January - 9
1. The Purple Onion Mystery (aka Murder on Friday) - book 7, and last, in the Spike Tracy series
by Harriette Ashbrook
mystery 1941
Kindle
finished 1/2/21
Sorry to say farewell to Mr. Tracy. I've so enjoyed these books.
2. The Theft of the Iron Dogs aka Murderer's Mistake - book 28 in the Robert Macdonald series
by E.C.R Lorac
mystery 1946
Kindle
finished 1/10/21
One of my favorite books in the Macdonald series. He goes back to an area, and sees some of the people he met in a previous book, Fell Murder. Such good characters, and she was a really good writer. I've read she's getting a lot of acclaim since being re-introduced through the British Library Crime Classics series. She deserves every bit of the praise.
3. The Railway Children
by Edith Nesbitt
children's fiction serialized in The London Magazine 1905, published as a book in 1906
Kindle
finished 1/14/21
Best book of the month! I loved it so much. She is a great writer, and I plan to read more of her this year. Wonderful family relationships. Realistic children. Life in the "olden days" when kids could pretty much live their own lives during the long days.
4. The Owl Service
by Alan Garner
children's fiction 1967
Kindle
finished 1/16/21
I really wanted to like this, but I mostly felt it was odd. I don't want to say too much because it is a good story to come to fresh. I am interested in the mythical stories about old England and Wales, but this one just didn't strike my fancy.
5. Murder in Vienna - book 42 in the Robert Macdonald series
by E.C.R. Lorac
mystery 1956
Kindle
finished 1/21/20
Still loving Lorac so much. What a terrific character Macdonald is. It is one of those series where you don't see him at home, or with relatives. It is just him on the case, yet readers get to know him as a person.
6. Kamala and Maya's Big Idea
by Meena Harris; illus. by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez
Children's book 2020
finished 1/24/21
7. Joey The Story of Joe Biden
by Jill Biden; illus. by Amy June Bates
Children's book 2020
finished 1/24/21
8. The Fatal Flying Affair - book 7 in the Lady Hardcastle mysteries
by T. E. Kinsey
mystery 2020
Kindle
finished 1/27/21
I love this series! It is historical fiction set in the pre-WWI years. Awfully good relationship between two women, both of them strong and interesting.
9. The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse
by Charlie Mackesy
illustrated fiction for adults and children 2019
finished 1/27/21
My main print reading is a very big (and wonderful book) about Churchill and the Second World War but I did read a few children's print books this month.
I heard about The Boy... from The Duchess of Cornwall. And then I saw it everywhere, so I bought it. I must be missing something. I think it is a perfectly fine children's book, but I am not one of the many adults who've written about how wonderful it is. I thought it rather simple and bland and not surprising or interesting. Probably I'm the only reader in the world who thinks this, but there you go.
The book about President Biden was really quite wonderful. We got it for all the grandchildren for Christmas. It is quite detailed about things in his life. I think it will show children that ordinary people can do great things as children and may even be President someday.
This book about Kamala Harris and her sister, Maya written by Maya's daughter was based on a story the writer had always heard. It isn't necessary factual but is a good story. I didn't care for the illustrations.
I felt the same way about The Owl Service when I read it about 15 years ago. I'd heard so much about it but somehow or other I just didn't connect that well with it. Glad E.C.R. Lorac continues to enthrall.
ReplyDeleteOh, she does!
DeleteI am really interested in that kind of subject, but just not that book. I couldn't figure out what was going on sometimes, and none of the characters really appealed to me.
I started the Lady Hardcastle series this month. Such fun! The audio version is delightful, too. Hope to continue soon.
ReplyDeleteI bet it makes for great listening!!
DeleteEdith Nesbit was and is a favourite author of mine! I have reviewed a few of her books on my blog, but my favourites which I occasionally re-read are still "The Enchanted Castle" and "The Enchanted City" (if those are their correct titles in English - I read them first in German when I was a kid). She was a great writer and really "got" children, unlike many of her contemporaries.
ReplyDeleteI love what you say about her getting kids. So very true. Not the moralizing that came with so many books for children which were supposed to "improve" them.
DeleteLooks like you had a great reading month. I don't think I've heard of the mysteries you mentioned and I'm curious. I love mysteries but lately had been reading more psychological thrillers but have taken a bit of a break from those. I still like them but I want to go back to series with characters I want to revisit with time and again. Hope you have some great reads this month!
ReplyDeleteI can't take psych. thrillers in books or TV! Too much of a scaredy cat!
DeleteI do enjoy series books for that reason - to catch up on the main character.
I also enjoy the Lady Hardcastle series and I just finished the flying one yesterday. I see there's a new series, featuring their jazz chums Skins Maloney & Co. I got #1 free with Kindle First and look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteAlan Garner is rather a Marmite author. I was grown up when I read The Owl Service and thought it was terrific. There was a BBC children's TV series of it sometime.
You might like Elidor, which is earlier and I'm guessing you wouldn't like Red Shift if The Owl Service did nothing for you. I think it's great!
I have the Skins book on preorder. Such fun,
DeleteWhat on earth is a "Marmite" autho. I mean, I know what Marmite is, but not as an adjective. All the English TV I have watched doesn't help me with that one!
I really should have expected that I wouldn't care for it that much. I don't read fantasy. I just can't get my head around it. But, because I am interested in so many of the early British life stories, I thought I'd like this one. I haven't yet gone back to the "bible - small b" Electric Eden to reread the part about the book.
A Marmite item is one which divides people: you either love or hate it.
DeleteIt's a term used often here. I love Marmite :-)
Oooh shudder - I read The Owl Service as a child and so did my husband, and we can still scare each other pointing out Owl Service-like crockery in charity shops! Susan Cooper I can read again as an adult but he's so scary! Mind you, he has an autobiography out I do want to read ...
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'd like to see what that looks like. I never thought there might be anything like it! I read SC to my son when he was little, and reading Owl Service reminded me of perhaps reading her again, esp now that you say you can read her again. Do you know books that refer to the "green man" that I have seen in some English TV shows?
Delete