Episode 180…
Well, the TBR has neither risen nor fallen, remaining at the astonishingly low figure of 228. I’m sure that at last I have achieved a perfect sense of balance…
Here’s a few more I should be spinning through soon…
Fiction
For my sadly neglected 5 x 5 Challenge. William McIlvanney’s hugely influential Laidlaw trilogy means that he’s probably best known as a crime writer, but in reality the bulk of his work was literary fiction. This one is a loose follow-up to Docherty, taking up the story of a grandson of the original Docherty and moving forward in time to the mid-twentieth century…
The Blurb says: Tom Docherty was 17 in the summer of 1955. With school behind him and a summer job at a brick works, Tom had his whole life before him. Years later, alone in a rented flat in Edinburgh and lost in memories, Tom recalls the intellectual and sexual awakening of his youth. In looking back, Tom discovers that only by understanding where he comes from can he make sense of his life as it is now.
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Crime
Courtesy of Michael Joseph via NetGalley. Having been immersed in vintage crime for the last few months, I’m beginning to feel a craving for some contemporary crime (but not identikit domestic misery-fests!). This sounds intriguing…
The Blurb says: Twenty-four years ago Katharina Haugen went missing. All she left behind was her husband Martin and a mysterious string of numbers scribbled on a piece of paper. Every year on October 9th Chief Inspector William Wisting takes out the files to the case he was never able to solve. Stares at the code he was never able to crack. And visits the husband he was never able to help. But now Martin Haugen is missing too.
As Wisting prepares to investigate another missing persons case he’s visited by a detective from Oslo. Adrian Stiller is convinced Martin’s involved in another disappearance of a young woman and asks Wisting to close the net around Martin. But is Wisting playing cat and mouse with a dangerous killer or a grief-stricken husband who cannot lay the past to rest?
Set between the icy streets and dark forests of Norway, The Katharina Code is a heart-stopping story of one man’s obsession with his coldest case. Atmospheric, gripping and suspenseful; this is Nordic Noir at its very best.
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Vintage Crime
Courtesy of the British Library. But I’m not giving up on vintage crime! In fact, I’ve built up a little backlog, so I’m going to spend December having a little mini-splurge of Dickens and vintage crime – doesn’t that sound fun? This one is by Julian Symons, who seems to be rather better known these days for his often critical analysis of other Golden Age authors than for his own writing. Always risky setting yourself up as both an author and a critic – I shall have my red pencil ready… 😉
The Blurb says: John Wilkins meets a beautiful, irresistible girl, and his world is turned upside down. Looking at his wife, and thinking of the girl, everything turns red before his eyes – the colour of murder.
But did he really commit the heinous crime he was accused of? Told innovatively in two parts: the psychiatric assessment of Wilkins and the trial for suspected murder on the Brighton seafront, Symons’ award-winning mystery tantalizes the reader with glimpses of the elusive truth and makes a daring exploration of the nature of justice itself.
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Fiction on Audio
I read this thousands of years ago when the world and I were young, but I remember very little about it now. So I thought it would be fun to listen to the audio version, narrated by Jonathan Pryce…
The Blurb says: From the bestselling author of Rebecca, another classic set in beautiful and mysterious Cornwall.
Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries – and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, the new widow – Philip’s cousin Rachel – turns up in England. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet… might she have had a hand in Ambrose’s death?
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NB All blurbs and covers taken from Goodreads or Amazon UK.
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I must try McIlvanney’s literary work, FictionFan. He did crime fiction so well, and with such an engaging writing style… Symons wrote some fine work, too, so I hope you’ll like that one. And that code in the Horst sounds most intriguing. I’d find it hard to choose among them as far as where to start! In the meantime, I am impressed that your TBR hasn’t risen. Don’t let that news get to any feline ears or to your postie, though… 😉
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So far I’ve only read Docherty, which I thought was pretty great, so I’m looking forward to trying more of his literary fiction myself. I’m also looking forward to the Symons – they’ve actually released two, so I have another one to read after this one. And I do like the sound of the Horst – I have it in mind for a Petrona post, in the event that I love it, so fingers crossed! Haha – my postie has been very quiet recently – maybe he’s been reading my blog… 😉
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I loved My Cousin Rachel when I read it, also thousands of years ago 😉 It seems like a worthwhile one to revisit!
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I’ve discovered I do much better with re-reads as audio books, because it doesn’t matter so much if I lose concentration for a few moments. So far, the narration of this one sounds good!
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I think The Katharina Code sounds good, though I usually try to read ‘cold’ books in our hot summers. Will keep it in mind. Are you sure you can’t spin like that on a balance beam? Ha!!!!
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I like the sound of it too, and this winter has been so mild so far I’m kinda craving a bit of cold! Haha – she’s amazing isn’t she!!
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We’re anticipating heatwaves this summer and unlike Kay, I do read ‘cold’ books as an antidote to summer – though I think you’re heading into winter, yes? Whatever the case, The Nordic Noir or du Maurier would be my picks.
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Oh, I couldn’t cope with Australian heatwaves – my Northern body wilts at anything above about 20 degrees. In fact, I’m complaining bitterly at the moment because our winter has been too mild so far! They both sound good – it’s been ages since I read any Nordic crime so I’m looking forward to that.
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I’m tempted by the Katherina Code as I quite fancy a trip to Norway and most looking forward to how your red pen rates Julian Symons
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I fancy that one too – it’s been ages since I read any Nordic crime. Haha – he better be good, because he’s been so mean to other people I will feel free to criticise… 😉
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haha I find these posts of yours my favourite, mainly because they are so funny. Example:
I read this thousands of years ago when the world and I were young,
🙂 🙂 🙂
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Haha – I’m glad you enjoy them! It does sometimes feel as if I’ve been around for a very, very, very long time… 😉
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Imagine if you managed to stay at that number forever!! Well, at least it’s not going up 😂 Have you seen the movie of My Cousin Rachel? It’s very good.
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Ha – I wouldn’t mind if it could stay at that – what bothers me is the steady increase! There will come a point when the pile of books will be too big for the time I have left in this world… 😉 No I haven’t – thanks for the recommendation! I must try to watch it after I’ve listened to the book…
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I’m excited for your My Cousin Rachel review of the audio! I still have not read Rebecca. Gasp. One day, hopefully sooner rather than later. Congrats on staying even this week! You can’t blame me for that! ♥️
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Oh, you must read Rebecca! I’m certain you’d love it! Haha – but even if the books haven’t made it onto the TBR yet, I can still blame you for the state of my wishlist… 😀
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Congratulations on achieving balance! I hope you celebrate appropriately. Have at least two pieces of chocolate–milk chocolate and dark to achieve a sense of balance chocolate-wise.
All of the crime or possible crime books (like My Cousin Rachel) sound good.
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Thank you – I’ve put a safety mat down just in case it doesn’t last! 😉 I’m in the mood for crime at the moment… must be the impending approach of the festive season…
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I read My Cousin Rachel this year (or was it last year?) and enjoyed it. I’ve never read Rebecca though and I probably should.
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Oh, I suspect you’d love Rebecca! I’m enjoying My Cousin Rachel so far, but I do think Rebecca is her masterpiece.
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The Katharine Code sounds very appealing, especially since it appears mysterious and modern yet refreshingly ‘old school’.
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Yes, it appeals to me too for the same reasons. It also feels like an age since I last read a Nordic Noir…
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FF, I think a mini-splurge of Dickens and vintage crime sounds wonderful 🙂
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It does, doesn’t it? So wonderful I seem to have started this weekend by accident… 😀
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HAHA 😀
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Definitely tempted! I have the du Maurier on my list, in paper form, but the Katharina Code also sounds most intriguing!
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I’m enjoying the du Maurier so far, although as often happens with audio I’m kinda wishing I was reading the paper version instead. And I do like the idea of a bit of Nordic Noir – it’s been ages since I last read any! 😀
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They all look great! Looking forward particularly to your review of The Katharina Code. I’ve just watched My Cousin Rachel after reading the book earlier this year, loved it!
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Oh, you’re the second person to mention the film – I must make sure to watch it after I’ve finished listening to the book! The Katharina Code does sound good, doesn’t I? Fingers crossed…
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