What non-mystery books are you reading? (2021-2022) Showing 151-200 of 1,030

[Tania]

Yesterday I finished The Rector's Daughter by F.M. Mayor, a beautifully written, poignant book that I suspect will stay with me for sometime. Wonderful.

[Alwynne]

Letters from Tove excellent selection of Tove Jansson's letters from 1930s to 1980s.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tracey]

Alwynne wrote: " Letters from Tove excellent selection of Tove Jansson's letters from 1930s to 1980s.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/sho..."

Looks intriguing, will add it to the rapidly growing tbr list. I saw a fascinating documentary about a Tove Jansson a few years ago, plus I'm a moomin fan.

[Tracey]

I've just finished Rodham. The mix of fact and fiction is a little disorientating, but an interesting premise and easy to read. After reading a book with so many references to current affairs, I think I'll head back into the comforting world of Poirot now!

[Tania]

Alwynne wrote: " Letters from Tove excellent selection of Tove Jansson's letters from 1930s to 1980s.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/sho..."

The letters do look interesting, I have a biography about her that I hope to get to one of these days, another Moomin fan here.

I've picked up Ancestral Voices: Diaries, 1942-1943, the first volume of James Lees-Milne's diaries, written during WW2 when he was working for the National Trust, having been invalided out of the army.

Also reading Kingdoms of Elfin, a book of short stories by Sylvia Townsend Warner.

[Alwynne]

Both of those look really tempting Tania, I love Lolly Willowes but haven't read her fantasy stories, and James Lees Milne I've heard of vaguely but never tried. Look forward to hearing more about both.

[Alwynne]

Tracey (154) wrote: "I've just finished Rodham. The mix of fact and fiction is a little disorientating, but an interesting premise and easy to read. After reading a book with so many references to curre..."

Looks good Tracey but think I see what you mean, am going to settle with a crime novel soon too.

[Tania]

Alwynne wrote: "Both of those look really tempting Tania, I love Lolly Willowes but haven't read her fantasy stories, and James Lees Milne I've heard of vaguely but never tried. Look forward to heari..."

I loved Lolly Willowes too.

JLM was part of the Bright Young Things set, his name kept cropping up in books by or about Beverley Nichols, Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh so I thought it was about time to check out his diaries.

[Alwynne]

Tania wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "Both of those look really tempting Tania, I love Lolly Willowes but haven't read her fantasy stories, and James Lees Milne I've heard of vaguely but never tried. Look ..."

That must be why he sounds familiar, I've never tried any Beverley Nichols either but keep seeing references to his novels.

[Sandy]

I've found an audio version of Agatha Christie Christmas short stories and poems, Star Over Bethlehem and Other Stories. I've only listened to a few but those have been quite varied.

[Tania]

Sandy wrote: "I've found an audio version of Agatha Christie Christmas short stories and poems, Star Over Bethlehem and Other Stories. I've only listened to a few but those have been quite varied."

Thanks Sandy, I'd never heard of that one.

Alwynne wrote: "That must be why he sounds familiar, I've never tried any Beverley Nichols either but keep seeing references to his novels"

I'd recommend Beverley Nichols if you can find them, I came across Merry Hall in a charity shop and it's one of my favourite books. I loved his memoir of the 1920's as well The Sweet and the Twenties. Luckily my library has quite a few more of his books.

[Sandy]

I am reading The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. I have to rush through it quicker than I want because I overdid it when library books became available all at once. It is excellent as are all of Erik Larson's that I've read. Some day I will read them all.

[Sue]

Sandy wrote: "I have to rush through it quicker than I want because I overdid it when library books became available all at once...."

I've had the same problem. 12 books turned up in the week before Christmas! Sometimes they take weeks to get here but this time they all just whizzed through the system. Still, I'm prepared for any new year lockdown. :)

[Tania]

I'm reading a very good (so far) biography The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym. It is at least twice as long as the goodreads entry claims it is.

I've also started The Forgotten Smile by Margaret Kennedy which I think will be a goodie.

[Susan in NC]

I’m very much enjoying a reread (on Audible) of Georgette Heyer’s The Talisman Ring for the Heyer Fans group’s first read of 2021. I’d forgotten how fun and funny it is!

[Tania]

That was the first one of hers I read. I thought I'd give her a go because Stephan Fry said she was his guilty pleasures. It wasn't at all what I expected and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Never judge a book by it's cover. 😃

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "That was the first one of hers I read. I thought I'd give her a go because Stephan Fry said she was his guilty pleasures. It wasn't at all what I expected and I enjoyed it much more than I thought ..."

Great advice!

[Jackie]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m very much enjoying a reread (on Audible) of Georgette Heyer’s The Talisman Ring for the Heyer Fans group’s first read of 2021. I’d forgotten how fun and funny it is!"

I am looking forward to this one, too. I'm still waiting on the 3D copy from my library, but anxious to start so I might check out the ebook and read that version while I'm waiting.

[Kirsten]

I've been reading The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse

[Sandy]

I'm reading Miss Buncle's Book, written in the 1930's and set in an English village. Fun plot, deceptively light and frothy but with bite and insight. I gather the author D.E. Stevenson is somewhat well known, but not by me.

[Tania]

I loved Miss Buncle's Book, the plot was like a hall of mirrors, with a book within a book within a book. So clever and so much fun. I've read many of hers, but this one is my favourite. Hope you enjoy it Sandy.

[Jackie]

Sandy wrote: "I'm reading Miss Buncle's Book, written in the 1930's and set in an English village. Fun plot, deceptively light and frothy but with bite and insight. I gather the author [author:D...."

I loved it and it's sequels. This was my introduction to Stevenson and now I want to read everything she has written.

[Alwynne]

I agree the Miss Buncle books are great, and perfect comfort reading particularly the first one.

[Sandy]

I loved Miss Buncle's Book, plan to read the next and seek out D.E. Stevenson. A great read to start a new year: the good get rewarded, others change their ways, and the truly bad get their just deserts.

[Susan in NC]

I’m reading All the Devils are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis by Bethany McLean for a challenge. Mostly lost with the complex financial tools, but it’s really just an old-fashioned morality tale - greed and hubris won out!

[Tania]

Sandy wrote: "I loved Miss Buncle's Book, plan to read the next and seek out D.E. Stevenson. A great read to start a new year: the good get rewarded, others change their ways, and..."

So glad. : )

I've started The Swiss Summer by Stella Gibbons one of a batch of her more obscure books to be re-published today. It has been likened to The Enchanted April.

[Carolien]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading All the Devils are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis by Bethany McLean for a challenge. Mostly lost with the complex financial tools, but it..."

I enjoyed this one a few years ago. Provided a really good overview on the sub-prime process and players.

[Carolien]

I've just finished Half a Lifelong Romance which was excellent. There are all these small details of life in Shanghai in the 1930s and a major plot twist about halfway through that leaves you stunned. This one is going to stay with me for a while. It was my first book by the author, but I am definitely reading more.

I'm currently reading Kintu which is a multi-generational story set in Uganda. It's fascinating and well-written. This is the third one of these massive multi-generational books that I have read set in Africa in the past 6 months (the others were The Old Drift and Homegoing) and I am rapidly becoming addicted to the genre.

[Jill]

I'm reading Against All Odds: How Margaret Thatcher Won the 1975 Tory Leadership Election A short book but so far interesting

[Carolien]

Jill wrote: "I'm reading Against All Odds: How Margaret Thatcher Won the 1975 Tory Leadership Election A short book but so far interesting"

I have a copy of this, should maybe look at it.

[Alwynne]

I finished Eliza Clark's Boy Parts which blurs boundaries between realism, horror and crime. It contains some disturbing scenes but it's also very funny, and I found it hard to put down.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tara]

Trying to get back into non-fiction, I'm listening to Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition by Buddy Levy on audiobook. I rather enjoyed his book on the Amazon, so hoping this one is just as engaging.

[Jill]

Not being able to spend my usual two months of the year down in Cornwall, I decided to travel with a book. So am now reading Free Country: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain by George Mahood It has made me laugh a couple of times so far, so hope that continues.

[Tania]

Thanks Jill, that one looks like fun, I've added it to my library list.

Yesterday I finished Sally on the Rocks which I thought was excellent; funnier than I expected, and very readable with a satisfying outcome.

[Icewineanne]

Jill wrote: "Not being able to spend my usual two months of the year down in Cornwall, I decided to travel with a book. So am now reading [book:Free Country: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain|15749759..."

Jill, This sounds like a perfect book for these stressful days. So glad you posted the link.
Happy reading!

[Laurence]

Nineteen-Eighty-Four .
With all that has been developing around us daily, I could not refuse to revisit. What had seemed so bizarre half a century ago, now appears to be within reach. "Alexa, are you listening?"

[Sandy]

I've been reading Miss Benson's Beetle. I am a third in and while it is 'fine', I'm eager for it to be over so I can move on. Has anyone else read it? I may put it aside and see if it draws me back before the library loan expires.

[Susan in NC]

Nature's Mutiny: How the Little Ice Age of the Long Seventeenth Century Transformed the West and Shaped the Present by Philipp Blom. Saw it on BookBub, thought I could use it for a challenge, but also really intrigued to learn more about the topic.

[Icewineanne]

Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman

Terrific!

[Jan C]

Just started Timothy Snyder's Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary, on discoveries he made first-hand pre-pandemic.

[Ellen]

Reading The Kidnap Years: The Astonishing True History of the Forgotten Kidnapping Epidemic That Shook Depression-Era America. I'm more than half done and it has kept me interested. This book is not flattering to J. Edgar Hoover. It is interesting to note that the non-fiction book I finished last week The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine who Outwitted America's Enemies was also quite critical of the FBI head. It's amazing how he got away with it.

[Colin]

I just finished Jack Higgins' hugely enjoyable sea chase yarn Storm Warning

[Jill]

Having just read a book about the Crimean War, I felt I needed something light, so have started The Darling Buds of May. I did watch the series on TV some years ago which had it's humorous moments, so I'm expecting the book to be just as good, if not better.

[Tania]

I loved The Darling Buds of May Jill; I thought it was the best one of the series, but they were all good. I'm reading Love For Lydia, which is the only one of his I've read that is not a part of the Pop Larkin Chronicles. Very good coming of age story.

[Jackie]

Colin wrote: "I just finished Jack Higgins' hugely enjoyable sea chase yarn Storm Warning "
I want to read this one!

I just finished Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
it was facinating and well worth the read

[Tara]

Feeling in the mood for a book about books, I grabbed Adventures in American Bookshops, Antique Stores and Auction Rooms by Guido Bruno. Its a quick read, with some interesting tidbits and anecdotes.

[Susan]

I've been reading Frostquake: The frozen winter of 1962 and how Britain emerged a different country . I don't think I've read a book by Juliet Nicolson which I haven't liked and this is a really enjoyable social history.

[Jackie]

that looks really good, Susan, thanks for the link.

[Susan]

You're welcome, Jackie :)

[Jill]

Finished The Darling Buds of May, and yes it was a great escape from these never-ending restrictions. Now starting Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans, a new to me author.