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The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna **** A return to Europe, to Scandinavia, in my Read Around the World project, with a slim volume that is something of a cult read, although one that I didn't really expect to gel with. However, it's short, a mere 135 pages, so I reckoned I could hack it; the reviews are certainly mixed. In the end, though, I needn't have worried, as this actually really struck a chord, not least as I benefited enormously from getting more involved in nature when dealing with work-generated stress issues, even if my experiences were nothing like this! However, whilst this might have been written in the mid-70s, so much of what it's about resonates even more strongly today. At heart, this is almost pure social satire (which is partly why I didn't expect to get on with it much, satire often going right over my head!). The main protagonist, Kaarlo Vatinen, rescues a hare that his car hits. The act seems to trigger a major reaction in his mind, and he takes off in the the Finnish landscape, leaving job, wife and his whole lifestyle behind, in spite of their efforts to hang on to him. The book then becomes something of a picaresque, almost back to nature, journey, although this is nature that is distinctly red in tooth, claw and fire. In the meantime, the 'civilised' world keeps threatening to intrude, and however dangerous nature might be, the latter is in danger of threatening even more, often ridiculously so. The book's humour is often cited but, personally, it rarely made me more than smile. But it didn't need to - I still enjoyed the ridiculousness and the satire. As I so often find, I think the satire would be funnier, blackly so, on film, and I do intend to look out the film that was made of it in the 1970s (there are two adaptations apparently, with another French one made later in the 2000s). In the meantime, this proved to be a much more engaging and rewarding book than I expected, one I would recommend to others. even if just to decide for themselves what they think!

Two books completed over the weekend. Firstly The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk, for one of my book groups. Very readable historical fiction, set in my favourite eighteenth century. Then The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna, my book for Finland in my Read Around the World. Whilst reviews are very varied, and I hadn't really expected to gel with it given it's style etc, I actually found it a thoroughly thought provoking and interesting read - even if I didn't find it as funny as it's meant to be (actually not funny at all IMO). Both books 4 stars out of 6, going on 5.

Book #18: Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid for Antigua **** Another growing-up story, this time centred on a young girl in Antigua. At the core of the novel is her relationship with her mother - initially very intimate, almost overwhelming, later more mixed and complicated as her mother appears to distance herself from her daughter as the latter reaches puberty - there's certainly growing alienation. But then, we're just seeing this from one perspective, and the reliability is uncertain. Annie certainly seeks substitutes, best-friending intensely successively with 2 contrasting peers. Annie is bright, top of her class, but increasingly rebellious, and the novel examines the complexities of her development - all from Annies point of view. It's beautifully written, with a clarity that makes this short, but very full, novel an easy read - almost too much so, as it's all too easy to miss some of the depth as one gallops from page to page. In particular, it touches on a number of different themes, the most prominent (at least to me) being the influence of colonialism. And yet, I never fully engaged with Annie. I think we're meant to sympathise with her, but there's something (fairly small admittedly) missing, possibly created by the temporal jumps between chapters - this is more episodic than continuous narrative (it was originally published as a series of chapters/short stories in The New Yorker). But still a powerful read, which I am likely to return to.

Book #17: Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou for the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) ***** The story of the eponymous boy as he grows up in a Congolese orphanage, later escaping to a life of survival and petty criminality on the streets of Pointe-Noire, whilst seeing himself as a sort of Robin Hood. It's a pretty brutal life, and the violence is notably casual, but the author writes it more in the style of a latter day Don Quixote, a sort of picaresque bildungsroman, than what could have been an unrelentingly grim story. As 'Mose' gradually loses grip on reality, there seems to be an increasingly strong element of that self-deluding Spaniard present right to the end! Overall, this was a fairly easy read which I found myself fairly galloping through. What struck me most was the strong maleness of the book - there are plenty of women, but they aren't drawn in the same depth and seem to flit in and out of the narrative almost casually (that word again!) - although it's the lack of a mother figure, or rather, perhaps, the search for one, that seems to dominate Mose's life. How accurate a reflection of Congolese life at this time this is, I can't say, but there's a ring of authenticity to it that I found convincing - it feels that the author is drawing on personal experience. Incidentally, the book's title in the original French is 'Petit Piment' or Little Pepper - Mose's nickname in the street gang he belonged to.

Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid **** Following on from Black Moses, this was another growing-up story for my world tour, this time centred on a young girl in Antigua. At the core of the novel is her relationship with her mother - initially very intimate, almost overwhelming, later more mixed and complicated as her mother appears to distance herself from her daughter as the latter reaches puberty - there's certainly growing alienation. But then, we're just seeing this from one perspective, and the reliability is uncertain. Annie certainly seeks substitutes, best-friending intensely successively with 2 contrasting peers. Annie is bright, top of her class, but increasingly rebellious, and the novel examines the complexities of her development - all from Annies point of view. It's beautifully written, with a clarity that makes this short, but very full, novel an easy read - almost too much so, as it's all too easy to miss some of the depth as one gallops from page to page. In particular, it touches on a number of different themes, the most prominent (at least to me) being the influence of colonialism. And yet, I never fully engaged with Annie. I think we're meant to sympathise with her, but there's something (fairly small admittedly) missing, possibly created by the temporal jumps between chapters - this is more episodic than continuous narrative (it was originally published as a series of chapters/short stories in The New Yorker). But still a powerful read, which I am likely to return to.

Three more books The Diet Whisperer by Paul Barrington Chell and Monique Hope-Ross ** Some interesting information, but ultimately disappointingly faddish in it's didactic delivery of the 'one and only' diet. Tim Spector's work a better place to go IMO. Black England by Gretchen Gerzina **** A new edition of the 1995 book on the history of black people in Georgina England. A fascinating read really highlighting how black history has been os thoroughly ignored for so long (but then so has most history outside that of white men, particularly 'great' men). I did feel that the author wandered off the subject a bit in the second half, with chapters focusing on subjects such as the translocation of many 'immigrants' to Sierra Leone for instance (with huge overtones of the current Rwanda policy). Not that they're not relevant, just that the balance felt a bit skewed. Less by Andrew Sean Gear ** A Pulitzer winner (2018), and a book group choice. I'd never have guessed the former, as this simply wasn't up to the quality of so many other winners that I've read. Arthur Less basically runs away on a 'road' trip round the world to avoid his ex-lover's marriage to another partner, and that is essentially it. It started off in reasonably promising fashion, but petered away into a series of supposedly humorous and presumably insightful episodes of culture clash in different locations. Ultimately it felt tedious and rather cliched, although the title did seem apposite. I did reach the end, but only by skim reading bits. A surprising disappointment.

Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou ***** The story of the eponymous boy as he grows up in a Congolese orphanage, later escaping to a life of survival and petty criminality on the streets of Pointe-Noire, whilst seeing himself as a sort of Robin Hood. It's a pretty brutal life, and the violence is notably casual, but the author writes it more in the style of a latter day Don Quixote, a sort of picaresque bildungsroman, than what could have been an unrelentingly grim story. As 'Mose' gradually loses grip on reality, there seems to be an increasingly strong element of that self-deluding Spaniard present right to the end! Overall, this was a fairly easy read which I found myself fairly galloping through. What struck me most was the strong maleness of the book - there are plenty of women, but they aren't drawn in the same depth and seem to flit in and out of the narrative almost casually (that word again!) - although it's the lack of a mother figure, or rather, perhaps, the search for one, that seems to dominate Mose's life. How accurate a reflection of Congolese life at this time this is, I can't say, but there's a ring of authenticity to it that I found convincing - it feels that the author is drawing on personal experience. Incidentally, the book's title in the original French is 'Petit Piment' or Little Pepper - Mose's nickname in the street gang he belonged to.

Completed Less by Andrew Sean Gear - it may be a Pulitizer winner, but for me the title was more apposite. 2 stars (out of 6). Then moved on to Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid, my first Caribbean novel (for Antigua and Barbuda) on my world tour. As with my previous world book, Black Moses, a bildungsroman, if rather different. A very easy read, a mere but very full 150 pages. Might be very different to Black Moses, but worthy of a similar rating: 4 stars.

It's really good fun - I thoroughly enjoyed it! Good luck, and do let us know how you get on (I moved on to a United States version!).

This struck me, simply because I've found Japanese novels one of the main areas where I struggle - i can't think of one I've read that I've really enjoyed, and plenty where I've got to the end and breathed a sigh of relief. Felt exactly the same about my first Korean novel (The Vegetarian by Han Kang), so it strikes me it's somethign to do with the writing in that part of the world. I find much the same even with more Anglicised writers like Ishiguro.

Finished Black England. A good read (4 stars), although I would have liked more on the lives of black people in England (as in the first half), rather than much of the last third of the book being taken up with potential immigrants being shipped off to Sierra Leone (with some obvious parallels with the current government's efforts to ship people off to Rwanda!) - very similar ground to Simon Schama's Rough Crossings if I remember correctly. It was still very interesting! Moved on to a book group choice: Less by Andrew Sean Gear, the Pulitzer Fiction prize winner from 2018 (and of which I've never heard before).

Currently reading Black England by Gretchen Gerzina, a recently published updated edition of a book originally brought out in 1995, a history of black people in Georgian England.

From what I've read, no he doesn't. McCarthy is good, very good, but of the two I'd rate Faulkner higher. As to who might be the best American writer, that's a whole different discussion! In the meantime: two books finished in the past 24 hours: first was The Diet Whisperer by Paul Barrington Chell and Monique Hope-Ross. As apparent from title, a diet/nutrition book. Some good material in it, but gets too much into fad style diet writing (rigid rules, do it by the book plans, invented jargon names for processes etc), which ultimately disappointed. It's all been said elsewhere, and far better written (try Tim Spector for instance). 2 stars. Next was Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou, my book for Republic of Congo. Picaresque story of boy growing up in orphanage and on streets of Pointe-Noire in 70s and 80s. Very readable, more thoughts to come on my blog thread. 4 stars (out of 6 as ever)

And a few more: Agatha Christie by Lucy Worsley (Waterstones half price) Why Is This A Question? by Paul Jones (ditto) Dinner With Joseph Johnson by Daisy Hay (ditto) A Life of James Boswell by Peter Martin (Oxfam) The latest podcast from Slightly Foxed is based around the Daisy Hay book, with her as the main guest - and is a major reason in why I bought it! Really interesting, as ever. For me, the SF podcasts are the best literary podcasts around; just a pity they are only quarterly nowadays. The Boswell book ties in with my current fascination with all things Samuel Johnson!

I can recommend it - it had me well engaged! I suppose it depends on whether you like George Eliot - it's pretty classically her! I've got this one on my TBR shelf, having read Roy Jenkins's biography a couple of years ago. That was well-written, and avoided those traps that you outline, but the Roberts book has had some pretty impressive reviews. I'm always wary of his politics, but he is eminently readable! That appeals - on to my TBR wishlist! We'll have to agree to disagree on Where the Crawdads Sing though!

A great read - and a great cover too. She's a writer I want to read more of, and managed to pick up nice copies of The Ladies of Lyndon and Where Stands A Winged Sentry (her WW2 memoirs) in our local Oxfam bookshop - an early read for 2023! Can only agree! Absolutely loved Girl, Woman, Other, which was my book of the year in 2019, with Mr Loverman not far removed in 2020, although agree it doesn't quite match GWO.

First book of the year completed: The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissina by Samuel Johnson. Reviewed on my book blog thread - but a solid 4 star start to the year.

First Book of the Year It's always good to get the year going. This year's first completion was Samuel Johnson's The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, a meditation by the great doctor on what makes for a happy life: Prince Rasselas lives a life of luxury, safe from any source of unhappiness, in a secured valley in Abyssinia, but is frustrated by this (whiffs of the life of Siddharta Gautama, the Buddha, here!). He decides to escape, for as he says in answer to his teacher's attempt to put him off "Sir, if you had seen the miseries of the world, you would know how to value your present state", his reply is "Now you have given me something to desire; I shall long to see the miseries of the world, since the sight of them is necessary to happiness." He escapes with his sister and a servant, and sets out to explore the outside world and establish precisely what happiness is. This was published within weeks of Voltaire's Candide, and there are some major similarities, but Johnson is not the cynic that Voltaire is, and the results are not pre-ordained. It is, perhaps, a slightly harder book to read - the language feels more 18th century and there are more abstract and complex discussions, but it is still eminently readable, and thought provoking. Not my usual read, but an interesting follow-up to reading Jon Wain's biography of Johnson last year; I have a couple of other books on my list to continue this theme, which I hope to get around to soon. In the meantime, a good way to start the year off. 3 stars (out of 6). Two books purchased in the sales to also start the year off: Portable Magic by Emma Smith (a history of books and reading) The Flow by Amy-Jane Beer ('rivers, waters and wildness')

Willoyd's Book Awards For 2022 Book cover of the year: Home Country by Richard Mabey (see photo below) This was not an amazing year for book covers amongst those I actually read, so I've included here the cover of a book I bought. I love the design work done on (and the content of!) Little Toller's Nature Classics series, and this is one I bought during the year. The artwork on the front cover is a detail from Paul Nash's Wood On The Downs. An added plus is the fact that they include French flaps, which to my mind vastly improve a paperback cover. Favourite publisher: Penguin Modern Classics More an imprint than a publisher. PMC has been an invaluable, and the most productive, source of reading for my Read Around the World project - including some of the best reads of the year. This year's titles include Michel the Giant, Closely Watched Trains, Snow Country, The Vegetarian, A Grain of Wheat. Favourite book shop/retailer: Bookshop on the Square, Otley My nominee for 2021 as well. A new book group was set up by the shop owner this year, and this has simply added to the lustre, getting off to a fabulous start this autumn. Just love having such a good shop so close to home. Favourite audio book: none I just don't listen to audiobooks very often nowadays. If I am listening, it's usually to a podcast - quite often one about books although there aren't actually many literary podcasts I enjoy. Favourite is Book Club Review - which covers a hugely eclectic range, with some really interesting commentary and discussion. Most read author: Ann Morgan I've only read one book by Ann Morgan this year, but that's been supplemented by constant reading of posts and lists on her website A Year Of Reading Around The World. These have really opened my eyes to global literature, a whole new ball (reading?) game for me. She's probably had more influence on me than any other writer this year. Otherwise, the most books I've read from any author is two: David Fairer (see below) and Anthony Powell. Recommended re-read: A Maigret Christmas by Georges Simenon Three short stories, just one about Maigret, all excellent, although the second (non-Maigret) was the best for me, real edge of the seat stuff, especially as I'd forgotten the plot. A contender for best short stories too. Worst book: The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith Read for a book group. I wouldn't touch another McCall Smith with a barge pole unless I had to - I've tried a few times and none have been anything but awful. This was worse than most. Let's move on. Book you didn't get around to: Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens and Ulysses by James Joyce Barnaby Rudge won this award last year - I still haven't got around to it in spite of aiming to read Charles Dickens all the way through. I also wanted to tackle Ulysses this year in its 100th year, but sadly not. Maybe in its 101st. Favourite illustrated book: The Chimes by Charles Dickens A reread for Christmas. The Dickens editions I've got are illustrated by Charles Keeping, to my mind the perfect illustrator for these books. Favourite children's book: More About Paddington by Michael Bond I don't read much children's literature, especially since retiring as a (primary) teacher, but I can go back to Paddington any time. For laugh out loud humour, a winner of any 'funny' book award too! Favourite classic: The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa Lush, elegiac, stunningly beautiful writing, my Read Around The World book for Italy. One that I will return to in the near future. Your favourite short story (or short story collection): Cottongrass Summer by Roy Dennis OK, a bit of a cheat here, but, as last year, I'm going to go for the non-fiction version of the short story, the essay (but see above for some actual short stories!). And Cottongrass Summer is a superb collection of essays. Roy Dennis is the doyen of ecological restorers (or rewilders in modern lingo), with decades of experience and knowledge behind him, heavily involved with the reintroduction of the likes of red kites, ospreys and sea eagles. These largely very short essays draw on that experience, and cover a huge amount of fascinating ground in a remarkably short space (less than 200 pages), facilitated by Dennis's elegant stucturing and clear, lucid and to the point prose. I'm really looking forward to the follow-up, Mistletoe Winter, but in the meantime this was a straight 6-star read, and a strong challenger for book of the year. Favourite literary character: Samuel Johnson I know this is probably intended to be for a fictional character, but there were none this year that I quite warmed to as much, or became as interested in, as the subject of the biography by Jon Wain. This was compounded by a visit to Dr Johnson's house in Gough Square in London in September, including a very pleasant conversation on a quiet day with the caretaker/curator there (who recommended this biography to me!). Anyway you can't get much more 'literary' than Samuel Johnson! Poetry recommendation: The Odyssey by Homer I read the Everyman edition, with translation by Robert Fitzgerald, which reads as a piece of engrossing narrative poetry. Just loved it. Favourite genre: African literature I don't know whether this counts as a specific genre, but I had my eyes tweaked open last year with a couple of books discussed in book groups, and have followed up this year with more from around the continent, mainly as part of my global reading. Probably too broad and varied to be classed as a 'genre', but too good and too enjoyable not to find some way of acknowledging their impact! Books included A Grain of Wheat, The Promise, Michel the Giant, The United States of Africa. Funniest book: The Abbess of Crewe by Muriel Spark Not laugh out loud (see my children's book for that!), but for sharpness of wit and comic satire, it's hard to beat Muriel Spark, and this was, for me, one of her best. You probably had to live through Watergate to really appreciate it though, although the themes of corruption and entitlement are all too topical. Sister Gertrude, the Henry Kissinger to Sister Alexandra's Richard Nixon, is simply superb, even if barely present. Favourite biography: The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf Samuel Johnson may have been my favourite subject, but this was an outstanding biography of an absolutely fascinating person, one of the most important scientists of the Enlightenment - it has to be outstanding to beat the Jon Wain biography to this nomination. See below for more! Favourite non-fiction: The Astronomer and the Witch by Ulinka Rublack As if biography is not non-fiction...However it's good to separate the two categories apart as it gives room for another outstanding book. This was read as a follow-up to a mildly disappointing book group choice Everyone Knows Your Mother Is A Witch, fiction centred around the prosecution of Johannes Kepler's mother for witchcraft, and his involvement in it. The novel was based on this book, and whilst the former wasn't so great, I was still interested enough to get hold a copy. I'm so glad I did, as this was a complete contrast: it's a model of micro-history illuminating bigger themes, mostly around the role and treatment of women (especially older women) in early modern Europe. This was particularly relevant given topical discussions on the role and treatment of women in Qatar and Iran whilst reading this. Favourite fiction: As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner @lunababymoonchild was blown away by William Faulkner, and so was I. I've not read any before, and was rather daunted going into this given its reputation as a difficult read, but it wasn't - it was utterly involving, beautifully put together, and totally unputdownable. More please! Author of the year: David Fairer Who?! Well, he's the author of two books I read this year, Chocolate House Treason and The Devil's Cathedral, the first two volumes in a murder/crime trilogy set in Queen Anne London. They're chunky, but for me brought the city of that time alive in a way that so few historical fiction writers manage. His talk for the Ilkley Literature Festival on his research into the language to ensure authenticity was fascinating, the geography is meticulous, the stories well crafted, all of which puts many far better known writers to shame. He should know his stuff too, as he's Professor Emeritus for 18th century poetry at Leeds University. The scandal is that publishers won't look at writers like him, as he's not got an agent (and hasn't been able to). More fool them. So these books are effectively self-published (with the advantage that production values are better than average paperbacks). However, they are well worth digging out. I'm about to read and am looking forward to the third which came out in the autumn: Captain Hazard's Game. Overall Book Of the Year: aaaaagggghhhh! A horrible decision. The two leading contenders,are both superb in their own ways. As a piece of writing, the Faulkner can't be beaten, one of the best i've read at any time, and I will read and reread it. However, the Wulf, whilst it might not be in the same league as a piece of prose, is an outstanding book in its own right, and has a particular resonance for me as a geographer, and as someone fascinated by that period of history. It's just so interesting! I go for one, then I go for the other..... And my conclusion is that, unlike the World Cup, I don't need to artificially create a way of splitting these books, or indeed even have to compare them. They are so different, and both absolutely brilliant in their own right. They are my two favourite books of the year, and for once I'm not going to try and choose between them. Therefor, joint winners: As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner and The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf. And what about other categories? I'm going to have just one this year (but two winners...again!) as I've read quite a lot of that ilk. Favourite book in translation: One Moonlit Night by Caradog Prichard (translated from Welsh) and Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann (translated from German). Both cracking, very different, novels. The former is the story of a child growing up in a North Welsh village - very dark, but also much humour and 'light', with a megatwist that I just didn't see coming; it's lyrical, almost poetic, as one would expect from a book described by many as the greatest novel ever written in Welsh. The latter is historical fiction based around the lives of Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Gauss (which inspired me to read the Wulf biography); unlike much Geman literature it doesn't take itself too seriously, and Kehlmann writes with a lightness of touch that adds much to the readability and interest.

Promise I'll get mine up soon (you'll note at least one key similarity!). BTW, the book cover award isn't for a book which you bought because of the cover (although the preamble might suggest that!), just which was your favourite cover? (I'm struggling a little bit on that one this year).

Posted to the General Books Discussion thread, a new topic asking for forum members' Book Awards for 2022 (or, at least, a repeated topic from previous years). It would be really interesting to read about what were your highlights of the year (I promise/threaten to post mine soon!).

Shamelessly copied from Raven's post heading last year's thread (including all the exclamation marks!), and I apologise if I've trodden on any toes by posting this, please find below what is one of my favourite threads in any year, the Book Club Forum awards. This is a chance for you to tell everybody what you enjoyed most about your reading over the past (chaotic!) year. Listed below are just the 'standard' awards - please feel free to add any others that you want (I put in a couple last year), and equally feel free to ignore any that aren't relevant to you (I didn't listen to a single audio book this year). So - Members of the Forum - without further ado, please tell us: Yes, I did buy it for the cover, but I stayed for the reading! Your favourite book cover of 2022! They print the words I like to read! Your favourite publisher of 2022! They sell me the words I like to read! Your favourite book shop/retailer of 2022! It was like when I was little, and Mummy used to read to me! Your audiobook recommendation of 2022! I even found one of their shopping lists! Your most read author of 2022! Stop me if you've heard this one before! Your recommended re-read of 2022! I'd rather be on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! Your book that wasn't worth bothering with in 2022! I don't know where this year has gone! The book you most wanted to read in 2022, but didn't get too award! I'm sorry it wasn't a unicorn! Your biggest literary let-down of 2022! Think: Spot the Dog, BUT BETTER! Your favourite illustrated book of 2022! It's like living in Never-never Land! Your children's book recommendation of 2022! Most people pretend they have read this, but I actually did! Your recommended classic of 2022! Compact and bijou, Mostyn! Compact and bijou! Your favourite short story (or collection of short stories) of 2022! He made Mr Darcy look like Kermit the Frog! Your favourite literary character of 2022! Me talk pretty one day! Your poetry recommendation of 2022! I like things to be in boxes, nicely ordered boxes! Your favourite genre of 2022! I laughed so much, people moved away from me on the train! The funniest book you read in 2022! After three years of COVID I have no life of my own anymore, so I just read about others! Your favourite biography of 2022! No, this really happened, yes it really did, I'm not making it up! Your non-fiction recommendation of 2022! Sounds like stuff someone made up! Your fiction book of the year, 2022! They've taken out a restraining order! Your author of the year, 2022! I'll read it again, I'll tell ya! Your overall book of the year, 2022! The small print (some repetition here!): Don't just make this a list, explain your choices! Tell us what you really think about the books you have read! If there is a section you don't have a reply for, just skip it! Books don't have to have been published in 2020 to make it onto your list, you just have to have read them this year! Feel free to add your own categories, if you feel something has been missed!

I grew up with him: Paddington and I were 'born' within a week of each other (with the first Blue Peter another 3 days later!), and I read and reread the books all the way through my childhood. He's one of the very few children's books I continue to read, and I have a complete boxed set of his books in hardback on my shelves! Superbly written, very rare among books in that they are capable of making me laugh out loud*, yet have a lovely, gently positive (childlike?!) approach to life. For some a bit dated (the Browns have a housekeeper for instance), but so much to offer still today. Incidentally, the films are fine - I enjoyed them well enough - but they are seriously not a patch on the books, and I do worry that, yet again, children (and adults!) will get their experience of Paddington solely through them - just like more and more children haven't read the Harry Potters but "I've seen the movies". At least they aren't the complete travesty that Disney made of my other great childhood love, Winnie-the-Pooh. I really enjoyed the fact that this challenge let me bring together two of my all-time favourite literary characters: Maigret and Paddington. *The chapter on decorating in More About Paddington had me giggling hopelessly. Corny, and even a bit cliched now, but still wonderful slapstick on paper. The bathroom scene in the original A Bear Called Paddington is another: the books only take an hour or so to read - worth that at least!

The last one I read, admittedly a few years ago, was Jefferson J Farjeon's Mystery in White. It was pretty awful, although did manage 2 stars rather than 1. It was the last in a line of books that had, IMO, dated badly. On a happier note, I've managed to finish my challenge tonight, completing the last of the books read in the order below: A book with snow on the cover or in the title: Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata. A Christmas children's story: More About Paddington by Michael Bond (the last 3 of the 7 chapters are set at Christmas time) A Christmas mystery: A Maigret Christmas by George Simenon Struggled with the first, a book I also read for my Read Around The World project (for Japan), but cantered through the next two, both rereads of books I really enjoy, and which I welcomed the chance to reread. I haven't read the last for a while now, and had forgotten the plots. The second story, in particular, really racked the tension beautifully. Interesting to not have Maigret as the centre of attention on this one - it just involves colleagues.

I'm not sure how this works. I don't know how many members/participants there will be, but if we all list half a dozen possible categories, then there'll be more categories than people to vote on them, which means could well land up with a whole bunch of categories with just one vote.