The Woman Who Walked In Sunshine is the latest tale from the The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. I'm such a fan of these books, the characters are delightful and each time you read the next installment it feels as though you're catching up with old friends. This time, Mmm Ramotswe decides to take a holiday, but she's not one to sit about and can't help but secretly get involved with the cases at the agency.
My Agatha Christie read this month was Cards On The Table. In this story, the murder takes place during a bridge party. I've no idea how to play bridge and as there was a lot of bridge terminology and reference made to certain hands which had been played, this totally lost me. I think this may spoil the book for some people, however, it didn't for me, I still enjoyed it. There was only four suspects but I still didn't guess the culprit, my suspicion kept altering from one to another.
I got Sleigh Bells In The Snow by Sarah Morgan as a free download on my Kindle. It had been there waiting for me to read it for quite some time, I wasn't sure it was really my kind of book and when I started it I still wasn't sure but the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. It's set around the beautiful Snow Crystal resort in Vermont at Christmas time and I think it would be a great book to read during the festive season as the scene is set. This is the first in a trilogy and I've now put the other two on my list of books to read.
Big Little Lies is the third book by Liane Moriarty that I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really like this author's style of writing and the characters she introduces us to could easily be people we know, it's so easy to connect with them. The story is set around a group of kindergarten parents, one of which we know from the beginning of the book has been murdered but we're not told which one. The story goes back in time and follows the lives of these people, many of which have a secret, until that fateful school trivia night at which one of them will die.
It's a bank holiday weekend here but not only does Mick have tomorrow off work, he's taken the rest of the week off too. I'm hoping that the weather improves from what it's like today, dull and rainy, so that we can get out and about a bit.
I think I got that book free on my Kindle too. I'll need to check - and read it if I did!
ReplyDeletePlease don't send your rain my way - it's actually dry and sunny here today. Miracle!
The books I've been offered free on Kindle haven't usually been what I'd have bought myself but they've certainly been readable, I think there's only one which I really didn't like. The rain's cleared for now but it's still a bit dull, I hope it hasn't come your way.
DeleteLike the sound of the last book, will have to find it to read, nothing beats losing yourself in a good book.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Big Little Lies, I've enjoyed all three Liane Moriarty books that I've read so far.
DeleteWell done on four book, Jo, better than none, eh? I find reading so relaxing. I tried McCall Smith and didn't get on with him, and I've never read an Agatha Christie would you believe? Perhaps the last person in the UK - or the world - not to have read Aggie's books and she lived only 'down the road' in Greenway!
ReplyDeleteWhat I have been reading have been non-fiction books, a super book by Adrian Tinniswood about the Great Fire of London (350th anniversary on the 2nd Sept) called By Permission of Heaven, and also The Freedoms of Suburbia by Paul Barker, which as the title suggests is about suburbia (where most people live, but which gets a bit of a bad press, a bit twee and not quite the place to live!) Also, an old book but still good: John Gloag's The Englishman's Castle, about houses and interiors over the past 1000+ years. Written in 1944 and published during the war, but still a very good read. And finally, Ogden Codman and the Decoration of Houses, Ed. by Pauline C Metcalf. But all very readable!
Margaret P
I can see how some people wouldn't get on with Alexander McCall Smith, I really like the Ladies' Detective Agency books but I read Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party, a stand alone book which is supposed to be humorous but I actually found it dull. I haven't read any of his other books. I'm thoroughly enjoying working my way through Agatha Christie's books, I read a lot of them in my teens but can't remember them now. You've been reading a wide range of books, the one about the Great Fire of London sounds interesting. I used to read more non-fiction than fiction but it's the other way round now.
DeleteI have spates of reading fiction and then non-fiction, Jo. I need to read certain things for my writing, but recently I read and love Michelle Gable's A Paris Apartment, that was a great read.
DeleteMargaret P
I'm always pleased when I find a book I really enjoy, there's just so much choice out there and I don't enjoy everything I pick up.
DeleteThat's an Agatha Christie I don't recollect so will have to read it again sometime.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same here today but tomorrow onward is looking okay.
Enjoy your days out and about. Flighty xx
My lack of knowledge about bridge didn't spoil the book for me but I'm sure it would add a bit of interest for anyone who does understand the terminology. Thank you, it's brightened up a bit this afternoon, I'm hoping that the rest of the week is better.
DeleteI'm a Liane Moriarty fan too, just finished her latest, Truly, Madly, Guilty, slow going at first but got better. My favorite is What Alice Forgot.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read either of those so I'll put them on my list of books to read, I've enjoyed all three books of hers that I've read so far.
DeleteA Christmas book... in August?! :D I'll wait until it's November, I think.
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to pick up a Alexander McCall Smith book as I've not read any, yet.
I know, it did feel a bit weird reading about Christmas in August but I still enjoyed it. I really like the Ladies' Detective Agency books, they're a nice, gentle read.
DeleteI really enjoyed Big Little Lies, but recently tried another book by her and did not like it at all, I was so surprised!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
It's disappointing when that happens, I wonder which one you read. I thought The Last Anniversary and The Husband's Secret were good and I've thoroughly enjoyed Big Little Lies this month.
DeleteAll 4 were good reads this month! I'm usually a bit sad when I finish a good book as I want to know... what happened then?... It's nice when a book you enjoy has a sequel or is part of a series as in the Sleigh Bells book.
ReplyDeleteI'm exactly the same. The sign of a good book is when you don't want to get to the end, but that's not a problem when there's a sequel.
DeleteI've not read any of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith... perhaps I should. Is it best to start with the first one?
ReplyDeleteGreat that Mick has the whole week off, I will keep my fingers crossed that you have good weather and can get out and about and enjoy some late August / early September sunshine.
All the best Jan
I would definitely start with the first book in the Ladies' Detective Agency series, each book is a story in itself but I think it would be best to know the backstory of each character otherwise certain things just wouldn't make sense. They're really gentle books, the detective part of them is really secondary to the character stories. The forecast doesn't look too bad at the moment so I'm hoping that we can have some nice days out, there's also decorating to finish off in between.
DeleteI like the sound of the Christmas book, I adore Christmas novels. I shall bee arranging mine soon and looking for some more x
ReplyDeleteI never really plan to read Christmas books around Christmas time but perhaps I should, I've seen quite a few around so I'm sure I'd have plenty to choose from.
DeleteOne of the nicest Christmas reads is Rosamunde Pilcher's Winter Solstice. And if you want something amusing then try Jane Gordon-Cummings' A Proper Family Christmas. (Jane is the sister of well-known novelist Katie Fforde.)
DeleteMargaret P
I haven't read any of those authors before. Thank you for the recommendations.
Delete4 books, well done. I've not done much reading lately, but saw one today whilst out, called 'Amber's Donkey' which I'll see if our library can get in, when we get home. I'll ring tomorrow morning to sort a day. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all the books I read this month. Sorry I missed your call today, we've been out for the day and set off early.
DeleteThe AC one sounds really good, if there were only 4 characters but the plot kept you guessing. The festive one sound slike it was a bit of a find if you want to read the next couple now as well. Definitely like the sound of the last one too.
ReplyDeleteLisa x
Agatha Christie is great at keeping you guessing, there's always lots of red herrings in the stories which throw you off track. I've enjoyed all the Liane Moriarty books I've read so far, I'd definitely recommend this one.
DeleteLooking forward to ordering big little lies to take on holiday with me!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it, I certainly did.
DeleteWhat a varied selection Jo, I do like the sound of Little Big Lies.xxx
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading it. I'm looking out for more Liane Moriarty books now.
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