Love the TV series too.
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As I said before, I think her books are better than the TV series. I’ve read a few Vera’s now and most of the Shetland books and Long Call which I thought left the TV program way behind. I’ll be looking for more soon.
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She has written two earlier series, The Palmer -Jones and the Inspector Ramsay series, but they are not as good, IMO, but others may like them. The P-J series has a birdwatching element to them.
Edit.
Have just looked and there are 10 full books and a novella in the Vera series, and 8 full, a novella and a non fiction one in the Shetland series. Ref Fantastic Fiction
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Yep, that’s where I get my lists from, Nellie👍🏻
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Ann Cleeves has a Matthew Venn short story out - The Girls on the Shore.
And a new Vera coming in September - The Rising Tide.
I've read all her early back catalogue, and I think each series got better. By the Inspector Ramsey books she was getting onto her stride - and hit the right note with Vera and Shetland. She was awarded an MBE (I think) this year for her service to libraries.
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You can still hear Ann Cleeves on Desert Island Discs, it was an interesting programme about her life (2019)
I'm now into another totally different book The Quest for Queen Mary edited by Hugo Vickers from James Pope-Hennessy's book where all the notes he took to write the book are revealed. Last night I read a detailed description of Sandringham....even the bedroom of our present HMQ.
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Just finished Lee Child’s most recent Jack Reacher book (Better off Dead) from our library written with his younger brother Andrew. I found it a much better story than the last book with a decent plot and Reacher being a bit more Tech savvy. So back to Traitors and Rebels which I find is a book I can break off easily to read others and still follow the characters through the Civil War. Also to the rest of my library books – picked Lin Anderson’s The Killing Tide which could be interesting – based around Orkney.
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Good to see your post - it jogged my memory to check our library re the Harry Bosch book. I found they have it out on loan at present so placed a reservation. Don’t know how many more people are on the reserved list so it may be a while before I get to read it. Thanks.
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Thanks, M, just downloaded it.
At the moment I'm catching up with a quick read through of The Sideman before reading the next Caro Ramsey, The Red Red Snow. Although each in the series is a separate story the following one is so closely linked to the previous one I need to recheck what happened before to fully follow the new story.
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On order already!
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