My reading in 2021 and a heartfelt pausing

I anticipated 52 reads this year and have just about done it! However, I am a bit behind on what my thoughts are for some of the books I’ve read this year. I will get there! Also, one book is for the January book club, two books are blog tours so they won’t be done until mid January through February although I will mark them as read for 2021.

I have pretty much enjoyed everything I’ve read. Some more or, perhaps, differently from others. I don’t like to rate books on my blog, so I don’t. However, for those sites that require it I do. I don’t do a ‘top book or list’ because as my site name suggests I simply love all books.

January

Well 2021 got off to a great start with these six books. All reviewed just pop the title into the search engine in the side bar or look up by month.

February

More great books in February I particularly enjoyed The Shadow Man and Who Took Eden Mulligan. Beth O’Brien’s striking prose poetry was thought provoking. A book club cosy, humorous was a delightful read.

March

March brought four terrific reads. Bluebird, Bluebird was a book club read. A Virtual Crime Book Club hosted by Rebecca Bradley is a monthly zoom club open to everyone. Just check out the A Virtual Book Club site for information.

April

Rachel Lynch branched out from her wonderful D I Kelly Porter series to bring a readers a thriller – The Rift – and I’m really enjoying Sarah Sheridan’s series of Sister Veronica mysteries.

May

A classic short from Daphne du Maurier, the wonderful Mrs Narwhal’s Diary and this months A Virtual Crime Book Club read.

June

A chilling Icelandic story; a tragic, engrossing story and another book club read.

July

Poetry to feed the heart and soul; a wonderful new writer, a good book club read for July, the fabulous Hotel Cartagena and catching up with a favourite series – what a wonderful month this was!

August

August opened with a wonderful book from Sharon Duggal and carried on bringing awesome reads with three absolutely cracking books from three wonderful authors – Louise Penny, Marion Todd and Kate Rhodes – I do so enjoy these book series.

September

Only two books but what terrific stories they were!

Congratulations go to Ann Cleeves, OBE, a 2022 New Year’s honour for services to reading and libraries.

October

October brought my favourite Icelandic author Lilja Sigurdardóttir and a new series opener which was so, so good. Followed by a fine book club read from Nevada Barr.

November

An interesting story for the book club this month followed by a book that was just – giveaway my thoughts on this one, ha! no chance, I’ll be putting up my post on A Single Thread soon.

‘Tis the season!

And so we come to December. I hope that the festive season was for you a joyful one but, of course, terrible sadnesses have come again in 2022 with many happening at this time of year, too. So, I pause to think of

those who are or have been unhappy or sad,

those who have found themselves in difficult circumstances or situations,

those who have been under medical care, their loved ones and their carers,

and, most especially, those who have lost loved ones, those who have gone before us and those left behind.

In our book world we have known all these sadnesses whether close to or from a distance. So, pause with me for just a little while and then, as we have to do, gather our thoughts in loving remembrance and with a true festive spirit let’s –

… tak a cup o’ kindness yet

For auld lang syne

a Scots-language poem by Robert Burns, 1788, based on a Scottish folk song

December

Well December! Thirteen books – some would say it’s unlucky but not me! Look at these beauties, oh yes! What an awesome month December has been. I’ve reviewed the first five of these so you know how much I enjoyed them. As for the others six are coming soon in early January.

The final two – Her Last Request by Mari Hannah a BlogTour (I’m on the 19th) and absolutely thrilled and delighted to be included on this.

One for Sorrow by Helen Fields will be posted during the build up to publication on the 17th Feb 2022. Amazed to be a part of this.

Finally

Well what a fabulous year it’s been for reading!

A great big thank you to the authors, publishers and blog tour organisers for bringing so many enjoyable hours of reading my way.

To everyone who passes through this way for your time, your comments – thank you.

For those who kindly share my thoughts on social media – you know who you are – my thanks!

May I wish everyone a safer, healthier, kinder, peaceful and very Happy New Year!