The Pursuit of Love is one of my favourite books and it absolutely does not need to be updated but it has been done so cleverly here, with wit almost worthy of Nancy herself, that I laughed a lot and had a thoroughly good time comparing it scene for scene. Most enjoyable. Thank you again, Leah, I think you should read your copy soon🙂
Photo was taken while walking on Raymond Island

I think this book is more sad than funny but I liked that it challenged so many societal norms and drew attention to their contradictions & hypocrisies. It took me a while warm up to the story but, ultimately, I enjoyed it even if I could have done without the self-conscious literary theory aspects. My first book from @TheKidUpstairs #AuldLangSpine list. I'm looking forward to reading more of them. Picture is a bird friend on Raymond Island.

When Mrs Tim first appeared she was a military wife in peacetime, but now war has broken out & Tim is already in France while other old friends get ready for active service. In spite of the changed circumstances regimental politics continues & Hester‘s good nature and diplomacy are called on more than ever. Nearly as delightful as the first instalment. I don‘t know why it‘s taken me so long to get around to reading this one.

#12BooksOf2024 December

I was surprised by how much I liked this #ozfiction about a C9th girl whose thirst for knowledge led her into a life of deception in the church. It‘s my pick for December, although my new favourite Georgette Heyer, The Grand Sophy, is a very close second.

Thanks @Andrew65 for making this an annual tradition. And thanks to everyone who‘s participated, I‘ve enjoyed seeing all your choices.

#12BooksOf2024 November

This fish-out-of-water/kitchen-sink-drama mash up with a nod to early soul music was my favourite read in November.

#12BooksOf2024 October

This wasn‘t a great book, but it was entertaining enough and since October was a pretty bad reading month for me it will have to do.

#12BooksOf2024 September

I‘m always abuzz with anticipation for a new Kate Atkinson, and even more so when it‘s a Jackson Brodie story. She has never disappointed me. I loved this one in September.

#12BooksOf2024 August

This fascinating history of Scandinavia is my pick for August.

#Top24of24

It wasn‘t a great reading year for me, but at least it was better than 2023. The 2 top rows are my highest rated, the 3 at the bottom right the best of my romance reading.

#12BooksOf2024 July

This collection of quirky characters read with the #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub was a lot of fun and is my pick for July.

Catch up review from mid year 5/5

I‘m reviewing these 2 together because they are 2 parts of a whole. The tagged book follows the early career of a young man from a small town who achieves literary success but struggles in society. In the sequel (tagged in comments) he struggles to replicate that success while travelling through Europe with his mistress. In both books he is oblivious to making a lot of people unhappy.

Read for #WhartonBuddyRead

Catch up review from mid year 4/5

On a cruise of the Stockholm Archipelago we stopped at Sandhamn on the island of Sandon & heard about the Sandhamn Murders series (the guide described Sandhamn as being the Swedish Midsummer 🤣) so I had to buy the first book at the island‘s bookshop. It‘s a good mystery with interesting characters & a fantastic setting, obviously. I‘m looking forward to going on with the series.

Photo is Sandhamn harbour

Catch up review from mid year 3/5

Suffering from a fever, a woman reflects on the important relationships in her life. Set in Stockholm, I bought the book there and read it after my visit, which added to my enjoyment. Although it‘s very much a character driven book, there was a definite sense of place.

The photo is Stockholm, looking towards Gamla Stan from Mosebacketerrassen in Sodermalm

Catch up review from mid year 2/5.

Total delight. I love Alexis Hall in all his romantic moods from serious to this ridiculous nonsense. It was exactly what I needed.

Catch up reviews from mid year 1/5

I didn‘t know what to make of this story when I read it & I still don‘t, but I remember the places and people quite vividly and the central theme of the different ideas about staying in the place you come from or seeking something better (realistically or not) elsewhere.

Read for #CampLitsy2024

I‘ve held off creating my best of 2024 list because I had a feeling this book might on it & I was right. It is a story about the aftermath of a great artist who was a far from great husband & father. The widow & 2 sons are all reeling in their own ways from the emotional scars of the family dynamic. It‘s quite fascinating, but it leaves a lot unexplored & a lot more questions than answers. I‘ll be thinking about it for a while. #ozfiction

#12BooksOf2024 June

This wasn‘t my favourite at the time, but looking back it was certainly the most memorable. Beautiful writing and so atmospheric!

Another book I didn‘t get around to reviewing when I read it. Some old ladies are being honoured for their service in WWII and we find out the details of all the things they did and didn‘t do. It was an excellent read for a long haul flight, entertaining but not taxing.

I want to catch up here with some of the books I‘ve read during the year but not posted, for one reason or another. I enjoyed all of these m/m romances.

#12BooksOf2024 May

I read some great books in May, including my top 2 reads of the year. Caledonian Road was the best, Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko was runner up. Andrew O‘Hagan was also my highlight of this year‘s Melbourne Writers‘ Festival.

#12BooksOf2014 April

No new reads in April worthy of mention, this reread has to be my pick.

#12BooksOf2024 March

This sweet, touching & romantic story was the book I enjoyed most in March.

A bit of brain candy for the holidays. This one had a lot of Bob the dog. Good fun, as usual.

I wanted to read a fluffy Christmasy romance and this one fitted the bill purrrrfectly😉 Charming!

#12BooksOf2024 February

This disturbing story which I read with the #PersephoneClub is my pick for February.

#12BooksOf2024 January

A gift from @thegirlwiththelibrarybag this story of painters and their practice was the best book I read in January.

Such special gifts, Paula! I love this beautiful tea towel, and the ornaments. Thank you so much my dear friend. Merry Christmas 🌲 🎅🤶😘💕

@Centique

I‘ve enjoyed all the Heyer books I‘ve read, but this one takes the cake! Not so much a romance as a straight out comedy - it is hilarious! Sophy is an unforgettable character. This is another book borrowed from my Heyer loving friend. I am going to have to buy myself a copy for when (not if) read it again.

Thank you so much @LeahBergen I have been longing to read this! It so kind of you😘

Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🧑‍🎄

What a perfect #JolabokaflodSwap package! Thank you so much @LeeRHarry 😘 And, yes, I would love to buddy read Neon Roses with you whenever you‘re ready. Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🧑‍🎄

Do I belong to a magnets on the fridge household ? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thank you @thegirlwiththelibrarybag for these marvellous #AussieSecretSanta gifts. The books (wonderful surprises!) look great and I love the Group of Seven photo & the gorgeous bracelets. I‘m thrilled!

#PersephoneClub

OMG! Speechless! Off to read all those spoiler comments in the other reviews now.

I did it!

Thanks for the inspiration to get some books off the TBR pile @ChaoticMissAdventures

#10BeforeTheEnd

Historical fiction is not really my thing & I come from long lines of religious non conformists with no sympathy for the Catholic Church, but I was fascinated by this story of a C9th girl who disguises herself as a Benedictine monk in order to feed her voracious intelligence & desire to learn. The place & condition of women in at that time is a major theme, as is corruption within the church. Captivating stuff! #ozfiction

Just checking in to see where we are at with #AussieSecretSanta. I know @LeeRHarry @Rissreads @Freespirit @MrsMalaprop and I have all received our parcels.

@thegirlwiththelibrarybag @LapReader @Jhullie @Teresereading have yours arrived yet?

Ugh! Drivel!

I admit that this is not my thing, but I don‘t think it‘s just a matter of personal taste. I found almost everything about it entirely unconvincing, cliched & predictable. And it was written with such seriousness, not a scrap of wit, while the characters did the stupid stuff that happens in horror movies or survived beatings like the heros of action movies. I would have bailed if I hadn‘t been reading it for book group. #ozfiction

Widowed Kate has married the younger, much less well off & apparently alcoholic Dermot, to general disapproval. Her young adult son is more interested in seducing girls than doing his job in his grandfather‘s business, her teenage daughter is infatuated with the local curate who is flirting with Rome, & live-in Aunt Ethel reports her slightly salacious interpretations of events in letters to a friend. A juicy slice middle class life in the 1960s.

Christmas mail! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

A lovely card and bookmark from my birthday fairy friend @robinb Thank you so much Robin😘

My #AussieSecretSanta parcel from @thegirlwiththelibrarybag Thank you Sharni😘 I can‘t wait for opening day!

I posted my #JolabokaflodSwap parcel today, and I also received a parcel. Thank you @LeeRHarry 😘

Thank you for your #AuldLangSpine list @TheKidUpstairs I‘ve only read one of these - Greta & Valdin. It was my favourite book of 2022 so I think I‘m going to enjoy your other picks. I‘ve seen Margo‘s Got Money Troubles around, but the rest are all new to me. Can‘t wait to start diving in! Thanks again @monalyisha for organising this Litsy institution.

My #AussieSecretSanta parcel is in the mail.

How are we going #AussieSecretSanta participants? Everyone on track to get their parcels sent out at the end of the week? Don‘t forget to post a photo and tag me when you send and receive your parcels.

The love lives of a pair of sisters put their sibling relationship to the test over the course of a steamy Sydney summer. Although there is plenty of 20 something angst, it‘s intelligently rendered & there are some interesting takes on self awareness & social/romantic manipulation. #ozfiction

#PersephoneClub

Here are my two suggestions for next year‘s February read. The first is tagged, I‘ll tag the second one in the comments.

I often think that time shifts are used in novels that don‘t have a strong enough story to sustain them without it, but that is not the case here. The history of these characters & their interactions would have worked fine with a straightforward timeline, but allowing the relevant pieces of the past to come out as the story in the present progressed intensified my understanding & sympathy for them. I really loved this one.

Northern Soul fanatics track down Bucky Bronco, the long forgotten (by everyone else) singer of some very rare singles, & fly him from his home in Chicago to Scarborough to perform at a festival. Suffering from jet lag, culture shock & opioid withdrawal & grieving his late wife, Bucky isn‘t what the fans expected & his story is truly heartbreaking. The English characters are doing it tough too, but there are glimmers of hope through the gloom.

An interesting and insightful exploration of the mental health world, particularly as it relates to psychopathy. I read this for my IRL book group in preparation for seeing Jon Ronson talking about it last night. He was an entertaining presenter, and having a couple of the people whose stories he told in the book joining in by Zoom on a big screen was inspired.

#10BeforeTheEnd

Halfway there!

I‘ve been hearing huge praise for this book for about 15 years so I think my reading experience suffered a bit from sky high expectations. But it is charming, with some lovely nature writing and the relationship between the little girl and her elderly grandmother is touching. Sophia Jansson‘s delightful afterword underlined the strength of the connection, both to the people and place. The photo is an outer island in the Stockholm archipelago.