Episode 253
Despite the arrival of actual book-post from publishers this week (Yay!!) the astonishing fall in the TBR continues – down 2 to 198! However, if it cheers up any of you who are severely distressed at the idea of a falling TBR, I should perhaps admit to having acquired eight audiobooks in Audible’s sale…
Here are a few more that should blow my mind soon…
Fiction
Sula by Toni Morrison
The final book of my 20 Books of Summer list, but will I get to it in time? It’ll be a nail-biting race to the finish line…
The Blurb says: As girls, Nel and Sula shared each other’s discoveries and dreams in the poor black mid-West of their childhood. Then Sula ran away to live her dreams and Nel got married. Ten years later Sula returns and no one, least of all Nel, trusts her. Sula is the story of the fear that makes people accept self-pity; the fear that will not countenance escape and that justifies itself through myth and legend. Sula herself is cast as a witch and demon by the people who resent her strength. They attack her with the most pervasive weapon of all, the weapon of language and story. But Sula is a woman of power, a wayward force who challenges the smallness of a world that tries to hold her down.
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Fiction
Clouds by Chandrahas Choudhury
A few years ago, I read and adored Choudhury’s earlier book, Arzee the Dwarf, and have waited a long, long time for a new one. This one has been out for a while in India, but hasn’t had a proper publication in the UK, which makes me feel it may have been considered too intrinsically Indian to work well for an international market. But we’ll see – I think the blurb sounds great!
The Blurb says: Recently divorced psychotherapist Farhad Billimoria realizes he will never find love again in Bombay and prepares for a move to San Francisco. On a farewell tour throughout the city, his mind crackles with bittersweet memories and giddy dreams. But is love about to bloom for Farhad just as he has given up on the city? And if it does, will he bring to it the man that he is, or the one he wants to become?
Elsewhere in Bombay, the tribal youth Rabi remains stuck as the caretaker to his parents, two ailing and cranky old Brahmins. Rabi comes from the remote Cloud people of eastern India, a sky-watching tribe that observes the Cloudmaker–the mercurial God who drifts and muses in the skies–and that is dragged into the modern world when a mining company invades their sacred mountain. Rabi’s mentor Bhagaban, a forward-thinking filmmaker, leads their resistance. But will Rabi follow Bhagaban or his parents, who reassert a golden Indian past?
From one of India’s most celebrated young writers, Clouds illuminates the inner lives of characters forging their own paths in the great metropolis and shows a vast, prismatic portrait of modern India in all its tumult and glory.
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Vintage Crime
The Man Who Didn’t Fly by Margot Bennett
Courtesy of the British Library. Another new-to-me author and a Scottish one at that! It sounds like fun, although early reviews are distinctly mixed. (If I find I’m not in the mood for any one of the last few books on my 20 Books list, I might swap this one in…)
The Blurb says: Four men had arranged to fly to Dublin. When their aeroplane descended as a fireball into the Irish Sea, only three of them were on board. With the identities of the passengers lost beneath the waves, a tense and perplexing investigation begins to determine the living from the dead, with scarce evidence to follow beyond a few snippets of overheard conversation and one family’s patchy account of the three days prior to the flight.
Who was the man who didn’t fly? What did he have to gain? And would he commit such an explosive murder to get it? First published in 1955, Bennett’s ingenious mystery remains an innovative and thoroughly entertaining inversion of the classic whodunit.
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Reginald Hill on Audio
Exit Lines by Reginald Hill read by Colin Buchanan
Continuing my slow re-read of my favourite crime series of all time, I thought it would be fun to try the audio version of this one. I’m not a huge fan of Colin Buchanan’s portrayal of Pascoe in the TV series, so may or may not get on with him as a narrator. But I have the paper copy to fall back on if necessary…
The Blurb says: Three old men die on a stormy November night: one by deliberate violence, one in a road accident and one by an unknown cause,
Inspector Pascoe is called in to investigate the first death, but when the dying words of the accident victim suggest that a drunken Superintendent Dalziel had been behind the wheel, the integrity of the entire Mid-Yorkshire CID is called into question.
Helped by the bright but wayward Detective-Constable Seymour, hindered by ‘Maggie’s Moron’, the half-witted Constable Hector, Peter Pascoe enters the twilight and vulnerable world of the senior citizen – to discover that the beckoning darkness at the end of the tunnel holds few comforts.
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NB All blurbs and covers taken from Goodreads, Amazon UK or Audible UK.
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Quick Reminder: For those who are planning to read A Month in the Country, the date for reviews and comments is Monday, 31st August. I’ll be starting it soon – hope we all enjoy it!
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Meh. Not exactly cheered by the audiobook additions. But it is what it is and 198 isn’t that far from 200 anyway. I’m sure you’ll be back on the other side of it in no time. 😏
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If Oxford World’s Classics ever get back in business, I’ll be back in trouble… not to mention the British Library! See? It’s not my fault… 😉
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Uh huh, yes, I can see why you’d think that 🤔.
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😇😜
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Sorry to rain on your parade, FictionFan, but audiobooks count as part of the TBR… Still, I am impressed with the way you’re keeping up with the task. As for this week’s list, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the Reginald Hill; I must admit I’ve not listened to that one on audio, but I’ll bet it’ll be good. The rest look very good, too. I’m especially looking forward to what you think of the Bennett – it sounds intriguing…
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Hahaha, nooooooo!! I wrote a whole post justifying their exclusion!! 😉 I’m still not sure about the audiobook version of the Hill, but I’ll stick with it and see if I get used to his Dalziel voice. If not, paperback here I come! I really hope I like the Bennet – got to boost the Scots when I can… even if I’ve never heard of them! 😉
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The Man Who Didn’t Fly has a possibility on my growing TBR—
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The blurb sounds good, so I’m hoping the execution lives up to it… we’ll see!
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Definitely have to count audios, no cheating there 😉
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Hahaha, nooooooo!! I wrote a whole post justifying why they shouldn’t be included!! 😉
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Won’t wash 😉
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😜😂
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Congrats on your progress, FF! Sounds as if your “reading groove” has returned, despite that blasted pandemic! The Man Who Didn’t Fly is catching my interest here. Depending on how well it’s written, of course, that might be worth adding to my TBR. I think I’ll let you read and review it first, just to be sure!
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Definitely reading all these short books has helped, though I’m getting fed up with it now and want to get stuck into something a bit longer. I really hoe The Man Who Didn’t Fly is good, since the author is Scottish… even if I’ve never heard of her before!
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I don’t “do” audiobooks, but if I did…. they’d count. (not that I’m counting) Sorry. 😬 If it makes you feel better, you still have a much lower TBR count than I do. (not that I’m counting)
I’m not overly tempted this week. Perhaps by Sula, but not enough to add it to my pile.
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Hahaha, noooo!! Look, I wrote a whole post justifying why I don’t include them and you can’t make me, so there!! 😉 But you count books on your wishlist too, don’t you? I only count ones I own.
I’m getting bored with all the short books now, though they’ve definitely helped get me out of my slump. But I really fancy something a bit longer and meatier now.
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Oh gosh, if I counted books on the wishlist, the would number be in the gazillions! Ahaha, seriously… just what’s sitting on my shelf and in my kindle is far more than what’s in your TBR. I’m in no position to cast stones!
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You’ll need to join in my campaign to force scientists to get working on immortality then… 😉
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I’m in! 😀
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Well, not being a fan of audio, I may have to pass, so my pile won’t be growing. That said, I’m now tempted to read Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series now that I know they’re based on Paradise Lost…..but I may not have enough time.
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Are they? I had no idea! I couldn’t get into Pullman – too fantasy for me – but both my sisters loved them and they were both quite discerning fantasy readers. You’ll have time to read them while you’re queuing to vote… 😉
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Ha! One of the civilized things about living in CA is having a governor who has already made vote by mail the default. And if the postal service goes under before the election, I can walk my ballot to the corner polling station….and if that station is closed, I can walk it to city hall.
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Shh! Don’t mention that, or the Great Leader will sign an executive order making city halls illegal!
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Another week in the right direction – you’re on a (downward) roll!
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Yep, reading all these novellas has been great for my TBR!
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Below 200 – noooooooooooooooo! This is unacceptable to me 😀
A Month in the Country is just gorgeous – I hope you like it as much as I did.
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Hahaha, I’m sorry! But it may not last… I can feel the need for a splurge coming on! 😉
I can’t wait to read it, hopefully this weekend. 😀
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Your continuous TBR drop would have been so much more impressive, if you hadn’t mentioned the +8 audiobooks. 😛 Non of the above tempt me, but another Morrison ‘The Bluest Eye’ may find its way to my Kindle sooner or later.
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Hahaha, but they don’t count! That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!! 😉 The Bluest Eye is also sitting on my TBR – I’m slowly making my way through her best known works and have loved most of what I’ve read so far…
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I agree with others here that audio books count, although I swore off them when I kept missing the exits I needed while driving and listening. Maybe walking would work? I loved A Month in the Country. Hope you do too!
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Hahaha, no they don’t!! I’m not adding them, and that’s that!! *stamps foot* 😉 I tend to listen to books I’ve already read so that I can have lapses in concentration and still know what’s going on. These days my lapses tend to be in the form of naps! Oh good – I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they didn’t love it. Can’t wait to read it… 😀
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Clouds sounds excellent, so I’ll be interested to hear what you think of it!
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I love the sound of Clouds and I adored his writing in his earlier book, so I have high hopes! I should get to it fairly soon… 😀
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Sula looks good, so does The Man Who Didn’t Fly. Such an intriguing title!
I agree, audio books shouldn’t count on the book list as they are such a different experience to reading the book for yourself. So in my opinion, your numbers are looking good!
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Hurrah! Finally someone who agrees with me! The vast majority of audiobooks I listen to are re-reads anyway, so that’s another reason I don’t think they should count. I’m so thrilled to be below 200 again – it’s psychologically calming… 😉
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Re-reads definitely should not count!
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I shall give you as a reference next time anyone picks on me… 😉
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Referees available on request is the current terminology for a CV in Australia 😉
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I may set up in business as a TBR consultant… 😉
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That’s a lot of new audiobooks, I didn’t realise there were so many deals on this week, I’ll need to take a look for myself.
I think I have hit a bit of a snag though. Audable have let me down for the first time in ages, as they do not have a recording of AMITC. I then attempted to download it as an E-book from Amazon earlier this week to get cracking, but it says it is unavailable to purchace for some bizarre reason. Where did you get your version from? Was it a hard copy, or an E-book from another supplier?
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It was another batch of the Hugh Fraser readings of the Agatha Christie books I got mainly, so that should keep me going for a while!
It is available on Amazon for Kindle, but there seems to be a problem with Amazon’s search facility which takes you to that one that’s not available. Cathy hit the same problem. However here’s the link to the one I got, that is still available – it’s more expensive, though, isn’t that a surprise? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0069YVWWG
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Ah right, thanks. I don’t mind paying the extra for it, I’ll download it later.
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I seem to be falling behind with everything at the moment, but I can’t wait to settle down and get into it!
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Not just me then? Who expresses astonishment at audiobooks not counting? 😉 I almost felt sorry for you, fighting against the tide there! I finished an audiobook recently – which of course counts towards the number of books I’ve ‘read’ this year. Those downloaded from Audible and not yet begun do not count on any list whatsoever. Go figure 😂
Meanwhile, I started AMitC this morning…. 😊😊😊
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You’re all so cruel – you want me to drown in books, don’t you?? But I shan’t do it, I tell you!! Audiobooks shall remain forever on a separate spreadsheet, excluded from the true glory of the TBR!!
I’ve fallen behind with my 20 Books now, so will be rushing to fit it in, but I’ve still got plenty of time… haven’t I? 😱
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Acres of time; it’s a very short book! No problems for you at all; you’ll finish it over your boiled agg and chocolate on Monday 31st and have the review up by elevenses ☕
Speaking for myself, I’ve read plenty more than my prescribed 10. But reviews? That would be two! 🤦♀️ Sigh.. Maybe no one will notice… 🤫
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Haha, I feel it’s going to be like Uni in ye olden times – study all night, write an essay in the morning and hand it in in the afternoon…
Yeah, I’ve read more than the target too, just not the books I listed! But if necessary I’ll cheat (also sounding like my Uni days a bit… 😉 )
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Well done on being so close to finishing your 20 Books of Summer 🥳I have already had to concede defeat on my 10 Books of Summer, as I had an absolutely dismal start bogged down by the beastie Wolf Hall. However I have finished that so that is a small victory in itself and I have made great progress this month. 😏 I am always tempted by the British Crime Classics, just sadly don’t seem to be able to make time for them… yet anyway! Happy reading! 😃
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Haha, yes, the first year or two I made the mistake of including some big books and never got close to finishing the challenge. Even my twenty shorties are going to take me right up to the line this year! The BL Crime Classics are great , but they are very addictive! They only bring out one a month and yet I never seem able to keep up… nice problem to have, though! 😀
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Actually I don’t think audio books do count – it’s a completely different experience all round, even practically as I would listen to a book as I was driving for example. Clouds sounds good and Sula!
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Hurrah! I’m glad you agree – all these other people are so cruel to want to push my TBR even higher! 😉 I do think it’s a different experience – more akin to watching a film or TV adaptation. They do – hopefully I’ll be starting Clouds this weekend… 😀
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I read Sula 30 years ago (I know because there’s a photo of me reading), I can’t believe it was that far back. The others on your list all seem interesting and I might be tempted depending on your reviews. And yes, I have A Month in the Country ready to read. That plot seems a little familiar, so I wonder if I’ll find it’s a reread.
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I only discovered Toni Morrison a few years ago – don’t know how I’d missed her, although I still don’t think she’s as widely read in the UK as you’d expect. I’m so far behind with my 20 Books reviewing now that I can see me reading AMITC the night before it’s due – like studying for exams! 😉
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Don’t do that! We can wait, and surely one of the privileges we have at this time of life is not to do late night swots 🙂 (just caught my spelling error ‘swats’ before I sent this- no late night swats either 😀)
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Haha, I’m getting deeply stressed out by having to write reviews the day before I post them – if I say I’m going to do the 20 Books challenge again next year, stop me!! 😉 But I should make it with a day or two to spare…
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Oh, and I loved being reminded of Kramer. I so enjoyed this character’s energy and ‘skewedness’.
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Skewedness is a perfect word for him! I loved him too – he was always the star of any scene he was in. 😀
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Hey, I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you, now I have a few books to add to my own TBR. I love crime fiction!
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Thank you, and thanks for popping in and commenting! 🙂
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