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Book Club

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Re: Book Club

Postby KeenCook2 » Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:43 pm

Quick plug for my sister's best friend from her Oxford days - Ann Oakley's latest, which is a novel
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/strange-lock ... C65&sr=8-2

I started reading it at my sister's but didn't finish it and forgot to bring it back with me to read on the plane, so will have to get it myself! Enjoyed it thus far!

For BG I've just started American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins - one of those books that hits you between the eyes from the beginning, set in Acapulco, Mexico.

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Re: Book Club

Postby Stokey Sue » Wed Mar 16, 2022 3:05 pm

KeenCook2 wrote:Quick plug for my sister's best friend from her Oxford days - Ann Oakley's latest, which is a novel
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/strange-lock ... C65&sr=8-2

The synopsis sounds good, which is just as well as the cover would have put me off!

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Re: Book Club

Postby RockyBVI » Fri Apr 01, 2022 11:06 am

I’ve read American Dirt. There was a lot in the media about whether she had the ‘right’ to write it. I thought it was really good

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Re: Book Club

Postby KeenCook2 » Sat Apr 02, 2022 4:34 pm

I couldn't put it down, once I got into it, absolutely gripping, Rocky. I've spoken to a couple of the other BG members and they felt exactly the same - I think we'll have a good discussion about it on Thursday.
Yes, I heard there was a hoo-haa as well, apparently Oprah picked it for her good read list, or whatever it is she compiles that guarantees a best-seller?

I can't help feeling that the whole "cultural (mis)appropriation" thing is somewhat out of hand but I'm not prepared to get into an argument about it (unlike other issues such as Brxt :oops: :twisted: so I'll stay away from that one on here :D ....)

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Re: Book Club

Postby Stokey Sue » Fri Jun 03, 2022 11:49 am

I’m working my way slowly through the Mike Ripley Mr Campion books, 3 complete so far, enjoying them, though I’m worried about his creeping tendency to have heroes get a bit more violent than is acceptable in a light detective story, this eventually ruined the Angel series


I’ve got a couple of non-detective books which I’ll report on when I’ve got a bit further

But I was wondering if anyone had read any of Mick Herron’s Slough House books, and if so what did you think? I’m going to hear him talk about them this weekend and it sounds like it could be my next series

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Re: Book Club

Postby Wic » Sat Jun 04, 2022 8:42 am

I’ve read some of the Mick Herron books. I’d never heard of him till the series was recommended on the Big Dave DT Crossword blog. They were said to be like early Le Carré stories. I enjoyed them. A bit downbeat, but clever.

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Re: Book Club

Postby Stokey Sue » Sat Jun 04, 2022 9:05 am

Thanks Wic, I’ll be interested to hear him talk, especially as he is in conversation with Will Smith (the one from The Thick of It, not Men in Black)

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Re: Book Club

Postby scullion » Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:14 pm

i'm on the penultimate 'matthew bartholomew'.
- it's been a long time coming.
i've amassed a large 'to read' pile since i started them.

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Re: Book Club

Postby Wic » Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:52 pm

I have loved all of the Matthew Bartholomew books. I can’t remember which one, but there was one that I liked so much I wrote to her, via her publisher and said how much I enjoyed it. She wrote back!

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Re: Book Club

Postby aero280 » Sat Jun 04, 2022 7:40 pm

Just finished Richard Osman’s second ThursdayMurder Club Book. “The Man who died twice. I quite enjoyed it

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Re: Book Club

Postby Stokey Sue » Thu Jun 09, 2022 8:51 pm

Well Mick Herron was a delight, humorous, charming and he and Will Smith were a great double act

But here to say if anyone else wants to try his Slough House series, the first, Slow Horses is currently available for 99p on Kindle

Presumably a tie in to the TV series, which annoyingly is on Apple TV, I don’t have that

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Re: Book Club

Postby Rainbow » Sat Jun 11, 2022 12:46 am

Stokey Sue wrote:But here to say if anyone else wants to try his Slough House series, the first, Slow Horses is currently available for 99p on Kindle

Presumably a tie in to the TV series, which annoyingly is on Apple TV, I don’t have that

Unfortunately not on Amazon Aust. Kindle - I just looked! But I'll keep an eye out for him in my regular Kindle 'Daily Deals'

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Re: Book Club

Postby KeenCook2 » Tue Jun 14, 2022 5:59 pm

Just started The Magician, by Colm Toibin, about Thomas Mann ...

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Re: Book Club

Postby Wic » Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:12 pm

I’ve recently found MWCraven's Washington Poe books. WP is a somewhat oddball policeman, but not irritatingly so, and he doesn’t have the cliché Boss Who Wants the Impossible, or a wife who objects to his odd hours, which is refreshing. Good stories, too!

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Re: Book Club

Postby KeenCook2 » Tue Jun 28, 2022 7:10 pm

KeenCook2 wrote:Just started The Magician, by Colm Toibin, about Thomas Mann ...


And just finished it, what a great read. I'm definitely going to read more by him - any faves out there?

On the strength of it, I've chosen Buddenbrooks as my choice for next month - we're going to take 2 months over it, it's so long.

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Re: Book Club

Postby Pepper Pig » Wed Jun 29, 2022 7:54 am

If you’re into light detective stuff then Rev Richard Coles first book is great. Murder Before Evensong. My mother loved it and I found it very entertaining.

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Re: Book Club

Postby KeenCook2 » Wed Jun 29, 2022 10:59 am

:thumbsup PP

I was actually wondering about any other Colm Toibin recommendations, but yes, I do like light detectives too, so very good to know :D

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Re: Book Club

Postby Wic » Wed Jun 29, 2022 11:58 am

Nice to know, PP.

I’ve just looked it up on the library website and found the queue for it goes on till September!

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Re: Book Club

Postby smitch » Wed Jun 29, 2022 2:56 pm

I’ve just finished ‘How the one-armed sister sweeps her house’. A bleak read but very good.

Have started something a bit less heavy but can’t remember the name!

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