. . . but didn’t manage to write my responses to most of them in my Reading Journal. . . I’ve been in Rome since the end of July, with trips from here to England, Wales, Scotland, and Serbia. Currently, we have a daughter and granddaughter visiting, and when they leave on the weekend, there will be a flurry of laundry and bed re-making before our son, daughter-in-law, and two grandkids arrive. Through all that, I’ve been reading, of course, almost exclusively light reading in deference to having enough challenges outside of the pages.
But I stopped jotting down any notes about the books I read after the first four. I have felt uncomfortable about this, debated trying to dig in and catch up. That August Reading post deadline came and went, however, and now September’s has as well. So I’ve given myself permission to make an exception, and simply list the titles and authors. Might add a few words as I transcribe from my written journal to this post. Might not. Will add some book-ish photos I’ve been collecting as we travel. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Here’s what I usually include at the beginning of my monthly book posts, and in the interest of consistency, I’ll include it here again, although it’s scarcely relevant for this month’s post:
I say this every book post now, for those who are new here and as a reminder to regular readers: As usual, the numbering comes from my annual handwritten reading journal, and the italicized text below is directly transcribed from that journal’s pages (once upon a time, I simply included photographs of those pages, but too many of you found my handwriting tough to decipher, especially in the photographed format). Notes to myself, that is, so that I can remember a book and remember my response to it, rather than any attempt at a more polished, edited review.
I’ve used regular font for any additions to my journal notes and included references to any posts from my Instagram Reading account.
58. Satsuma Complex. Bob Mortimer. Detective novel; comic; set in London.
Comic detective novel — Young man, Gary, under-performing law degree, lacks confidence, friends, etc. gets peripherally entangled in something criminal that he can’t quite get a grip on. All he really wants is a date with an out-of-his-league young woman he’s met who seems to be interested in him — unless she’s involved in a nefarious plot to frame him.
He speaks daily to a squirrel he passes in the park, answers himself as squirrel. Befriends a cantankerous old neighbourhood alcoholic (with a sad back story we only learn belatedly). Set in London on the estates. Better than this makes it sound, quirky but engaging.
59. Sandwich. Catherine Newman. Domestic fiction; 3 generations; marriage; women’s lives; midlife; summer seaside;
A couple in mid 50s, adult children with whom they get along well, annual week in seaside cabin and the wife’s parents join them. Honestly, was a bit impatient with the book at first — privilege, limited perspective — but won me over mostly through the depiction of a long-term marriage — close, solid, accommodating difference — but not immune to stress, frustration, impatience that turns occasionally to resentment and anger, and where partners might harbour important secrets.
Also interested in the depiction of the older generation (obviously one of the sandwich’s outer bread layers) through the eyes of the others. Felt condescending or overly amused / annoyed at first, but by the end the fond respect and the challenges of maintaining boundaries at difficult stages of adulthood came through.
Hah! I guess I liked it more than I thought. Although the target demographic is more likely my daughters. 😉
60. The Thursday Murder Club. Richard Osman. Mystery/detective novel; Thursday Murder Club series; Elderly / old protagonists; comic.
Among the last to get on this series, and I can see why it’s so popular. Great characters, good writing (much humour, but also insightful observation — foibles of the elderly depicted, but we don’t become caricatures). Plot and setting convincing, satisfying; will definitely read more of the series.
61. The Kamagawa Food Detectives. Hisashi Kashiwai. Trans. Jesse Kirkwood. Detective novel; Food; Japan; Linked Short Stories.
Bought this quickly based on the charming cover and a bookstore sales assistant suggesting it was part of a series for middle-grade students (I’d taken it down from a shelf in the children’s section). Good thing I started reading it before giving it to my Roman granddaughter as I’d intended.
Not that there’s any reason for an Adults Only rating; just that the topic and characters (none under 20 years old, if that) aren’t likely to be as interesting to most kids, excepting advanced readers with an interest either in food or Japan.
But for adults who like a gentle mystery centred on searching out and re-creating a favourite food from the past, and especially adults interested in Japan and/or in armchair travel, this is a delightful book. Father and daughter who run a unique detective agency out of an equally unusual restaurant. Recommended!
Link to my Instagram post for this book.
And at this point, I abandoned my attempts to jot down a few notes about the books I was reading, and reconciled myself to recording only names and titles. . .
62. Sabbia Nera. Christina Cassiar Scala. Italian; Mystery; Police Procedural; Vanina Guarassi series; Set in Catania, Sicily.
63. The Appeal. Janice Hallett. Mystery; Epistolary (emails, texts) novel; amateur theatre; England.
64. Dead Ground. M.W. Craven. Mystery; Police procedural; Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw series; set in England.
65. Poor Deer. Claire Oshetsky Literary fiction; Children’s magical thinking; Coming-of-age; childhood trauma; grief. But note that this is a lovely, gentle, quirky novel, deftly sketched endearing protagonist.
66. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. Janice Hallett. Mystery; Journalist-detective; epistolary novel; old unsolved mystery; possible cult; set near London, England.
67. Death at the Sign of the Rook. Kate Atkinson. Mystery; wryly comic; Jackson Brodie series (with re-appearance of Reggie Chase); Mock-Downton Abbey setting, 21st-century style.
68. The Binding. Bridget Collins. Historical fantasy; Books / Reading; Romance; Mystery.
Got # 67 and #68 (plus one more book I’ll tell you about in my next bookpost) at the WH Smith shop at Paddington Station — one of their Buy Two, Get one Free promotions . . . Whenever I’m confronted with one of these opportunities, I regret my committment to travelling light (or is my regret rather at having to live a porter-free life?! #68 is definitely not my usual genre, but it was great for reading on the train.
Okay, that’s it for books, for now. My Instagram Reading account has also been woefully sparse, and I can’t see this situation improving much until I get home. But perhaps you can make me feel better about it by telling me what you’ve been reading lately. . .
(If you’ve been reading here for many years, you might remember that I once wrote a post about a vintage/antique book I bought in Paris, folded into an objet d’art similar to the ones above. A post that is still very close to my heart, as it links that little book with one I inherited from my French-Canadian grandmother. You can read that post here, if you’d like.)
Okay, that was a paltry offering, I know, but I am still hoping you will bring the post alive with your usual lively conversation about what you’re reading.
xo,
f
Thank you for finding time to inspire us and give some nice recommendations despite your busy and interesting Roman life
I’ve read from your list (and liked all of them a lot):
The Kamagawa Food Detectives-it was after your IG post and recommendation
The Thursday Murder Club
The Appeal
Dead Ground
August was a good month for reading,long heatwave,when you could do only what you must
First,two long-awaited books from authors I love:
Peter Grainger’s The Late Lord Thorpe and Ann Cleeves’ The Dark Wives-I’ve enjoyed both of them,not only mysteries but dealing with some serious issues as well
Helen DeWitt’s novella The English Understand Wool-Marguerite was raised by a French mother,learning,not only proper etiquette,but how things should be done-all at once,things are overturned-how will she deal alone in a publishing industry..and there’s a twist ending
Anne Enright’s The Wren,The Wren-wonderfully written, about famous dead poet’s daughters and g’daughter dealing with the inheritence of trauma and betrayal,that influenced complicated relationships
Wendy recommended Jennie Godfrey’s The List of Suspicious Things, coming-of-age/ mystery story set in Yorkshire,I’ve loved it very much
I’ve read Barbara Comyn’s Our Spoons Came from Woolworths and Rufi Thorpe’s Margo Got Money Trouble-almost a century apart,but some similar problems and it was interesting to read their solutions
I was aghast at the family cruelty in Comryn’s book and could discuss it for a long time
September:
Coco Mellon’s Blue Sisters is a story about three sisters who reunite on the first anniversary of their fourth sister’s death. Dysfunctional family dynamics,love,grief,neglect. Liked the book,will read her debut novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein
Peter May’s The Black Loch,the fourth in Lewis series-now I want to start reading the first three again (and to learn at last how to pronounce all the names)
Richard Osman We Solve Murders-a new series,lovely characters, looking forward to the second one
Ruth Crilly’s How Not to Be a Supermodel A noughties memoir
Elizabeth Strout’s Tell Me Everything-I love her novels more and more . Lucy and Olive. “People and the lives they lead,that’s the point”. “Exactly.” Olive noded.
Another Elizabeth-Freemantle’s Watch the Lady (The Tudor Trilogy )Historical fiction, set around the life of Penelope Devereaux,veeery interesting lady
Holly Jackson’s Good Girl,Bad Blood,the sequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (loved the Netflix series,as well)
Dottoressa
Author
Honestly, Dottoressa, you could (should!) have your own book blog! Until you do, I’m very happy to have you here as a regular commenter where you inspire so many fellow readers! So many new titles here for me — and I see we both loved Anne Enright’s The Wren. A few in your list I’ve been planning to read: (The Black Loch, really liked the other Lewis books); We Solve Murders (although first I’m going to read the rest of the Thursday Murder Club); and the latest Elizabeth Strout. . . but so many titles I’ll be reserving at our library — thank you!
I loved all four of the Thursday Murder Club books, and have just finished (and enjoyed) Osman’s fifth book “We Solve Murders,” with a whole new cast of characters!
Didn’t love, but still enjoyed “Sandwich.” I’m halfway through “Same As It Ever Was” by Claire Lombardo and like it a lot! Thanks for the heads up on “Death at the Sign of the Rook.” I’ve just placed a hold on it through the Libby app.
Author
Another vote for We Solve Murders — must get to that. Sounds as we had similar responses to Sandwich. I don’t know Claire Lombardo’s writing — will check that out. Thank you!
It’s really good of you to make time for this book post when your life is so hectic right now . I’m sure we all appreciate it . I will read the Bob Mortimer book as he’s a favourite comic of mine & very popular on our TV . I’ve already read his autobiography & he also pairs up with another comic for a TV programme about their fishing trips . You wouldn’t think fishing would be funny but it is . I love the Richard Osman books . There have been many ( to me second rate ) imitators of his style which are often just too twee but he gets it just right . I’m looking forward to the film coming out , it has an excellent cast . He’s another popular funny man who’s regularly on our TV . I’ve also enjoyed the Janice Hallett books & am looking forward to the new Kate Atkinson . I’ve always had to be careful about my reading on holiday , nothing unputdownable or else I become too immersed & ignore my travelling companion . Not good .
I must thank Dottoressa for all her recommendations too . I have read & enjoyed many of her choices over the years , including Mrs Plansky’s Revenge recently ( I think that was you D ) . I thought the latest Peter Grainger was very good but am a little nervous at reading the Barbara Comyn book I have on my book pile after reading her comment !
Aw,thank you Wendy-I must say the same about your recommendations,they go to my TBR list without checking- Mrs. Plansky as well-it was not my idea
D.
Author
Thanks, Wendy — good to know that about Bob Mortimer. I can’t remember where I saw a recommendation of his book — likely in The Guardian book pages.
It’s true what you say about the Richard Osman books, and it may have been having read others getting this approach wrong (too twee!) that deterred me for too long.
Yes, it’s tricky about holiday reading — I need it to keep me really engaged when on a plane or train or just stuck inside on a rainy day — but also something I can pick up again if I have had to put it down for a day or two. And I still need to turn the light off by 10-ish if I want to get anything out of the next day😂
And completely agree on Dottoressa’s contributions here — she’s a star!
Sometimes I just like to tell you about the things yourposts make me think of lol and today it’s how and what I read as a middle-grade student and beyond (inspired by your number 51).
My parents encourage us to read but didn’t (ever, I don’t think) read fiction themselves. I started going to our public library (downtown, very small city) by myself when I was still using the children’s section, but quickly moved upstairs to ‘young adult’ or the equivalent and then (!!!) discovered I could take books from the adult section. Away I went grabbing at random from the shelves (also classics; I did have some sense) and ha ha I blush now to think of the reactions especially of my poor mum if she had known what I was reading. Sigh. It’s never quite so thrilling now!
Enjoying your tales from abroad very much. I wonder if there are books in your apartment and if you’ve dipped into any of them…I’ve had VERY mixed luck with that…
Author
I love having the conversation extended this way — thank you!
My mom started taking us to the library when I was very young — such that I was able to guide my visiting-from-England Grandfather home (a little over a mile from the “old” library) when I was four — became part of the family lore 😉 . . .
As for the blush-making books, my daughter at 12 or 13 picked up the copy of Clan of the Cave Bear I’d finished, and we were both amused when an elderly grandmother asked her what she was reading and then burbled on a bit about how lovely it was to see children reading. . . That book probably should have had a warning on the cover — Steamy! 😉
I’m worried now I slandered my mother a bit…she took us to the local library when we were small…it was only after we moved though and I could take the bus by myself that the ‘explorations’ began!
Cave Bear ha ha yes! But wasn’t it (isn’t it) fun to share books with your offspring?
Author
I don’t think you slandered her at all — I got what you meant, and had the same experience when my home city built the new library and I could walk to it on my own.
And yes, book-sharing with the offspring is a joy!
Nothing paltry in this post, or any other. Each post you share is a gift for which I’m very grateful. I understand that you keep a reading record for personal reasons. That you share it with us is beyond generous!
Now, what have I been reading? Nowhere near as much as you! I loved the latest SJ Bennet “A Death in Diamonds”, most engaging, set in the mid-20th century (a favourite era for me probably because I’m curious about the period into which I was born) with a young Queen Elizabeth making her debut as a detective. And Anna Funder’s “Wifedom” about the elusive Mrs George Orwell, who is conspicuously absent from most biographies about George. Fascinating but flawed was my assessment. Much absorbing material about a little known historical figure, but I wasn’t always easily able to tell precisely how much information was supported by Funder’s research or the result of her creativity. Worth reading just for the portion of the book set during the Spanish Civil War. Unlike most biographers, Funder interweaves quite a bit of her personal history into the book, and I wasn’t entirely comfortable with that.
Author
Aw, thanks for the appreciation, Maria!
And for alerting me to the latest SJ Bennet — Really looking forward to reading this.
And I probably won’t go on to read Wifedom — except that I’m intrigued by what you say about Funder’s approach. I can see where an interweaving of the personal / creative and the researched / verifiable might be engaging, but I can almost imagine feeling impatient or irritated by it. Depends on intersection of readers’ and writer’s goals or expectations (not to mention writer’s integrity and skill level), I suppose.
How impressive to have read all of these while travelling, even with a base in Rome. I think we can excuse you not taking notes! I have heard of 2 of the authors on your list – Richard Osman and Kate Atkinson, and have even read one of Kate Atkinson’s – Life after Life – but that’s as far as we intersect this time. My reading has only been interrupted in the same period by a week’s travel by car within the UK . A smallish list, because garden reclamation and study for the new term’s French and Italian classes have enjoyably taken up a lot of time.
The Amur River, by Colin Thubron. In his 80th year, Thubron journeys along the Amur River from its source to the sea along the Russian/Chinese border. I love Thubron’s travel writing, and the setting in a part of the world I long to visit but never will made this a delight.
Howard’s Way is on the Landing, by Susan Hill. British novelist resolves to read only books she already owns, for a year. Alright-ish. I appreciated her treatment of books I’ve never read as well as those I have, but I didn’t warm to this. I felt it lacked the passion of another similar book that I love, Francis Spufford’s The Books that Made Me, and I felt an awful lot of literary national treasure names were dropped.
Outpost, by Dan Richards. Author travels to various cabins/sheds/habitations on the margins. On the margins of the world – mountains, forests, tundras and seas. Loved it, and it was surprisingly humorous.
State of Emergency (Britain 1970-47, by Dominic Sandbrook. More of his social and political history of Britain. Eye-opening, and I devoured it.
Seasons in the Sun (Britain 1974-79), by Dominic Sandbrook. As above, and my goodness, how ignorant I was of much of this as I went through my late secondary school/early university years. And also my goodness, how bloomin’ inept our politicians are. (The title is taken from a song that was in the pop charts at the time, by I think a Canadian singer, Terry Jack. I remember it well, as one does songs from one’s teenage era)
The Nanny State Made Me: A Story of Britain and How to Save It, by Stuart Maconie. Author charts the public services that shaped and supported his youth, and their sad decline especially after 12 years of the immediate previous government. NHS, public transport, public libraries, state education, local councils etc. I both enjoyed it and was enraged anew at our politicians.
Long Live Great Bardfield, by Tirzah Garwood. The autobiography of “the wife of Eric Ravilious” and a talented artist in her own right. As women did in the 1920s and 30s, she put her own art on hold to bring up children and run a fairly chaotic artistic household, shared with another artist and his wife, Eric and Charlotte Bawden. After Eric’s death in WW2 as a war artist she began creating again, only to die cruelly early in the 1950s. Read on our trip to Saffron Walden and surrounds to see an exhibition of Ravilious and Bawden. Fascinating account of life, artistic life, changing social mores, the English countryside in the 20s and 30s. A major exhibition of Garwood’s work in taking place at Dulwich Picture Gallery in London this spring.
The Children of Green Knowe, by Lucy Boston. Novel for children set at the Manor, Hemingford Grey, which was the author’s home. A book I loved in childhood. I bought the copy I read this month on a visit to the Manor, where we were shown round by Lucy Boston’s daughter in law. A lifetime dream come true, and which in no way has diminished the magic of the book.
Author
Amusing how much our reading lists can connect yet resist overlap of actual titles. For example, someone who supposedly played with Terry Jacks went to my high school (and Jacks lived on the Sunshine Coast, only a couple of hours’ drive from where I grew up).
We do have one title in common — I don’t remember The Children of Green Knowe specifically, but certainly read the series as a child, and will make a point of looking them up again now.
I love Ravilious’s work and it’s always good to see the supporting partner, especially “the wife” get some recognition, if only so belatedly.
Finally, I have very much enjoyed Susan Hill’s Simon Serrailler series (and get a bit impatient when she takes so long between volumes to write in other genres ;-). The resolution indicated in the title of her book, though, is a good one. . .
After first learning about the Maisie Dobbs series here, I have become hooked on it. So since August I have read books 1-4 in the series and have books 5 and 6 on order. I also read Vermillion Drift, which is in William Kent Krueger Cork O’Connor detective series. I also read Somehow by Anne Lamott, which is her wandering and sometimes humorous meditation on loving others.
Thanks for posting your list even though you’re so busy! I always get good ideas about what to read next!
Author
I love that you learned about the Maisie Dobbs series here — I’ve not yet read these books myself, so you would have learned about them from a fellow commenter. Evidence of the value of the book chats generated by my posts, chats I’m chuffed to be facilitating. . .
I must get started on the Cork O’Connor series — I thought William Kent Krueger’s The River We Remember was brilliant!
And the Anne Lamott, okay, heading to my library website now. Thank you!
So here is what I have been reading lately. The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead. I had this book for a while and finally got around to reading it after I saw it was one of the 100 best books written since 2000. A riveting and graphic portrayal of slavery in the US. coincidentally, my brother sent me a book he had recommended, Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar, non fiction about a slave in our first president George Washington’s household. things I never knew about our esteemed leader. Both books about women fleeing from enslavement. I enjoyed Tell Me Everything. Elizabeth Strout, an return to characters I enjoyed meeting in Strout’s earlier works. Beyond that, The Sea. Laura Spencer-Ash. historical fiction, a young girl is sent to America to keep her safe during WW Two. The novel explores her relationships with her host family as well as her own parents over 2o years. The Life Impossible, fiction, some magical realism. Matt Haig. A 72 year old woman, depressed and full of self blame decides she will move to a house on an island left to her by someone she had known over 40 years ago. The book shows that small kindnesses can have great impact and that change is always possible. Antie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions, Mario Giordano. translated from the Italian. First of a series of comic detective fiction featuring a 60m year German woman who moves to Sicily.
I think after reading so many positive reviews of Richard Osman’s books I might give him another try. I just was not enjoying the one I was reading and stopped halfway through, rare for me. I really enjoy mysteries and especially when the feature older protagonists. Not sure what was going on there.
Right now about to finish a book, The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich, who is indigenous and an author I have read before. A family drama, and with much to say about how we are degrading the planet.
Your book posts are always appreciated and I’m impressed by your capacity and presumably reading speed. My partner is a recently retired academic and I’m frequently blown away by how fast he can read and still remember what he’s read!
I’m a big crime fiction recently working my way through the Slow Horses series by Mick Heron which have been so well adapted for television. If you know them, Gary Oldman gives a masterclass in screen acting as Jackson Lamb. Have you read the Quirke series by John Banville? Originally wrtitten under the name Benjamin Black as he was such a snob about crime fiction and didn’t want them to tarnish his literary reputation. Eventually it seems everyone convinced him that he was being an arse and now they come out in his own name. They are exquisitely written and when my elderly relatives were still alive and could comment on such things they said that his evocation of late 50’s early 60’s Dublin is perfect.
I’m trying not to apologise for my paltry reading. Yours is exceptional.
I have nothing to add to your list or those of your commenters but love reading them so much!
I really enjoyed Richard Osman books, including his latest in a new series, so I’m feeling pleased you like his style too! His depictions, in my mind, are intelligent, insightful, funny, and have an important thread of kindness shining through (without any element of patronisation).
Also enjoyed the quirky Bob Mortimer, ‘Satsuma complex.’ I could hear his sense of humour shining through.
I’m enjoying dipping in to reads. For some reason, I seem to have a bit of a guilty feeling still about reading. It’s strange, though, because other creative threads don’t have that same hold. Interesting.
Author
My volume of reading is directly (and inversely!) proportional to the time I spend cleaning. That’s all you need to know! 😉