Friday 1 March 2013

Books read in February

The 1st. March is here already, not sure where January and February went, before we know it it'll be Christmas again. *ducks rotten eggs* Spring should be on the way but it doesn't feel much like it to be honest. I don't mind but my husband, like all keen gardeners, is itching to start planting his seeds and wants to get the garden going for the year. I just hope it's not another wash-out like last year when most of our produce was either eaten by slugs or washed away in the rain. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, it's time for a run-down of what I read last month. Here we go:

8. The Fall of a Philanderer by Carola Dunn. Daisy and Alec holiday in a Devon seaside village and of course it's not long before a dead body appears. This time though, it's Alec who falls over it at the bottom of a cliff. Huge fun and one of my favourites of the series so far.

9. The Book of Frank Herbert by Frank Herbert. A science fiction collection and as always with these anthologies, some good stories and some average ones. But not bad.

10. Down the Nile by Rosemary Mahoney. The author rows down this iconic river but the book has more to say about Egypt than it does the actual rowing. Terrific book. Highly recommend to other armchair travellers or anyone interested in Egypt.

11. Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler. The first in the Bryant and May series, creepy 'Phantom of the Opera' kind of yarn. Not bad at all but a trifle over-long, although that's just my opinion. I will read more.

12. The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson. The first book in the Walt Longmire series. Very impressed with this excellent crime yarn, set in Wyoming. My husband's now reading it and he's also very impressed. This series could be my discovery of 2013 as John Connolly and Charlie Parker were for me in 2012.

So, just five books for me in February. Not really surprised as I also did four jigsaw puzzles and it was also the schools' half-term holiday. Short month too of course. That said, a nice reading month all in all. Favourite read would have to be The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson, closely followed by Down the Nile by Rosemary Mahoney. But Daisy Dalrymple was fabulous too, as always, I hope this series goes on and on.

For March, well I'm about to finish a book of horror short stories called. The Monster Corner edited by Christopher Golden. One or two excellent stories in that. Also reading Walk the Lines a non-fiction by Mark Mason who decided to walk the entire London Underground, 'overground'. It's very interesting and amusing. Other than that I have Walt Longmire, book two, in my sites, Death Without Company, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin has been mouldering on my library pile for long enough, so I'll be reading that for my Southern Lit. challenge. And then I'm not sure what else. Some Space Opera I think as I have several to read. Plus Carl's Once Upon a Time challenge should be starting this month and I have several hefty tomes waiting on my shelf for that: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay and Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb. That lot should keep me going for the three months of the challenge!

Happy reading in March.
~~~oOo~~~

11 comments:

DesLily said...

well you did a whole lot more than I did in February! I only read 3 books ! although two were chunksters it still was not much ..there was a lot of depression and such going on for me and I didn't read much each day so ... oh well lol..at least YOU did good!!!!! oh and I think you will like Crooked Letter,Crooked Letter!!!

Margaret @ BooksPlease said...

I'm most impressed by the four jigsaws - and five books too. I managed 6 books, but only one jigsaw and I'd started that last year!

Interesting to see you enjoyed the Carola Dunn so much - it'll be ages before I get to that book!

Gavin said...

Better than I did in February, Cath. Now I have to add the Longmire series to my list:)

Cath said...

Two of your books were huge though, Pat. I'm going to read Crooked Letter this month as it's time to read another book for the Southern Lit. thing.

Margaret: I get phases for things and the last two months I just wanted to sit quietly doing jigsaws. I might not get as many done this month as I feel like reading again now.

Daisy is a nice series to read over a few years - I've been reading her for about 3 years now. I like having a series to go to when I want something comforting. The Book People very often have offers on these books.

Gavin: If you get to the Longmire series I hope you enjoy them.

Nan said...

I was amazed to read about the puzzles. Just in the past few months I've begun doing jigsaw puzzles on the computer. I got a lot of free ones, and then enjoyed them so much I bought more. I've found that doing them is like meditating or yoga or aerobic exercise in that I totally concentrate on them without having any other thoughts in my head. Most relaxing!
I read only three books last month but so loved them all. My evening reading has been taken over by watching all the Foyle's War shows again. There's a new one coming this summer over here. Honestly watching them is like reading to me. Slow, quiet, thoughtful. And I learn so much in each episode.
I think I'm going to try the first Longmire book. I really love the tv series.

Cath said...

Nan: I've not tried to do jigsaws on the computer. I figure *one* kind of jigsaw puzzle addiction is enough. LOL

I love that you have been rewatching the Foyle's War series. I've seen all of them several times. Along with Lewis I think they're the best British crime series I know of. Others, like Miss Marple and Poirot, are not far behind but those two are the best I think.

I hope you try Walt Longmire, I was very impressed by that first book and now have 3 more to read.

Susan said...

Yes, 4 jigsaws and 5 books- a good month, I'd say, Cath! I'm am happy you liked the Byrant and May enough to continue. It was a good book, though a little hysterical by the end, I felt. For all that, the chemistry of the two main characters is so good.

Susan said...

PS the Monster Corner sounds interesting! Please review that! lol

Cath said...

Susan: Yep, not a bad month all told. I'm not sure what was wrong with the first Bryant and May, it started well but lost something along the way. Possibly it turned out to be not as creepy as I wanted it to be.

The Monster Corner is worth grabbing from the library as it does have a few good stories in it.

Val said...

Lovely list ...I've actually read some books myself! so I must follow your example and have a go at a review!

Cath said...

Val: Would love to hear what you've been reading!