Life is giving me a right old drubbing right now. My attempt at a locked room mystery required more brain cells than I have available. But the first 30 minutes of this seem to be very listenable to, so I‘m giving Lin Anderson a go. We‘re on Orkney and in Glasgow. I‘m just hoping it doesn‘t get too graphic/grim. (If anyone‘s read her novels & could give me a gore rating, I‘d be grateful). For now tho‘: Tartan #Noir for #ChristmasCrimeChallenge

Going in…

My red cover book for #ChristmasCrimeChallenge

I went in sceptical, but really enjoyed this. When Jane‘s beloved brother Georgy is suspected of murder, the only way to prove his innocence is to find the real killer. So that‘s what Jane must do! There‘s wit (especially in the letters to her sister), there‘s hotheadedness, there‘s mystery - and (shockingly) our heroine isn‘t perfect, and makes mistakes!

Definitely up for the next in the series.

Well look at this! Anyone would think I‘d actually been reading books! Remarkable!

Sabotage… is a middle grade crime thriller, set on a runaway solar-powered train, north of Alice Springs. It turned out to be more thriller than crime (think Speed meets Scooby Doo), but there was a Christie-esque ‘let me tell you who dunnit‘ at the end. Loads of fun, enough train facts to keep any young train fans happy, and really quite page-turnery! Fab!

Oh look. #ChristmasCrimeChallenge gives me an excuse to read another of the MG Leonard books (middle-grade mysteries set on trains around the world - this one in Australia).

And what I‘ve learned so far, apart from the basics of hydrogen fuel cells, is that the moon is smaller in diameter than Australia is in width. Is that really true? And if it is, how did I not know?

“Science, man!”

Apparently.

#ChristmasCrimeChallenge #FamousDetective - because, you know, it says so in the cover. Kind of.

Listened to this on audio, which was absolutely the way - and enjoyed it thoroughly. Might even try the next in the series. 12-year-old Stephanie inherits her uncle‘s house. And before you know it, she‘s hanging out with a living skeleton, saving the world. Lots of laughs, some really quite scary bits, and a way-too-long fight scene. Fun, though.

I found this in the book box, on its way home to another library, this evening. So I accidentally borrowed it. Because I need something FUN! And possibly MURDEROUS! (It has been that sort of day, all day. Top tip: never check your work emails at 10pm. You‘re welcome.)

I might use it for Rudolph: a red cover for #ChristmasCrimeChallenge (or is that a stretch too far?)

I‘ve been eyeing Shelterbox Book Club for years now, and have finally taken the plunge. Our first book will be Edenglassie, which bodes Extremely Well!

If you‘ve not come across Shelterbox, they‘re a charity providing emergency shelter & supplies (pots/pans, solar lights, water filters) following disasters. The book club is a fundraising thing, reading books from around the world, with author Q&As etc. More info https://shelterbox.org/book-club/

So this is unexpected. I bought this a couple of years ago, and am only now getting to it, in a last-ditch attempt to read something for #nonfictionnovember.

I spent a delightful morning learning about sandhoppers. They groom themselves, to ensure their waxy exterior stays in good condition.

And this afternoon, I‘ve been treated to a discussion on whether prawns experience anxiety. Which, if I‘m honest, isn‘t something I expected to care about.

A middling pick for the #ChristmasCrimeChallenge.

Set in the (fictional) Clarendon English Dictionary. Cryptic letters start arriving addressed to the editors, which seem to hint at what happened to Martha‘s sister, who went missing 10 years previously. Who? Why? Why now? And what does the sender know?

I listened on audio which, although done well, wasnt ideal for the clues and wordiness -& there is a LOT of wordiness as you‘d expect from Dent.

I have not been reading. Urgh! Let‘s see if we can remedy that.

A new(ish) list for September #bookspin. I think I have st least 26 hours on a train this month, so *surely* I can read a couple of these.

And I am SO excited to read Helm, which I think should be landing on Wednesday…

A quick #75soft update for @AllDebooks

I‘m really enjoying this! I‘m (loosely) following the framework at https://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/75soft.html as is - no intentions, no goals, just checking in with each point each day & recognising what I need.

So far, the meditation & journaling have been the real big deals for me - taking time to check in with myself, see how I‘m doing, & look at the things that need addressing.

Thank you ☺️

If anyone UK-based hasn‘t read this yet and is planning to, I‘ve been given one free audio copy to give away via the xigxag app. You need to have not used the app before. Xigxag doesn‘t work with a subscription model, so you won‘t need to give credit card details or anything.

Let me know, and I‘ll email the details over to you. UK only (sorry - don‘t think they operate further afield yet).

This made me laugh, so it‘s a pick! A queer historical rom-com, with huge amounts of witty bickering, a shipwreck, a fake governess, and an unorthodox big-house-by-the-sea set-up. Very sweet and fun!

The audiobook was fab! (Though I must admit, it‘s the sort of book I have on in the background l, so I *may* have missed the odd bit.

I‘ve had a lovely bookish birthday today! We Pretty Pieces of Flesh is from Helen @squirrelbrain - thank you! 😘; Wild Dark Shore, just in time; Neneh Cherry from my mum (completely unprompted!), and something intriguing translated from the Catalan from my SIL, who is on a (successful) mission to find books I‘ve never heard of!

Unlikely request of the day… Give me your short horror recommendations!

I‘m looking for short stories or novellas that might be available on CD (so we might have more luck with classics, than completely contemporary stuff). The requester is a massive Stephen King fan, but his books are quite unwieldy on CD, so that‘s not working. You all know what an avid horror reader I‘m not…

What would you recommend?

In training for #CampLitsy25 😁.

I‘ve voted (but am pretty confident that the book I REALLY want to read won‘t make the list), and now I‘m heading back to 🧈 🥢 . This was a Christmas present, or I probably wouldn‘t have bothered. So far, I don‘t hate it…. I‘ll get back to you in 300 pages!

Thanks for all your work @Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain - hoping to ‘do‘ camp proper this year!

Well, I don‘t think I even managed to post a list last month. Let‘s try again this month! @TheAromaofBooks

I have read some weird books over the years. But this is right up there.

I guess I expected a cosy mystery, but it‘s more of a thriller, or maybe a crime noir (?!), with the speaking cat having a bit of an existential crisis over the fact that he‘s a speaking cat. All of which is fine.

Then we got to the bit with the phone book. 😵‍💫🤯.

Seriously weird.

So the plan was to read the women‘s prize for NF longlist. Which of course meant the International Booker looked super-interesting. And as I can‘t do everything, the only possible solution is to read the Carnegies. Yay!

I might just admit that children‘s literature is where it‘s at (and where I‘m at) this year, so there we are. (I‘ve abandoned The Eagle & the Hart for Dirty Bertie. Enough Said.)

This book, however, is gorgeous inside and out.

I tried, I really did. For the right reader, this would be fantastic.

But I don‘t get on great with ‘Kings & Queens history‘. Sadly this was‘t the book to convince me otherwise. (Social history, great! Kings, Queens, dates & power machinations - no). I got through 4 hours of it. There were 16 more go. Obviously it‘s not my thing, but I don‘t see what makes it uniquely prizeworthy. So I‘m bailing.

I did learn who Wat Tyler was, so there is that!

😁 Happy-making!

A toddler‘s morning, as he gets up, cleans his teeth, has breakfast and gets dressed. Lots of energy, lots of word-play with sounds and movement. Very relatable, cheerful and cute. I wonder if they do these in large format books - it‘d work really well with a young bounce & rhyme group.

Also, not a celebrity author. But it does begin with Z… #BBRC

Apparently, Rachel Bright is one of my favourite picture book authors. I didn‘t even know I had such a thing!

In perfect rhyme, this is the story of a dissatisfied materialistic whale whose stuff loses its shine as soon as he acquires it, and a bright little crab who suggests what might make him feel better.

I was going to say this may be one for the Kelly Clarkson fans. Then I read @LibrarianRyan ‘s review. So maybe not.

The illustrations are lovely - lots to explore in each one. But both the story and the storytelling are just… there… really. I‘m afraid it felt very much like what you‘d expect a celebrity picture book to feel like. #bbrc

‘No matter who you are, you make the world brighter by being you!‘

Bobby is bursting with colour and sparkles. But whenever he says he‘s a ‘sparkly rainbow‘, people around him say ‘Oh no you‘re not‘, & he becomes all grey again to fit in. A trip to the panto gives him the trick to showing the world who he truly is- believing in himself.

Mama G is the panto performer who does a LOT of inclusive library story times in this part of the world. #bbrc

Peanut has their own way of doing things. And that‘s OK! Even when things go wrong, they manage to turn them around and make the best of an iffy situation.

A joyous little book with they/them pronouns, a cute character, and fun pictures - but probably not the most memorable.

#bbrc

Old-school illustrations, and a story that isn‘t the easiest to get your tongue round - some of the sentences don‘t quite scan as they should. BUT…

I may use it for a bounce and rhyme session nonetheless. Lots of animal noises, a few actions, and quite a bit of silliness.

Not a celebrity author, but I needs a Q! #BBRC

I‘m about to whistle through some picture books by celebrity authors for #BBRC. Count yourself warned.

This was gorgeous and gorgeously odd. One of those where the pictures couldn‘t be more perfect for the text. A tale to read aloud for older picture book readers (5-8 maybe).

A mysterious old lady comes to stay in Mabel‘s parents B&B. Despite a rocky start, they end up sailing pirate ships, meeting mermaids, and becoming firm friends.

A twofer for #BBRC. Tom Fletcher is MASSIVE in the UK children‘s publishing world. He was also in McFly.

I do like the ‘There‘s a XXX in your book‘ series - they‘re cute and engaging, like Press Here for older readers. Not sure why no-one had run with the idea before. Story‘s not amazing, and enough with the black type on purple pages, but who doesn‘t want to turn fleas into rabbits with their magic finger? Nonsense but fun.

I‘m back to picture books by celebrity authors for #BBRC. Apologies in advance.

However, here‘s a surprise hit by Fearne Cotton. She used to be a children‘s TV presenter, then a DJ and things.

Sweet little board book in rhyming verse, with images of toddlers in different yoga poses. Lots more to see/find in the pictures, plus encouragement to join in. All done with a light touch. Works really well!

#Bookspin (own books) and #Doublespin (library books) for February. Hopeful I might actually finish both of my January books before next Sunday. That‘d be a first!!

Cuddy is incredible.
Wild Treasures is joyous.
So you picked a good couple of books for me there Sarah @TheAromaofBooks !

You know when something blindingly obvious (that you didn‘t know) slaps you in the back of the head, and shifts your perspective?

Pheasants.

50 million pheasants are released into the British countryside each year.
2% of the UKs annual wheat production is used to rear pheasants.
Impact on ecosystems/environment? Unmonitored.

This book is a fascinating look at English land ownership and ‘stewardship‘ (believe it or not). Niche but shocking.

Vibrant, joyful and positive. Being you isn‘t always easy. Having (and being) a good friend makes all the difference.

A strong message told in rhyme, with very appealing pictures.

Author is Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye.

#BBRC @LibrarianRyan

Warning time! I‘m attempting to work through @LibrarianRyan ‘s #BBRC prompts. The theme this year is celebrity authors, and we‘re starting with at least 16 picture books! I promise, this will be more painful for me than it is for you, but if it‘s what the kids are reading (and it is…) Obvs, I should stop being a library snob and read them. Yay!

Bear 🙂 Mischievous bear cub causes mayhem, making other animals jump, as they prepare to be on TV.

Thank you Helen @squirrelbrain !

Really looking forward to reading this. And I am OBSESSED by the postcard. (Obviously 😁. It‘s fab!) Thank you xx

My reading this weekend:

Cuddy. 💙 🦦
Four Thousand Weeks. Apparently it‘s an anti-productivity book. Huh. I‘m finding it strangely engaging.
Wild Treasures: 🐦 Wasn‘t sure to begin with, but actually it‘s joyous!
Redhead by the Side of the Road: My first Anne Tyler, mainly because I needed a short audiobook. Enjoying so far (horribly familiar characters) but not quite what I was expecting. We‘ll see!

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

…and while we‘re on national treasures…

Tyrone is cared for by his grandad, while his mum is out at work. And his Grandad believes in dreaming big, using your imagination and having fun!

A story in rhyme, with joyous pictures. Didn‘t scan perfectly when so read it, but I‘m sure it would if you got the audiobook. #BBRC

This is the picture book version of Floella‘s biography, illustrated by Diane Ewen (not the linked version).

As a child in Trinidad, Floella‘s father was invited to move to Britain. Her mother and younger siblings followed later, with Floella and her older siblings travelling a year or so later again. England (and the welcome) was not necessarily what she‘d expected, but she learnt to love the place. And yes the ending made me cry.

It‘s been a lovely booky start to the year. Let‘s see if I can keep it up!

⭐ Cuddy is ‘my‘ read, and I‘m loving it! Like nothing else.
🕵️‍♀️ Trying out Ann Granger on audio, as our library has LOADS of her books. This is historical crime, not too heavy, quite enjoyable.
🦦 Wild Treasures is a seasonal Cornish wildlife book, by a wildlife photographer/broadcaster. Interesting and encouraging but writing just ok.

Happy New Year!
@rachelsbrittain

My first book of the year - almost-sweet Japanese dystopia. Yoshiro is bringing up his great-grandson Mumei. His generation remain strong and healthy, while the children struggle even to eat, in this isolated Tokyo where the soil is poisoned, there are no wild creatures… So many political/environmental/social themes. Intriguing world building and characters, this would make a great bookclub book to argue over! The story… 🤔 less sure.

This is incredible. I‘m looking forward to seeing where every section, every chapter takes us (and how). I have even deployed the magnifying glass without throwing the book across the room (which is my standard reaction to stupidly small print). Just for a page though - if he repeats this too often, book-throwing may ensue.

It won the Goldsmiths with good reason. Layout is important, so I‘d recommend print if you can.

Delighted to get Cuddy as my first BookSpin of the year. This was a Gladstonerds blind date from @LeeRHarry back in October and, from the first few pages, a book I will be sinking into!

While my #bookspin list this year is all physical books I own, my #doublespin is ‘work reading‘ - pushing me to read books that are on the shelves in my branch library, so I‘ve a greater range of ‘immediate‘ recommendations for library customers.

Because I miss that 2nd of the month feeling, I‘m going to give #BookSpin a proper go this year.

And because I‘m SO good at complicating things, I‘m going to play with two lists - one of my own books, and one of ‘work‘ reading - books or authors on the library shelves, that I really should have read. Or read more.

What could possibly go wrong??!

Currently reading/loving this queer story of a mining town. Thanks @squirrelbrain

It‘s a while since I read an unputdownable book, but this one… Someone on BookTube (maybe BenReadsGood?)had it on their Booker predictions list. Of course it didn‘t make it, but…

Set around the Morecombe Bay tragedy, it‘s a story of a changing small community, a young Chinese migrant with virtually no English, and an unexpected friendship with a former cocklepicker who fears losing his independence. It‘s page-turnery and really well done.

Aargh! It can‘t end like that! The dilemma now is whether I find the next in the series quick, or go back and start from the beginning…

A murder wave that makes no sense is sweeping Southampton, while DI Helen Grace is dealing with a coup within her team. Hugely twisty and entertaining- and it read fine as a stand-alone until the last chapter, when reading random books-from-series really turned round and bit me. Aaargh!

…and because I needed a new orange book on audio, and was in the mood for non-fiction, I thought we‘d head to Turkey.

The author‘s father is from Turkey, his mother from Peterborough, and he grew up in the UK. This is his personal story to learn more of the country his father left.

So far so good 👍

So here‘s a surprise.

I‘m really enjoying this! No idea who Miranda July is (I feel like I should know. Is she sort-of famous?) or where we‘re going, but I‘m happy to keep reading (which is only sporadically happening at the moment…).

🍌🩲🤷🏻‍♀️

I loved this. The audio is slow and understated and (for me) perfectly evokes the long hot dread of the summer.

1518. Lisbet‘s baby may actually survive to term after so many losses, but she dare not hope. Her beloved bees are at risk. Her exiled sister-in-law has returned (exiled for what?). And women are dancing.

As the endless summer wears on, Lisbet discovers her own strength, makes unexpected friendships and has her eyes opened.

I‘ve had the bookiest birthday in years! Here‘s the rest of my birthday book hall.

Second Star is meditations on lingering, observing and noticing…

I haven‘t quite worked out what the Garden Against Time is yet, but it‘s very beautiful (with endpaper 🥰)and is blurbed by Nigel Slater and Neil Tennant. Which seems random?

And Manny has been on my radar, and just looks cool.