chesilbeach Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 2015 reading blog - 171 books 2014 reading blog - 151 books 2013 reading blog - 183 books 2012 reading blog - 145 books 2011 reading blog - 141 books 2010 reading blog - 130 books 2009 reading blog - 143 books 2008 reading list - 63 books 2007 reading list - 97 books 2006 reading list - 82 books 2016 BOOKS READ January 1. The Sound of Whales by Kerr Thomson 2. The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson 3. A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig 4. Demolition Dad by Phil Earle 5. Sunshine on Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith 6. Emma by Alexander McCall Smith 7. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winifred Watson 8. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks February 9. Just William by Richmal Crompton 10. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 11. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling (narrated by Stephen Fry) 12. Beetle Boy by M. G. Leonard 13. Italian Ways by Tim Parks 14. The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett 15. South Riding by Winifred Holtby (narrated by Carole Boyd) 16. More William by Richmal Crompton 17. Summer Lightning by P. G. Wodehouse (narrated by John Wells) 18. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor (narrated by Zara Ramm) 19. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey 20. Pip and the Paw of Friendship by Gill Lewis March 21. The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth by Katherine Woodfine 22. The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan 23. Mobile Library by David Whitehouse 24. The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers 25. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (narrated by Juliet Stevenson) 26. The Children Who Lived in a Barn by Eleanor Graham 27. Film Freak by Christopher Fowler 28. The Very First Damned Thing by Jodi Taylor (Short story narrated by Jodi Taylor) 29. Rain: Four Walks in English Weather by Melissa Harrison 30. When A Child Is Born by Jodi Taylor (Short story narrated by Zara Ramm) 31. Once Upon A Time In The West… Country by Tony Hawks 32. Perijee and Me by Ross Montgomery 33. The Secret Paris Cinema Club by Nicholas Barreau 34. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides 35. Roman Holiday by Jodi Taylor (Short story narrated by Zara Ramm) 36. The Lady In The Van by Alan Bennett 37. See How They Run by Ally Carter 38. The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman April 39. Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor (Short story narrated by Zara Ramm) 40. Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings by Jodi Taylor (Short story narrated by Zara Ramm) 41. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (Narrated by Zara Ramm) 42. The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer 43. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor (Narrated by Zara Ramm) 44. Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier 45. Jolly Foul Play by Robin Stevens 46. The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins 47. Sense and Sensibility by Joanna Trollope 48. Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld 49. Spectacles by Sue Perkins 50. Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge 51. A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor (Narrated by Zara Ramm) 52. As You Wish by Cary Elwes May 53. The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave 54. No Time Like The Past by Jodi Taylor (Narrated by Zara Ramm) 55. Lies, Damned Lies, and History by Jodi Taylor 56. Common Ground by Rob Cowen 57. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine 58. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot 59. The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks 60. Public Library and other stories by Ali Smith 61. The Savage Marquess by M. C. Beaton 62. Me and My Ghoulfriends by Rose Pressey June 63. Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes 64. The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer 65. Forever Charmed by Rose Pressey 66. Crime Wave by Rose Pressey 67. The Outrun by Amy Liptrot 68. Urn Burial by Kerry Greenwood 69. Regency Gold by M. C. Beaton 70. A Very Special Year by Thomas Montasser 71. England, England by Julian Barnes 72. The Movie Doctors by Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode 73. Persuasion by Jane Austen (narrated by Juliet Stevenson) 74. Coastlines by Patrick Barkham 75. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley (narrated by Thomas Judd) 76. The Fish Ladder by Katherine Norbury July 77. Raptor by James MacDonald Lockhart 78. Strange Star by Emma Carroll 79. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (narrated by Patricia Routledge) 80. The Beach Café by Lucy Diamond (narrated by Jane Collingwood) 81. Silken Bonds by M. C. Beaton 82. The Love Match by M. C. Beaton 83. Being A Beast by Charles Foster 84. Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane 85. The Paper Princess by M. C. Beaton August 86. The Moth Snowstorm by Michael McCarthy 87. The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts by Annie Darling 88. The Dreadful Debutante by M. C. Beaton 89. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling 90. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling (narrated by Stephen Fry) 91. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer 92. Lies, Damned Lies, and History by Jodi Taylor (narrated by Zara Ramm) 93. The Grand St Mary's Day Out by Jodi Taylor 94. To Dream of Love by M. C. Beaton 95. Daisy by M. C. Beaton 96. Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger September 97. Dracula by Bram Stoker 98. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend 99. The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald 100. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 101. A Kestrel For A Knave by Barry Hines 102. Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson 103. Lydia by Natasha Farrant 104. The Immortals by S. E. Lister 105. Imprudence by Gail Carriger October 106. The Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse November 107. Christmas at the Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan 108. Two on a Tower by Thomas Hardy December 109. Mistletoe and Murder by Robin Stevens 110. Cogheart by Peter Bunzl 111. Christmas at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan 112. Cakes In Space by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre Quote
chesilbeach Posted December 27, 2015 Author Posted December 27, 2015 AUTHOR READING LISTS The books I own for these authors are in storage, so I may not be able to continue these challenges this year but keeping the posts for reference in future. J. L. CARR Key: Books I own in Italics Books I have read in Bold BOOK LIST: 1. A Day In Summer 2. A Season in Sinji 3. The Harpole Report 4. How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won The F. A. Cup 5. A Month In The Country 6. The Battle of Pollocks Crossing 7. What Hetty Did 8. Harpole and Foxberrow, General Publishers Status: 5/8 books read = 62.5% complete E. H. YOUNG Key: Books I own in Italics Books I have read in Bold BOOK LIST: 1. A Corn of Wheat 2. Yonder 3. Moor Fires 4. The Bridge Dividing (aka The Misses Mallett) 5. William 6. The Vicar's Daughter 7. Miss Mole 8. Jenny Wren 9. The Curate's Wife 10. Celia 11. Caravan Island 12. River Holiday 13. Chatterton Square Status: 2/13 books read = 15% complete Quote
chesilbeach Posted December 27, 2015 Author Posted December 27, 2015 THE ENGLISH COUNTIES For more details, visit the English Counties Challenge board: http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/forum/74-english-counties-challenge/ Key: Books I own in Italics Books I have read in Bold BOOK LIST: BEDFORDSHIRE: My Uncle Silas by H. E. Bates BERKSHIRE: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame BRISTOL: The Misses Mallett by E. H. Young BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper CAMBRIDGESHIRE: The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers CHESHIRE: Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell CITY OF LONDON: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens CORNWALL: Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier CUMBRIA: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome DERBYSHIRE: Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks DEVON: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle DORSET: Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy COUNTY DURHAM: Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE: South Riding by Winifred Holtby EAST SUSSEX: Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne ESSEX: The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James GLOUCESTERSHIRE: Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee GREATER LONDON*: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle GREATER MANCHESTER: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell HAMPSHIRE: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins HEREFORDSHIRE: On The Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin HERTFORDSHIRE: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ISLE OF WIGHT: England, England by Julian Barnes KENT: The Darling Buds of May by H. E. Bates LANCASHIRE: Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson LEICESTERSHIRE: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend LINCOLNSHIRE: The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot MERSEYSIDE: An Awfully Big Adventure by Beryl Bainbridge NORFOLK: The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley NORTH YORKSHIRE: All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot/Dracula by Bram Stoker NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen NORTHUMBERLAND: The Stars Look Down by A. J. Cronin NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence OXFORDSHIRE: The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford RUTLAND: Set In Stone by Robert Goddard SHROPSHIRE: Summer Lightning by P. G. Wodehouse SOMERSET: Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore SOUTH YORKSHIRE: A Kestral For A Knave by Barry Hines STAFFORDSHIRE: The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett SUFFOLK: The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald SURREY: Emma by Jane Austen TYNE AND WEAR: Another World by Pat Barker WARWICKSHIRE: Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes WEST MIDLANDS: Middlemarch by George Eliot WEST SUSSEX: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons WEST YORKSHIRE: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë WILTSHIRE: Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope WORCESTERSHIRE: The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall Status: 35/48 books read = 73% complete Quote
chesilbeach Posted December 27, 2015 Author Posted December 27, 2015 READING LISTS PERSEPHONE BOOKS Key: Books I own in Italics Books I have read in Bold BOOK LIST: 1. William - an Englishman by Cicely Hamilton 2. Mariana by Monica Dickens 3. Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple 4. Fidelity by Susan Glaspell 5. An Interrupted Life: The Diaries and Letters of Etty Hillesum 1941-43 by Etty Hillesum 6. The Victorian Chaise-longue by Marghanita Laski 7. The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher 8. Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes by Mollie Panter-Downes 9. Few Eggs and No Oranges by Vere Hodgson 10. Good Things in England by Florence White 11. Julian Grenfell by Nicholas Mosley 12. It's Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty by Judith Viorst 13. Consequences by E. M. Delafield 14. Farewell Leicester Square by Betty Miller 15. Tell It to a Stranger by Elizabeth Berridge 16. Saplings by Noel Streatfeild 17. Marjory Fleming by Oriel Malet 18. Every Eye by Isobel English 19. They Knew Mr Knight by Dorothy Whipple 20. A Woman's Place: 1910-75 by Ruth Adam 21. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson 22. Consider the Years by Virginia Graham 23. Reuben Sachs by Amy Levy 24. Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton 25. The Montana Stories by Katherine Mansfield 26. Brook Evans by Susan Glaspell 27. The Children who lived in a Barn by Eleanor Graham 28. Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski 29. The Making of a Marchioness by Frances Hodgson Burnett 30. Kitchen Essays by Agnes Jekyll 31. A House in the Country by Jocelyn Playfair 32. The Carlyles at Home by Thea Holme 33. The Far Cry by Emma Smith 34. Minnie's Room: The Peacetime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes by Mollie Panter-Downes 35. Greenery Street by Denis Mackail 36. Lettice Delmer by Susan Miles 37. The Runaway by Elizabeth Anna Hart 38. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey 39. Manja by Anna Gmeyner 40. The Priory by Dorothy Whipple 41. Hostages to Fortune by Elizabeth Cambridge 42. The Blank Wall by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding 43. The Wise Virgins by Leonard Woolf 44. Tea with Mr Rochester by Frances Towers 45. Good Food On The Aga by Ambrose Heath 46. Miss Ranskill Comes Home by Barbara Euphan Todd 47. The New House by Lettice Cooper 48. The Casino by Margaret Bonham 49. Bricks and Mortar by Helen Ashton 50. The World that was Ours by Hilda Bernstein 51. Operation Heartbreak by Duff Cooper 52. The Village by Marghanita Laski 53. Lady Rose and Mrs Memmary by Ruferguson 54. They Can't Ration These by Vicomte De Mauduit 55. Flush by Virginia Woolf 56. They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple 57. The Hopkins Manuscript by Rc Sherriff 58. Hetty Dorval by Ethel Wilson 59. There Were No Windows by Norah Hoult 60. Doreen by Barbara Noble 61. A London Child of the 1870s by Molly Hughes 62. How To Run Your Home Without Help by Kay Smallshaw 63. Princes in the Land by Joanna Cannan 64. A Woman Novelist and Other Stories by Diana Gardner 65. Alas, Poor Lady by Rachel Ferguson 66. Gardener’s Nightcap by Muriel Stuart 67. The Fortnight in September by Rc Sherriff 68. The Expendable Man by Dorothy B Hughes 69. Journal by Katherine Mansfield 70. Plats du Jour by Patience Gray and Primrose Boyd 71. The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett 72. House-Bound by Winifred Peck 73. The Young Pretenders by Edith Henrietta 74. The Closed Door and Other Stories by Dorothy Whipple 75. On the Other Side: Letters to my Children from Germany 1940-46 by Mathilde Wolff-Mönckeberg 76. The Crowded Street by Winifred Holtby 77. Daddy's Gone A-Hunting by Penelope Mortimer 78. A Very Great Profession by Nicola Beauman 79. Round about a Pound a Week by Maud Pember Reeves 80. The Country Housewife's Book by Lucy H Yates 81. Miss Buncle's Book by De Stevenson 82. Amours de Voyage by Arthur Hugh Clough 83. Making Conversation by Christine Longford 84. A New System of Domestic Cookery by Mrs Rundell 85. High Wages by Dorothy Whipple 86. To Bed with Grand Music by Marghanita Laski 87. Dimanche and Other Stories by Irène Némirovsky 88. Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon 89. The Mystery of Mrs Blencarrow by Mrs Oliphant 90. The Winds of Heaven by Monica Dickens 91. Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson 92. Midsummer Night in the Workhouse by Diana Athill 93. The Sack of Bath by Adam Fergusson 94. No Surrender by Constance Maud 95. Greenbanks by Dorothy Whipple 96. Dinners for Beginners by Rachel and Margaret Ryan 97. Harriet by Elizabeth Jenkins 98. A Writer's Diary by Virginia Woolf 99. Patience by John Coates 100. The Persephone Book of Short Stories by Various 101. Heat Lightning by Helen Hull 102. The Exiles Return by Elisabeth De Waal 103. The Squire by Enid Bagnold 104. The Two Mrs Abbotts by De Stevenson 105. Diary of a Provincial Lady by E. M. Delafield 106. Into the Whirlwind by Eugenia Ginzburg 107. Wilfred and Eileen by Jonathan Smith 108. The Happy Tree by Rosalind Murray 109. The Country Life Cookery Book by Ambrose Heath 110. Because of the Lockwoods by Dorothy Whipple 111. London War Notes by Mollie Panter-Downes 112. Vain Shadow by Jane Hervey 113. Greengates by R. C. Sheriff 114. Gardener's Choice by Evelyn Dunbar and Charles Mahoney 115. Maman, What Are We Called Now? by Jacqueline Mesnil-Amar 116. A Lady and Her Husband by Amber Reeves 117. The Godwits Fly by Robin Hyde Status: 13/117 books read = 11% complete Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 1, 2016 Author Posted January 1, 2016 This year, I'd like to achieve a better balance between male and female authors, and also a better split between fiction and non-fiction, as last year I read almost all fiction and very few male authors. I'd also like to make more of an effort on my various challenges, although a lot of my books are in storage at the moment, so not sure when I'll be able to actually get my hands on some of the books so that might be a bit tricky. Other than that, I don't have a huge TBR, so I'm really just looking to enjoy my reading this year and try and keep up with my reviews a lot better than I've managed this year! Quote
vodkafan Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 Hi Claire, wasn't sure if you were open for replies yet. Good luck with your reading. I think it's interesting how your reading totals have increased over the years, although 2013 was amazing. Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 2, 2016 Author Posted January 2, 2016 Thanks James Yes, I'm open for business now. Although I keep a record of the number of books I read, I'm not really bothered by the numbers - I'd be much happier reading fewer books that blew me away than read masses of books that were just passing the time ... it's just finding those crackers that's the tricky bit! Quote
Anna Begins Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 Hey Claire- have a great reading year and Happy New Year Quote
Athena Posted January 3, 2016 Posted January 3, 2016 I wish you lots of great reading in 2016, Claire . Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 3, 2016 Author Posted January 3, 2016 The Sound of Whales by Kerr Thomson Synopsis: Three children are spending their summer on a wild Scottish island. Fraser is desperate for adventure; Hayley is fed up she's even there; while Dunny spends his days staring out to sea. He hasn't said a word in years. But everything changes with the discovery of two bodies on the beach: a whale and a man. Fraser and Hayley see a mystery-adventure to be solved, but Dunny is inconsolable. And in the end, it will take someone who listens to the sea to put it right. Review: This was a really engrossing story. The narrative alternates between Fraser and Hayley so we see the story from two points of view, the local boy desperate for adventure, and the all American girl stuck on a small island. The fractious relationships between the two of them and also Fraser and his mute brother Dunny add to the atmosphere, and it was a pleasant surprise that there was no saccharine romance between the teenagers. I loved all the descriptions of the boat trips on the sea with the stormy weather, the whale viewings and the general setting of the island, which added that extra roundness to the world of the island. I don’t want to say too much about the plot as it might give too much away, but it’s a whodunnit with a few twists and turns along the way, and although you have to suspend your disbelief, there’s a very satisfying ending. Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 3, 2016 Author Posted January 3, 2016 The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson Synopsis: In 1896, in a pilgrim church in the Alps, an abandoned baby girl is found by a cook and a housemaid. They take her home, and Annika grows up in the servants' quarters of a house belonging to three eccentric Viennese professors. She is happy there, but dreams of the day when her real mother will come to find her. And sure enough, one day a glamorous stranger arrives at the door. After years of guilt and searching, Annika's mother has come to claim her daughter, who is in fact a Prussian aristocrat whose true home is a great castle. But at crumbling, spooky Spittal Annika discovers that all is not as it seems in the lives of her new-found family ... Review: Probably not a book I’d have picked up myself, but always happy to get books for Christmas. This was a very traditional style of story that I might have expected to read when I was about 12. It reads very much like a fairy tale for slightly older children, and has a romantic sentiment (not in the sense of being a love story, but having a rose-tinted viewpoint), with a strong heroine at its heart who defeats the villains of the piece with the help of her friends and loved ones. An easy to read, heartwarming story, but a little old fashioned nevertheless. Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 3, 2016 Author Posted January 3, 2016 A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig Synopsis: You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas. It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible. A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and a boy called Nikolas, who isn't afraid to believe in magic. Review: Thank you Kay for giving me this book! An absolutely charming story, a perfect Christmas book to read to children in the lead up to the big day, and beautifully illustrated. I loved Nikolas and the story of how Father Christmas came about, and I have to say, I love that he’s called “Father Christmas” which I feel is more traditional for me, as “Santa Claus” feels more American … I can’t remember ever hearing people talk about Santa Claus before I knew of it from American films. Nothing wrong with that as every country has their own name for him, but I do feel more nostalgia for Father Christmas as a name. At times it’s really sad, but it’s the sadness that leads to the joy, so it’s wonderfully uplifting and left a big old smile on my face! Will definitely be reading this one again at Christmas in the future. Quote
Alexi Posted January 3, 2016 Posted January 3, 2016 Hi Claire Your reading totals never fail to amaze me Hope you have a great 2016 in terms of quantity and quality - you've already had a decent start! Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 3, 2016 Author Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks Alex - I'd be happy with a great year in terms of quality, not bothered about the quantity, despite what the numbers say! Quote
chaliepud Posted January 3, 2016 Posted January 3, 2016 Happy 2016 Claire, may you discover many great books! Quote
Kylie Posted January 5, 2016 Posted January 5, 2016 Happy reading in 2016, Claire. Great review of A Boy Called Christmas! I totally agree with all of it. Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 5, 2016 Author Posted January 5, 2016 Thanks both. I'm sure I'm going to have a very happy time reading during the year! Kylie, we definitely all got a cracker of a present from Kay this year, didn't we? Smashing Christmas read. Quote
poppyshake Posted January 5, 2016 Posted January 5, 2016 Happy Reading in 2016 Claire!! You are doing fab already HaHa .. I did buy quite a few copies of A Boy Called Christmas and got Alan to buy it for me too .. I think Matt Haig owes me a favour now (perhaps he will buy my toast book .. when it comes out .. in the year 2525!! I love your review .. my thoughts on it exactly .. it was a perfect little story to read in the holidays and I loved the illustrations Actually just looking at the cover made me happy Quote
frankie Posted January 6, 2016 Posted January 6, 2016 (edited) I hope you have a fantastic reading year in 1016, chesilbeach! I wish you good luck with your reading challenges, may there prove to be many gems there to be read and loved A great review of A Boy Called Christmas, I very much agreed with what you said about the novel Also happy to see poppyshake liked it too, herself I'd already seen Kylie and Jänet's ratings on the novel on Goodreads but didn't know poppyshake had also already read it. Wouldn't it be awful if we all had loved it but she would've thought it was 'meh'? Edited January 6, 2016 by frankie Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 6, 2016 Author Posted January 6, 2016 Happy Reading in 2016 Claire!! You are doing fab already HaHa .. I did buy quite a few copies of A Boy Called Christmas and got Alan to buy it for me too .. I think Matt Haig owes me a favour now (perhaps he will buy my toast book .. when it comes out .. in the year 2525!! I love your review .. my thoughts on it exactly .. it was a perfect little story to read in the holidays and I loved the illustrations Actually just looking at the cover made me happy Thanks Kay! Perhaps you can get Matt to do the blurb on the cover of your toast book ... you must have contributed a *significant* amount to his earnings this year. Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 6, 2016 Author Posted January 6, 2016 I hope you have a fantastic reading year in 1016, chesilbeach! I wish you good luck with your reading challenges, may there prove to be many gems there to be read and loved A great review of A Boy Called Christmas, I very much agreed with what you said about the novel Also happy to see poppyshake liked it too, herself I'd already seen Kylie and Jänet's ratings on the novel on Goodreads but didn't know poppyshake had also already read it. Wouldn't it be awful if we all had loved it but she would've thought it was 'meh'? Thank you! I'm sure I'll find a few gems in my reading this year ... just the law of averages ought to get me at least one, shouldn't it??? Can you imaging if we'd all raved about A Boy Called Christmas and Alan *hadn't* bought it for Kay ... good job she's got a great husband, eh? Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 10, 2016 Author Posted January 10, 2016 Demolition Dad by Phil Earle, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie Synopsis: This is the story of Jake Biggs and his dad, George. George spends all week knocking down buildings ... and all weekend knocking down wrestlers. He's the Demolition Man, and Jake couldn't be prouder. But when Jake hears about a pro-wrestling competition in the USA, and persuades his beloved dad to apply, things don't quite turn out the way he expected... Review: This was one of my Christmas presents, and probably not one I’d have picked for myself, but it was great fun, and has lovely messages for children - be true to yourself and never give up on people. Probably a little young for me, but a lovely little read never the same. Quote
chesilbeach Posted January 10, 2016 Author Posted January 10, 2016 Sunshine on Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith Synopsis: Scotland Street witnesses the wedding of the century of Angus Lordie to Domenica Macdonald, but as the newlyweds depart on honeymoon Edinburgh is in disarray. Recovering from the trauma of being best man, Matthew is taken up by a Dane called Bo, while Cyril eludes his dog-sitter and embarks on an odyssey involving fox-holes and the official residence of a cardinal. Narcissist Bruce meets his match in the form of a sinister doppelganger; Bertie, set up by his mother for fresh embarrassment at school, yearns for freedom; and Big Lou goes viral. But the residents of Scotland Street rally, and order - and Cyril - is restored by the combined effects of understanding, kindness, and, most of all, friendship. Review: This is the eighth book in the 44 Scotland Street series. I’ve enjoyed reading the series, particularly as they are written as 75 part instalments and serialised in a newspaper, similarly to how Dickens used to publish his books, but I am getting a bit tired of them now. It’s sort of an everyday story of everyday folk, but for me, it’s getting a bit too samey, while at the same time, some of the storylines (one in particular) felt contrived and a bit ridiculous. I think I may be over my fondness for this series now, and I suspect this will the the last outing for me. Quote
AbielleRose Posted January 10, 2016 Posted January 10, 2016 I've never heard of that series. Think I'll add it to my "must investigate further" list Quote
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