Posted on by Cathy

đŸ“˜ Watcha reading…..

Source – Oxford English Dictionary

So rather than asking watcha reading I’ll put it another way…..because I’m sure our Mums wouldn’t like the watcha word

What have you read recently….

After enjoying my first Stuart MacBride stand alone early last month I found this 3 book series (online at Hoopla) which I devoured one after the other in quick succession. With the same characters appearing – much humour injected into unthinkable situations along with police procedures (of good bad and ugly proportions) they were enjoyable- couldn’t put downable but enough for the time being I think

Ash Henderson Series – Stuart MacBride
Birthdays for the dead

A song for the Dying 

The Coffin Maker’s Garden

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I’m not sure what the problem has been with my attention span recently, several books from various sources came into the cabin over the past few weeks but I couldn’t settle on any of them so resorted to looking online for older unread publications – comfort reading!

  • The Far Country – Nevil Shute 1952.
    This and others available to download free here at Faded Page

One of Shute’s Australian novels.
Set in England and Australia it looks at life in both countries during the 1950s. Jennifer Morton is given the chance to visit some distant relatives living on a sheep station where she discovers she is capable of far more than she ever anticipated
I enjoy Shute’s style of writing in a very understated way yet understandable on many levels

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Those two winter reads from last month I had lined up for this one didn’t happen- one had a dual time line that became more confusing the more I read and the other lost it’s appeal after a few chapters……so I chose this instead

  • The Woods in Winter – Stella Gibbons 1970. Hoopla
    Republished by Furrowed Middlebrow/Dean Street Press 2021
    A different sort of read about a ‘take me as I am, basic, no nonsense, see the bright side of everything’ person- left a small (very dilapidated) cottage in a village close to where she was born and raised. She moves to live a solitary (by choice) life in the cottage taking a rescued dog plus very few belongings.
    AI Overview
    The Woods in Winter” by Stella Gibbons, is a novel focusing on Ivy Gower, a middle-aged charwoman who inherits a cottage in the English countryside. Despite her initial desire for solitude, she finds herself impacting the lives of her neighbors in unexpected ways, including a runaway boy, a mourning spinster, and the local gentry. The story blends humor and poignancy, exploring themes of old age, solitude, and the unexpected connections that can form in a rural setting. 

    *****
    Lots of smiles when I found another Mary Wesley on line……I’m definitely a Wesley reader and will be on the lookout for more….listed here
  • Not That Sort of Girl – Mary Wesley 1987/2006
    Internet Archive
    Ned Peel has died, Rose his widow has left the house (which now belongs to their son) and has gone to a hotel where she reflects on her life……lived with two men. One completely oblivious of the other.
    Recommended reading

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    I’m not sure where I first saw this authors name but books by her came up on an online site….this one sounded interesting
  • Time of Flight – A. C. (Christina) Koning 2016
    Internet Archive
    republished as Murder at Hendon Aerodrome 2023
    It is 1931, and the world has taken to the air: ’You couldn’t switch on the wireless these days without hearing news of the latest feat by Miss Johnson or Commander Kidson; the newspapers, too, were full of their exploits…’For blind First World War veteran Frederick Rowlands, the craze for flying holds little interest – after all, he is unlikely ever to set foot in an aeroplane himself.

Then I saw reviews of what sounded like the same book under a different title, (same author similar name) and realised it was part of a series. The Blind Detective.
Part of a series that really definitely should be read in order.
Lots of early aviation details – good……lots of social history relevant to the post WW1 years in England- good……several murders – the author obviously thought they were necessary- then several characters and events that were part of earlier books appeared/ were alluded to. I had no idea who what or when it was all about so much so it meant lots of page flipping yet wondering if I’d missed anything
I finished the book but only because I wanted to reassure myself I’d sussed out the murderer correctly

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What are you reading now…….

Another piece of light relief found in the laundry room

What do you think you’ll read next…….

A couple of quick picks from a library display

Death of an Airman – Christopher St. John Sprigg 1934
British Library Crime Classics 2015
*
The Accidental Tourist- Anne Tyler 1985
Reissued by Vintage 2016


Once again slow speed and dodgy whatevers have kept me away

So what are the watchas in your life at the moment ?
Have you read any of mine?

And do we share the same superpower đŸ¤­đŸ“˜đŸ¤­


Follow the link to find out what others are reading – What’s on your bookshelf

28 Replies to “đŸ“˜ Watcha reading…..”

    1. I’m open to reading overseas (to us) authors books if I can get hold of them. The only Kathleen Winter I have access to is ‘Boys’….have you read that one?

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    1. I’m always surprised at the number I actually finish because the amount of time available comes and goes also the mood I’m in can vary as well. But yes saying no to housework in favour of picking up a book is a definite perk of retirement

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  3. Hari OM

    It has been faaaaar too long since I left a comment, Cathy. My bad… been reading, just not taking time to drop a pebble. This excited m though…. HUGE MacBride fan and have worked through the first eight of the Logan Macrae series, got the ninth on reserve with the library. It’s a fight to get them sometimes! In between times I work through the Northumberland series of L J Ross (DCI Ryan, best in order, but not essential); Ann Cleeves new Somerset series with Detective Matthew Venn; Richard Osman’s Murder Club series; Lin Anderson’s Dr Rhona MacLeod forensic pathology series… if not in that groove, it tends to be texts on art, history, current affairs.

    My superpower? I’m a word sponge!!! YAM xx

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    1. A couple of new authors and series there for me to investigate Yam, thanks very much. I did contemplate starting the Logan Macrae series but as you mentioned there are long queues on the library reservation list so settled for the Ash Henderson instead. Matthew Venn I’m familiar with and unlike many other readers ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ did nothing for me at all so I didn’t read any of the follow ups.
      Oh and keep your eyes peeled for some wordy posts that are on the horizon

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    1. Hello there Sue. Certainly is a testing time for you so having the familiar close to you is best. Choose what you enjoyed so you are able to keep on enjoying

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  7. Crikey you can power through books. I’m stuck i n Sorrow Mountain – about a Tibetan Warrior nun (fighting Chinese occupation and 21 years imprisonment). It’s harrowing so I’m not able to read too much at a time.

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    1. Bruno is not in the local library up here so I’ll be looking for him in my local library when I get home. You’re not the only one to recommend him so the books will be something to look forward to

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  9. Recently finished Becoming Mrs Lewis (historical fiction) and The Correspondent (fiction), now finishing Joy (bio of Joy Davidman), and in early chapters of The Resistance Painter. Will probably be more of my book orders coming into the Wadena Library this afternoon. So many books, so wonderful to be finished my parttime job and not have to rush off in the morning! Except to go for a good brisk wall before the heat of the day.

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    1. I already have ‘Mrs Lewis’ noted on my list (mentioned by another blogger – don’t ask me who tho’) so it must be topical in the blogging community at the moment. Did you enjoy it?
      It’s good to hear you are slowly slowing down and enjoying the perks of retirement

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  10. The MacBride books look interesting to me. Did Nevil Shute write “A Town Called Alice” or am I misremembering book my Mom read. I finished “The Salt Stones: Season in a Shepherd’s Life” which I very much enjoyed (nonfiction – nature writing.) I’m currently reading an older book, “A Month in the Country,” set just after WW1. What a great superpower.

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    1. That’s right Jane, Nevil Shute was the author of A Town like Alice. A really good story. You’ll find more at the link I placed in the post

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  12. I’m a fan of Nevil Shute, but haven’t read this book of his. Will be checking the library and library apps for it. I’ve seen my friends recommending Stuart McBride books, so should also check them out. Thanks for the recommendations.,

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  14. Hi Cathy, I love a good series to get my teeth into and explore the characters. I’m currently reading The Lord & Lady Hethridge crime series. I’ve never read any Neville Shute but perhaps now is the time. Thanks for sharing with us at #WOYBS? and look forward to seeing your reviews next month. Sue L x

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