Hello fellow book lovers, and welcome to edition 101. A huge thanks to Aginghippy for hosting the 100th edition and everyone who joined in, it was our busiest edition for a while!
We had a few people joining us for the first time too, which is brilliant!
Just as a reminder, this is the place where we gather together to find out what everyone has been reading, make recommendations on the great and not so great reads, try out new genres and all the good things a book club brings with it, without the deadlines.
Each month features two editions of RAAI, with hosting shared between me and @aginghippy. We often tag regular contributors and try and entice back members who haven't been here for a while, and of course it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway), that new members are very welcome, so if you haven't posted here before, just give us a go
Edition 101 makes me think of Room 101, and what books I’d put in there. I think for genres it might be science fiction, but I’ve read some under that heading that I’ve enjoyed. In terms of individual books, I think my all time most hated book that I had to read has to be American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. (It was a book club book). I can honestly say that no book has ever had such a negative effect on me. Has anyone read any books that have had a similar profoundly negative effect on them?
The two books I’ve finished since the last edition haven’t had the same impact, and I would say that even if it was a book club book, if anything made me feel the same way, I’d ditch it – in the bin, not even to the charity shop.
Stacey Halls – Mrs England (Audible) Children’s nurse, Ruby May is forced to find a new position after her first placement family decides to emigrate. We find that she won’t go with them because of a duty to her siblings, especially her sister. She finds a new position in West Yorkshire for the family of a cotton mill owner. The England family, 2 parents and 4 children seem delightful, but the mother is clearly not well, vacant and absent for much of the time. Father, very amiable, but with an undercurrent. Towards the very end of the book, we find out about Ruby’s past trauma, which helps her recognise the problems in the England family, but it’s all very underwhelming. Not helped by a monotone narrator who made Ruby’s Birmingham accent, and the England’s Yorkshire accent sound like a series from “Acorn Antiques” (think Julie Walters’ “Coconut macaroon Miss Babs?”)
Richard Osman – The Man Who Died Twice (Borrowbox) We’re back with Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim for another unlikely, but very likeable, adventure of the Murder Club. This time it’s diamonds, spies, mobsters and love, and a hefty body count of course. I love Richard Osma’s characters. Quirky, but lovable, even the unlovable ones. It all begins with a note from Elizabeth’s ex-husband, who’s just moved in nearby…
I can’t wait to hear about what everyone has been reading
Thanks for hosting and posting Grigid I haven't got the new Library book club book as yet hopefully I'll get it next week 🌈 Meanwhile having finished The Bullet That Missed and loved every page of Richard Osman's book I have returned to the next Elly Griffiths Book - The Chalk Pit, A local woman goes missing and the police are under attack. Ruth and Nelson must unravel the dark secrets of The Underground and discover just what gruesome secrets lurk at its heart - before it claims another victim. I really like this Ruth Galloway series with the mix of archaeology, police procedural and the personal lives of these oh, so interesting characters. The pace is always swift, and the plot intriguing.
I know, there weren't enough books to go round last week as the group has doubled in size over the last couple of months, so I said I'd get mine when the first one got handed back... The Chalk Pit is Book #9 I think so the characters are growing as the series moves along which is interesting. Grigid 🌈
Thanks Clematisa1. We have similar tastes. We have 10 in our library bookclub and receive 10 books so no problems for us. O hope you enjoy the bookclub one when you get it.
it’s called Killing Moon which is the latest Harry Hole book by Jo Nesbo. Harry Hole was a Norwegian Police officer but in the book he was been employed by the person suspected of committing the crime. He needed to do this to raise money to save a friend from Mexican gangs.
It quite good but has graphic details of crime & forensic tests.
When I was reading this I took a photo of the blue moon which I can’t resist from sharing.
I haven't read any of the Harry Hole books. I think I have some somewhere as hubby has read some. We also have some of the Kathy Reichs Bones books. More that I hope to read sometime.
I tend to borrow books from BorrowBox or get the 99p ones. I only pay full price if it’s a gift or are written by Kathy Reichs, Val McDermid or Ann Cleeves so I know I will enjoy them & want to read they again.
Haha, very true re BorrowBox. I’ve just recently reserved a book and thought “oh that’s not bad” when I glanced at the “available on” date. Then I looked again and it’s the middle of 2024! 😂
I guess it will be a test of whether my taste has changed at all.
I never understand why the wait is so long if its online. Its not like you have wait for the actual book to be returned like at the library 🤔I am waiting for one which is due in December. Some Christmas reading to look forward to 😂😂
I couldn’t understand why either, so I’ve looked it up and found this answer:
“In most cases, libraries buy individual "copies" of digital titles from publishers. Publishers often require that each digital copy is only loaned to one person at a time (just like physical library books).”
I wonder how much each copy costs the libraries? At least the dog cant eat them like mine old dog used to! She was driven mad by the many smells on them - cost me a fortune in replacements 💷
Being a digital version I can't image it's very expensive. Maybe they should buy more🤔.
Luckily my dog hasn't done that but she'd have to eat my kindle 😂. Although I do sometimes order books from the library for book club to avoid buying them if I'm not sure if I'll like them.
Love the photo. It was too cloudy to see here. Not read any Jo Nesbo but think they might be a bit too gritty for me. 😱 Glad you finished and enjoyed it.
They are pretty gritty. My Mum likes historical novels but I haven’t really enjoyed the ones I have tried . History was my least favourite subject at school.
Hello everyone. I think I missed edition 100 as I was away. What an achievement to keep it going. Thanks to wa2un7 who started it. Also @Trimmerteacher Grigid and Aginghippy .
While I've been away I've read The Mother by T M Logan about a mother is who is sent to prison for murdering her husband a crime she didn't commit. When she is released she sets out to find out the truth and get her children back. I really enjoyed it
I also read The Survivors by Jane Harper who wrote the Aaron Falk series. This one is about a couple who return to their childhood home 12 years after the older brother died. Kieran feels he is to blame for the accident which killed his brother. While they are there someone else disappears and the investigation turns up the truth of what really happened to the brother. I have enjoyed all books by Jane Harper.
I am now reading the Ladies Midnight Swimming Club by Faith Hogan which is our book club choice for September. I read it some while ago so I am rereading it.
I do like the sound of The Mother, yet another author that’s going to end up in my “to read” mountain!
I didn’t realise that Jane Harper’s novels are all set in Australia. I’ve just started out October book club book which is set in Australia, Dead Man’s Creek by Chris Hammer. I’m only a couple of chapters in but the style of writing is a bit different from a lot of crime fiction I’ve read before, and apart from the detectives I have no idea who anyone is yet.
Ladies Midnight Swimming Club has popped up on my radar before, I look forward to see what you think 😊
We have a book club meeting on Thursday as last month's was cancelled so we will catch up with the last one we read as well. Then decide on some new ones.
I know I've been gone too long. I've been in & out of the hospital. My blood glucose levels hit 300, so my oncologist put me on metformin. When she told me about the side effects, diarrhea WAS one of them & unfortunately with in 2 weeks of taking I developed stomach problems first, then had to check myself into the ER for chronic diarrhea & shortness of breath. Got the diahrreah cleared up. Then 2 weeks later, I tried to keep a physical therapy appointment but the walk from my car to the PT office left me nearly passing out with gasping. They walked me back to my car & wanted to call an ambulance, but I didn't want to leave my car (it's a bad place for break-ins) so they waited until I was able to breathe well & I drove myself to the ER again. I developed pneumonia. Pulmonology drained 700 ml of fluid & had me on a triple antibiotic infusion for 3 days. I've been at home a week doing breathing treatment & exercises to try to reinflate my lungs 🫁 & Home Health Care nurse is supposed to come today. Still feeling a little weak, but I'm getting in & out of bed better.
Thanks Grigid, I'm sorry that I'm a little late for this edition. August has not been a good month for me.😔My first book was The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths. As usual very good.
Then The Keeper Of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis. Not my usual genre but I enjoyed it, although I had to suspend disbelief towards the end. Still for a 99p kindle I would recommend it.
Next was Graham Nortons latest Forever Home. I enjoy his books and this was also a good tale taken with a pinch of salt. Am I getting a bit picky in my old age ??!
I have now just finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Again not my usual genre but I quite enjoyed it and it will be interesting to hear what the others think about it.
While feeling sorry for myself ( I had Covid ) I looked for something else to read and found a compilation of the first 3 books of Elly Griffiths other series ,set in Brighton in the 50s. I took the gamble and have just started the first one and am enjoying it. Later I got the latest in the Ruth Galloway series for 99p and one that Grigid recommended something and Hungry Paul for £1 .09 I must stop buying books except for Richard Osman. I wonder who will do that first review ?!
I hope you are feeling better and recovered from covid. I think we are all waiting for the new Richard osman book.
It sounds like you have read a lot of good books. I like the sound of them. Some of the titles are familiar and are probably on my kindle. I also need to stop buying books.
I guess it was one upside to Covid? I hope you’re feeling much better now. I’ve heard the most recent variation is back to being quite unpleasant.
I’ve just got back from visiting my daughter in Brighton, I’ll have to have a look at the Elly Griffiths set. Of course Richard Osman’s series is set in the area too. My eldest used to live in Hove and I was trying to work out where the safe house in The Man Who Died Twice might be 😂
Must have a look at the other Elly Griffiths books as well, Aginghippy I'm really enjoying the Chalk Pit at the moment. Sorry to hear you've had Covid no wonder you were feeling sorry for yourself... So far so good I've given covid a body swerve and hope that continues. 💞🌈
I had managed to miss it too, but my husband flew to Australia to see his dying brother. He obviously caught it on the long flight home. As I said not a good month! But plenty of time to read. X
Sorry to read you weren't doing well in August. I know the feeling. Here's hoping September is better for both of us! 😀 Your book 📚 choices sound interesting. I have to find something. I had to give up on Atlas Shrugged. I don't know why, but I just wasn't enjoying it anymore.
I hope you find something that keeps your interest up. Unless you really have to finish a book I see no point if you’re not enjoying it, but it’s not always that easy is it?
Had a call from the library this morning to let me know that the book club book was ready for me to pick up Grigid so I walked today to up my steps... it's Gone A Girl, A Violin, A Life Unstrung by Min Kym and there's music to play along with it so very interesting... I've put my name on the list for the new Richard Osman, lol It's not even bought yet and I'm number 89 on the list... I may look for an offer on Amazon before too long.... Grigid Meanwhile I picked up a Fredrick Backman book called Anxious People - From the author of A Man Called Ove It says it's a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined. Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths. As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.
The Min Kym sounds intriguing - I wonder if the music will enhance the reading?
I’m guessing we’re all a bit back of the queue for the Richard Osman, unless we want to pay hardback prices.
Middle daughter lives in a very middle class village, I’ll have to start loitering around the Barnados charity book shop about 2 weeks after it comes out 😂
I like the sound of Anxious people. I recently bought A man called Ove which was on offer as it has been made into a film. As a result I have had several recommendations for other books he has written. I haven't read it yet but hope to get to it soon.
Our next book club choice is The Reading list by Sara Nisha Adams which I have read before followed by The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.
Love that you liked the Richard Osman book... I am waiting for delivery of the next book apparently signed by the author......
Just finished listening to the Long Shadows by David Baldacci .... Loved it.... Decker has a new partner called White... They are sent to Florida both are mystified as agents are already there.... They find out why at the end if the book.... A judge is murdered alongside another in the same house... Loved the interaction loved the suspects... Loved it period... Would recommend
It was a loan from borrow box and well worth... If you get a chance to read it please do
I finished reading “Hector Pulls It Off” and now in the middle of the next story (“Liam’s Story”). “Liam’s Story” is the 6th story from “Written In Blood”, by Caroline Graham. It’s pretty good so far.
Barnaby and Troy are talking with Max Jennings about the impression that he had about the way the members of the book group for authors had been behaving and what he thought of Gerald Hadleigh before he was murdered.
Great job with the posting. Thank you for posting it for us.😀👍📖📗📚
I have been so preoccupied with other things but had to tell my old self to take some time to relax . This sunny weather has left me lacking energy as I have been getting up really early and done a days work before I started work as washed everything as I love line dried clothes , curtains , cushion covers - the list gets boring .
So - the books .
1 .The People Before by Charlotte Northridge . An easy read thriller which looks to have that generic couple move in to house with a past . Neighbours aren't who they seem . Sort of read something like this before as the outline is very familiar but it gets better and for a 2 day garden read it is suitable as you can keep coming back to it as it has simplicity without being boring . Won't ruin as the final few chapters hot up .
2 . The House Party by Lin Anderson . Swift page turner. The remains of a never found teenager are dug up when land is used for a new construction . Fingers point to one person who had a part so is guilty of something but there are confident others who also have done more and who know more. Ending is good but getting there is a bit long winded . Wouldn't be my fave read but I am getting slightly more fussy.
3. The Lock up by John Banville. Has a good write up about the author but I wasn't as thrilled as some . An apparent suicide has an experienced detective not convinced then when the victims friends have died or die in strange circumstances then he delves further into connections , affluent business associates and cover ups. I looked forward to this but weirdly found it didn't have that edgy kick I was turning page after page over to not discover . This is why these books are in order of read , try and maybe leave , however Mr Banville has written others so I wonder if anyone here can recommend a better one ?
It sounds like you’ve had some “suitable for the hot weather” reads there. The People Before could form a sub genre of its own couldn’t it? I haven’t read that one, but very similar plots have crossed my path.
I haven’t read any of John Banville’s stuff, maybe he was commissioned to write something with a certain number of pages and had to pad it out 😂
We’re forecast storms today so it looks like my last load is going on the airer 😔
Nodding my head here . No rain yet in the sunny NW but an unexpected storm about 21.30 last night . I will try and get a walk in to the library tomorrow and get a bundle of newbies. Our library is open longer hours but has that unstaffed option where you can get in the building with a kind of card door key . I find this quite unnerving as I think I will see a lone person silently sat there . I can find the confidence to do this .
We have that option at our library too but I've not tried it. I know what you mean it feels a bit strange going in alone.
It's pouring down at the moment and we've just had a massive thunder storm. ⛈️. I am not going anywhere today.
I haven't read any of those books buy they all sound like my sort of book. The People Before reminds me of The Girl Before which I have read. There seems to be a lot of books on that theme.
Thanks Gizmocat .I am relieved you feel the same about the library . I would pray I was just alone but the min someone started to come in I would freak out . Imagine wandering in to find someone ill or so silent you almost jump out of your skin . Hey - this could be the opening chapter .....
We have the same thing they call it smart hours.... Makes me life as they can't stop tail gaiting.... So agree with you not really secure.... I was worried the first time I used it but it got easier... Definitely wouldn't go after 3 though or before 9....Who am I kidding I mostly get there when it's staffed.... Apologies rambling
I will retire - one day and hopefully have time to explore books in more detail as they have been my friends for years. Better than medication and as a child with a seriously ill Mum with complex forever mental health problems I had long spells alone in my bedroom as she couldn’t stand noise . I have taken this as a positive as all my 5 sons were early readers , gained places in good universities and have good jobs . I really owe this to reading , independent learning and the me time it lends . Hope the new library does have a good group to chat and listen to others .
Weather here = storm then hot sunshine . I put on leggings and a heavier T shirt but now too hot . Tempted to change but that will bring on the rain . Want to nip out but hate getting drenched . May start a jigsaw . My bank account gives a freebie choice of magazines so I get Good Housekeeping and pinched my husbands so get Woman and Home too . Trouble is I have read them in less than a hour and the articles I could write myself . I wonder whether anyone here gets a mag subscription and what they like / don't . I love receiving the mag though the post but spend 5 mins throwing all adverts then the issue is very thin and sits on the table for days .
I used to subscribe to the London Review of Books, but found I wasn’t taking full advantage and the fortnightly papers just kept building up. It was interesting but I needed to really concentrate. I need something that’s keeps my interest but doesn’t require my full attention 😊
I agree but most Women's mags are just adverts on glossy paper . The skincare , hair potions and clothes are out of my range then glance at some of the holidays . I would want a week not a night there for the price and a hearty breakfast thrown in . Actually I do enjoy the regular monthly new book reviews as the front covers are photographed so I look in the library for them . I like a real book / paper mag so the digital copies you can download from the library don't interest me . I used to buy a Sunday paper but only read half of it so stopped .
Who doesn't love an Agatha murder mystery... I loved this one.... A little girl buys her old home and her memories come back.... She witnessed a murder when she was very young.... Miss Marple is a gem... There were some giggles and I thought everyone did it.... But that was another book.....My library is starting a Agatha discussion group so yes I will be there 😁
It's our book group tonight and we're discussing Antoine Lauren's book, Vintage 1954 which I finished well ahead and didn't enjoy. I just hope that I can remember specifically why I didn't.
Most people thought it was “okay”, but then we got onto a big discussion about categorising genres, which was very interesting. As the book has UFOs and time travel in it we thought it would be in science fiction, but in the bookshop we meet in it goes with general fiction because the story stands on its own without those elements. Who would have known that’s how they do it 🤷🏻♀️
Interestingly the one person who said he’s one of her favourite writers said it was because of all the visual descriptions of surroundings/shops/interiors. She’s an artist so I kind of get that but I would never have thought the descriptions were so good to warrant a “favourite author” label. Just goes to show what a melting pot we are 😊
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Maintainer's Club November 2023
