I thought I'd do a few days at a time.
1. My first book of the year was Dead Sand, the first in the Lewis Cole series by Brendan DuBois. I wrote a bit about this series here. I love these books. I love the way the author writes. Pure pleasure reading them.
2. I don't jot down the number of pages in the books I read so I'm not positive, but I think the Little Book of Hygge was probably the shortest.
3. I can't really answer in the 'best sequel' category because I read so many series books. I'm always reading a sequel it seems, and I like them all so much that I continue on.
4. My favorite cover is the book I'm reading right now.
It is a photograph done by Keystone-France/Gamma Rapho. It is such a beautiful view of Paris where this collection of Christmas stories is set.
5. Ah, new to me favorite authors. Such a good year for this category. Brendan DuBois, Natasha Solomons, Josephine Tey, and Basil Thomson.
6. A tie for beautifully written book - one fiction, The Song of Hartgrove Hall by Natasha Solomons and one nonfiction, The Perfect Summer 1911, Just Before the Storm by Juliet Nicolson.
7. New favorite characters would have to be Lewis Cole and Inspector Richardson in the Brendan DuBois and Basil Thomson books.
8. I reread two books. Battles at Thrush Green by Miss Read and A Rumpole Christmas by John Mortimer. These are two of my all time favorite authors and it is always a joy to reread any of their books.
I'll come back and do the rest in a later post.
Love the book lists! You always give good suggestions. I re-read the Miss Read book "Chronicles of Fairacre" this Fall and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has three different stories in it. There's something so calming and yet interesting in her books.
ReplyDeleteMary
I think she is a wonderful writer. Her characters are so real. I love what you said 'calming yet interesting.'
DeleteForgot to add that I've also read the Maigret Christmas story and enjoyed it very much. It's somewhere on these shelves, may have to find it for another re-read.
DeleteThis may be a new collection, though I'm not sure if they've all been in the same book before or not. This one has three stories: A Maigret Christmas, Seven Small Crosses in a Notebook, and The Little Restaurant Near Place des Ternes. I'm wondering if the last is the one used in the television version of Maigret with Rowan Atkinson?
DeleteI might have to pinch this, Nan...
ReplyDeleteThat Maigret cover is beautiful. Going to try and get hold of that one.
That's what I did, Cath! I know you'll love the Maigret.
DeleteI love this kind of thing too and dividing it up is a good idea. I am glad you reminded me of Brendan DuBois, I want to read some of his books.
ReplyDeleteI really like his stories!
DeleteA great way to have a good think about what one has been reading throughout the year. But some of the questions are really tough!
ReplyDeleteMiss Read, yes... don't you just have to love her?
They do make one think!
DeleteI always find something interesting to read from your lists. I also like this list of questions. I am going to try to answer too.
ReplyDeleteOh, good! You'll have fun!
DeleteI knew someone I trusted implicitly had recommended the Lewis Cole series; should have known it would be you!! -- I just finished the first one and totally enjoyed it. Thank you for that -- I've ordered #2.
ReplyDeleteI loved the character and also the strong sense of place. Reminded me a bit of a series I like that is set on the Oregon Coast (in fact it is called Oregon Coast Mysteries and is by Scott William Carter) .... the hero is an older man with a slightly mysterious past too.... And I assume like the New Hampshire where Cole lives, it is very recognizable to anyone who has lived in Oregon (although fictionalized names are used). I bet you would like it!
I will look into that series. Yes, DuBois has that part of the state down just right.
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