A Readers Musings and Reviews
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!
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Lovely sentiments. We do tend to rush around and get stressed so good idea to pause and reflect.
Lovely to see you share my pleasure in the Louise Penny series.
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I’ve got so many of those books still waiting to be read, I need to start prioritising. I also can’t believe I’m thinking this, let alone saying this, but I need to lose some. I won’t live long enough (not being morbid) to read all the books I have, especially as I keep adding more, so I really need to look at those that are really worthy and those that need to find a new home, or return to the Kindle cloud in the sky. Have a great year of reading in 2022 and hopefully I’ll also tick off some of the above x
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I’m not too bad keeping up with reading but have got quite behind with posts so I need to do quite a bit of catching up and with a couple of tours coming up I should really crack on!
I’ve been sorting through books off and on for a few months now trying to decide if I can sort out space, clear some books out to allow for the ones that are incoming! I hardly worry about the kindle because space is not an issue and I still find reading on it quite a bit easier than actual books – although I have, at last, started reading the ‘real thing’ more and have quite a few stacked up ready to go!
All the very best to you, Jill, hope you enjoy a good few books yourself this year! Have a terrific 2022 x
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I think the problem with too many Kindle books, is less the space, but rather I can’t see the wood for the trees – just too much choice! Happy Reading going forward x
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Happy New Year! I wish you all the best for 2022 – may it be kind to you!
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Happy New Year! Thank you, Margot, I hope 2022 is a wonderful year for you. Janet
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Congratulations on a great year of reading, wishing you a happy new year!
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Thank you, ShelleyRae and a Happy New Year to you!
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