Revised Dusty Bookshelf Challenge 2025

[Paul]

A short review of my DBS read this month , Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The plot is simple and told well. Du Maurier's descriptions are superb, landscape, food, people, all explored in so much detail adding colour to the narrative. Her portrait of the good and the bad, particularly effective with sinister characters adds good tension to the story, sometimes a little too much, over-egging the pudding. However, that is a small criticism in a book that was very enjoyable.

[Liz, Moderator]

Glad you enjoyed it, Paul. It's definitely entertaining and the atmosphere is beautifully evoked. I think the over-egging may be typical of the period - that element of melodrama - a bit over the top like the acting of the time.

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm just starting On the Beach...

[Charlotte]

I will be starting Lesley Pearse’s ‘Dead to Me’ for my DBS challenge. I’ve not read anything by this author before so I’m very intrigued.

[Kate, Moderator]

Charlotte, I've read Gypsy by Lesley Pearse. I loved it. Hope you enjoy Dead to Me. Maybe I should get it!

[Charlotte]

Kate glad you like her writing! I will let you know how this one turns out. Just finishing a Riley Sager novel then I’ll get stuck in!

[Liz, Moderator]

I raced through On the Beach.

Written in 1957, it's definitely of its time - the naval chaps are very stiff upper lipped, while the wives use phrases like: 'I've been such a fool'. I have never seen the film, but I had a black and white reel running through my head as I read. This takes nothing away from the power of the book and the slow building tension as the world meets its end. Best read of the year so far.

Now I'm going to start last month's dusty read (don't ask): To Serve Them All My Days

[Bill]

Liz wrote: "I raced through On the Beach.

Written in 1957, it's definitely of its time - the naval chaps are very stiff upper lipped, while the wives use phrases like: 'I've been such a fool'. I..."

On the Beach continues to be a favorite of mine, Liz.

[Charlotte]

Kate wrote: "Charlotte, I've read Gypsy by Lesley Pearse. I loved it. Hope you enjoy Dead to Me. Maybe I should get it!"

Kate I really loved this one, 5 stars. Couldn’t put it down! Must read some more of her work.

[Kate, Moderator]

Charlotte, I'm so glad you enjoyed Dead to Me
I'll see if I can find it...

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm still only a third of the way through To Serve Them All My Days, and I'm enjoying it very much, but it's probably already time to spin the wheel to see what April has in store for us along the Dusty Book Shelf...

[Liz, Moderator]

For April, you will need to read book no: 41 on your to-read shelf!

For me that's: Stone's Fall by Ian Pears and, surprise, surprise it's another chunky one! I'm happy with the choice though, as I loved his An Instance of the Fingerpost. Let's see if this one's any good...

What's number 41 on your to-read list/shelf?

[Kate, Moderator]

eek. I've only just started my March book for this challenge!

[Paul]

My 41 is The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Lovely

[Liz, Moderator]

Wow, Paul! Another classic!

[Charlotte]

No 41 for me is a Mark Haddon. It’s not got a high star rating but hopefully I’ll still enjoy it.

[Bill]

I have just finished my Mar Dusty book and am still working on my Feb book.. LOL.. But #41 is The Abominable Man by Maj Sjöwall (Martin Beck #7)

Finished #41, 3.5 stars.

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

[Liz, Moderator]

I read my March book before my February book too....

[Charlotte]

Charlotte wrote: "

No 41 for me is a Mark Haddon. It’s not got a high star rating but hopefully I’ll still enjoy it."

She was wrong. She did not enjoy it and had to DNF.
The unattributed random streams of consciousness were well beyond her comprehension. She generously gave it one star.

[Liz, Moderator]

Oh well, never mind. On to the next one!

[Susie]

My first dusty book challenge for me and #41 on my list is Small Rain by Garth Greenwell. It's a book my mum wanted to read which is why I added it to my list.

[Paul]

After reading The Iliad I needed a palate cleanser and The Old Man and the Sea delivered. The prose is so pared down, not a word wasted. The twists come from nowhere as the narrative moves relentlessly on. A superb piece of craft.

[Liz, Moderator]

The Old Man and the Sea is on my list too. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Paul.

[Bill]

I finally finished my Feb dusty book, The Snowman by Jo Nesbø (Harry Hole #7) 3.5 stars

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

All caught up and now just to finish Aprils.. 😎 Correct that. I even finished Aprils... Wonder what May will bring.

[Carole]

#41 on DBS is Evening Class by Maeve Binchy.

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm still waiting to start Stone's Fall...

[Liz, Moderator]

For any of you who are wanting to dig out another dusty book in readiness for May, I have just spun the wheel....

...May's Dusty Bookshelf Challenge will be...

Number: 12 on your to-read shelf.

What will you be reading?

[Liz, Moderator]

My #12 is Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham.

720 pages-yikes! I keep getting really big books - that may be the reason why they've been on my to-read list for so long. ;)

[Paul]

oooh mine is London Fields by Martin Amis. #getin

[Liz, Moderator]

Paul wrote: "oooh mine is London Fields by Martin Amis. #getin"

Your to-read list has a lot in common with mine, Paul!

[Charlotte]

Mine is Paper Girls

I am happy as I love a crime thriller and this is less than 300 pages!
Should be an easy read.

[Paul]

Liz wrote: "Paul wrote: "oooh mine is London Fields by Martin Amis. #getin"

Your to-read list has a lot in common with mine, Paul!"

I wonder what that says?

[Bill]

#12 for me is Broken by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #4). One of our favorite TV series as well.

[Leanne]

I'm just starting my book for May, a childhood favourite which I've been wanting to re-read and which has been on my shelf since 2021- Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian.

[Charlotte]

Leanne wrote: "I'm just starting my book for May, a childhood favourite which I've been wanting to re-read and which has been on my shelf since 2021- Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian."

Amazing book Leanne. A firm family favourite who loved the film too.
The older I get though, the less grumpy Tom seems!

[Charlotte]

My #12 is Paper Girls The first of the DCI Kett series.
I’m really hoping I love it. There are 16 novels so far and they all seem to be rated 4.5/5

[Kerensa]

Mine is ‘Confessions’ by Kanae Minato. Only 240 pages - just as well as my attention span is severely diminished since I had a stroke in January!

[Paul]

I finished London Fields by Martin Amis. My first reading of this author, a big fan of his father, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
"The end is unexpected and wonderful and goes against the grain of all that came before. I grumbled at the tortuous plot the shifting characters the long long line of overused pro ponderous adjectives, the constant writerly look at me aren't I clever. I forgave all for the end."

[Liz, Moderator]

London Fields is on my to-read list. I've read a couple of Martin Amis' early books (The Rachel Papers and Dead Babies) which I didn't get on with. I agree, there's an element of 'look at me! aren't I clever and edgy!' to his writing. I'm hoping that he mellowed/improved with age. He always was one of Bookers' darlings.

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm way behind on my Dusty Bookshelf, Stone's Fall was good, but long, and I've been distracted a lot lately.

I was reading it as a digital library download and it expired when I was 91% of the way through. Grrrh!!!! As someone else was waiting for it, I will now have to wait until they finish to resume - sigh!

[Liz, Moderator]

I have yet to start this month's book, which is another biggie (Of Human Bondage), so instead, I'll read one of my time-traveller challenge books as a palette cleanser! ;)

[Liz, Moderator]

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the next book that comes up for me on the Dusty Bookshelf Challenge is a short one. I am so behind! Ok here goes the spin for June.....

It's lucky number 7 for June!

and that means for me...

...The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope....779 pages NO, NO, NO!

I've had so may monster books this year, so I'm going to cheat. My number 6 is Indignation by Phillip Roth (only 233 pages), so I'm going to go with that instead. Anthony Trollope can wait ;)


What's no7 on your list/shelf?

[Lucy]

Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier. i love her books. although I need to finish May's Book, The Heart's invisible Furies! I'm behind as well!

[Paul]

No.7 is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath for me.

[Liz, Moderator]

Lucy wrote: "Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier. i love her books. although I need to finish May's Book, The Heart's invisible Furies! I'm behind as well!"

I love Daphne du Maurier too, but I haven't read that one.... yet!

[Liz, Moderator]

Paul wrote: "No.7 is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath for me."

Another great book, Paul! I hope you enjoy it too.

[Lucy]

My favourite so far is The House on The strand. The Scapegoat was pretty good as was French man's creek.......

oh and I meant I haven't finished April's book yet, not May!

[Lucy]

My favourite so far is The House on The strand. The Scapegoat was pretty good as was French man's creek.......

oh and I meant I haven't finished April's book yet, not May!

[Leanne]

My number 7 is Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee.

[Bill]

#7 on my list is Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon and conveniently I was planning on reading it as my next dusty book.. 😃👍