jan 2022 - sandi

[Sandi]

I had a good month with a bit more variety than usual. Here are my January reads:

Top Read

God Is an Englishman - R.F. Delderfield
An engrossing historical family saga that follows a young solider from the battlefields of India back to England where he decides to start a business hauling goods.

Good Reads

Truth - Peter Temple
Dark and gritty Australian crime novel featuring the Melbourne head of homicide who is under pressure from the higher ups at work while dealing with various personal strains. The plot was a bit overcomplicated but the audio narration by Michael Carman kept everything straight.

A Reconstructed Corpse - Simon Brett
Perpetually out of work actor Charles Paris lands a job on a True Crime show because of his likeness to the victim which gives him a chance to put his amateur sleuthing skills to the test. I always enjoy this series and found this to be an enjoyable read.

Three Wishes - Liane Moriarty
Set in Sydney Australia and featuring three sisters who are triplets, I found this to be a fast read with lots of humor and family drama.

Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations - Mira Jacob
An enjoyable graphic memoir. I found the art work quite good and the author's backstory very absorbing.

OK Read

The Tenant - Katrine Engberg
First book featuring a Copenhagen police squad who are investigating the death of a young woman. Not really my favorite type of plot and some of the characterizations were a bit thin but the narration by Graeme Malcolm kept me interested enough to finish but just an OK read for me.

[Dan in AZ]

Lots of Australia this month. Planning a move?

[Mary Jo]

Simon Brett? A character from the past. Those stories and BBC series always amused me. He was incorrigible and charming.
Liane Moriarty is terrific, isn't she? Love her wit and unexpected plots. Thanks, Sandi.

[Ann]

Nice month Sandi! I suppose I should read the first in the series by Peter Temple, ‘Broken Shore’ , before ‘Truth’. Apparently when you read the first book I added it to my toppling TBR list. I appreciate your tips for new books, especially audios with good narration.

[Sandi]

Dan in AZ wrote: "Lots of Australia this month. Planning a move?"

I wish, especially this time of the year. I actually would like to visit sometime.

Mary Jo wrote: "
Liane Moriarty is terrific, isn't she? Love her wit and unexpected plots. ."

Three Wishes was my first by Moriarty but I do plan on reading more.

Ann wrote: "Nice month Sandi! I suppose I should read the first in the series by Peter Temple, ‘Broken Shore’ , before ‘Truth’. Apparently when you read the first book I added it to my toppling TBR list. "

Temple is one of my favorites and Broken Shore was excellent.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Hmm. Looks like I should add Peter Temple and Simon Brett to my list of authors to investigate.

[Sandi]

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Hmm. Looks like I should add Peter Temple and Simon Brett to my list of authors to investigate."

Both are excellent in audio though the early Charles Paris books seem to no longer be available from Recorded Books. I listened to quite a few of them on cassettes from library with the always great Simon Prebble narrating.

[Ann]

Sandi: I was just telling someone at work about listening to audiobooks on cassette from the library back in the 80's and 90's. Good memories. Too bad some of them are no longer available.

Sandi wrote: "though the early Charles Paris books seem to no longer be available from Recorded Books. I listened to quite a few of them on cassettes from library with the always great Simon Prebble narrating."

.

[Mary Jo]

My first Moriarty book was The Husband's Secret.Wonderful page turner.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Sandi wrote: "Both are excellent in audio though the early Charles Paris books seem to no longer be available from Recorded Books...."

I had to go to my backup library network to find the first in the series in print! I don't think Audible had it either.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Ann wrote: "Sandi: I was just telling someone at work about listening to audiobooks on cassette from the library back in the 80's and 90's. Good memories. Too bad some of them are no longer available. ..."

Ann, I have wonderful memories of driving to Philly to visit my parents with a BFB on tape to keep me entertained. I wonder when CDs will start to disappear....

[Ann]

Carol: I remember being surprised at the number of CD's for the first few Harry Potter books around the time of the switch..things certainly do evolve, so who knows. CD's are at least sturdier and apparently are cheap to produce.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I have wonderful memories of driving to Philly to visit my parents with a BFB on tape to keep me entertained. I wonder when CDs will start to disappear....."