What’s on your bookshelf: March

Thistles and Kiwis

This month’s reading was another varied one – a mix of cosy crime, thriller and one book that will definitely be one of my top books of the year. There was also a new cook book as you will see below.

First up, a book that I wasn’t sure about when I picked it up from the library, and wasn’t too sure about, but it was an easy read when I was stuck on the sofa. Victoria Gilbert’s Schooled in Murder takes place in a university library where a dead body is found. You can read the plot in more detail here. It is an OK read if you want something light.

Sticking with the university theme, The Examiner by Janice Hallett, had me laughing out loud at several points, probably because I have spent most of my working life working in, or with, tertiary education. I’m not sure everyone would get some of the things I found funny, but anyway, this is still a great read with all sorts of unexpected twists and turns with spies, environmental issues and a lot of hilarity. It is told through emails, messages and text messages but it really works for this plot line and characters.

Another book that gripped me was Charity Norman’s See You in September which I borrowed as an e-book from Libby after a strong recommendation from a friend. A young woman, Cassy, on holiday in New Zealand from the UK, ends up staying at a farming collective which turns out to be a cult with a charismatic leader. Her parents set out to try to bring her back with the problems you can imagine. This is a great story, well told.

So to what I anticipate as being one of my top books of the year, the latest work from Louise Erdrich, The Mighty Red. Set in North Dakota, it is the tale of the people of the land, of love, of landscape and longing. This summary of the plot says it as well as I ever could. I absolutely loved this book, as I have enjoyed two others I have read by her.

On my last visit to the library, I picked up two books that were the inspiration behind two TV series, the first because I wasn’t thinking and the second because I wanted to read it. No doubt several of you have seen the Swedish serialisation of A Nearly Normal Family by E.T. Edvardsson, about a murder of a man by…well, that is the story. The tale is told through the eyes of three different people, and is a great read even if you haven’t seen the series.

However, I did not enjoy Robert Thorogood’s The Marlow Murder Crime nearly as much. It was a bit pedestrian and the characters just didn’t come to life.

Finally, if you want to drool over beautiful cake, then local pastry chef Maxine Schekter’s Pâtsserie Made Simple is the book for you. Maxine is the owner of Sugar Flour Pastry School here in Wellington, and winner of an episode of Snack Masters (episode 3). The book is stunning, though whether I have the courage to have a go at anything remains to be seen!

And so to the voting:

  • Victoria Gilbert Schooled in Murder 3 libraries
  • Janice Hallett The Examiner 4 Master’s students
  • Charity Norman See You in September 5 islands
  • Louise Erdrich The Mighty Red 5 fields of sugar beet
  • M. T. Edvardson A Nearly Normal Family 4 Swedish policemen
  • Robert Thorogood The Marlow Murder Club 3 paintings
  • Maxine Schekter Pâtisserie Made Simple – a beautiful book – 5 petits gâteaux

Entered in 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.

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.

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

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

31 Comments

  2. Nice selection! I have never heard of A Nearly Normal Family. Will see if I am able to stream it here. Have you evervread any of Louise Erdrich’s short stories? They are fantastic.

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      1. Yes, it is available through Netflix. Will be watching. You and I have overlapping tastes. Really fun to exchange suggestions even though we live so far apart.

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  3. I drool … it is time for me to visit our local bookshop to see if they have some of these authors on the shelves!

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  11. Hi Barbara, I will be putting The Mighty Read on my TBR list. Like you, I read a Marlow Murder Club book this month. It was #4 and I hadn’t read previous ones, although I have seen the television series. I think I prefer the series to the book. Thanks again for providing and eclectic list of books you’ve read this month and sharing with us at #WOYBS? x

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  16. Hi Barbara, I’ve taken note of at least 4 of the books you mentioned, thanks so much for always giving us your great reviews and your personalised rating system, which always makes me smile! Thanks for joining in each month for our WOYBS linkup.

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