Category: Monthly update

My 5 Favourite…June Reads

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My5FavouriteJuneReads

Yes, I know we’re a week into July already but I seem to be permanently in catch-up mode at the moment!  Anyway, here goes… 

Of the 14 books I read in June, these are my five favourite. Click on the book title to read my review.

GoldenHill2Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

June was dominated by reading the books shortlisted for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and this was one of them. Although I felt slightly let down by the end, it was a highly enjoyable romp with a great cast of characters, some wonderful set pieces, lots of sly humour and a convincing period setting.

BrokenBranchesBroken Branches by M. Jonathan Lee

The first offering from new publishers, Hideaway Fall, the author creates an unsettling atmosphere with a distinctly gothic feel as he explores the impact of guilt, secrets and tragedy on one family.

WolvesintheDarkWolves in the Dark by Gunnar Staalesen

Orenda Books can be relied on to come up with some cracking crime stories and this was no exception. The book is full of twists and turns and interrelated stories creating a complex web for its protagonist, Varg Veum, to untangle.  I was lucky enough to win the previous two books in the series in a giveaway.

ACountryRoadATreeA Country Road, A Tree by Jo Baker

Another of the novels shortlisted for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, but probably the least known, the book follows the experiences of an unnamed protagonist (but clearly identifiable as Samuel Beckett) during WW2. Not only is the story beautifully told and compelling, it is a really clever book. It inspired me to learn more about Beckett with the result that I picked up lots of references in the book that I’d missed the first time.

DarkDawnoverSteepHouseDark Dawn over Steep House by M R C Kasasian

I’d been aware of this historical mystery series for a while but never read any of the books. Luckily for me, my friends at Head of Zeus gave me the opportunity to read this, the 5th book in the series, and I absolutely loved it.  The mixture of quirky humour, eccentric characters and compelling plot was really entertaining and I’m now looking forward to reading the previous four books.

 

What were your favourite reads last month?

My 5 Favourite…May Reads

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My5FavouriteMayReads

Of the thirteen books I read in May, here are my five favourites.

Click on the book title to view my review or the Goodreads blurb.

Crimson & Bone by Marina Fiorato

I do love Marina’s mix of historical fiction and romance, and in Crimson & Bone she added a touch of gothic melodrama, a generous helping of mystery and lashings of lovely descriptions of art. A really enjoyable, entertaining read (and a gorgeous cover as well).

Vindolanda by Adrian Goldsworthy

This looks like the first in a new series (at least, I hope so) set in the north of Roman Britain. Action-packed with a great story and interesting hero, it was backed up by the author’s meticulous research and knowledge of the period. If you enjoy Bernard Cornwell’s books or have an interest in Roman history, you will like this.

Fata Morgana by Steven R Boyett & Ken Mitchroney

A WW2 bomber is transported mid-battle through a vortex to a seemingly alien world devastated by a global apocalypse. I can’t do better than repeat my description of this book as ‘a glorious mash-up of The Twilight Zone, The Flight of the Phoenix and The Time Machine (not so much the H G Wells book but the 1960 film starring Rod Taylor)’. Really entertaining.  Sci-fi meets historical fiction.

A Countess in Limbo by Olga Hendrikoff & Sue Carscallen

Fascinating memoir based on the journals of Countess Olga Hendrikoff who lived through the Russian Revolution and the occupation of Paris during WW2. A story of courage, resilience and determination.

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry

This has garnered a lot of praise and prizes and, having recently finished reading it, boy, does it deserve them all. My read of the month; it is simply brilliant. As is often the case with outstanding books, I’m still trying to gather together my thoughts into a review that would in any way do it justice.

What great books did you read in May?  Have you read any of my selection?

My5FavouriteMayReads