Author: whatcathyreadnext

Reading Bingo 2018

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bingo-card-new-2018

Seeing the posts by FictionFan and by Susan at A Life in Books, reminded me how much I look forward to the annual ritual of Reading Bingo.  I never pick books in order to fit the squares – I’m not that organised in my reading – but it’s fun to look back at the books I’ve read in the year and try to match them with the categories.

I’m happy to say, I’ve managed it again this year – how about you? Click on the book titles to read my review.

A Book With More Than 500 Pages – Macbeth by Jo Nesbo

A Forgotten Classic – The Crowded Street by Winifred Holtby

A Book That Became A Movie – Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

A Book Published This Year – Entanglement by Katy Mahood

A Book With A Number In The Title – Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski

A Book Written By Someone Under Thirty – The Dark Tide by Vera Brittain

A Book With Non-Human Characters – The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

A Funny Book – Dear Mrs. Bird by A. J. Pearce

A Science Fiction or Fantasy Book – The Things We Learn When We’re Dead by Charlie Laidlaw

A Book With A Mystery – The Power-House by John Buchan

A Book With A One-Word Title – Hold by Michael Donkor

A Book Of Short Stories – The Word for Freedom by Amanda Saint & Rose McGinty (eds.)

Free Square: A Literary Prize Winner – The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers (The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction)

A Book Set On A Different Continent – The Emperor of Shoes by Spencer Wise

A Book Of Non-Fiction – The Long and Winding Road by Alan Johnson

The First Book By A Favourite Author – The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

A Book You Heard About Online – Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon

A Best-Selling Book – The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (#75 in W H Smith fiction Chart)

A Book Based On A True Story – The Good Doctor of Warsaw by Elisabeth Gifford

A Book At The Bottom Of Your To Be Read Pile – The Good Father by S. R. Wilsher

A Book Your Friend Loves – Miss Marley by Vanessa Lafaye and Rebecca Mascull

A Book That Scares You – Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell

A Book That Is More Than 10 Years Old – Carol by Patricia Highsmith

The Second Book In A Series – I Will Find You (Seal Island #2) by Daniela Sacerdoti

A Book With A Blue Cover – The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau

My Week in Books – 30th December ‘18

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MyWeekinBooks

New arrivals  

Zoo StationZoo Station (John Russell #1) by David Downing (audiobook)

By 1939, Anglo-American journalist John Russell has spent fifteen years in Berlin, where his German-born son lives. He writes human-interest pieces for British and American papers, avoiding the investigative journalism that could get him deported. But as war approaches, he faces the prospect of having to leave his son and his long-time girlfriend.

Then, an acquaintance from his communist days approaches him to do some work for the Soviets. Russell is reluctant but ultimately unable to resist. He becomes involved in other dangerous activities, helping a Jewish family and an idealistic American reporter. When the British and the Nazis notice his involvement with the Soviets, Russell is dragged into the world of warring intelligence services.

My Sister, the Serial KillerMy Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (hardcover, courtesy of Atlantic Books and Readers First)

“Femi makes three, you know. Three and they label you a serial killer.”

Korede is bitter. How could she not be? Her sister, Ayoola, is many things: the favourite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola’s third boyfriend in a row is dead. Korede’s practicality is the sisters’ saving grace. She knows the best solutions for cleaning blood, the trunk of her car is big enough for a body, and she keeps Ayoola from posting pictures of her dinner to Instagram when she should be mourning her “missing” boyfriend. Not that she gets any credit.

A kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works, is the bright spot in her life. She dreams of the day when he will realize they’re perfect for each other. But one day Ayoola shows up to the hospital uninvited and he takes notice. When he asks Korede for Ayoola’s phone number, she must reckon with what her sister has become and what she will do about it.

Sharp as nails and full of deadpan wit, Oyinkan Braithwaite has written a deliciously deadly debut that’s as fun as it is frightening.

On What Cathy Read Next last week

Blog posts

Monday – I shared my favourite scenes from a book that always makes an appearance at Christmas in our house, An Edwardian Christmas by John S. Goodall.

Wednesday – WWW Wednesday is the opportunity to share what I’ve just read, what I’m currently reading and what I plan to read next…and have a good nose around to see what other bloggers are reading.

Friday – I published my sign-up post for the 2019 edition of the When Are You Reading? Challenge.

Saturday – Another day, another 2019 challenge sign-up post.  This time for the Official TBR Pile Challenge.

Sunday – I published my review of an espionage novel set in 1939 Berlin, Zoo Station by David Downing.

As always, thanks to everyone who has liked, commented on or shared my blog posts on social media this week.

On What Cathy Read Next this week

Currently reading

Planned posts

  • Book Review: Sugar in the Blood by Andrea Stuart
  • Buchan of the Month/Book Review: Sick Heart River by John Buchan
  • Book Review: So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernières
  • Book Review: Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller
  • Book Review: Stories We Tell Ourselves by Sarah Françoise