Reading Heart Liberals

[Elya]

Lessons in Chemistry is my original book club's July book so that's good to know Squirrel! April's is Rabbit Hole by Mark Billingham, which I'm looking forward to as I haven't read any of his for a while.

May is Eleanor Oliphant so I'm not too fussed to miss that month's meeting as I don't think it would be the same experience a second time, and it's too long since I first read it to remember exactly what I thought. And June is Queenie, which I think went down well on TMT.

I re-read Eleanor and much preferred it second time around.

[Dutchie]

I finished The Dry a few days ago and am now reading Force of Nature. Such a shame there are only 3 Aaron Falk books.

Have added Oliphant and Lessons in Chemistry to my rather long wishlist...

[wendy james]

I’m not sure about The Salt Path. It’s a bit chatty but also vague for literal me. Like just say the side effect of a medication rather than waffling about Mars bars and making me google. :lol:

[Pippedydeadeye]

I found the Salt Path both good and frustrating. She is quite vague and then also expecting total buy in.

I’ve just finished Bodies of Light by Sarah Moss. I’m not sure I enjoyed it, but I will think about it a lot, I’m sure. It was about women trying to be doctors in the late nineteenth century and very very feminist, but in some ways not feminist enough.

I’m going to read more Nora Ephron next.

[Cerise]

I have finished Lessons In Chemistry. On the whole, I really enjoyed it but in some ways I didn’t. I didn’t warm to Elizabeth at all!

[Disco]

I've finished I Who Have Never Known Men and enjoyed it despite its bleakness. I'm now reading Stiff a non fiction book about the human body during death; a history of dissection, body snatching, body farms, embalming etc.

[Duophonic]

I love Mary Roach, Stiff is a great book.

[Disco]

It's so interesting. I've had it on my list for ages but it recently came up in the kindle sale so I was pleased and pounced on it.

[wendy james]

Thanks Disco, that sounds interesting so I've also bought it in the sale.

I know that The Salt Path is a favourite of some of the book club attendees who have also read the sequels, so I can't wait to share my opinions of the judgemental author who expects us to feel for her and her self-inflicted poor choices but likes to look down on others (and share dull/unbelievable interactions in a repetitive nature that was just boring to read). I'd say I felt for her husband but I don't feel like I know much about him, his only purpose seemed to be for her to use to constantly remind us how bad *she* had it.

[Lily]

I've just finished The Last Party. It left me a bit cold. I fear Clare Mackintosh (sp?) will go the way of Elizabeth Haynes, Sophie Hannah and Lisa Jewell where they all get more and more crazy and less and less believable.

[Duophonic]

I've recently finished:

Summary of wise gals: the spies who built the CIA - Nathalia Holt. It was interesting, I'm fascinated by anything spy related so enjoyed this as I know next to nothing about the CIA.

No Plan B - Lee Child. Jack Reacher is my guilty pleasure but they've gone totally off the boil and very repetitive.

The Dry - Jane Harper. After all the chat on here about the books I took the plunge. I enjoyed it but then again I enjoy most crime thrillers.

Corrupt Bodies - Peter Everett. This was fab, it's a memoir by a mortuary manager in the 80's in London. It covered everything from his early fascination with death to all the dodgy dealings that go on behind the scenes. Some real proper laugh-out-loud moments.

Forensics - Val McDermid. Again loved this, anything pathology/science behind the scenes and I'm all over it. Weirdly I've never read any of Val McDermid's fiction.

The Twyford Code - Janice Hallett. Bought this as a travelling read and couldn't put it down, loved the format and the turns the book took. I know Ismee found it annoying

[wendy james]

A Place of Execution (Val McDermid) is one of the few books I've re-read. I really should read more by her.

The Corrupt Bodies sounds right up Disco's alley.

[Disco]

It does! :)) As does Forensics.

[lazzbo]

You could set up your own undertakers soon. :))

I'm reading Another Day in the Death of America and it's grim but beautifully written.

[Lily]

The morgue one sounds fascinating.

I also just finished Lucy Worsley's biography of Agatha Christie which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm now requesting all her books from the library. (Christie's)

[sally maclennane]

I like Val McDermids books, the Karen Pirie ones in particular. I also like the Allie Burns ones - there have been 2 so far, 1979 and 1989.

[sally maclennane]

I finished The Last Party, I didn't think it was very good. I hate the chaotic female cop trope, it's so predictable.

[Bat Macdui]

I may look up Claire Fuller's previous work. @Bats - did you ever ready any others as I can see you enjoyed this one too?

I tried one of them - I think it was Swimming Lessons - and the concept was a bit daft so I didn't get that far and that kind of put me off the rest. I've just looked her back up again, though, and I might try Bitter Orange, you've reminded me of how much I enjoyed the one I did read.

I have finished my jag of comfort re-reading all the Ann Cleeves' Shetland books and started Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. I'm not sure bout it at the moment - I will finish it, because I want to know how it ends, but it is dragging a bit in parts. And her sentences are WAAAY too long. That said, it's very perceptive and she's very good at gently lampooning people and their preoccupations. It'll probably get a 3/5 on Good Reads. I have my eye on a biography of Mary Queen of Scots for next up.

[lazzbo]

I've decided to be brave and reread Wolf Hall. This may take some time.

[Lily]

I finished The Last Party, I didn't think it was very good. I hate the chaotic female cop trope, it's so predictable.

yes, it's a well-trodden path and the author can do better. She should take a leaf out of Jane Harper's book; I cracked through Exiles in a day and a half. That woman is CLEVER.

I want to comfort-read a Phil Rickman but feel guilty because one of my library books is due back.