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  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Our book lists are getting longer & longer by the day with books that we fancy!! Don't have enough time in the day to read as much as I would like, we need another day for the weekend to help!! :shock:
  • Tubby
    Tubby Member Posts: 177
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello everyone, sorry for being quiet but I have been a bit hectic at work. I Have been reading though, I am currently reading Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipsteads. It is about an American Society Wedding but it is no fluffy romantic chic lit book. I am really enjoying it but it describes some pretty uncomfortable characters - Dad lusting (and other things) after one of the bridesmaids, drunken Auntie who has had 4 husbands, pregnant bride etc, etc. I have read Morgue Draw 4 so I am catching up with other books
    I have put Safe House on my list - a book list is NEVER too long :D
    Happy reading and I look forward to hearing all about the books you are all reading.
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I wasn't sure I fancied Seating arrangements but maybe I will add that to my list now too! The trouble with my book list is that it keeps growing and I am afraid I will never read them all!l I suppose that doesn't really matter though! Better to have too many to choose from than too few!

    I am persevering with Cross Stitch but am doubtful I will read any more of the series. I have also collected the new Alison Weir from the library for my holiday. I love her books this one is about Elizabeth I as monarch. I can see me ditching cross stitch to read it first!

    Anyway I am off to the back of beyond with no wifi for 9 days today so won't be updating until at least next saturday. Off to walk some fells! So excited - my surgeon had originally told me I would never walk them again but changed his mind when he saw me in February so off I go! :D
  • Tubby
    Tubby Member Posts: 177
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Have a great time Frogmelia - it is great when they are wrong. Enbrel has seen me running and cycling again - it is so liberating :D
    Happy reading a walking
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Have a fantastic time in the fells, Look forward to hearing all about your holiday, you enjoy walking those fells and happy reading. Fingers crossed this nice weather lasts for your holiday!
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well my dear Book lovers the weekend is nearly here! Hope you all have a good one and the weather behaves it's self so we can all enjoy sitting in our gardens relaxing & reading!! 8)
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I had a good read of Morgue Drawer 4 over the weekend, well to be honest I couldn't put it down! I'm really enjoying it and have very nearly finished it so will review it at some point this week.

    Hope everyone had a good weekend and enjoyed the heat!!
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morgue Drawer 4 By Jutta Profijt

    I started out really enjoying this book, loved the 2 main Characters Martin the Coroner & Pasha the Ghost who Martin can hear. And the way Pasha pretty much bully's him into investigating his death as he believes he was murdered. I couldn't put the book down as it was exciting and kept your interest as the story went along right up to the last quarter of the book I don't know if anyone else agree's but I found it went a little crazy I found it hard to keep up with which I found sad as before then I loved the story. And with it being part of a series of books it leaves you hanging at the end. I'm going to say if you are reading the series I'm sure you would have loved this book but as I'm not reading the series I will be kind, it was a very well written book even with the peppered swearing through it! shame about the last quarter for me. If you like crime stories with a twist I'm sure you will enjoy this book and also the series!

    RATING:- ****/*****
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just wanted to pass an early warning to LisaW if you are happy to select a book for Book Of The Month you can start deciding as it is very close to the last week of the month and I will need a decision then for August's Book Of The Month. :D
  • Tubby
    Tubby Member Posts: 177
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have finished Seating Arrangements and I really enjoyed it. It is not a rip roaring thriller but an in-depth look at a group of characters who are preparing for a society wedding on the East Coast of America. Many of the characters are certainly not perfect and another Book Club I belong to has had a really mixed response to this novel but my view is that, if you are prepared to read this as a snap shot in time which explores the very delicate nature of of families brought together by marriage you will enjoy this book and even chuckle at the exploding whale, the embarrassing Dad speech and the drunken Auntie who shares a bedroom with the Chief Bedroom, snores and has had four husbands......and counting.
    I am now devouring Black Dog by Stephen Booth which is based in my home county of Derbyshire - it is quite simply excellent.
    Have a great weekend reading - it is going to be too hot for anything else! My joints love it :)
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am glad that Morgue Drawer 4 went down OK Bubba, I was worried about the responsibility of getting a BOTM!!
    I read Black Dog a few years ago, Tubby, and as I recall it was really good!

    I am home from my holiday a little early as Hester, our golden retriever, has hurt her foot so is banned from walking. However, we had a really good time and managed loads of fells. It was just as well we went the two days early because it has made up for losing the last two days! In all we did 11 Wainwright's this holiday in only three days of real walking! We did 6 the first day! So good to be able to do it again after thinking that part of my life was over! :D:D

    I started The Marriage Game while we were away and have shelved Cross Stitch for now. To be fair I was pretty tired so not too much reading went on. I did manage to drink a few pints of good beer though!! :lol::lol:
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Frogmella, Sorry poor Hester has hurt himself hope it heals quickly so he can bound about again. You did amazing doing all those fells in the time you where away.
    I've decided to read a very easy book before the August BOTM, I'm reading Dear Katie Price's new Auto-Biography Love,Lipstick & Lies. I've read all of her Auto-Biography's and I just find them what I call 'Brain resting' books because you don't need to be concentrating on the story to much!
    Hope everyone has a good weekend and stay dry, a good excuse to stay in doors and relax with a book.
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hope everyone had a good weekend, I wanted to get it in earlier in case LisaW isn't around at the moment if Tubby or any other of the new members would like to make a suggestion for August's Book Of The Month please have a think and post your suggestions and we can choose which to have for BOTM. If we can have them by Friday that would be great, Thank you.
  • Tubby
    Tubby Member Posts: 177
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Everyone, I have been quiet but I have been reading away! I have recently read Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead. It won the Dylan Thomas Prize (whatever that is?) in 2012. It is one to divide opinion but I enjoyed it. It is about a rich, American family who live on the East Coast. One of the daughters is getting married and it revolves around the two families coming together for the nuptials. It is primarily a study on the different characters which has a father of the bride lusting over one of the bridesmaids, a drunken Aunt who has gone through four husbands, an exploding whale, an accident with a golf cart and a pregnant bride.
    I have also read Black Dog by Stephen Booth. This was brilliant to the end. It is a crime thriller based in Derbyshire and it had me scratching my head to the last. This is the first in a series of books about two young detectives who, in a sub plot, don't get off to the best start in their working relationship....
    I am now reading The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom. This could be a possible for the BOTM. It is nowhere near the level of the Stephen Booth book but it is intriguing with some very eccentric characters. it is, as the title suggests, based in Norfolk so if you love that County you may enjoy it just for that reason.
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You have been busy reading Tubby!! I do like the sound of Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead after the seriousness of Morgue Drawer 4 but I can see how some of the members would like The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom with the history of Norfolk with mystery included. So I think seeing as it's nearly August and summer with nice weather so it's nice to relax and read I would put both books in for BOTM so there is a choice or if you have the time maybe read both!!

    So to make it official August's Books Of The Month are a choice of Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead or The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom I hope you enjoy which book you choose or both books! And I look forward to reading the reviews. And thank you to Tubby for the suggestions.
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well that has decided it then - I will certainly read Seating Arrangements now!

    I really enjoyed Black Dog too. I must have read it pre - book journal though as I have no notes on it! It was the one with a kid in it wasn't it? Something about an Uncle or something??

    I am enjoying The Marriage Game by Alison Weir, although not as much as some of her earlier novels.
  • Tubby
    Tubby Member Posts: 177
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Frogmelia, Black Dog is the one where the spoiled, rich girl is murdered. Three old fellas are intimately involved in the story as well as the granddaughter of one of the old fellas....Don't remember anything about a kid in this one, perhaps it is one of the next ones, which I am going to devour once I have worked through at least some of the books on my current list which is very long :oops:
    Happy reading everyone
    Tubby
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Frogmella hope you enjoy Seating Arrangements I will get to it when I've finished Love,Lipsticks & Lies I'm just over halfway through now! Think I will have it finished before the weekend!!

    Glad your getting through your reading list Tubby, I'm slowly getting through my reading list but the way it's going if I keep on adding to it it's never going to reduce in size!! LOL!!
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh, Tubby, maybe I am thinking of another book altogether! Although the title sounds familiar as does the author! lol! Is this a symptom of TMR (too much reading)! Or just advancing years..... :oops: :oops: :oops:

    But I have read one of Ian Sansom's, thought I had! The case of the missing books! :lol::lol:
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The Marriage Game by Alison Weir

    This novel followed Elizabeth I's life from accession to death. It focussed a lot on her relationship with Robert Dudley and the games she played pretending to want to marry various foreign princes. I wasn't as gripped as by Weir's previous books but did enjoy it nonetheless. I reckon ***/****

    I picked up Under YOur Skin by Sabine Durrant when I went into the library to see if Seating Arrangements was there yet (it wasn't) and started it last night. Good so far, bit of a thriller. Expect a review soon!

    Hester is all better now so we are back to our usual walks. Too hot to go on some proper ones yet but the forecast for nest week looks cooler so hope to get up the peaks then!
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Wanted to wish everyone a good weekend and hope you enjoy the books your reading. Take care and keep cool!!! 8)
  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    July's book of the month
    I gave this a good try but just couldn't get into it so I decided to stop reading it, especially as I find reading gets quite painful after a while so I'd rather spend time reading books I enjoy. Hard to pinpoint why as I usually enjoy crime fiction, but I think it was something about the style of writing.

    I am currently reading, and enjoying the first of the Susan Hill Simon Serralier crime novels. I have read some of the later ones and really enjoy them, not just from the crime aspect, but also because of the main characters who are really well written and whose interactions add depth to the stories. They are set in a fictional Cathedral city, and while I initially thought this was Salisbury, reading this one with a key location which is clearly based on Glastonbury I now think it is more likely to be based around Wells. This book also has a subplot linked to alternative and complementary therapies which is quite interesting.

    I would recommend the books in the series, especially if you enjoy books by writers such as P D James.
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Under you Skin by Sabine Durrant
    This book begins with Gaby finding a dead woman whilst out on her morning run. Quickly she becomes the main suspect in the murder investigation. The story follows her efforts to clear her name. As the cover blurb says it does keep you guessing. I was pretty sure I knew who had done it for the majority of the book, but I was wrong!
    An easy, pageturning read. ***/****
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Love, Lipstick & Lies by Katie Price

    Now I love a good Auto-Biography and have read the 2 (yes she has done 2 previous!!) previous Auto-Biographies by Katie Price which I have to say where a lot better than this one. Maybe it's because it's the same old, same old with Katie Price, find hunky man, fall in love, get married have one or two kids and within 2 years get divorced!! And there is always drama somewhere with in the book. But they are always damn addictive to read!! You have to carry on reading to find out what the next calamity she is going to move on to. But give her, her due she is a great entrepreneur and makes a lot of money doing it and she is also a good mother to her ever growing brewed of kids! She is pregnant again now after not long having her 4th! Oh Katie bet your writing your next Auto-Biography part 4 as I type!!

    Rating:- ***/*****
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hope everyone has a good week and the weather cools down a little so we can enjoy the nice weather and I can sit in the conservatory and read on my favourite Rattan settee as our new settee's need breaking in a little still!! :|

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