Devon Book Club discussion

A new thread capturing books you read through the year. I'd love you to share what you read each month and highlight your book of the month

January for me:
The Bell- my favourite
Near to the Wild Heart
Elmet
Sandpaper for the Soul: A tale of two sisters by local writer Lorna Howarth and a great read
Inner Journeying Through Art-Journaling: Learning to See and Record your Life as a Work of Art
Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller - non-fiction and a fascinating story

author: Rachel Joyce; book: Miss Benson's Beetle I love her style of writing, funny and sad
author: Mary Stewart: book: Touch Not the Cat I read it years ago but came back to it and loved it all over again.

Bit late to the party but my favourite for January has to be Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmous. Rang so many bells from growing up and becoming a scientist in 1960-70s. Made me laugh out loud but also cry.Lessons in Chemistry

Read in January
North Woods by Daniel Mason
In Memoriam by Alice Winn
Bless the woman raised by a voice in her head by Warsan Shire
Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwane Adjieh Brennyah
Hansen’s children by Ognjen Spahic
Cloud cuckoo land by Anthony Doerr
La decision by Karine Tuil
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

The best one is definitely North Woods which may be one of the best novels I have read in the last 5 years. Also honorable mentions to Warsan Shire’s outstanding poetry collection and Paul Lynch’s worthy Booker winner although I did find it a little relentless by the end.

lots of Christmas books read, Mercedes Lackey, Gryphon in Light, Naomi Novik, Throne of Jade, Rob Wilson, Terry Pratchett definitely the book of the month, Angie Sage, Todhunter Moon series book 1 Pathfinder, young adult book a fun read, Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die, Rev. Richard Coles, Murder in the Parish, Jeanette Winterson, The Passion, Garth Nix, Left Handed Booksellers of London, another young adult book read on Kindle, current book Jessie Burton The House of Fortune.

So far in 2024... my books read have been:

'The Trees' by Percival Everett.
'Poor Things' Alasdair Gray
'The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life' Clare Carlisle.
'Middlemarch' by George Eliot - a Rdg Grp bk (still finishing,but read loads of times before).
Also: dipping into various non-fiction works about George Eliot.
Plus... there are almost certainly other works that I've forgotten or just tossed aside (for later, or ... for good) !

Alison wrote: "author: Rachel Joyce; book: Miss Benson's Beetle I love her style of writing, funny and sad
author: Mary Stewart: book: Touch Not the Cat I read it years ago but came back to it and loved it all ov..."

Hi Alison - they sound really interesting and different

Nolwenn wrote: "Read in January
North Woods by Daniel Mason
In Memoriam by Alice Winn
Bless the woman raised by a voice in her head by Warsan Shire
Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwane Adjieh Brennyah
Hansen’s chi..."

That's a recommendation indeed and one I'll definitely read on that basis.

DrMama wrote: "So far in 2024... my books read have been:

'The Trees' by Percival Everett.
'Poor Things' Alasdair Gray
'The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life' Clare Carlisle.
'Middlemarch' by George..."

Loving this thread - so many interesting books. Cant go wrong with Middlemarch. Much prefer Elliott to Jane Austen

Elizabeth wrote: "Bit late to the party but my favourite for January has to be Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmous. Rang so many bells from growing up and becoming a scientist in 1960-70s. Made me laugh out loud ..."

Hi Elizabeth - not late at all - only set the conversation up this morning! Loads of people loved Lessons In Chemistry - I've not read it yet

Ley wrote: "lots of Christmas books read, Mercedes Lackey, Gryphon in Light, Naomi Novik, Throne of Jade, Rob Wilson, Terry Pratchett definitely the book of the month, Angie Sage, Todhunter Moon series book 1 ..."

Wow! That is a list and a half. Anotehr Pratchett fan - we had severla on Mondays #devonbookhour chat. I've never got into his work.

Miss Benson's Beetle
Touch Not the Cat
In Memoriam
Chain-Gang All-Stars
Hansen's Children
Cloud Cuckoo Land
La Décision
Prophet Song
Gryphon in Light
Throne of Jade
PathFinder
The Last Devil to Die
Murder in the Parish
The Passion
The Left-Handed Booksellers of LondonThe Trees
Poor Things
The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life
Middlemarch

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
The Trials of Marjorie Crowe by C S Robertson
The Winter Visitor by James Henry
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
Trinity of Souls by Carl Bayley
Young Elizabeth by Nicola Tallis
The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre

A good month of reading but if I had to pick a favourite it would be The Mirror Cracked. It’s difficult to talk about without giving away spoilers but imagine Miss Marple meets Harry Bosch and that’s just the start of the adventure.

I started the year with Word Puppets by Mary Robinette Kowal, a fascinating collection of fantasy, science fiction and alternative history stories. Now I’m rereading The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker, a very satisfying historical fantasy set in New York in 1899. In between the heavier stuff, I like murder mysteries, historical, modern Australian and Scandi/Icelandic.

My favourite in January was Slow Horses by Mick Heron. I'm late to the table: it was published in 2009/10 I think and the series it has spawned has been very successful. It's championed as the new John le Carre as many spy books are. The parallels are there but it's very much it's own beast. It starts slowly but gets you involved and it's clever and unexpected. I loved the ending.

Ian wrote: "A new thread capturing books you read through the year. I'd love you to share what you read each month and highlight your book of the month"

Love Marriage by Monica Ali
The Wren the Wren by Anne Enright
Western Lane by Chetna Mario
Letters to Gwen John by Celia Paul
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

Kathy wrote: "My favourite in January was Slow Horses by Mick Heron. I'm late to the table: it was published in 2009/10 I think and the series it has spawned has been very successful. It's champio..." I love the 'Slough House' books, too, and began reading them after the series aired on TV. I have not (yet) gone beyond the 1st, but hope to read my way through the lot. Strong, complex books, yet also fun and quite illuminating!

DrMama wrote: "Kathy wrote: "My favourite in January was Slow Horses by Mick Heron. I'm late to the table: it was published in 2009/10 I think and the series it has spawned has been very successful..."
Yes, I plan to work my way through them too. So many books...

The Stranger in The Woods - Michael Finkel. A true story of someone opting out of society for decades. I found it fascinating, raises some ethical questions.
Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
Currently reading Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - jury out on this so far :)

From Cynthea
Hi Ian,
I read a real mixture of books in January. Non-fiction, I read through ‘Self-editing for Fiction Writers’ again.
Fiction, for the second time, ‘Girl A’ by Abigail Dean. Also ‘Reluctantly Home’, by Imogen Clarke and ‘All my Mothers’, by Joanna Glen. My book of the month though, has to be ‘The Job’ by Douglas Kennedy. It’s not my usual genre of reading, but I’m fascinated by the writing techniques Kennedy uses in this fast paced novel.

Teresa wrote: "The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
The Trials of Marjorie Crowe by C S Robertson
The Winter Visitor by James Henry
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
Trinity of Souls by Carl Bayley
..."

That's a great list and The Cracked Mirror sounds really good

Maureen wrote: "I started the year with Word Puppets by Mary Robinette Kowal, a fascinating collection of fantasy, science fiction and alternative history stories. Now I’m rereading The Golem and the Djinni by Hel..."

If you were to pick one out in particular what would you choose?

Kathy wrote: "My favourite in January was Slow Horses by Mick Heron. I'm late to the table: it was published in 2009/10 I think and the series it has spawned has been very successful. It's champio..."

Hi Cathy - long time, no speak. Hope you are well. Not heard of that writer but I shall have a look

Jane wrote: "Ian wrote: "A new thread capturing books you read through the year. I'd love you to share what you read each month and highlight your book of the month"

Love Marriage by Monica Ali
The Wren the Wr..."

Hi Jane - if you had to pick one, which would be your favourite?

Marianne wrote: "The Stranger in The Woods - Michael Finkel. A true story of someone opting out of society for decades. I found it fascinating, raises some ethical questions.
Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
Cu..."
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

The other two I've heard of but not this one so thank for sharing

Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "My favourite in January was Slow Horses by Mick Heron. I'm late to the table: it was published in 2009/10 I think and the series it has spawned has been very successful..."

Hi Ian, fine thanks now after a bout of Covid at Christmas. Sorry for the silence - I’ve had head down writing, editing etc. Hope all is well with you.

Kathy wrote: "Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "My favourite in January was Slow Horses by Mick Heron. I'm late to the table: it was published in 2009/10 I think and the series it has spawned has been ver..."

Glad you are over that now. And no apology ever needed. This community is here whenever anyone wants to connect. Be great to hear more about your WIP when you are ready to share it.

I’ve nearly finished Lessons in Chemistry. Have enjoyed it, fascinating insight into how things were for women, how far we have come but also how much further there is still to go!

Wendy wrote: "I’ve nearly finished Lessons in Chemistry. Have enjoyed it, fascinating insight into how things were for women, how far we have come but also how much further there is still to go!"

Hi Wendy - sorry to be slow responding. Haev been away. Yes, lots of people have said how much they enjoyed this book. I've not read it myself yet but it's on my list

I only just spotted this particular strand. Right now I'm reading 'Lorna Doone' by R.D. Blackmore. It's set in the West country and I'm sure I read a simpler, or condensed version when I was about 12 and off on holiday to Devon with my parents. I believe the form was very much of its time, but now the novel seems over-written and detailed concerning much of the information it is trying to convey: there are also many colloquial conversations and long descriptions, which involve much checking of the endpapers, in order to find out what exactly what is being referred to. However, I'm enjoying it... while yet also looking forward to the Rdg Grp's May book: JG Farrell's 'The Siege of Krishnapur'. Happy reading!

DrMama wrote: "I only just spotted this particular strand. Right now I'm reading 'Lorna Doone' by R.D. Blackmore. It's set in the West country and I'm sure I read a simpler, or condensed version when I was about ..."

Very much of its time but still an evocative book