February Reading

Thank goodness for books is my motto for this month. This week particularly, they have kept me going like nothing else. Losing myself in their pages, disappearing into another world. Often warmer and happier. At the moment I’m on a 900 page epic ‘Troubled Blood’ by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling.  It’s a wonderful read already and doing great things for my bingo wings. Just having to hold up the book is exhausting.It’s the latest Strike novel about the London Private eye and his side kick Robin. Beautifully written as you would expect by this author. A cold case this time about a woman who disappeared in 1974. I’m already hooked.

The library van returned last week and I was there as it opened its doors. Oh have I missed my favourite activity of the week. Perusing books. I picked up another Masie Dobbs book by Jacqueline Winspear. This series set in the 1920’s and 30’s tells of another private detective. They are always easy reads and maybe not quite as literary as the Strike novels but fascinating nevertheless. This one was called The Mapping Of Love And Death tells of an American cartographer caught up in the First World War and his death or should I say murder. You soon get to know the cast of characters that gradually endear themselves to you, the more books you read. 

Another Anita Shreve was also chosen and demolished  in a couple of sittings. Set in 1947 in tells of a young family in a Maine coastal town. It’s not a happy marriage and a wild fire that destroys their home has major ramifications. Like all Shreve novels the story is bitter sweet but beautifully written.

Without the library I have been relying on 99p Kindle bargains. A rather a mixed bag on the whole.

Val McDermids Grave Tattoo was an excellent read. Flipping from the 18th Century to modern day it linked the story of  Fletcher Christian and the Bounty to some lost papers of William Wordsworth. 
The story is set in London and the Lake District and well worth a read.

One Lost Soul by Dalgleish was a somewhat indifferent read and not particularly well written. Set in Norfolk it tells the story of a teenage girls murder. The detective is a likeable character but I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to purchase more by this author.

The Secrets Between Us by Louise Douglas was another mediocre novel. Overly long I felt there was a huge chunk in the middle that could have been removed. A young woman with marital difficulties goes to look after a man and his son. The wife has gone missing. The novel goes round in circles to discover what has happened to her. Somewhat lack lustre in my opinion.

Wintering by Katherine May had some beautiful descriptions particularly of winter in Scandinavian countries but I became rather frustrated by the author herself. Again my opinion and I’m sure lots of people would love this book describing one woman’s struggles with life’s difficulties, particularly during the winter months.

I did splash out and buy Elly Griffiths latest Ruth Galloway novel on Kindle. Lovely to be back among familiar characters and the glorious Norfolk landscape. I do love these crime/archaeological novels although this one didn’t grab me quite as much as some. Still it was lovely  to read the latest issues between Ruth and Nelson with a bit of a cliff hanger at the end. I’ll be intrigued to see what you think on this one.

One book that I thoroughly enjoyed was The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow. Telling the continuing story from Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of Mary, the somewhat plain sister. The first third of the book tells the familiar story from Mary’s perspective and then we continue after the older sisters have married and find out what becomes of Mary. A thoroughly well written story in true Jane Austen style. Perfect for a winter’s read.

Well I’m toying with heading out for a walk. The fire is already lit and I’m afraid a few more chapters of my Strike novel will probably defeat the idea of exercise. Besides I’m doing a bit of weight lifting after all.

How about you folks. Any exciting books to recommend?

Barbara xxx