Books # 41

[ToxicPony]

I don't think she's a brain surgeon, i read physiatrist, which is somewhere between a medical doctor and a physio/OT, who helps rehab people after head injuries. Still very cool and important but much more regular hours, plus the article said she hasn't been seeing patients since 2022.

 

[Penguin2022]

That was the first ive read of hers. Got it from the library and it was no 13 in the series. No really enjoyed it though so going to start that series from the beginning, will keep an eye out for the Gregory ones! Thank you!

Pretty sure they’re on Kindle Unlimited there’s also a summer suspense series all set in Cornwall which are pretty easy reads.

I’m halfway through The Marriage Act by John Marrs.
He’s an odd one for me, I either love his books or struggle through them because I hate to not finish one!

 

[daisynoon]

Just finished 'The Daughter of Time' by Josephine Tey.

I had high expectations. I'm a nut for a murder mystery, and this was voted the greatest crime novel of all time by the Crime Writer's Association. The concept sounded incredible - a bored, bedbound detective puts his skills to work to solve the mystery of the Princes in the Tower (a period of history I'm also a little obsessed with)...

ANYWAY...

Good GOD that was a pile of tedious CRAP. I can't give it one star because it isn't BADLY written, but I really, really want to. So disappointed.

I hated this too, for the same reasons! It felt promising, and then was one-note, no nuance. No need to ponder over the mystery any longer, historians - my guy is really good at sussing things out from paintings

 

[LaBlonde]

I appreciate the intel! I skipped to Heated Rivalry on your prior recommendation, no regrets (and even that felt like a bit of a slog at times! But Ilya was worth it)

ilya makes the entire series worth it. i don’t get how the writing is so mid most of the time but out of nowhere she just created this amazing character anytime he popped up in the other books i was like “a STAR has arrived ”

the long game is, imo, a huge step up in writing quality so i would recommend it.

 

[AllieBee]

Officially 6 books for me in January but I finished Lovely War on New Years Day so really it was 5! I decided to spend January reading things that had been sitting on my TBR list for a long time…with mixed results!

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - one I admired rather than enjoyed. It’s a wonderfully written book but the bleak dystopian-ness was just a bit too bleak.

The Confession by Jessie Burton - a split timeline family story. Enjoyed it even if some of the modern day story was pushing the boundaries of believability a bit!

True Crime Story by Joseph Knox - meh! Could have been more than it was. Pretty predictable “twists” and feel like it dragged a bit.

Writers and Lovers by Lily King - loved it, highlight of the month. Beautifully written and characters I really invested in.

The One by John Marrs - runner up for book of the month! Really like the multiple storylines and although a couple maybe went a bit rogue toward the end!

Currently reading The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn which isn’t really grabbing me, but that could be more due to my stressful work week than the book itself.

I love Kate Quinn and really enjoyed all the books I read except Diamond Eye. It made me feel cold ans bleak and I dont like books making me feel that way! I DNF'd it!

 

[Hannahebee]

it really is awful now. i usually used to be able to pick up one or two things in there but their entire selection is just so poor. in my local one the actual book section is getting smaller and smaller too.

Yeah, I agree The Works entire selection is just so poor nowadays whereas before they had decent books that were right up my street but now they don't have anything that I like.

 

[Libbylulu]

I love the Aisling book series, the first one is called Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling.

Thanks for this recommendation, I’ve just finished it and it was just what I needed.

 

[StephenTJackson]

I had a strange book experience this week - an Agatha Christie that I didn’t enjoy! I picked up The Seven Dials Mystery as something I thought would be a quick easy read - a bit of a palate cleanser after trudging through The Diamond Eye - and it just didn’t do it for me! It felt all over the place - too many characters, plot lines that were bitty and a “twist” that was totally underwhelming. I know we’ve got lots of Christie fans on this thread so intrigued to know others thoughts on this one.

I was going to follow up the book with the Netflix adaptation but don’t think I’ll bother now!

I must admit, I read it a few weeks ago, and I was rather underwhelmed by it.

 

[Kerrie86]

Oh I’m glad it’s not just me with mate then!
I didn’t hate it at all, but I feel like I usually enjoy her books more than I enjoyed this one. I remember thinking bride was good after I’d finished it but I’d forgotten basically everything about it. Including the knotting - what is all that about??

She does seem to pick out some really ropey titles though. I remember my friend saying ‘oh I think you’d like this book I’ve read’ and then when she told me the title was Love Theoretically, I was all ‘absolutely not, that sounds terrible’. Jokes on me coz that’s my fave. I also really enjoyed Hot for Slayer but again if I ever had to say the title out loud I would cringe myself inside out.

 

[CommentBelow]

Has anyone read My Friends? I’ve had it from the library for ages but it’s just not grabbing me.

Backman?

 

[wishiniwasskinny]

according to goodreads, they’re rereleases of books she released a few years ago under a different name. i think that they republished them when broken country was so successful!

Thanks! I’m very keen to read Broken Country.

 

[RedFlagsAhoy]

Sort of off-topic but also not off-topic. Does anyone have any favourite knitting books? I'm very new to it and while there's lots of great pdf patterns out there I also do love a proper book. Doesn't need to just be a book of patterns, also books about the history of knitting/wool etc.

I actually learned with the first Stitch & Bitch book many years ago, the explanations/diagrams are really good! There are tons of superb videos on YouTube these days - I know you asked for a book but I still find it helpful even now to see a demo of someone doing the thing I’m have trouble visualising. DK produce a beautiful hardback called The Knitting Book which shows a library of different stitch types as well as basically info et

Also do sign up for Ravelry! It’ll change your (knitting) life!

 

[Ivegone]

The strawberry pancake patch house was a weird one I liked the start but the guy changes personality half way through and the girls needy and then surprise pregnancy

 

[missbct]

You mentioning 1984 reminded me I saw this meme again the other day

1984 is on my priority list for 2026 as I’ve not actually read it yet!!

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I frightened myself as a 16 year old reading it for the first time

 

[Ivegone]

I found a new book

She has a thread on here but I'm loving this

 

[Harlot O'Scara]

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Now it is February I will share my January reads . If you look really carefully you may spot when my new hyper focus kicked into

I also bought 7 books last month and read nine so I’m two down. Although I did borrow 7 from the library so I guess really I’m 5 up but I have a problem so we’ll let it slide

Have just seen that Kathy Burke and two more Roman books are on daily deals so save yourselves there’s no hope for me

If you're into the Romans, I'd recommend the Vindolanda & The Fort trilogies by Adrian Goldsworthy, and the Gaius Petreius Ruso mystery series by Ruth Downie (8 book starting with Medicus)

The Goldsworthy books were on Kindle Unlimited when I read them.

(I absolutely hated the Emma Southon book I read though )

 

[Pinkii]

Lots of good books in the February monthly deals

I bought:

The reading list
The tree’s
Heartburn

A few others i’m eyeing up atm and might buy later in the month

 

[Harlot O'Scara]

The fact that this film seems to be getting universal hate is almost making me like the book.

I wasn't aware this was an unpopular opinion until recently but I (usually) love film editions of books

I have Jane Eyre (2011), P&P (2005) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) editions, among others. And I want one for the new Running Man.

That "Wuthering Heights" shite can get in the bin though.

 

[LaBlonde]

I’m reading a Penguin Clothbound and just noticed the print is wearing off the cover, has happened to anyone else or is it my (perfectly normal?!) hands? Are they supposed to just be decorative?!

i would be so mad - they’re SO expensive too! i’ve never heard of that happening with them

 

[Carapop]

I enjoyed The Invisible Live.... but am surprised it's a best book of the decade. How did they come to that?

“based entirely on reader votes on Goodreads. The ranking reflects a combination of factors, including how many users voted for the book and how highly they ranked it”