What’s on your bookshelf? June

Thistles and Kiwis

So it is time again for a review of the month’s reading, a post to contribute to the what’s on your bookshelf challenge is hosted by fellow bloggers  Deb, Sue, Donna and Jo. The idea is to share what you’re reading, what you’ve enjoyed lately share – why they resonated with you, how they made you feel, who are your favourite authors and what you recommend.

First up, a book that I have very mixed feelings about. Well written and an intriguing story, what starts out as a honeymoon trip to a Greek island, turns into tragedy and almost a sort of Gothic horror. None of the characters were likeable, which I felt deliberate, but the tense atmosphere is well portrayed. In the second half of the book, I had such a realisation of the absolutely horrific thing that had happened to the main protagonist, that I actually gasped out loud. Not a book to take on holiday to a Greek island.

After that, I needed something that was quite the opposite, so turned to Joanne Tracy’s (of And Anyways…) One For Sorrow. This was such a delightful read, with a happy ending, intriguing plot and likeable characters. I loved it and it was the perfect antidote to my previous read.

Keeping in the ‘feel good’ mood, I read the other two volumes of E.M. Delafield’s The Diary of a Provincial Lady series, both of which I enjoyed for the umpteenth time – you can tell by the state of the cover (edition bought in the 1980s).

Then we have Butter by Asako Yuzuki. As The Guardian review states, this book is:

Based on the real-life case of the “Konkatsu Killer”, in which a con woman and talented home cook called Kanae Kijima was convicted of poisoning three of her male lovers, Butter uses its sordid source material to interrogate the impossible beauty standards to which Japanese women are held.

I partly loved it – the description of the food, how each character explored their relationships with food, the slow burn of the story – and partly felt it was too long. I would be really interested to know if anyone else has read it.

Two books I really enjoyed this month couldn’t have been more different. Elly Griffiths’ The Postscript Murders is not quite a cosy crime, but a ‘nice’ crime novel nonetheless. The death of a ninety-year-old woman with a heart condition should absolutely not be suspicious. However, that this woman had been a ‘murder consultant’ who plotted deaths for authors, and clues as to why her death might not be quite so natural, a local policewoman, a carer, an elderly neighbour and a cafe owner with a past all get together to solve the crime. If you like Richard Osman, you will like this

One of my favourite Kiwi authors is Laurence Fearnley, so I was delighted to see (and read) her new book At The Grand Glacier Hotel. Following a disastrous family holiday, Libby and Curtis make a promise: If they ever visit the West Coast of the South Island again, it will be to stay at the majestic Grand Glacier Hotel. Move forward twenty years, and Libby is recovering from cancer, and she and her husband make the promised return. Everything goes wrong again, and after a storm separates her from Curtis, Libby finds herself alone in the isolated hotel. Making friends with the eccentric owner and another local, she gradually begins to find out who she is and, as the blurb on the back says, reconnect with the person she once was. It is a marvelous book, full of special moments. This is Fearnley’s third book exploring the senses, this one about sound. It will definitely be on my ‘book of the year’ list.

I listened to one audiobook this month – B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton, one of the early ones in that series which was a good listen.

So that is my most recent reading – what have you read recently? Here are my ratings using the scheme we use in the book club I am part of, items related to the book out of 5.

  • Scarlett Thomas The Sleepwalkers – so unsure what to give this – I will go with 4 Greek Islands because of the writing, but not a book for the faint hearted.
  • Joanne Tracey One For Sorrow – 5 magpies.
  • E.M. Delafield The Provincial Lady in America – 5 transatlantic liners.
  • E.M. Delafield The Provincial Lady in Wartime – 5 Woolton pies.
  • Elly Griffiths The Postscript Murders – 5 detective novels.
  • Asako Yuzuki Butter – 3 bowls of noodles
  • Laurence Fearnley At The Grand Glacier Hotel – 5 hotels

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.com

Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

32 Comments

  1. I think it is truly wonderful that you make time to read so much. I’ve never heard of “At the Glacier Hotel” but I’d like to read it now. I visited our library last night, after work. I love going to the library. it’s been something I’ve enjoyed immensely since I was 4-5years old (when I learned to read.) I mostly picked up books for my thesis, but I did get one book just for pure pleasure, Kerstin Ekman’s book “Blackwater” (events by water, “Händelser vid vatten” in Swedish.) It’s a Swedish crime novel from the 90’s that won several big awards. I watched the TV series based off the book last year, I really liked it, and figured that I wanted to read the book. Books are usually better, right?

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    1. I loved ‘At The Glacier Hotel’ – not sure what other countries it will be available in but you could check. I am so happy to have a library across the road from where we are now. I read ‘Blackwater’ many years ago, and also watched the recent TV drama. I should re-read the book now.

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  2. Having read Maria’s comment, I add my admiration of Swedish crime novels – they unfold slowly and come together in a most satisfactory manner. I recently finished The Quarry by Johan Theorin. Your selection looks interesting and varied. Sadly, I have yet to find Joanne Tracy’s books here. You remind me to visit our local bookshop to see if they have any more of Elly Griffith’s books: I know what you mean by describing hers as a ‘nice’ crime novel 🙂

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  3. Thanks for all the reviews, my husband Paul loves crime novels and I’m often looking for birthday or Xmas presents book recommendations for him and most of my friends!

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      2. Forgot to say in an earlier comment that I met Elly Griffiths years ago at talk at Waterstone’s book shop in Leeds. She had just stated her Ruth Galloway series and I have since read all of these, except the last two (still on my wish list). I enjoyed them all.

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  7. I really enjoyed One For Sorrow too. I love a good cozy murder mystery particularly when there are some real characters and fun personalities thrown into the mix.

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  8. It’s always interesting to see what other people are reading, I am intrigued by The Sleepwalkers and At The Grand Glacier Hotel sounds interesting too. I shall check at my library!

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  9. Firstly, thanks for the shoutout! I’m chuffed that you enjoyed Clem Carter & her friends. I’ve yet to meet an Elly Griffiths book I didn’t enjoy, but I haven’t read that one yet. I adore The Provincial Lady but didn’t realise there were others in the series. Thanks for linking up.

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  10. Hey there. I hope all is well. I see you’re a book reader. I published a book “Meghan Tilley” (by K. Beth Reese). It’s women’s fiction, suspense, and about dysfunctional families and friendships… a lot like real life. 😅

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  11. I think I will give the Postscript Murders a go! I’ll add it to my ever-expanding pile of books to read. I’m currently reading The Mars House which is quite different to anything I’ve read before!

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  12. A fun post Barbara with some great sounding books. I always enjoy your star system with a difference! I had a lovely catch up with Joanne Tracey in Tumbarumba this week 🙂

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  14. Pingback: If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea… – Thistles and Kiwis

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