It's almost the end of October (can you believe it?!!) so I am already thinking about the book challenges/reading goals which will come up soon. For now I have a list of books I plan to get to this year and goals for next year.
My library finally ordered Not Dark Yet, the last published book by Peter Robinson. I have been after them to preorder the final book - Standing in the Shadows - which will be published in the U.S. April of 2023. The end of Inspector Banks šš
Currently reading
Cooking with Fernet Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson for Cook the Books Club
This book - Another Year of Wonder - is a sporadic "read" and I love the book. You don't need to read it in order, just pick it up and read a short paragraph about an artist, then listen to the highlighted musical piece. There are entries for every single day and while I do not read it and listen every day, the education and introduction to new musical pieces/artists is enjoyable.
The introduction by British author Clemency Burton-Hill is definitely worth reading. After suffering a brain hemorrhage at the age of 40, it was through remarkable surgery which she survived, having to learn to walk and talk again. Surprisingly she was able to complete this book.
This was yesteday's selection, Autum Leaves played by Craig Urquhart.
Upcoming plans to read
The Ferryman Justin Cronin, coming out next year
The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan
Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea
Just finished - Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry is a combination of historical fiction and creative fairy tale. The time frames jump between 1939 and 1960 and tell of Operation Pied Piper in England. An effort to evacuate children from London to the countryside was meant to keep them from harm during the bombings in WW II.
When you think about the Pied Piper tale it's not a merry or happy story. You'd think the government would have come up with a better name for the evacuees than a story where children are led to death.
Anyway, Hazel and Flora are sisters (16 and 6 years of age) and are sent off to the English countryside, leaving their distraught mother behind in London. Hazel comes up with wonderful stories to keep Flora occupied and relieve the stress of living away from home. Hazel makes up the imaginary land called River of Stars and she and Flora lose themselves in better world. One day Flora disappears and it's thought she was caught in the fast moving Thames river, looking at her river of stars.
In the 1960 time frame we meet Hazel, now an adult and working in a bookstore which sells rare manuscripts. Unpacking a new manuscript she sees a fairy tale penned by an American author. It features the river of stars, the descriptions of the house where she and Flora stayed...too much to be a coincidence and Hazel begins to hope Flora may still be alive.
Not a fast paced book, nothing objectionable. 3 1/2 Stars.
I hope you love Twenty Years Later as much as I did! Even John is now reading it as I went on and on about it. I read the last Robinson so have to wait for the final (sigh) one.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are having a lovely trip Tina.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think I’ve read any of the Inspector Banks series. The premise of The Secret Book of Flora Lea sounds good,I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it more. Hopefully one of your current reads will be more satisfying.
Wishing you a great reading week, travel safe!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great time in Georgia! The Secret Book of Flora Lea is on my list of '23 books but the list is so long I have to decide which books stay on the list and which books to take off :( This is of course me hoping my reading picks back up soon.
Your travels sound wonderful. I'm glad you got a chance to at least post about books. Hopefully you will have more time when you return to catch us up.
ReplyDeleteCooking with Fernet Branca sounds good. I read a couple of books with the Cook the Books club. I'd like to read more.
I'm also glad you are still enjoying Another Year of Wonder. It's a fun book to read while listening to the musical selections.
I need to start planning my challenges and whatnot for next year too I guess! Wow that we're near the end of the year! I jsut read your island post. Very pretty there, but wow about the dunes- that's crazy how much damage was done to those.
ReplyDeleteI also have 2 of the 3 books you show as Upcoming Reads but I probably won't be getting to them immediately since they're early 2023. But I AM looking forward to them. And challenges for next year?? Already? Sigh. I guess you're right, because we all know how busy the end of the year can be with all the wrap up posts & personal stuff to do. I have seen several throughout the year that I bookmarked (somewhere) as potentials for next year. Guess I do need to give it some thought..... Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteTerrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
Have a great trip. The upcoming Justin Cronin novel looks interesting. Did you get an early copy of that? Happy reading.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the Inspector Banks books but I'm intrigued because of his love of music or something?
ReplyDeleteI have the first Year of Wonder and didn't know that about the author and her brain hemorrhage!
Safe travels and good times in Georgia!
Year of Wonder sounds wonderful and something Jason and I would both enjoy. We've talked about figuring out ways to improve our classical music knowledge but don't have the brainpower for a full on course or anything like that. That's terrifying that the author had a brain hemorrhage. I'm so disappointed to see you didn't love the Patti Callahan Henry. I adored Once Upon a Wardrobe (which is just under her Patti Callahan name - I don't remember why she changes it up but I did read something about it). I will lower my expectations!
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