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 and share – why they resonated with you, how they made you feel, who are your favourite authors and what you recommend.
First up, two more books by Rebecca Tope, both from her series set in the Lake District: The Askham Accusation and The Threlkeld Theory. For fans of detective fiction, I can highly recommend this series and the one set in the Costwolds. I was completely foxed by ‘who dun it’ in both of them, particularly The Askham Accusation. Good, fun reads, and thanks to a friend for helping me discover this author.
Sticking with crime fiction, I listened to J.M. Hall A Spoonful of Murder as recommended by Anne of Something Over Tea. I agree – a great story underneath quite a sad story.
Next up, the new Sally Rooney, Intermezzo. I am in two minds about this, her fourth novels. Part of me really enjoyed it – her depiction of two brothers who are very different, but who come to terms with each other and their lives I thought excellent. However, I found the book quite difficult to read due to the style – unbroken paragraphs leading to long pages of words, and sentences like “Close to the glass that his breath was condensing. Heard himself saying aloud: Look, I see your point. He’s an adult, it’s none of my business”. It won’t suit everyone.
A very different book is the Korean tale of a bookshop Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum. This is one of those little gems of a book, about the daily life of a new bookshop. A nice book to pick up with a pot of tea and a few biscuits.
Over to this month’s non-fiction. If you are a fan of Barbara Pym, you will enjoy this biography by Paula Byrne The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym. Covering her life at Oxford University, during WW2 and her post-war life and, of course, her writing. There are also some great photographs.
I also enjoyed dipping in and out of the latest book from the Ottolenghi stable as I mentioned earlier this month.
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.
- Rebecca Tope The Askham Accusation 4 crimes
- Rebecca Tope The Threlkeld Theory 4 Lake District villages
- J.M. Hall A Spoonful of Murder 4 cups of tea
- Sally Rooney Intermezzo 4 chess games (because of the story and charcters)
- Hwang Bo-Reum Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop 5 bookshops
- Paula Byrne The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym 4 novels
- Ottolenghi Comfort 5 recipes
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.
Thistles and Kiwis 
For a while, I have thought that Sally Rooney probably wasn’t the writer for me. Don’t know if her other books are different, but from your description of Intermizzo, I know it would drive me crazy.
Being a Pym fan, I am interested in her biography. And a book about a Bookshop? Catnip to me.
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I have mixed thoughts on Sally Rooney. One can certainly picture the characters very vividly, but the writing style put me off. I was determined to finish it rather than being gripped if that makes sense.
The Pym biography is interesting, and think you would enjoy the bookshop book.
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At some point, I probably will give Rooney a try. But there are so many books that come first.
The Pym biography is on my tbr list.
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I felt I had to see what the hype was all about. Her characters are believable but…..I have reservations.
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It’s the writing style, isn’t it? I hate any trick or device that keeps me out of the story, and I loathe this run-on sentence or no paragraph trend. Ditto for no quotation marks around conversation.
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Yes it is. I totally agree re quotation marks too – they help the flow of the text. It is all very well to be ‘clever’ but at the end of the day I want to read the book/
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My thoughts exactly!
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Hi Barbara, I’ve not read any of the books on your list although I will check out A Spoonful of Murder. I’ve seen Intermezzo mentioned in other book groups but haven’t read as yet. Another book for the TBR list. Thanks for sharing at #WOYBS? Have a lovely weekend. x
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Hi Sue – I would love to hear from a ‘real’ person as opposed to a critic what they think of Intermezzo. Rooney has a lot of fans.
Hoping to find some reading time this weekend!
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I loved a Spoonful of Murder and can’t wait to get into Ottolenghi’s new one. Thanks for linking up…
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Think you will enjoy the new Ottolenghi.
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I haven’t read any of the books on your list but Spoonful of Murder looks of interest to me. I’ve seen friends talking about Intermezzo and might have to give it a go. I’ve only read one of Sally Rooney’s books and didn’t really enjoy it. They say this one is excellent. I love your rating system.
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If you didn’t enjoy an earlier Sally Rooney I am not sure you would like this, but you might want to give it a go?
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Hi, Barb – I commented earlier today but am not sure if my comment went through. If not, thank you again for being a regular contributor to WOYBS. This looks like a great selection of reads. ‘Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop‘ especially caught my eye!
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I enjoy WOYBS – gives me a chance to find lots of new things. The bookshop book is very sweet, in a good way.
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Thank you for mentioning my book review. It is pleasing to know that other people have also enjoyed A Spoonful of Murder. Rebecca Tope is an author I do not know … and stories about bookshops / teashops can be alluring.
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Rebecca Tope has written lots of books – I hadn’t heard of her until a friend at work mentioned her. Think you would enjoy them. There are quite a lot of books around just now about teashops and bookshops have you noticed?
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I have – book clubs or reading groups are also popular themes.
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Yes you are right!
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I read all of Rebecca Tope’s Cotswolds books, but got bored with her Lake District series after a while. Maybe time to have another look.
Another author you might enjoy is Lin Anderson. Creator of a forensic scientist in Glasgow. Best to start with the first book.
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I will look out for Lin Anderson – sounds good.
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I think you will enjoy her.
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Great selections! I’ve got to check out Comfort.
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I think you will enjoy Comfort.
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All new authors for me. Will have to see what might be available.
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Yes do!
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That bookshop books sounds so cute!
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It is!
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Some new names and books for me here Barbara, thanks for the mention of the series in the Cotswolds and the Lake District – they could be good for reading while on holidays nearby!
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