Only three books this month, mainly because I abandoned a book on page 187 with another 600 to go because after a promising beginning it became utter tosh and life is too short for 8oo pages of tosh, so I cut my losses.
Min Jin Lee- Pachinko- 6 generations of a Korean family in Japan- themes of poverty, racism and love. A fascinating novel inspired by real life into two nations in the 20th Century of which I knew very little. The book has an interesting and unusual writing style which lends itself to the feeling of other. The characters are believable and I cared what became of them. It has made it into my Top 100 books- which I have now been compiling for over ten years- the criteria being that each book has something new for me. And I think into one of my top five for the year. Highly recommend this one to you.
Ann Cleeves- Blue Lightning- The third in the Shetland series with the the wonderful Jimmy Perez- Fair isle- and a murder mystery- perfect December reading.
Sofie Laguna- The Eye of the Sheep- Jimmy Flick- a 6 year old boy like no other- he’s either too fast or too slow, he sees too much and yet too little, and only his Mother can fully connect with him. Until one day when everything changes, and he has to find new ways to cope with the world and the adults and chidren in it. Oh boy, what a story- it made me cry at the end. Loved it.
And these three will be all I have time to finish reading this year. I have just started Kate Morton’s The Secret Keeper, so please excuse me, whilst I settle down with my mug of tea and my book.
I’ll do a yearly round up of the books I read this year soon. I challenged myself in January to read my way across Europe in 2020- did I succeed and I will pick out my favourite five books that I read this year.
Love to now what you are reading today, do tell.
nanacathy2
nanacathydotcom 
Comments on: "December Books- 2020" (27)
I’ve just started Things in Jars by Jess Kid. I’m going to want to listen / read faster than the audio book, I could tell within 5 minutes, so have borrowed the e-book from the Libby library app.
I read Blue Lightning as well as The Secret Keeper quite a while ago – I know I enjoyed them but don’t ask me about the plots……they all seem to fade away these days 😊
I’m about to start ‘A month of Sunday’s’ by Liz Byrski….seemingly about a group of women in an online book club who are about to meet in person for the first time. That’ll keep me going this week until the year starts proper….after Twelfth Night that is
Oh and I’ll look out for your reads in the library- am compiling a ‘recommended’ list for next year
I love a good list of tbr books- it keeps growing thanks to bloggers.
I’ve just started ‘I’ll keep you safe’ by Peter Kay. It’s a book I’ve borrowed from a friend, set in Paris and Hebrides. Not read enough to know if it is any good yet but most of the books I’ve borrowed so far have been worthwhile.
Happy reading, Cathy. Looking forward to your list of books read this year 😊.
I think I read that one, and enjoyed it.
Yes, read about half now. It’s good 😊
All your books sound inviting, I haven’t read any of the Shetland books (not realising they were originally books and not a series on Netflix….!!!), would love to. I agree with you about giving up a book after you’ve battled on for a while. Life is indeed too short.
Having said that, I’m still stuck on Gulliver’s Travels by Swift. I feel ashamed not to have read so many of the classics, so I thought I’d start with this. And now I have to admit to not actually being swept away by it at all, I’m finding it really hard going. Perhaps it’s just my frame of mind – we are having stinky hot weather and my brain does not appreciate the heat. Next on my classics list is Moby Dick [hangs head].
I’m also still stuck on Nazi Germany but at least I’ve made it to the third in the trilogy by Evans. I can’t handle reading more than about 10 pages at a time, it’s too horrific.
I have read Gulliver’s Travels, once. Moby Dick I gave up on I’m afraid. Not certain I could tackle Nazi Germany at all. I think you may need an easy read in hot stinky weather.
Evans is heavy reading, but I feel almost obligated to continue. What happened in Europe after WWI had a direct effect on my own life, in ways that I won’t go into here.
A friend has lent me a copy of Marguerite Poland’s “A Sin of Omission”, which perhaps I will make a start on today.
I don’t know that one- hope it is good.
3 excellent finishes will always be better than 20 mediocre finishes!! I’m glad you found such great books to keep you company in December. Pachinko is still on my list to read – thank you for the reminder! And I hope you love the Shetland series.
Kate Morton is my absolute favorite author and The Secret Keeper is my favorite book by her (but I’ve probably already told you that!!). I think I’m going to re-read The Lake House for the new year. Enjoy Kate and your cup of tea 🙂
Kate Morton has been my big find for the year- so grateful my son found her for me and gifted me the Clockmaker’s Daughter.
I think I need to look for that Eye of the Sheep book. And I also loved Pachinko. I started it a few times before I finally gave it a chance but once I fell into the story, I was hooked.
Pachinko did take a time to get into, you are right, but I did enjoy it a lot.
Eye of the Sheep is not available at my library but I put it on my list to consider as a purchase.
What a shame. I borrowed it from our library, but different places, different books.
I’m reading ‘The Scandal of George III’s Court’ by Catherine Curzon. Some of the scandals I’m already familiar with (his unmarried daughter Sophia’s illegitimate child), but others were new to me (the marriage of his sister Caroline Matilda to the king of Denmark and the incredible story that unfolded). It’s an easy read and, although I wanted to remove the exclamation mark from the author’s keyboard, good summer holiday reading (I’m in New Zealand).
I feel ashamed I knew nothing of these scandals- I an see myself reading this book at sometime- thanks you for telling me about it.
Those books all sound so interesting!
They were all enjoyable for sure.
Those all sound good!
They are indeed!
I like the sound of Jimmy Flick. Thank you for sharing
He is a grand little lad for sure.
I like the sound of the first book. I learnt quite a bit about Korea when I read ‘Daughters of the Dragon’ which was about the ‘comfort women’ used by Japanese soldiers during WW2 so it would be interesting to read about other aspects of the country too.
It’s been a while since I cried reading a book so I might give the third one a try too. I’m a glutton for punishment 😭
I’ve just started reading ‘The Company Daughters’ by Samantha Rajaram set in 17th century Amsterdam and Batavia which is shaping up very nicely so far.
Sometimes it is good to have a little cry at the end of a book. Your current read sounds pretty good- is there a library you can join from your new home?
That’s something I have yet to check out.