March 2021 - Set in Ireland

[Cherie]

Hi Jess,

I had already determined that the Dublin Murder Squad series featured different members although it looks like Cassie is back in the second book. I enjoyed Rob's story, but I really liked Cassie more than I did him. He was quite pathetic at the end.

Thanks for the suggestion for The Wych Elm. I added it to my TBR list. I like the cover.

I really enjoyed The Searcher. I read it at the end of last year, I got luck and scored a library book copy just after they got it in. I listened to the audiobook, and switched off and read the text. I enjoyed the narrator's voice, but I had trouble catching the names and got confused a couple of times.

[Jenn]

Haha I’m just starting In the Woods of Dublin Murder Squad lol
I totally forgot that I had it on my shelf, so no time like the present 😃

[Jess]

I'm not sure if its counts for this but alongside my other Irish reading this month I have just finished Don't Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri.

It is a non-fiction book about the history of black hair in society and while the author is Irish and talks a bit about her upbringing in Ireland, the themes in this book are much broader and emcompass the black hair experience across the globe.

I found it really interesting and well researched.

[Peggy]

I have abandoned The Secret Scripture at 21%. I'm just copying my review here.

The blurb and reviews of friends make me think I would really enjoy this book, but it's just not happening. I wasn't interested from the beginning, made it to 10%, agreed to persevere until 15%, eventually made it to 21%, but it's just not doing it for me. I'm skimming the book, I have hardly read anything in the past few days because I do not feel like picking this one up. This one was on my priority list for this year, which consists of books I've owned since 2013. The deal is that I prioritize them when I can, but that I can abandon them if I don't like them. In the end the goal is to shorten the 2013-list.

I'm pretty sure it's me though, not the book.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy it, Peggy. So many factors come into play when reading a book. It might not be the right time. Maybe you'll come back to it another time and find it a better fit.

[Peggy]

That's very likely Janice. It didn't seem like a bad book at all, and something I'd normally enjoy. Just not now.

[Lilisa]

I found a book set in Ireland that I got as a freebie ages ago and started it tonight - The Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth - sounds like it’s a cozy mystery of some sort...we’ll see!

[Lilisa]

Lol, discovering that The Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth is not a cozy mystery - more about life and chicklit romance it seems.

[Lilisa]

I finishedThe Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth - chick lit/finding oneself unearthing family roots/romance kind of book - it was an okay read. I think I got this one as a feeebie ages ago so good to have a reason to read it and get it off my list. I enjoyed the breathtaking descriptions of Ireland - all so true - they brought back fond memories of my vacation there years ago and stopping at the beautiful Cliffs of Moher. In the book the couple drive there to watch the sunset - miraculously they have the place to themselves! :-) hard to see that happening in real life! The storyline was fine - about a successful lawyer in SF who is forced to get off the work treadmill after her aunt who raised her dies and has left her a series of letters unveiling the main character’s background. She’s supposed to open the letters one at a time in the right order when the time is right based on instructions in each of the letters. The book is the first in a series of five - I had no idea it was - so I’m left a bit hanging... oh well. Probably not going to read the rest in the series as they’re not available at the library and I don’t feel vested enough to want to buy them!

[Jannene]

I read Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. It was a true crime story. I learned a lot about the IRA which I never had heard of before. I didn’t realize there was such unrest in the 70’s regarding the Protestants and Catholics. Seems like something that would/should have happened long, long ago.

It reminded me a bit of the Middle East with the unrest there with their religious beliefs.

I liked the author’s writing style. Often with true crime books, they read more like a research book and not a story. This was not the case here. It was engaging and I did like the book.

[Jenn]

I actually finished In the Woods yesterday evening :) and really enjoyed it! My local bookclub had the brilliant idea of reading the fourth in the series - which I could not do - but did manage to get a great sale on the first and fourth - which have now been collecting dust for the last six months lol

It was interesting style, with the three timelines. And, almost jarring in the lack of bows, but that made it way more believable as well. And, so interesting watching Rob spiral between clarity, closure, and coming completely off the rails. I am really glad that the next one seems to be focused on Cassie, as I quite enjoyed her character - and yes, I am going to watch for a sale, and try to get the next two :)