Tag: Five Favourite

I read sixteen books in October and, no, I don’t know how I managed that either, although some of them were quite short. I loved so many of the books I read last month it was really, really difficult to whittle it down to just five, however here they are. Links from each title will take you to my review. You can find a list of all the books I’ve read so far in 2021 here.  If we’re not already friends on Goodreads, send me a friend request or follow my reviews.

A Woman Made of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford (Corvus) – fascinating period settings, atmospheric locations, a combination of mystery and love story, and a cast of well-crafted characters.
An Extra Pair of Hands: A Story of Caring, Ageing and Everyday Acts of Love by Kate Mosse (Wellcome Collection) – a tribute to three ‘extraordinary’ people – the author’s father, mother and her mother-in-law – and her own reflections on becoming a carer, the ‘extra pair of hands’ of the book’s title.
The Prince of the Skies by Antonio Iturbe (Pan Macmillan) – a moving story of love, friendship and the enduring power of stories to enchant us, connect us with past and future generations, and allow us to escape into the clouds for just a little while.
Cold As Hell by Lilja Sigurðardóttir (Orenda) –  a taut, atmospheric and skilfully crafted crime thriller, and a great  introduction to what promises to be an addictive new series for fans of Icelandic noir.
Born Of No Woman by Franck Bouysse (Wieldenfeld & Nicolson) – a powerful story of injustice, suffering and the cruelty that human beings can inflict on one another, but also a love story and a mystery

What books were your favourites in October? Have you read any of my picks?

I read seventeen books in September and, no, I don’t know how I managed that either! I loved so many of the books I read last month it was really, really difficult to whittle it down to just five.  So I’ve cheated a bit this month and added a couple of ‘honourable mentions’. Links from each title will take you to my review. You can find a list of all the books I’ve read so far in 2021 here.  If we’re not already friends on Goodreads, send me a friend request or follow my reviews.

The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed (Viking) – on the shortlist for this year’s Booker Prize, a compelling story based on a real-life miscarriage of justice in 1950s Cardiff
Blasted Things by Lesley Glaister (Sandstone Press) – a powerful and moving story of love and loss set during the First World War and its aftermath
The Improbable Adventures of Miss Emily Soldene by Helen Batten (Allison & Busby) – the real-life story of a remarkable Victorian actress, singer, writer and journalist
The Redeemed by Tim Pears (Bloomsbury) – the final book in the author’s West Country trilogy and shortlisted for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2020
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers (Wieldenfeld & Nicolson) – a tender, moving and beautifully written story (review to follow)

Honourable mentions

Splinter on the Tide by Phillip Parotti (Casemate) – a terrific naval adventure set aboard a US Navy subchaser in WW2
Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (William Morrow) – a sweeping emotional story that you’ll be sad to say goodbye to

What books were your favourites in September? Have you read any of my picks?