📘 Recommended by….

Now many of us (and I bet you’re one of them as well) make a note of ‘interesting sounding books’ we see or hear about- especially those read by other bloggers. And sometimes we forget to note the place or a name (guilty as charged 🤭)
October is a good month for me – the start of a new birth year – so what better than to look at my list and read all things new to me. Authors as well as series

(Being laid low for weeks with a virus wasn’t on the cards though. I’m still not right , coughing like crazy, dozing at the drop of an eyelid, feel as though I’ve been run over by a truck. I did manage to keep my eyes open to read recently (and prepare a couple of posts)……stayed away from SM & blogs – but am not planning ahead for this month)

So, at the beginning of October I picked these three up from the library – with no idea of where or by whom the recommendation came

We all want impossible things – Catherine Newman
Who knows you better than your best friend? Who knows your secrets, your fears, your desires, your strange imperfect self? 
* I’m sorry but I couldn’t get past chapter 2…..there must be plenty who enjoyed it but as the saying goes ‘Just not for me’

Rites of Spring – Anders De la Motte
Southern Sweden: Beautiful countryside, endless forests, coastal walks, dark days – and even darker nights. But beneath the beauty lies a dark heart . . .
* It seemed a good idea – a ‘new to me’ author recommended as a good crime writer. Unfortunately…..yes, another that didn’t hold my interest. It’s actually available on Libby so maybe I’ll have another try sometime- the book font was quite small so with online adjustments it could be easier to read (and absorb)

A month in the Country – J. L. Carr
This haunting novel, set in the summer of 1920, is the story of a war survivor who spends a month in the quiet of the English countryside, living in a church in the North of England, uncovering and restoring an historical wall painting.
* So so good….so so short…..just over 100 pages of a peaceful summer with so much more included…..enough to remind you of the horror of war, the losses that come with it – both physical and mental – plus the overwhelming desire for attitudes to change as well as things to be better afterwards. One I’ll definitely be rereading – please try to find a copy, you won’t be disappointed

There was a film adaptation (1987) starring Colin Firth and Kenneth Branagh in the lead roles which if interested you can watch HERE
(Original English dialogue- just ignore the Spanish subtitles)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Month_in_the_Country_(novel)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Month_in_the_Country_(film)

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I moved on to a couple of easy comfortable reads (located online) that were also ‘on the list’ followed by one passed on by hand

Tea on Sunday – Lettice Cooper
Alberta Mansbridge has invited eight people to have tea but doesn’t open the door when they arrive……..because after a police forced entry she is found at her desk – strangled
* Now this was one I certainly enjoyed.
Written (and set) in the 1970s it seemed to have an older feel to it. Each chapter allows Inspector Corby aided by Sergeant Newstead to methodically learn more about the lives, loves and relationships of each of the suspects. Just a little bit of right/wrong – true/untrue facts are revealed as the chapters pass by….…. enough to have you wondering. I was still wondering right up to when I twigged during the last chapter. Good read!

Ordinary Life: Stories – Elizabeth Berg
In this superb collection of short stories, Elizabeth Berg takes us into pivotal moments in the lives of women,……….
* And that’s what it was- a really good collection of short stories featuring women. Thank you whoever it was who recommended this author, I’ll be on the lookout for more works by Elizabeth Berg

The Reading Group – Elizabeth Noble
Its members are as different as the books they read. But each woman has secret hopes and fears – for a new lover, a straying husband, an ailing mother, a tear away teenager…… and each woman finds laughter and support in the group’s monthly meetings.
* This is the ‘oh, you must read this – you’ll love it’ book I spoke about a couple of weeks ago, now I really don’t want to give up on it but it’s hard going with so many characters (young and old) appearing right from page 1,
It’s bitty (a bit about this one – a bit about that one) so trying to keep track of what’s going on in the life of each of those people is confusing plus as mentioned in the earlier post there’s an awful lot of different relationships and situations to get my head around.
I don’t dislike it……I’m just putting it to one side for now

📘📘📘📘

Then I remembered reading/hearing others (not sure where/who) saying……
”Oh if you enjoy XYZ, you really should try this….you’ll love it”
So going on those words decided to try these new to me series

📘This Side of Murder – Anna Lee Huber
Verity Kent Mysteries #1

📘Unforgiven – Sarah Barrie
Lexie Winter #1

📘Cutters End – Margaret Hickey
Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti  #1

📘Dead Simple – Peter James
Roy Grace #1

Of the four I will probably (at some time) continue with the Roy Grace series. I read the other three but there was just something about each of the main characters that didn’t appeal. But then as they say……nothing ventured – nothing gained…..other books in those series might make better reading than the first one did

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