Anyway... the books I read in August. An average month for me due, naturally, to being preoccupied with my daughter and grandson, but also having our grand-daughter to stay and harvesting from the garden. The harvesting has slowed down a bit (though I'm still making jam and cooking tomatoes!) as autumn is setting in here and it's very much cooler than it was a couple of weeks back. So, here're my August reads:
52. Miracle at Speedy Motors - Alexander McCall Smith
53. A Wild Life - Dick Pitman
54. Our Spoons Came from Woolworths - Barbara Comyns
55. Howards End is on the Landing - Susan Hill
56. The House at Sea's End - Elly Griffiths
57. Queste - Angie Sage
Every one of them was a good read. Hard to pick a favourite but it would probably have to be The House at Sea's End, Elly Griffiths' latest Ruth Galloway novel. It was just brilliant. Such a wonderful sense of place... the Norfolk coast... and having been there I know the author has it spot on. Fast pacey plot with a lot of development with Ruth and her personal life. Great stuff.
At the moment I'm almost finished with Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs, my first read for RIP VI. Loving it. And I'm also slowly working my way through Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope. When Bone Crossed is finished I'll probably read something else for RIP... the trouble is I'm spoilt for choice (see previous post) and I even picked up two library books for the challenge yesterday!! But in my defense, the weather here is perfect for curling up with a good book as it's pouring with rain and really rather autumnal. Happy Reading.
10 comments:
wow I actually did 7 books in aug.. whereas May I only did 3 !
I did:
The Winter Sea...Susanna Kearsley
My Dream of Stars...Anoushes Ansari
The Grimm Legacy..Polly Shulman
The Moonstone... Wilke Collins
Mrs Tom Thumb...Melanie Benjamin
The House at Riverton...Kate Morton
BFG...Rolad Dahl
I just finished my first for rip that I need to post...
I hope you are getting into a "new routine"..and I sure hope things go fantastically!
Sorry to hear about your daughter, how worrying for you.
The House at Sea's End is good, isn't it? There's a place on the coast not far from here which has the right sort of look about it for the house in the book, so I imagined it all taking place there. Can't wait for the next one.
Pat: You had some good reads last month, and a varied selection too. I kind of like 'varied'.
I saw your new post, shame the book didn't quite live up to its promise.
Thanks, Sis, we're coping and doing okay at the moment.
GeraniumCat: Thank you. Yes, it is very worrying. I just hope she hears from the hospital soon. Luckily, her GP is pushing hard.
Oh yes, The House at Sea's End is excellent, probably the best so far, though others might disagree of course. I know a house just like that one, which is situated on the cliffs at Cape Cornwall... a different coast I know, but the house would suit the plot perfectly. I think the next one is due out in 2012 but am not positive.
So sorry to hear about your daughter - does she live near you? I hope she gets her operation soon.
I'm looking forward to reading The House at Sea's End. I've recently finished The Janus Stone which I thought was very good, despite being written in the present tense.
I still need to get to Howard's End is on the Landing. It's impossible to get from the library these days. What an impressive list of books you've read, in spite of all that is going on your life right now. Best wishes for your daughter and hope the surgery come up soon - and best to you, too. These things are hard on moms and dads, even when our kids are grown.
Hi Cath,
Best Wishes to your daughter, I do hope that it is not too serious a condition that needs treatment, and that she will make a full recovery after surgery.
I'm surprised that you managed to fit any reading in, with all the different diversions you have going on right now.
I'm afraid that I am not the kind of person for whom 'The Good Life' approach holds any fascination, so I have nothing but admiration for you, with all your bottling and preserving pans in full use.
There is definitely a nip in the air in the mornings, a sure sign that Autumn is approaching fast. I am hoping that the weather will stay reasonably warm for the next few days, as my niece gets married on September 17th and the venue has some beautiful gardens perfect for photographs.
I haven't read any Elly Griffiths, but 'The House At Sea's End' is already on my reading list, together with 'Our Spoons Came From Woolworths', after your great reviews.
I think you have enough books put aside to complete several challenges, so enjoy!!
Yvonne
I hope that your daughter gets the surgery she needs soon. That must be terrible for everyone! Waiting is no fun...
Glad to see you got some reading done to take your mind off things, though. I only posted my August wrap-up yesterday myself. September just started and it is going too fast!
Margaret: Yes, thank goodness, our daughter lives only a ten minute walk away, so on the doorstep really. She's a single parent so this added complication is not exactly welcome. But hopefully we'll all get through it together.
Yes, the present tense thing is unusual but I hardly notice once I get into the book.
lifeonthecutoff: Thank you so much. Yes, even when they're in their thirties and parents themselves, we still worry about our children. Possibly more, because when there's a grandchild involved we worry for them too.
Yvonne: Thank you. I gather the operation she needs is one of the most common spinal operations done. And these days things are very different to when my brother had spinal surgery in the 1950s. He was left disabled for life, whereas these days success rates are very high.
Funny, I said to my husband last night that there's still time for a few pleasant weeks before autumn really does set in. I hope it's sunny for your niece's wedding and that she has a lovely day.
Elly Griffiths is an excellent crime writer but start with the first book in the series, The Crossing Places, as there is quite a strong personal back-story for Ruth.
Kelly: It's not much fun waiting but at least my daughter is in less pain now with the new meds.
Yeah, I like to get a little reading done whatever the circumstances. Like you said, it takes my mind off things and we all need that I think.
Oh, Cath, I'm so sorry about your girl. It's so scary when there's a problem with our kids. Why is there a wait? I'm thinking about you.
Oh, and I always love Mma R. and her pals! And you probably read how much I loved Howards End on the Landing. I shall check into the Ruth Galloway series.
Nan: The wait is because the op will be done on the NHS. Which means the op and all meds are free but you have to take your turn. Luckily she's been put on the priority list so it shouldn't be too many weeks to wait. Plus she's now on new meds which are easing her pain a lot. Thanks for your kind thoughts.
Oh, you should really try Ruth Galloway as I think you would love the books.
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