What’s on your bookshelf: August

Thistles and Kiwis

I was at the monthly book club held at Marsden Books in Karori last night. It was a free for all, and so a great opportunity to pick up some new ideas of things to read. We all agreed that sometimes it is hard to find a book to get your teeth into, and that can set you back. Other times (like me with what I am reading at the moment – for next month) you want to stay on the bus to the terminus just to keep on reading.

Anyway, this was a bit of a mixed month for me, starting with Patrick Radden Keefe’s London Falling. I had had this on order on Libby for a while, and was looking forward to it but while the story was interesting and quite fascinating in many ways, I found the writing style a bit annoying and his ‘quaint old London town’ parts clearly aimed at a certain audience. The book could also have been half as long, or better still, a 50 minute podcast.

Next up was a complete and delightful contrast Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor, a great companion for a rainy Sunday. This short novel is the story of Mrs Palfrey who goes to live at the Claremont Hotel. She has a nephew, who is not that interested in her, so she invites a young man she meets by chance to act as her nephew and visit her at the hotel. I won’t give the plot away, but it is a well rounded work you won’t forget.

Also from the library came Rebecca Tope’s latest The Dacre Dilemma. I’m not sure what number in the series set in the Lake District this is, but the main character is now pregnant, but sill manages to get involved in solving a murder. If you like Tope, you will like this, but I wouldn’t recommend this if you haven’t read the rest in the series as it might be a little confusing.

Next up, a book that will be on my list of books of the year list I am sure come December and that is My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein by Deborah Levy. It is the tale of a young woman and her friends in Paris, a lost cat and friendship is such a delight that I loved every moment of the book. Gertrude Stein? The narrator is writing about her.

Now to something very different, and enjoyable in a very different way and that is the next in the series of the Hawke’s Bay set The Bookshop Detectives series, Murder and Mojitos by Gareth Ward and Louise Ward. This was such fun with references to spies, gangs, the customers in the shops and all the rest of the fun that we have come to expect from the series.

Then to a book with a fantastic title There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura. The plot is about a woman who wants a simple work life…and of course there is no such thing. It took me ages to get through this, and am not sure why. It was fun with lots of things to think about and I loved the cover too.

Next up is Python’s Kiss a book of short stories by Louise Erdrich and illustrations by her daughter. As ever with short stories, there are some I liked more than others. I particularly enjoyed the one about the four wedding dresses and another about a character in a local town and their identity.

There are times when a book is just the wrong one for our mood. As much as I love Ann Patchett, I could not get into Bel Canto. I returned it to the library unfinished.

I also listened to two cosy crimes this month, both fun, both ideal for the mood.

  • Patrick Radden Keefe London Falling 3.5 London buildings
  • Elizabeth Taylor Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont 4 hotels
  • Rebecca Tope The Dacre Dilemma 4 Lake District villages
  • Deborah Levy My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein 5 Paris apartments
  • Gareth Ward and Louise Ward The Bookshop Detectives: Murder and Mojitos 4 mojitos
  • Kikuki Tsumuru There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job 4 mundane jobs
  • Louise Erdrich Python’s Kiss 4.5 snakes
  • Ann Patchett Bel Canto no rating

Audio books

  • MC Beaton Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate 4 curates (and perfect pick me up)
  • AB Ralph Fright on Stage Right 3.5 drag queens

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram @thistlesandkiwis

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

38 Comments

  1. It’s always fun to me to read a book in the middle of the year and recognize that it will make my top 10 list like you are doing with My Year in Paris. Several of your titles sound interesting!

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  5. I really should try The Bookshop Detectives as I’ve heard so many good reports. I think I’d enjoy My Year in Paris so putting it on my list along with The Bookshop Detectives. I haven’t read any of your books so thanks for the recommendations

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  9. Thanks for linking up. Glad to hear I am not the only one who returns a book unfinished if it doesn’t appeal. Now I am off to sew whether or not I can pick up “My Year In Paris”. Bernie

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    1. I love Ann Patchett, and realised I hadn’t read Bel Canto. I think it was my mood – we have had some very sad news in the office, work is very stressful and I think it was the wrong book at the wrong time if that makes sense!

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  14. I’m always impressed by how many books you manage to read in a month. I’ve just finished Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders, which I really enjoyed. He writes just like he talks, in a very relaxed and easy manner, and now I’m looking forward to the release of the second in the series. And we’re just home from a two week road trip during which we listened to the audio version of Kate Morton’s The Lake House – very interesting with lots of twists and turns.

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