Top Ten Tuesday: Auto-Buy Authors

Top Ten Tuesday new

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

The rules are simple:

  • Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want.
  • Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
  • Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists.
  • Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

This week’s topic is Auto-Buy Authors.  Given the number of books I already own that I’ve yet to read (let’s not go there), I’ve cheated a little with my list by dividing it into two parts: authors whose books are automatic purchases and authors whose books are automatic additions to my wishlist (but which I’ll probably go on to buy at some point or add to birthday/Christmas lists).

Links from the book titles will take you to my review or the book description on Goodreads.


Auto-Buy Authors

Philip Kazan – I was introduced to Philip’s books when I joined the blog tour organised by Anne at Random Things Tours for The Black Earth.  I absolutely loved the book and adored his most recent novel, The Phoenix of Florence. I also have two more of his earlier books, Appetite and The Painter of Souls in my TBR pile.

 

Rory Clements – As a fan of historical crime novels, I loved ‘John Shakespeare’ series, starting with Martyr, published in 2009.  I was lucky enough to hear Rory speak (alongside Anne O’Brien) at Henley Literary Festival in 2017.  I also devoured all three books in his new ‘Tom Wilde’ series – Corpus, Nucleus and Nemesis.

C J Sansom – The author’s ‘Matthew Shardlake’ series was one of the first historical crime series I really got into.  I’ve read all the books except for the latest and seventh in the series, Tombland, which is waiting in my TBR pile – or rather in my To Be Listened To pile as I have it in audiobook form.  I also loved his two non-Shardlake historical novels, Dominion and Winter in Madrid.

Robert Harris – I loved An Officer and a Spy and I have several more of his books in my TBR pile, including Pompeii and Munich, and most of his other books in my wishlist.

Alan Johnson – My husband and I are both fans of Alan’s books and we were lucky enough to hear him speak at Henley Literary Festival in 2018.  My husband also got to shake hands with him.  I’ve read two of his four volumes of memoirs – The Long and Winding Road and In My Life: A Music Memoir.  I hope to read the other two at some point.

Auto-Wishlist Authors

Attica Locke, author of crime thrillers such as Bluebird, Bluebird

Alison Weir, author of historical novels such as Innocent Traitor

Sarah Waters, author of historical novels such as The Night Watch

Kate Atkinson, author of novels such as Transcription and the ‘Jackson Brodie’ crime series

Tracy Chevalier, author of historical novels such as At the Edge of the Orchard

Book Review: The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

The Dinner ListAbout the Book

“We’ve been waiting for an hour.” That’s what Audrey says. She states it with a little bit of an edge, her words just bordering on cursive. That’s the thing I think first. Not: Audrey Hepburn is at my birthday dinner, but Audrey Hepburn is annoyed.

At one point or another, we’ve all been asked to name five people, living or dead, with whom we’d like to have dinner. Why do we choose the people we do? And what if that dinner was to actually happen?

When Sabrina arrives at her thirtieth birthday dinner she finds at the table not just her best friend, but also three significant people from her past, and well, Audrey Hepburn. As the appetizers are served, wine poured, and dinner table conversation begins, it becomes clear that there’s a reason these six people have been gathered together.

Format: Paperback (278 pp.)    Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 7th March 2019 Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk  ǀ  Amazon.com  ǀ Hive.co.uk (supporting UK bookshops)
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find The Dinner List on Goodreads


My Review

I’ll confess The Dinner List is not the sort of book I’d usually be drawn to; it’s a bit lighter than my favourite historical crime mysteries. Also, the mention of magical realism in a book description usually sends me running in the opposite direction. However, when I read the first few chapters of The Dinner List on the Readers First website, I found myself intrigued by the clever concept and, of course, the presence of Audrey Hepburn in the story helped.

The book alternates between conversation around the table at Sabrina’s birthday dinner and chapters recounting the story of the relationship between Sabrina and a very important person in her life. The guests (whose identities I’m going to leave the reader to find out) all offer their different perspectives on the ups and downs, the highs and lows of this relationship. As one of them says, “Sometimes it’s impossible to move forward without understanding what happened.”

Clever readers may not be surprised by the piece of information disclosed half way through the book but I certainly was and it changed how I felt about what I read from that point on (but definitely not in a bad way). If anything, it made me feel more invested in the characters.

Rebecca Serle has a deft touch with prose and I particularly liked the lively banter and occasional mild flirtation around the dinner table. The presence of Audrey Hepburn certainly brought a sparkle to proceedings but the author also imbued her character with real warmth and insight. Just how you’d like to imagine Audrey Hepburn would be if she was a guest at your birthday dinner.

The Dinner List is a romantic, heart-warming story about love, loss, friendship, the possibility of second chances and the gift of forgiveness. Amongst others, it poses the questions: Are some things meant to be? Are there some things you can’t fix?

20 Books of Summer 2019I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, Allen & Unwin, and Readers First. The Dinner List is book 7 of my 20 Books of Summer.

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In three words: Romantic, witty, engaging

Try something similar…The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker by Jenni Keer (read my review here)


Rebecca SerleAbout the Author

Rebecca Serle is an author and television writer who lives between New York and Los Angeles. Serle most recently co-developed the hit TV adaptation of her young adult series Famous in Love, now on Freeform. She loves Nancy Meyers films, bathrobes, and giving unsolicited advice on love. (Photo credit: Goodreads author page)

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