What’s on my bookshelf: March

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.

I was in two minds as to join in this month, given a lack of much reading due to spending weekends packing instead of sitting down with a good book, but as what I did read was good, here I am. And audio books count too, don’t they? And the featured image? The only book shelves that are arranged the way I want them to be……

First up, Lioness by kiwi author Emily Perkins (who I heard in conversation a couple of weeks ago). I really enjoyed this book – and not just because it is set in Wellington! The story of the rise and fall and rise again of a woman who has built a successful business from nothing, but when rumours of corruption gather around her husband’s latest development, the social fall out is swift and sudden, and our heroine looks at her world with new eyes. Characters include her pretty awful step-children, her neighbour who opens her to new experiences, as well as other people in their world. I highly recommend this book if you can get a hold of it – all sorts of things to think about!

If you are a fan of cosy crime, then you may have already read Richard Coles A Death in the Parish. I believe this is the second book featuring Canon Clement, but you can pretty much work out who is who anyway. You can read the basic plot here, but there are a lot more twists to the tale and there is an ending that cries out for book number 3.

In terms of audio books, when packing/unpacking you need a good story that can keep you going. I have to say I stuck with crime fiction, starting with Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles the first book to feature Hercule Poirot. I also listened to Agatha Raisin and the Dead Ringer, the 29th book in the series by M.C. Beaton, as well as a BBC serialisation of The Walkers of Dembley, the fourth book in the series. There are, I believe, 35 books! All great fun and perfect unpacking listening.

Food reading this month has been limited to browsing food magazines. There are some good looking things (beef cheek ragu over spaghetti) and a piece about women in food in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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.

  • Emily Perkins Lioness 5 Wellingtonians
  • Rev Richard Coles A Death in the Parish 4 churches
  • Agatha Christie The Mysterious Affair at Styles 5 poisoned drinks
  • M.C Beaton Agatha Raisin and the Dead Ringer 4 bell ringers

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

29 Comments

  1. I’m so glad you decided to join in with us this month Barbara, and yes audio books certainly count! I like the sound of the cosy crime A Death in the Parish and listening to audio books as you unpack is a great idea. Hope you’re settled in now. 

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  2. Funnily enough, I find I do the most reading when I am under pressure – an antidote to all that activity or to take my mind off what is most pressing. The trouble then is that I read late into the night! Both the physical books you have reviewed here look very interesting to read.

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  3. Lioness sounds very interesting, and always nice to give a shout out to a local author. Delicious is a lovely magazine.. I’ll go back to it.
    Best wishes with settling in..

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  4. Lioness is a strong title isn’t it. Thanks for the recommendation- I’ve had a peek and it’s on my library catalogue so has gone on my long list (which seems to be getting longer each time I read a blog).

    Hopefully it won’t take you too long to settle in, and lucky you having a bus ride so you’re able to read with no distractions. 

    Cathy #WOYBS

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  5. Impressed that you found the time to contribute. Lioness sounds like a good read. How do you listen to audio books? On earphones- I don’t much like them- or just playing from your Kindle?

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  6. I am impressed that you had a chance to read much of anything as you get ready to move. Lioness sounds particularly interesting and definitely one for our times, no matter the country.

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  7. Some great suggestions. I was in back to back classes since October with almost no time to read (unless you consider reading case law for my Environmental Law class to be “reading”.

    The last book I read for pleasure was William Gibson’s Agency. It is speculative fiction, not traditional sci-fi. I really enjoyed it because it was exciting and so strange that it wasn’t until a week after I finished the book that I finally understood what was going on! I thought I had returned the book but when I logged on to put a hold on Trust by Hernan Diaz, I realized I had a $20 fine at the library for holding this book well beyond it’s due date and my account is locked. Trust came recommended by my well read friend Peggy. Before I read Trust (long list of holds for that one), I will read a very short book called Flight Out of Egypt – A Medical Odyssey, by R. Paul Robertson, M.D. which was written by Peggy’s husband and my former boss of ~30 years. I know the bones of the story, and I know that Paul is an excellent writer, though his first love is research, specifically in the field of Diabetes and much of his writing is in the form of articles in scientific journals. That little 60 pager is due to arrive today. I will also, since I took the day off, head to the library when it opens and clear my name.

    I will take some WOYBS suggestions with me to the library as I do not have another class until autumn.

    Cheers!

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  8. That is a great idea to use audiobooks to keep you company while packing! I tend to listen to them while I’m driving and while I’m crafting or cleaning but it still isn’t second nature to me to turn to them yet. I think you did a great job with your reading while moving!

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  10. I’ve just ordered The Lioness on Amazon and need to keep an eye out for The Rev’s book … I like him so am sure I’ll enjoy his writing.

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  11. Hi, Barbara – I become so involved with your feature photo for this post, that image alone took my mind numerous places. Of the books displayed there, I have only read ‘ Nothing Fancy’ by Alison Roman (recommended to me by Jo Tracey). But several of your other food books definitely captured my imagination.

    I am impressed with the reading/listening/browsing that you have been able to do while moving.

    My husband and I are helping my parents move at the end of this month. I know that my reading will come to a sudden hault during that time. :(

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  15. A nice selection. The lioness is on my TBR list. I love listening to audiobooks, especially when doing housework, gardening or editing photos.

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