Nearly the end of July and time for this month’s post. It’s been a up and down mixed month of genres and books. I’m now about 3/5s of the way through my challenge which is just way more progress than I’d have predicted at the start of this journey.
It’s Most Definitely been summery (hey, it’s MY blog and I’m allowed to whinge here even when stating the complete obvious) and I’ve been extremely glad to have books to hide with from the sun. Being ginger and Scottish means I have never been a fan of heat, and this year has the exciting additions of chemo/radio skin damage plus Lymphodema to add to my long-standing hatred of this season. Fellow survivors – learning to read with one arm above your head, cooling sleeves and packs plus as many ice poles as you can fit in your freezer (bra) are my top tips for you! It‘s nevertheless been a good month: working longer hours, my first post-treatment haircut (the first haircut in a decade 🤭) and a clear two-year mammogram. All the wins!
As per, I digress – on to this month’s reads!
- The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson
- Yinka, Where is your Huzband? – Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
- The Night She Disappeared – Lisa Jewell
- 1979 – Val McDermid
- Pigeon English – Stephen Kelman
- The Murder List – Jackie Kabler
Two of this month’s reads are courtesy of the wonderful CA who gifted them to me. Both excellent choices; I’d had my eye on the 100-Year-Old Man for a while and now the proud owner of 3 Lisa Jewell books as I enjoyed The Night She Disappeared so much. Thank you ❤ The kindness and support of others has literally got me this far in my journey and your support, readers, is just incredible.
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson
Well, the title says it all really! This book follows the adventures of Allen who lives in a nursing home and is most reluctant to celebrate his 100th birthday so goes on the run. I might be unfairly swayed by the author’s nationality but this book has the same kind of wit, silliness and readability of Fredrik Backman (see February Reads and March Reads) so if you’re a fellow fan then this is a good choice for you. Sonya is my absolute favourite character and clearly the hero of this book.
Yinka, Where is your Huzband? – Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
Yinka is a 31 year old, successful Nigerian woman who, much to the SHOCK AND HORROR of her mum and aunties, does not have a husband. This is a story of dating, self-love and finding out your worth. Pretty (almost pleasingly) predictable and neither funny nor poignant enough for me but the messages ring true and it’s a nice easy summery read.
The Night She Disappeared – Lisa Jewell
A young teenage mum goes to a party and disappears without a trace, leaving her young son behind. Two years later, a woman moves to the village and finds a sign saying ‘dig here’. The mystery unfolds very gradually and it’s a book that constantly keeps you guessing with a million theories at once. This is a very readable book which I loved (and my partner most likely hated, given that the Do Not Talk To Me Until This Is Finished rule was enforced much earlier than usual. Sorry pal <3).
1979 – Val McDermid
My Mum’s a big Val McDermid fan so I decided to give her a try. This is the first in the Allie Burns series. Allie’s a reporter who is constantly undermined by her peers and decides to ‘go after the women’s stories’ given that’s all she’s ever allowed to do then stumbles on a biggie. She teams up with the one male colleague who rates her to solve the case. This book is so good, a definite page-turner and I’m extremely glad Val McDermid’s written so many books – another new author to add to my list!
Pigeon English – Stephen Kelman
This book follows an 11-year old Ghanaian immigrant living in London who is trying to solve a murder. I was blown away by this book – seeing the world through his eyes and the observations he makes make me giggle a lot but I was completely broken by it. There are unflinching, obvious parallels to the killing of Damilola Taylor (confirmed by the acknowledgements at the end) and I had to put this down several times and take a break for a few days. I’m extremely glad I read this book and would recommend it (with this warning!) but I will never read it again.
The Murder List – Jackie Kabler
A woman receives a diary in the post with the names of four murder victims, the fourth to be her in 3 month’s time. This book came with its own mystery as I tried to find out who the mystery book fairy was who’d sent me it only to discover it was…. me, having pre-ordered it months ago before completely forgetting about it. Past me’s a genius. This book’s ok, very readable with two good twists but the red herrings are pushed far too hard then The Big Reveal is a completely unwarranted half a page confession. Rage.
That’s all from me! Happy reading ❤
Recovery Through Reading 