So, it's suddenly turned busy. 'Well, it is Christmas!' I hear you opine. Quite right too. Plus, I changed my car, had family visiting, and took up Latin lessons with a really lovely lady tutor. And I have been reading too, just not got around to posting about said books on here, so I shall do a quick rundown in this post.
November saw me read four books.
66. The Tainted Cup - Robert Jackson Bennett
67. As a Thief in the Night - R. Austin Freeman
68. The Woman in the Woods - John Connolly. Wherein Charlie Parker helps to find out who the body of a woman, buried in the woods, is, and what happened to the child she gave birth to. As always this was hugely satisfying in its creepiness, excellent writing and conclusion. This series 'never' disappoints and one of my personal challenges for 2025 is to get myself up to date with it. Not a hardship.
69. Pomfret Towers - Angela Thirkell. Book 6 of the author's Barsetshire series. It's a loose series and this is one I hadn't read that's been on my tbr pile for years. It's a house party scenario involving several different families and you have to work out who's going to end up married to whom. Beautiful writing and such a gentle, delightful book. A bit different from her later books, which I also love. Another author I want to read more of in 2025.
So, that was November's books. Three of them were top-notch and one, As a Thief in the Night, a little bit average, but that's fine.
On to December and I've read, or in one case 'finished', two books so far this month.
70. Steeple Chasing - Peter Ross.
This was pretty much what it says on the tin. A book about the ancient churches of the UK. I'm not madly religious (perhaps slightly more than I used to be) but I do love old churches. It's a thing apparently and people who trot around all over the place visiting churches in groups are called Church-Crawlers. Who knew? But it strikes me as a lovely thing to do and I wonder where you sign up! This was full of history and interesting facts with a very strong sense of place all through, especially the London sections. 5 stars, no quibbling.
71. Murder in the Falling Snow - edited by Cecily Gayford.
This was an anthology of wintery/Christmassy murder short stories of the 'who did who in and why' variety. Not a standout collection but solid, with authors such as Dorothy L. Sayers, Arthur Conan Doyle, Michael Innes, Gladys Mitchell and a rather good story called The Mystery of Felwyn Tunnel by L.T. Meade and Robert Eustace which I had read before but was no hardship to read again. A solid 3 stars.
And now I'm reading this which is a three novella volume, Sherlock Holmes and the Three Winter Terrors by James Lovegrove.
Of course, no one writes Holmes and Watson like ACD, but this is not a bad effort. I've read the first novella which is a school based story about the death of a young boy at a private school. I've read a couple of books by Lovegrove and while they're not amazing, they're very readable.
So, that's me up to date. I hope you're keeping warm and cosy and finding plenty of good books to read, Christmassy or not. It's all good. No judgement here. :-)
18 comments:
Reading time has been a bit illusive, here at 'Gill Towers', however, with all the appointments and enforced relaxation time coming up soon, I am hoping to make better headway next year!
I know we discussed the character progression in the JC 'Charlie Parker' series, however, on searching my bookshelves I have found several more books from random points in the series, so I am going to try dipping in and out to see how I fare.
On the whole though, I am going to be culling some of the books from series which I know I shall never be trying to catch up with. I do have to make a good fist at having a clear out, so that seems like a good place to start, even though I am going to shed tears as I do it!! :) :)
Enjoy your new car :)
You have been busy, Cath! New car and Latin lessons - OK, I might have to ask - why Latin lessons? Good for you and good luck with that! Just sharing that I am determined to start the 'Charlie Parker' series in 2025. You've been praising it for years and years and I keep meaning to try it. I shall begin it in 2025. Promise....ha!
I bought my Dad Steeple Chasing for Christmas, so I'm glad it was interesting!
Does changed cars mean bought a new one? What did you get??
Do you need to read the Thirkell books in order if it is a "loose" series?
I took Latin in high school, and so loved it. Good for you for taking it up!
I would love to be in the church crawlers! The only thing is that it makes me sad that so many aren't being used. I'm as guilty as any parishioner who doesn't go anymore but I do love the Episcopal/Anglican church, especially the old words and hymns. I'm not big on modernizing. I think they did it to draw in younger people but I don't think it really worked, and maybe even drove some older people away??
Sorry I haven't been in better touch.
I’m impressed you’re learning Latin, Cath. I did it at school and enjoyed it then, but I’m not sure I’d be able to relearn it again now. French is providing me with enough of a challenge. Some good book choices here!
I'm glad you've had some good reads in November, Cath. I've read some Freeman work that I've enjoyed, and you've reminded me that I ought to get back to that. And I want to read some Thirkell, too, so I'm glad you mentioned that. I wish you well with your car, too!
Keeping busy is good, and I am happy that you are taking Latin lessons, as you had talked about.
I want to read more by Angela Thirkell, but we will have to see how that goes. I am glad that you enjoyed Steeple Chasing so much. That cover on Murder in the Falling Snow is very nice, although I do not need any more short story anthologies.
I'm gradually collecting and reading Angela Thirkell - always a nice easy read if short of reading. I got cross with Steeple Chasing as he didn't spend much time in Suffolk! but I'm a bit biased.
Latin! goodness me that's a toughie. 'They' made me do one year at Grammar school because in first year I was good at French. This meant I missed one year of art which was annoying. Later I failed French O level but got an Art one. Can't remember a word of Latin!
Hi Yvonne, I hope all goes well with all the appointments. Yes, extra time to read perhaps but I'm sure you could do without the reasons.
A random dip into one of the CP books will tell you whether or not the books are for you quite quickly I should imagine.
Yes, I've tried to do some book culling but it's not at all easy. Especially as I've had incidences in the past where I've culled a book or series and then wanted to read them a year or two later. Good luck anyway.
Thank you, the new car and I are getting along nicely at the moment.
Kay: The only reason I have for the Latin is that I've always fancied giving it a go and decided on that to give myself a challenge and my brain a good workout. It's certainly providing both! LOL
I do hope you like the CP books if you decide to try them. Bear in mind they're not for everyone.
Simon: I think your dad will absolutely love Steeple Chasing, it was so interesting.
Nan: Yes, a new car but not brand new, 'new' to me. It's a 2019 white Hyundai i10. Smaller than our Mazda with a 2 litre engine which, because I don't go very far, the battery kept draining. I needed a smaller 'town' car and now have one.
No, you don't need to read the Angela Thirkell books in order. There are recurring characters or mentions of people in previous books, but really her books are standalones set in the same county of fictional Barsetshire. I do believe they would be right up your alley.
Thank you, I'm really enjoying the Latin so far although the grammar is tricky.
Yes, congregations are dwindling in our churches and some become abandoned. It's such a shame but I don't go to church either. What a pity we're not neighbours, we could go church crawling together.
Please don't worry about not being in touch, though I often wonder how you are. I hope 2025 is a decent year for you and your lovely family.
Val. Thank you. I did French for years at school and that knowledge has stayed with me a bit and is helping me with the Latin, believe it or not. Also a lot of English words have a Latin base so that too is helping. It's all serving to keep my brain engaged!
Margot: Thank you re the car. It's going ok so far.
Angela Thirkell's books seem to be universally loved by those who give her a go, so I would suggest you couldn't go far wrong with her.
Tracy: I agree about keeping busy and in the new year I have more ideas about doing something new. Now I live alone it's important to try and get out more.
More Angela Thirkell is always good and Pomfret Towers was particularly so. Such good observation of human nature. You're so right about short story collections - I have so many that I wonder if I'll ever get to them all! But I am at least reading them now, once upon a time I was not.
Sue: I'm glad you like AT too. Every time I think I'm a bit bored with her books I read one and realise I'm not. She's so good at observing little human quirks. The Steeple Chasing chap didn't come to the SW much either, which would've been nice but never mind. What he did write about was fascinating.
Your experience with Latin made me laugh. I was at a Secondary Modern so no Latin, but I did French and did well at it, like you. Whether I would've liked Latin as a teen I'm not sure, but I'm enjoying it now.
Hi Cath, A very nice winter collection. And Murder On The Fallen Snow sounds really good because you get a collection of Christmas stories from different authors.
I hope you and your family have a great Christmas
You're taking Latin? That's awesome. Good for you. And the Lovegrove novellas look like fun. I really enjoyed reading his book Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Demon. And I'm counting down the days until my Christmas break starts...only eight more days to go. :D
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