June reading list

I have to admit June was even more sparse reading wise as May. With the stress I was dealing with it was hard to sit and concentrate on anything much less a book. Luckily the stress levels have been reduced drastically and I am hoping I can concentrate more on books and projects I want to do.

My first book was a re-read from a few years ago

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

by

Jonas Jonasson

The title says what happens in the beginning and it leads on to an amazing storyline of what that man gets up to.  It is also full of blasts and stories from his past.  Definitely a book you need to pay attention to as you read it.

The second book I haven’t finished yet but about 3/4 of the way through

Rotherweird (Rotherweird #1)

by

Andrew Caldecott

I can’t do a review of this really until it is finished but despite the almost to many characters in this book and it sounds a bit Pratchett like when you read the blurb about it, I persevered and am enjoying the book immensely. At first, I didn’t realise it was a book1. Now I am looking forward to book 2 and I haven’t finished this one yet.  Let’s hope the rest of the book is as good as it’s reading so far

Basically, Rotherweird has it’s own part of England and rules itself. The question as to why might be a bit hard to answer if no history that isn’t considered ‘modern’ is allowed at all. Cue a new modern history teacher and the happenings that follow.

Really looking forward to some good reads and cam times in which to read them soon.

Books in May

Not a lot of reading went on in May, I was in more of a music mood it seems.  There’s nothing like the feeling of summer strength sunshine weather and 80=s music going to remind you of younger days.

This was the second in a series where Rosie Strange inherits a Witch museum, In this book, her and Sam investigate a ghostly murder. I enjoyed it and know I will go on to read the following ones.  I impressed myself on knowing the ‘ghostbusting’ equipment used while Rosie and Sam tried to get evidence of the ghost.  Things aren’t quite what they seem, or are they?

After reading the latest in this series and enjoying it so much I decided to go back and read number one again. Am so glad I did as had forgotten some brilliant little bits and facts.  To me, this series is like an old friend you should revisit to laugh and cry and remember why life is good

I read this so many years ago that I really don’t remember much but a few snippets of conversations I read.  Not to long ago we watched the new film before I reread this book and nothing like each other of course. I stopped comparing books to films and getting annoyed over things left out or added in and just enjoy each of the creations in their own right.

Apart from a cookbook, that I will review soon, this was all I really read in May.

April Reads

Another varied and good month reading. It did occur to me that I am not counting books like new cooking or sewing books which are read so I should start adding those too I think.

Make Yourself Comfortable: Sewing clothes from stretch knit fabrics

by

Tilly Walnes

Tilly has a way of walking you through a project with such wonderful instructions that leaves you with so much confidence and amazing garments at the end.  This is her second book and I cannot wait to dive into these patterns. The Frankie Tee is next on my list as have already made a 2 tone BiBi skirt. Excellent book I would recommend anyone wanting to start sewing stretch fabrics

 

BOSH!: The Cookbook: Simple Recipes. Amazing Food. All Plants.

by

Ian Theasby,

Henry Firth

I’m no vegan but I picked this up at a half-price sale after picking it up and finding myself really interested in a lot of the recipes. I’ve not cooked anything yet but there are a lot of bookmarked pages ready to be used and will try one very soon and see how it goes

Strange Magic (Essex Witches #1)

by

Syd Moore

Rosie Strange inherits the Essex Witch Museum from her Grandfather Septimus she became estranged from at a young age. Planning on selling it she becomes entangled in a witch hunt of her own.  I didn’t agree on all that was said but I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading the next one in the series to see what Rosie and Sam get up to next

An Argumentation of Historians (The Chronicles of St Mary’s #9)

by

Jodi Taylor

I did worry that coming into the 9th book the magic might start to slip a bit now but nope.  Max and her colleagues didn’t let me down.

The Jungle Books

by

Rudyard Kipling

Hard to believe as a book lover I have never read the original jungle books. Kowing the Disney film so well I struggled slightly but it was a good book but not one I would return to.

Did You Miss Me? (Romantic Suspense #14)

by

Karen Rose

I have to be honest I struggled through this one, it seemed very drawn out an obvious to me in places. Guessed a lot of the plots and twists ahead of time.

Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park #1)

by

Michael Crichton

We’ve all seen the film, and this isn’t an author I have read before but, I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes reading the book after seeing the film wrecks the experience or vice versa but in this case, it didn’t. Longish read at times it seemed but I will look out for the following ones in the series.  As I understand I think someone said there were 7 island and 7 books. Anyone know if that’s true?

The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow

by

Washington Irving,

Another book that was changed a fair bit by the film but I hadn’t seen the film or any film for years so I just read and enjoyed the book as much as I could. It was OK but nothing groundbreaking for me

So, that is about it I started also to read Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare but after trying 3 times and multiple tries before I just gave up again.  I just cannot get into it somehow.

To start May off I am rereading a book I read a couple of years ago.

Julie

Books Read in March

5 books read in March. although there are some new authors in there it has been great to revisit a few known and loved authors too.

The Haunting of Highdown Hall (Psychic surveys #1) by Shani Struthers

New to me, it’s basically about a woman who has a gift as a medium and has her own business with a small team, Psychic surveys, using their gifts and strengths to help others who are being haunted or to help spirits move on. Ruby comes from a line of mediums and although there were a few things I disagreed with I enjoyed this book.  May even look for the next in series.  I get the feeling that if I don’t look another one up soon though I will just forget about it. Although a good storyline etc it just didn’t have enough to grab my attention fully.

Wild Chamber (Bryant & May, #14) by Christopher Fowler

Oh my! I ‘read’ this on audiobook as I sewed in March.  The narrator almost had me return the book and give up on it. Luckily I am a stubborn person and persevered in the mystery of the woman killed in a private park in London and the tale leading up to the murder, during and after it.   If you like Sherlock Holmes style mysteries in modern days I would think you would enjoy this book. Am keen to read the rest of the books in this series but in a text format, I really do not think I could stand another whole bok read in this way to me

Kindness, The little thing that matters most by Jaime Thurston

Another audiobook. Kindness is something that is often missing in todays times. The author has a facebook group and in this short book gives us 52 ways to be kind or practice kindness. It’s an interesting read and great idea to get kindness out there a bit more. A lot of the idea were not new to me.

City of Ashes ( The mortal instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare

It’s been ages since I read the first installment to this so was keen to dive in and continue the saga I had started a while ago with Clary who in the last book discovered she was a shadow hunter and by doing so has discovered there’s a lot more to life than she knew about including werewolves, vampires and magicians. And a new brother and father she knew nothing about. Great read.

What the night knows, by Dean Koontz

I thought I had read this but hadn’t at all. I have a love/hate relationship with Deans books they are great to read and his imagination is brilliant. Then the endings often seem cut off way to fast and as if he got bored with them and jst decided it’s finished now so lets sum this up in as short a way as we can.

John Calvino as a 14 year old killed the killer Alton Blackwood Turner upon discovering he had killed John’s family. 20 years later John has a family of his own and is a policeman. He also come’s to the realisation that somehow Alton Blackwood Turner maybe killing again! Read the book and for once wasn’t annoyed over the ending.

And as April starts I am reading Jurassic Park. Seen the film many times so this could be a hit or miss we shall see.

Julie