Tag: to-read pile

Not a tremendously productive week in reading terms this week – but the it is the week before Christmas and several of the books that I read were really quite long.

Read:

A Christmas Feast by Katie Fforde

Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop by Jenny Colgan

Goodbye Picadilly by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Diary of a Failed Southern Lady by Florence King

Opening Night by Ngaio Marsh

Started:

These Wonderful Rumours! by May Smith

Still reading:

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

 On the brightside no books bought – except for one bought as a Christmas book and re-purposed for me!  Next week however is Christmas week – and I suspect I may well get some books amongst my gifts.  But at least I won’t have bought them for myself!

Reading schedule derailed by a very busy weekend of work – and an urge to re-read some Phryne Fisher (it happens when I’m tired) – but hey – I still did ok.

Read:

Swing, Brother, Swing by Ngaio Marsh

The Goddess and the Thief by Essie Fox

Cover Story by Rachel Bailey

Emma by Alexander McCall Smith

Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews

Shopaholic on Honeymoon by Sophie Kinsella

Started:

Opening Night by Ngaio Marsh

Still reading:

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

Goodbye Picadilly by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

 One book bought – the next Meg Langslow.  So better work from me on that front.

Considering I’ve been off work this week and not really been commuting, I don’t think I’ve done too badly.  I’ve called time on the Sarah Waters  – there’s so much else I’d rather be reading, and it’s lingered for two months not being read, so I’ve given up.  I’ll keep it around – and I may return to it – but enough people (including The Boy) have told me that it wound them up or left them unsatisfied that I thought I’d rather spend my time on stuff I do enjoy.

I’m trying to delay reading the last Parasol Protectorate story – because once I read it, I’m out of Gail Carriger to read until her next book comes out (in 2015!) so the purchase of a couple of Ngaio Marsh omnibuses in Foyles double Foyalty points promotion last weekend has bee fortuitous.   A bit of Golden Age crime is an excellent distraction!

Read:

The Greatest Love Story of All Time by Lucy Robinson

The Grand Duchess of Nowhere by Laurie Graham

One Upon A Christmas Kiss by Manda Collins

How The In-Laws Wrecked Christmas by Fiona Gibson

A Grosvenor Square Christmas by Anna Campbell, Shana Galen, Vanessa Kelly and Kate Noble

Heartless by Gail Carriger

Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh

Final Curtain by Ngaio Marsh

Started:

Goodbye Picadilly by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Emma by Alexander McCall Smith

Swing, Brother, Swing by Ngaio Marsh

Still reading:

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

The Goddess and the Thief by Essie Fox

 A couple of books bought this week – both Christmas released from Authors that I enjoy, so they’ll probably appear here soon!

Not a bad week of reading really – I’ve done a bit of tackling of the library book backlog as well as some of the actual book backlog.  I’m off work for a week this week – not going anywhere special, just not working – so who knows what will happen reading wise when I don’t have the commute!

Read:

Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews

Death of Yesterday by M C Beaton

Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses by Catriona McPherson

It’s Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane

Bonfire Night by Deanna Raybourn

Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Love over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith

If You’ve Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey

Started:

The Goddess and the Thief by Essie Fox

The Greatest Love Story of All Time by Lucy Robinson

Still reading:

The Grand Duchess of Nowhere by Laurie Graham

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

 I wish I could say that I’ve been a good girl.  But I haven’t.  In the early hours of Monday morning, will power weakened by nightshifts, I ordered two books.  The Foyles were doing double Foyalty points this weekend – so I ordered the next two Inspector Alleyn omnibuses.  And then I had to order a book for my mum for Christmas – and it was less than £10 so I bought another book to bump it over the free delivery threshold.  Where has my willpower gone?!

Part two of the Nightshifts this week – and not quite as much read as last week.  But there’s some really good stuff in there.  You may have seen my ravings about Viv Albertine’s book – but Miss Pym Disposes is also great if you’re into Golden Age Crime, and Six Geese… is Meg Langslow for the holiday season.  I’m also loving Gail Carriger’s work at the moment – I’m rapidly working my way through her entire back catalogue.  I’ve also finally called time on Elizabeth Gilbert, added it to the list of books I’ve given up on and added it to the charity shop bag, and I’m putting aside Sheila (it’s on the kindle) too – I’ve been reading other stuff instead…

Read:

Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews

Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine

Sealed with a Christmas Kiss by Rachel Lucas

Changeless by Gail Carriger

Blameless by Gail Carriger

It Happened on Broadway by Myrna Katz Frommer and Harvey Frommer

Started:

It’s Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane

Still reading:

The Grand Duchess of Nowhere by Laurie Graham

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

 Well, I’ve been a bit of  a naughty girl on the book buying front this week – seven books and a kindle e-book.  But I blame the nightshifts.  And I have promised The Boy that I’ll have a book shelf rationalisation to make room for them.

Oh hello Nightshifts my old friend, you’re back to torture me again.  Four nightshifts this week – with three more to come next week – and my reading list is essentially nice and lightweight to cope with the toll that staying up all night is taking on my concentration and brainpower!

That said, the list is dominated by Christmas novellas and special releases – I’m planning a string of posts on Christmas themed reading (of all lengths) for when we get a bit closer to the time.

Read:

Chalet School and Robin by Caroline German

Difficult Husbands by Mary de Laszlo

Footsteps in the Snow and Other Teatime Treats by Trisha Ahsley

Secret Santa by Scarlet Bailey

Star of the East by Tasha Alexander

A Spy Unmasked by Tina Gabrielle

Jill Mansell’s A to Z of Happiness by Jill Mansell

One Funeral by Kat and Stone Bastian

Cold Feet at Christmas by Debbie Johnson

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Storm by Tim Minchin

Started:

The Grand Duchess of Nowhere by Laurie Graham

Still reading:

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

Sheila by Robert Wainwright

 I may have acquired a couple of books this week during the early hours.  NetGalley is just so tempting. And I won a copy of Alexander McCall Smith’s Emma retelling too.   And then I just had to buy the second Parasol Protectorate story and the prequel short story.  Ahem. There’s something about being awake in the middle of the night that seems to just force you to do impulse purchasing…

I’ve been working hard on making progress with The Night Watch this week – I say hard, I mean trying to read a few pages each night as I try and get the still reading selection down.  It hasn’t always worked, but I’ve more than doubled how much I’ve read this week!  I’m close to giving up on Signature of All Things – but I’ve made it halfway through now so it seems a shame to give up now.  Having looked at the reviews on Goodreads they seem quite split between people who loved it and those who got bored.  So far I’m in the latter camp!

Read:

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Eve in Hollywood by Amor Towles

The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

Christmas at the Cove by Victoria Connelly

The Gallery of Vanished Husbands by Natasha Solomons

At Home With Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly

Started:

Difficult Husbands by Mary de Laszlo

Chalet School and Robin by Caroline German

Still reading:

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

Sheila by Robert Wainwright

 Four e-books bought – and a freebie – but that’s because I got weak after I finished Rules of Civility and wanted the novella follow-on and got click happy….

A fair few short stories on the list this week – some good, some not, one dreadful.  And I hate saying that about a writer’s work.  Hey ho.

Read:

Trent’s Last Case by E C Bentley

A Place For Us Part 4 by Harriet Evans

The Accidental Countess by Valerie Bowman

The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley

The Bride by Julie Garwood

Christmas with Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly

Happy Birthday Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly

Marrying to the Boss by Elannah James (avoid avoid avoid)

Started:

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Still reading:

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

Sheila by Robert Wainwright

Four ebooks bought, two free ones too but no actual books bought.  So not a bad week in the scheme of things.

Wow.  What a week!  And I was even at work for 4 days!

Read:

Shakespeare’s Champion by Charlaine Harris

Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith

Shakespeare’s Christmas by Charlaine Harris

Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

A Place For Us Part 3 by Harriet Evans

The Reluctant Vampire by Eric Morecambe

Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a Murder by Catriona McPherson

Started:

Trent’s Last Case by E C Bentley

Still reading:

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

Sheila by Robert Wainwright

The Bride by Julie Garwood

 Only one book bought this week – the final part of Harriet Evans’ A Place For Us.  Progress…

Last week was never going to be topped was it!  For a start I didn’t spent this week on a beach or by a pool – I was at work for four days of it – and staying away from home for two nights of that making the most of the fact that my train company can’t get me to London from home for 6am at the weekend with a weekend with my theatre buddy (dinners! shows! cocktails!).  But this is particularly bad – and the still reading list is mounting up again too.  Still, at least I’m back on the paperbacks amongst this – because last week’s mammoth efforts had absolutely no effect on the physical pile!

Read:

The Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean

Walking on Air by Christina Jones

Started:

Shakespeare’s Champion by Charlaine Harris

Still reading:

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

Sheila by Robert Wainwright

The Bride by Julie Garwood

I may have bought four books to cheer me up after having to go back to work after a lovely week in the sun…