After finishing off last month's reading with an Amanda Prowse book which I didn't find particularly good, I started off May with, in my opinion, one of her best, Another Love. I didn't know what the book was about before I started reading it but I'm not giving anything away by telling you that the love referred to in the title is alcohol. The book gives an insight into alcoholism from the perspective of a whole family and shows how it can affect all those involved. I found the book extremely moving.
Death in the Clouds is the Agatha Christie book I read this month. The crime this time takes place in the air on board an aeroplane on which the little Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, is travelling. Another good plot, though I had my suspicions who the murderer was from quite early on.
I've read most of Donna Douglas's Nightingales series which are set in an East End hospital in the 1930's. There are some characters which appear in all the books but new ones are introduced throughout too. I popped to the library a couple of weeks ago and saw that they had Nightingales at War in, which I was pleased about. Like all the others, I enjoyed it very much. There's just one more book in this series to read now, though I see that the author has embarked on a new series about district nurses which is set in Leeds, so I'm looking forward to reading that.
It's a while since I've read any of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith so it was good to get back in to this series this month. The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe is another book I picked up at the library, though they didn't have it in normal size text so I picked it up in large print. It was good to catch up with Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi again, these stories are so full of charm and I enjoy reading about life in Botswana.
I hope everyone's enjoying the bank holiday weekend, the weather's been much better than I expected, though we haven't seen much of it as we've been stuck indoors decorating. That's the royal we by the way, I hate decorating and any sort of DIY so I leave it all to Mick. The glossing was finished late yesterday so it's just a case of putting the room back together again today so that we can get back to normal. I think Mick will be glad to get back to work tomorrow for a rest.
Wow - busy girl - and a voracious reader! Thank you for the reviews.
ReplyDeletexxx
I'm always interested to hear what other people are reading, I add to my book list when I read a good review.
DeleteI too have read some of Donna Douglas's books and always enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteYes, Bank Holidays are so often used for a little DIY painting, gardening etc. I always find I'm better at keeping the worker (Eddie) supplied with appropriate amounts of coffee or tea, my kettle is always primed and ready, as the saying goes, LOL!
I hope Mick enjoys his rest at work!!!
Still can't be too long until your holiday, that is something nice to look forward to.
All the best Jan
Only a few more weeks until my holiday and I'm really looking forward to it, I just hope we have some nice weather.
DeleteI'll be pleased when I can fit more reading in, however I doubt I'll ever read as many as you in a month. Lovely selection of books there. We had a wonderful family day yesterday with food and games in a sun filled garden.
ReplyDeleteI only usually read in bed but I seem to get through quite a few books these days. My reading speed has really increased since I got back in to reading again. Glad you had a good day yesterday, I do like to do something nice on a bank holiday but it was a case of needs must this weekend, the decorating wouldn't wait any longer.
DeleteGood to see that you enjoyed your books this month. I've just finished reading Death in the Clouds as well, although I didn't guess who the murderer was.
ReplyDeleteI'm not keen on decorating either. Flighty xx
I'm wondering if my mind is starting to work like Agatha Christie's, I'm beginning to be able to guess whodunnit. Eleanor usually helps Mick with the decorating as she doesn't mind it but she didn't this time, she's got too much revision to do.
DeleteI've read the Agatha Christie, but none of the others. I need to paint my back hall next, the Miss Kitty's bathroom, not really looking forward to it though.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite a big job as we've done the living room and the dining room is joined on so it's been two rooms really. The kitchen is next on the list.
DeleteThe Royal We.
ReplyDeleteLove it.
In our house, I am the Royal We. Mr hates decorating, so I get the job of doing anything we need. I'm back in the loop again now.... hope everything is going well for Eleanor?
Nothing would get done here if it was left up to me. Glad to see you back and thank you for asking about Eleanor, she's sat some of her exams but still nine to go.
DeleteThe weather here has been a little bit surprising too, although cold and windy today no rain not yet anyway.
ReplyDeleteIt's windy here too but no rain. I think it's been better than expected though so I'm not complaining.
Deletethank you for the book suggestions. I need to get back to regular reading but there are so many things getting in my way!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
I went off reading when the kids were young, I just didn't have time for books so I read more magazines then, I found they could be picked up and put down again easily enough.
DeleteWell done. I'm lucky to get through a small one in a month, though Hubby probably reads at least 4 per month. I'm just too busy with housework and craft to sit back of a daytime, so only read before I go to sleep. Have a good rest at work Mick. Take care all.
ReplyDeleteI rarely read during the day, all my reading is done in bed, though I do sometimes wake during the night and if I've got a book going on my Kindle, I'll read then.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed all of your books this month. That last bit you said had me smiling...you know it's been a very busy weekend when you (or your husband in this case) need to go back to work to take a rest :)
ReplyDeleteMy selections were much better this month than last month. It's been a busy weekend for Mick, not so much for me, I've sat back and watched for most of the time.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this months books. I only seem to be reading craft books at the moment. I think I shall have to keep a list of what I do read xx
ReplyDeleteMy reading would go up considerably if I counted craft books, magazines and especially blogs. It does mount up when you think what you actually are reading.
DeleteThanks for the reviews, must admit I have not read anything for ages, have to be in the mood, just too much else going on I think, but I did read the Nightingales series on your recommendaation so will have to find that one too. xcx
ReplyDeleteYou really do have to be in the mood to read but I find it sends me off to sleep if I read in bed so I do like to have something on the go. I've really enjoyed the Nightingale series, just one more to go now.
DeleteAnother good month for reading, well done :-)
ReplyDeleteI have fallen way behind in reading, not like me at all.
Can't seem to settle with anything at the moment. I've just started another Linda Green, While My Eyes Were Closed, I've waited months for it at the library so i'm expecting great things, lol
Thanks for answering my 10 questions on my blog :-)
I've just had a look what While My Eyes Were Closed is about and I've put it on my list, it sounds really good. Perhaps this will ease you back in to reading again. I think you can get like that sometimes and then a good book comes along and you're back in to it again.
DeleteGood for you for reading so many books in the month of May. I was talking to a friend of mine not long ago. We both admitted we don't read as many books since we got our I-phones. We are both trying to read more books and spend less time on Instagram or Facebook. AND when I say books, I mean books! Not digital!
ReplyDeleteCindy Bee
I must admit that I could do better really, if I didn't spend as much time on the computer I'd definitely be able to fit an extra book in, I only read in bed.
DeleteI love a good read, thanks for sharing the reviews, always looking for new authors to try xx
ReplyDeleteI like to read blog posts with book reviews as I'm always looking for things to put on my reading list, I find lots of recommendations on blogs.
DeleteA nice selection you read in May. I'm a big reader... Have to be as I run a book group at the community centre lol.
ReplyDeleteI don't read anything too heavy as my reading time is usually just before I drop asleep so I like light fluffy things. How interesting running a book group, I wouldn't mind joining something like that but I do like to choose my own books so perhaps it wouldn't really suit me.
DeleteI hope the room's all sorted now and you're happy with the results.
ReplyDeleteFour enjoyable reads is quite a good month!
Lisa x
The room's all back to normal again, there's not a huge difference but everything looks so much fresher. I want to get on with other rooms now but the holiday is fast approaching so perhaps they'll be left until we get back. It was definitely a good reading month, I enjoyed all the books.
DeleteThat certainly is a varied selection of books, all of them are new to me! Glad you have the decorating sorted, I'm doing the study at the moment and it seems to be taking forever.xxx
ReplyDeleteThat's the trouble with decorating, it can certainly drag on sometimes, that's why I thought the extra day tagged on to the weekend would make all the difference, and it certainly did. It's great to have it completed.
DeleteI'm an avid reader usually but I am finding it hard to get engrossed in the book I'm reading at the minute. I'm stubborn though so won't stop until the end...trouble is it takes me so much longer to read it. At times like this though I do a lot of reading in my bee books!!
ReplyDeleteI get like that with books, persevering till the end, but then I wonder why I've done it when there's so many other great books out there that I could have been reading
DeleteAnother four interesting sounding books you have read this month. I haven't read any fiction for a while now, I seem to be taking a break, still reading every night tho' just an eclectic mix of non-fiction!
ReplyDeleteThere was a time that the only thing I read was non-fiction but I've found that a bit of escapism before I go to sleep works wonders and I drop off without any problem these days.
Delete