What’s on your bookshelf: July

Thistles and Kiwis

A mix of rainy days, winter weather and a few days off, offered up many an opportunity to just sit and read this month. There was a real mix from the always present detective fiction to a very powerful book that was chosen for this month’s book club at our local bookshop.

I picked up Rachel Paris‘ See How They Fall on a recommendation. The author is based in Auckland, but the book is set in Sydney. The founder of a luxury goods empire dies, and his three sons and families gather at the family estate. One person is found dead, a child is poisoned and almost dies, a ‘new’ family member appears, there are plots, subplots and subterfuge. I found the book started well but went a little too ridiculous about half way through. Anyway, it was a fun read and I have heard it will be made into a TV series.

Next up was a book of short stories by Curtis Sittenfeld Show Don’t Tell. I found I had actually read three of them before in a slim volume of her stories published just after the pandemic. Anyway, I like her writing and enjoyed this collection.

I picked up another Anja de Jager from the library, Death in the Red Light District, featuring detective Lotte Meerman and set in Amsterdam. These books are always a good read, with a gripping story and strong characters. This time, Lotte realises that there is something that links the deaths of two men: they were both children of her father’s former team-mates, and that means she might be next…

Now to book of the month…the truely amazing The Names by Florence Knapp. Cora sets out with her 9 year old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband wants the boy to be called after him, but Cora hesitates, considering whether the name, Gordon, is really right for him. The story then hinges on what if the son was called Bear a name chosen by his sister. Or he is Julian, the name Cora wants, or he is Gordon? The Names is about three versions of a life and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can make. This may well be my book of the year…but there are a few months yet to go. There is a review here if you are interested.

After that, I needed something light so Hisashi Kasiwai The Restaurant of Lost Recipes, a follow up to The Kamogawa Food Detectives. If you enjoyed that, you will enjoy this, with more food detective work and fabulous descriptions of meals served.

Another fun book is Gareth Ward and Louise Ward The Bookshop Detectives Tea and Cake and Death, the second in the series of books featuring a bookshop in Havelock North in the Hawke’s Bay and owners who help to solve crimes. Again, if you enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy this which is a follow up book to the first one, picking up what is clearly going to be an ongoing storyline.

I mentioned in another post that I found a copy of Peter Gordon The Sugar Club Cookbook. I’ve had a good look through and who knows, something may feature from it on the blog at some stage. I also dipped in and out of Nigel Slater’s A Thousand Feasts which is a bit like a very rich chocolate mousse.

I also listened to ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt – the perfect thing for doing housework to!

So…the books rated

  • Rachel Paris See How They Fall – 4 bottles of poison (not mushrooms!)
  • Curtis Sittenfeld Show Don’t Tell – 4 short stories
  • Anja de Jager Death in the Red Light District – 4 bodies
  • Florence Knapp The Names – 5 names
  • Hisashi Kasiwai The Restaurant of Lost Recipes – 5 bowls of ramen
  • Gareth Ward and Louise Ward The Bookshop Detectives Tea and Cake and Death – 5 books
  • Peter Gordon The Sugar Club Cookbook – have not yet cooked anything from it, but a nice read.
  • Nigel Slater A Thousand Feasts – 4 food memories

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

34 Comments

  4. What a great collection of books Barbra! I’m off to look for The Names after your wonderful review. Thanks for joining us for #WOYBS again this month!

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  5. The Bookshop Detectives caught my eye right away, and I think that looks like a series I might like. I read The Kamogawa Food Detectives awhile back and it was charming and different. Happy Reading!

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  10. I’ve added The Names to my (very long) tbr list. I read the review which was intriguing. Interesting to know that not only your name but your initials can have an impact. As someone with a fairly uncommon name with a fairly uncommon spelling I can identify with these ideas. I’ve never felt comfortable with my name.

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  11. I haven’t read any of these books Barbara. The Names looks an interesting read and The Bookshop Detectives look to be a fun cosy read. Putting them both on my list. Thanks for the recommendations.

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  12. I’ve added several of these books to my TBR list. You were the second blogger I’ve read to recommend The Names and rate it as a 5.

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  14. I read A Thousand Feasts in the same way, dipping in and out of it. I’m reading the first Bookshop Detectives now, and my friend who’s visiting from Wellington, brought me over the second one.

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  17. I’ve got The Names on my shelves and hope to get to it this year. Love Sittenfeld’s short stories but this is a collection I still need to get to.

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

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