Month: December 2024

Book of the Week, Christmas books

Book of the Week: Christmas Is All Around

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I am closing out the year with my second Christms-themed BotW of the season, even if I did read it in Betwixtmas rather than before. Reading this was my reward for getting down to one state to go on the 50 States challenge – because some of the books for those final states have been really hard going and I deserved a treat, especially as I’ve had to put some of the books I really wanted to read before on hold to get the challenge done whilst still being able to do things in Real Life.

These days, Charlotte is an artist and illustrator. But back when she was a child she was the star of a holiday movie that people just won’t let her forget. Unlike her sister, she never wanted to be an actress – her father is a director and got her the role – and she didn’t enjoy the process at the time, or the fact that it’s always brought up in everything she’s done since. So after a trade magazine reveals she’s the reason a reboot didn’t get made and an avalanche of fans pile on to her on her social media (and sometimes in public), she decamps to spend Christmas with her sister in London. Said sister is a new mum and is determined to make Baby’s First Christmas the most perfect and festive ever. Which is how she accidentally ends up at the stately home used as a filming location in said Christmas movie, and when she’s accidentally left behind she ends up getting a lift back to London with the son of the house – whose family business depends on visitors, of whom many come precisely because of that Christmas movie. Charlotte agrees to do a series of illustrations of locations used in famous Christmas movies and Graham agrees to accompany her on her sketching trips – but can there be a happy ending for a Christmas romance when one half of the couple hates Christmas?

The whole premise of this is that someone who hates their involvement in a Christmas movie gets caught up in a romance that could be the plot of a Christmas movie. And it’s just so much fun. Obviously Martha Waters has made up her own movie for the purpose, but I think it’s fair to say that Love Actually may have inspired some of it – there’s a Heathrow Airport joke right at the start and there are a few more nods to the quirks (shall we call them) of Richard Curtis’s Christmas anthology movie as well. If that was all this was doing, it could have run the risk of being a bit one note or basic – but there’s much more going on than that. Charlotte’s got issues that she needs to work through – not just with her former child stardom, but with her parents too – and adds to the layers of the story. There’s also witty banter and a great cast of supporting characters with enough quirks to make them funny but not so many that they become teeth itchingly irritating.

I’ve recommended one of Martha Water’s historicals – To Swoon and to Spar – before, and I have another waiting on the shelf. This is her first contemporary romance and I really hope she does more of them if they can all be as good as this.

I bought my copy in Waterstones, but the Kindle and Kobo editions are 99p at the moment – although you might need to get in fast on that though as I suspect it’s a December deal, and we all know December ends at midnight…

Happy Reading…

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: December 23 – December 29

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Lets start with the big news: I have finished my read across the US challenge for the year – a whole day and a half earlier than I did last year. What a result. For once I managed to get a bit of discipline together – and spend most of December working my way through the remaining states, rather than just the last 10 days… It does mean that I haven’t read all the Christmas books that I wanted to this year, but I’ve got two days left before New Year to sort that out. I should probably be trying to clear the long runners of the list though, but I think I’ve been disciplined enough for one month. It can be my New Year’s resolution…

Read:

Murder on a Midsummer Night by Kerry Greenwood

Codename Zero by Chris Rylander

Designed to Death by Christina Freeburn

The Fire Carrier by Jean Hagen

Open Season by C J Box

Christmas is All Around by Martha Waters

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N Holmberg

Started:

A Very Lively Midwinter by Katy Watson

Still reading:

A Traveller in Time by Alison Utley

Not in My Book by Katie Holt*

Cher: The Memoir Part One by Cher

Surprisingly, only one and it was a pre-order. Kindle Unlimited has been my friend in ticking off those last few states and my wallet thanks it for that!

Bonus picture: my second Christmas jigsaw…

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Best of..., book round-ups

Best Books of 2024: Non Fiction

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After the best new fiction on Friday, here I am with my favourite non-fiction books of the year, which is very much a mix of new releases and not new releases, but also features a suspicious number of books that fall into one of my favourite periods of history – aka the first half of the 20th Century.

Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell*

I think this is my favourite of the new non-fiction that I’ve read this year. I love a look at how women exerted power in male-dominated environments, and this re-examination of Pamela Harriman – who has previously just been dismissed as a femme fatale/grande horizontale who worked her way through all the men she knew – is a really interesting one. Purnell makes a strong case – and appears to have the evidence to back it up due to the amount of personal papers that she had access to. I was so pleased to see this prominently displayed in the bookshops this autumn.

Capote’s Women by Lawrence Leamer

Cover of Capote's Women

Harriman is one of the women in the title of Lawrence Leamer’s book – and the other women were definitely among those who dismissed Harriman as a modern day courtesan – after all she had slept with several of their husbands (one of whom she later married). If you don’t want to commit to an entire book about Pamela (and Kingmaker is 500 pages long) then you can catch a glimpse of her war years and immediate aftermath in this book about Capote and the women who featured in his notorious Esquire article La Cote Basque, which blew up his friendships with them forever.

Murder by Kate Morgan*

If you read as much mystery fiction set in the past as I do, this might be right up your street. It’s an examination of the evolution of the crime of murder in legal terms in England. If you’ve ever wondered about how the differences between murder and manslaughter came about, or when various forms of insanity defences evolved, this is the book for you. It also covers some of the more recent developments in murder trials that have come out of tragedies like Aberfan – and whether or not they have worked as intended. And if you’re writing historical crime fiction this is probably a must read to make sure you’re getting the legal side of things right!

Going Infinite by Michael Lewis

Copy of Going Infinite

Another of my areas of special interest in non-fiction (aside from interwar history) are spectacular flops/business disasters/con men. And the rise and fall of Sam Bankman Fried and his crypto exchange are among the most spectacular of recent years. Of course the challenge of such a recent scandal as this is being up to date and this was originally published in 2023 just as the trial was starting and the paperback edition that I bought (on the way to Malaysia and then mostly read on the plane) came out not long after the sentencing. But the big reason for reading this rather than listening to one of the podcasts about the story (which have the ability to add new episodes as things evolve) is that Michael Lewis was already working on a book about SBF when the implosion happened – and thus was on the scene in a way no one else was. And have a bonus podcast recommendation – Spellcaster from Wondery is my pick of the SBF specials, although The Naked Emperor series of CBC’s Understood is also good (and I have their series about Celine Dion waiting to be listened to as well).

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy

Cover of I'm Glad My Mom Died

It would be remiss of me not to include a memoir in this list – and this also fits into a special interest area: Hollywood. But Jenette McCurdy‘s memoir comes with some important caveats: this covers abuse of many different kinds as well as addiction and eating disorders. It is a tough read. A very tough read. But at the end it is hopeful that McCurdy – a former Nickelodeon child star – has come out of the other side, and not just because her mother is dead and can no longer emotionally manipulate and exploit her. I really hope that she is in a better place – this book really illustrates why so few child stars emerge from that early fame unscathed.

And I realise that’s a bit of a downer to end on. Sorry about that. But hey these things happen.

Have a good Sunday.

The pile

Books Incoming: Christmas arrivals

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A four book haul this Christmas so far, with two from this year’s list, another from my long term wants list because I didn’t know what had been bought already when I got another request for books (and didn’t want to spoil the surprise by asking the people who I knew had bought from it already!) and an unexpected middle grade fantasy which looks really good. I do love a boarding school story. I’m hoping there will be one more to come – but we’ll see! Anyway, the Kennedy-related portion of the to-read pile is replenished as well as the 1930s notables one. And now I can take a look at what might have hit the Boxing Day sales and see what else I would like to acquire…

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Best of..., book round-ups

Best Books of 2024: New Fiction

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We’re nearly there. It’s nearly the end of 2024 – and with that, it’s time for me to take a look at some of my favourite reads of the last year. This year I’ve split it up across a couple of posts, and first up we have the best New Fiction that I’ve read this year.

The Other Side of Disappearing

Cover of the Other Side of Disappearing

Kate Claybourn’s new novel came out in March, and was a Book of the Week when I got around to reading it in April. And you can click the link to read the full review, but it’s a road trip novel, as a reluctant participant in a podcast goes with her sister to try and find their mother, with the production crew in train. I liked it because of the way it portrayed the heroine’s relationship with her sister as well as the romance, but also because it was more uplifting than I was expecting considering it had a heroine who had been parentified because of the behaviour of her mother even before she abandoned them both. There’s still no news on when Claybourn’s next book is due, but I hope that it’s going in a similar sort of direction to this one because it was a really delightful read.

Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell

This was a rare case of me reading a Kindle sample and then abandoning all my usual rules about purchase prices to buy the book because I was so desperate to read it. And I’ve since seen it in two for ones in Foyles and at a big discount on Kindle, so if I had waited I would have saved a whole heap of cash. But this made me so nostalgic for the rom-coms of my teenage years. I loved You’ve Got Mail when it came out (still do now to be honest) and the description of this as You’ve Got Mail for a new generation is pretty much spot on. As I said in my review at the time, some people are going to have an issue with the way that the couple get together (their respective partners are cheating on them with each other, but they’re not split up) which is why I count it as “A Novel” not a romance, but I really, really liked it. Suzanne Rindell seems to be on an every other year sort of publication schedule, and I hope that her next one is as good as this.

The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear

This is slightly cheating, and I’ve swapped it in since mid-year point where I picked Mona of the Manor instead. The Comfort of Ghosts is the last in a long series, and I try not to recommend books where you need to have read all the others to get the maximum impact from it. But it’s also rare for a series to finish so satisfyingly as the Maisie Dobbs one does. At the end of eighteen books, Maisie is sent off to a bright new future, all the loose ends are tidied up – including some that you had forgotten, but unlike some final books in mystery series, the mystery plot in this isn’t an add on to the rest, it’s properly thought out and integrated. It’s satisfying enough that although I’m sad that Maisie’s story is done, I’m happy to leave her at this point. Hopefully I’ll like Winspear’s next book as much, and if the White Lady is any indication I think I will

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Cover of The Rom-Commers

This is the first of two books in this list that I read on my late November/early December holiday and is that recency bias showing? I don’t know. But when I looked at all my top rate books these were the ones I wanted to include. And this is the second book in this list that gave me all the nostalgia for the movies of my teenage years. Charlie is a great hero – with the gruff and abrasive exterior hiding a soft and sentimental interior that he is trying his best to hide from everyone. The banter is great, the critique of the movie industry is also fabulous if you’re someone like me who wants to know where the (less problematic) successors to Notting Hill, Never Been Kissed and Two Weeks Notice are.

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T Dubb

And this is the only book on this list which wasn’t a Book of the Week – and that’s because I read it the same week as the Rom-Commers and there can only be one BotW each week. The heroine of Birding With Benefits is Celeste. She’s newly single and about to be an empty nester, so she’s trying to put herself out there and find some adventures of her own. So of course she says yes to a friend who asks her to help one of his friends out at an event. The friend is John, and it turns out the event is Tuscon’s annual birdwatching contest – which John wants to win to help him launch his own guiding business and to a lesser extent to show his ex-girlfriend that he’s just fine. And so the unlikely duo begin a fake relationship for the duration of the contest and it soon turns into something more than either of them expected. It’s charming and fun – and made me care about birdwatching, which is something I never thought possible. It deserves its spot on this list.

Here’s to as many good books in 2025 – and have a great weekend everyone!

film, not a book, tv

Old Favourites at Christmas

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Every year in the run up to Christmas, I need to clear space on the TiVo for all the new stuff that’s coming – and that means that I’ll delete a few of my favourite movies to clear space – knowing that they’ll be on again at some point over the 10 days of Christmas and if the TV happens to be on when they’re showing, I’ll probably switch over and watch too. So today, here are a few things that are on that list…

Some people say it’s not Christmas if the Wizard of Oz isn’t on TV, I say it isn’t Christmas if The Sound of Music isn’t on somewhere. It is in my top 10 favourite movies, if not my top five. But it’s also now a tradition to read this genius article from McSweeneys: I Regret to Inform You that My Wedding to Captain Von Trapp has been Cancelled. It’s thirteen years old now and it’s still as funny as the first time I read it. I think I like it more than I like their Decorative Gourd Season article. And that’s saying something!

I’m also a big Doris Day fan – and Christmas is often a time when her movies pop up on TV. This year as well as Pillow Talk (definitely in my top five) there’s Lover Come Back, Move Over Darling and Calamity Jane where you can also enjoy the wonder that is Howard Keele – star of the movie version of Kiss Me, Kate (which inexplicably isn’t on this Christmas damnit).

And then there’s the Agatha Christie adaptation situation. Unusually this year there are no repeats of the Joan Hickson Miss Marples (Alibi are repeating some of the Ngaio Marsh Alleyn adaptations this year though) but you can watch the Albert Finney Murder on the Orient Express, which is definitely a Christmas movie (snow!) and has an all star cast and amazing music and is much better than the recent remake – which isn’t bad, it’s just not that one!

Oh and Some Like it Hot is on too. Another from my all time my top five. My TiVo is going to be so, so full!

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: December 16 – December 22

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I’m down to the last few states. It’s going to be close but I might just do it. Maybe. If I don’t get distracted. And it’s Christmas this week so chance of distractions is high. We will see. And as it’s Christmas I’m taking a couple of days off this week – so the normal pattern of posts will resume next week.

Read:

Urn Burial by Kerry Greenwood

Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick

The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood

A Picture Perfect Frame by Lynn Cahoon

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

Wedding Day and Foul Play by Duffy Brown

Murder in the Dark by Kerry Greenwood

Comic Sans Murder by Paige Shelton

Started:

Codename Zero by Chris Rylander

Still reading:

A Traveller in Time by Alison Utley

Not in My Book by Katie Holt*

Cher: The Memoir Part One by Cher

Less than you might expect given the way I’m working my way through the final states. Two total – but only thanks to the sterling efforts of Kindle Unlimited.

Bonus picture: some Christmas graffiti from the park on Saturday

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

not a book, tv

Christmas watching 2024

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If you’re lucky, you might be finished for Christmas by now. If you’re me, it feels like you might never be finished. But I have my Christmas Radio Times, and I’ve been through it to work out what my highlights are this year.

You would have to have been out of the country to miss that it’s the final every (definitely, definitely, cross their hearts) episode of Gavin and Stacey on Christmas Day. Following in recent tradition of One Last Episode for Christmas (see also Detectorists and Ghosts) Ruth Jones and James Corden say that once you’ve seen it you’ll know why there’ll be no more. I do hope everyone lives. I’ll be watching to find out, but the last Christmas special was good so I sort of trust them.

I’m slightly more worried about Wallace and Gromit. But that’s more because the bar for them is so incredibly high. Lest we forget the duo have five Baftas and three Oscars. The train track chase in The Wrong Trousers remains one of the most perfect sequences in animation. But they’re back – and so is Feathers McGraw, easily one of the most sinister villains ever to grace a children’s programme. I really, really, hope it’s good.

And the other new thing that I’m looking out for this year is a fresh adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five. I’m always fascinated to see how childrens classics are reinvented. As some one who reads a lot of vintage childrens literature I would say that the Blyton cannon is one that stands up less well when rereading as an adult compared to some of the others but people have very fond memories of it from when they were small so it can go either way. I didn’t mind the reinvented Swallows and Amazons a few years back, but it wasn’t as good as the books. So lets see how this one does.

Have a great week everyone!