tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post7621294191554168473..comments2024-03-28T22:42:54.810-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: My Reading: January 2020TracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-63649750811515500082020-02-12T13:13:45.466-08:002020-02-12T13:13:45.466-08:00Col, I do appear to be reading more since I retire...Col, I do appear to be reading more since I retired, although I don't really notice it. I am slowing down this month, and reading more short stories. <br /><br />I find I have to space out the Alan Furst books although I do hope to read Red Gold soon, since it has the same protagonist as The World at Night.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-80719898008519623692020-02-11T12:38:19.256-08:002020-02-11T12:38:19.256-08:00Well done Tracy. Are you reading more in your reti...Well done Tracy. Are you reading more in your retirement? I ought to read something else from Alan Furst soon. I've enjoyed the ones I have read so far. The Thief and the Ira Levin book are also waiting patiently on the TBR pile.col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-5226054699687528562020-02-11T11:59:25.528-08:002020-02-11T11:59:25.528-08:00Although making a dent in the TBR is a goal this y...Although making a dent in the TBR is a goal this year, I was surprised to read so many books in that category this month. I look forward to what you have to say about the 3rd book in the Wolf Hall trilogy. If I like the 2nd one as well as the first, I will probably end up reading it too, even though it has so many pages.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-47257712447649148782020-02-11T09:55:36.474-08:002020-02-11T09:55:36.474-08:00Well done for tackling the TBR, and a great month&...Well done for tackling the TBR, and a great month's reading. I have read a few of these. Looking forward to the 3rd in the Wolf Hall trilogy.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-51668341160021513902020-02-11T09:32:50.796-08:002020-02-11T09:32:50.796-08:00Prashant, Hatchards Crime Companion was fun to rea...Prashant, Hatchards Crime Companion was fun to read. It gave me lots of ideas for books and authors to read.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-81992573567007039102020-02-11T04:42:47.851-08:002020-02-11T04:42:47.851-08:00Tracy, "Hatchards Crime Companion: 100 Top Cr...Tracy, "Hatchards Crime Companion: 100 Top Crime Novels of All Time" is what I'd be most interested in, though every one of these books sound good. I must pick up Peter May's novels at the book exhibition next time. Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-87932444162307330032020-02-09T14:49:00.941-08:002020-02-09T14:49:00.941-08:00Judith, Glad to hear that your evening at barVino ...Judith, Glad to hear that your evening at barVino went so well. It sounds wonderful. I am assuming the weather is better there now than it was a couple of days ago.<br /><br />Re the Peter May trilogy, I am waiting until the book sale in September (a long wait, I know) to see if I can find more of his books then, and I have a couple I can read between now and then. <br /><br />Yes, I did have to slow down my reading to take in Wolf Hall, and will do the same for Bring Up the Bodies. I am glad you plan to read the third book in that trilogy, I am eager to see how you like it. I will be holding off on that one for a while. <br /><br />Right now I reading Bleak House, along with a couple of other books, so I expect I will read less total books in February.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-61092187275761012702020-02-09T13:46:52.448-08:002020-02-09T13:46:52.448-08:00Hi Tracy,
Yes indeed. We had a wonderful time on W...Hi Tracy,<br />Yes indeed. We had a wonderful time on Wednesday evening. barVino was packed to the rafters (skiers mostly), but we managed to get served (a new calamari dish that is the best I have ever tasted), and adored the music as we always do when this group of older guys play. They are incredibly good, and could get a gig anywhere in New York State, but like us, they enjoy the slower pace of life here. <br />Yes, I was captivated by A Gentleman in Moscow, especially the descriptions of his relationship with the little girl as she is growing up. A wonderfully different sort of book--humorous, yet with some very serious, thought-provoking moments.<br /><br />I have so loved the Peter May trilogy, the second book of which you mention. I have read Books One and Two, but have been holding back from the final novel, Chess Man, because I so relished reading about that island and the atmosphere there--the hard life-the people. Oh, gosh! Your reading Lewis Man makes me want to finish the series this year. I thought that May develops his lead character very well, from where we meet him in the first book.<br />Remarkable, really.<br />And oh gosh Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies! I thoroughly enjoyed them both. It took a bit of time for me to become accustomed to the slower pace one needs to fully appreciate her style. And frankly, I thought her style and especially the pace had improved in Bring up the Bodies. I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of the third book in April.<br />I'm interested in all the other books you mentioned! You had a grand reading month!<br />Judithhttps://readerinthewilderness.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-12376982756765496972020-02-05T16:03:56.394-08:002020-02-05T16:03:56.394-08:00Judith, I look forward to further comments from yo...Judith, I look forward to further comments from you. I know that you had read A Gentleman in Moscow, it may have been that your blog is where I first heard of that book. Hope you and Ken have fun with jazz and good food.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-8128442371010888892020-02-05T15:35:27.116-08:002020-02-05T15:35:27.116-08:00Tracy!
In January you read a number of books that ...Tracy!<br />In January you read a number of books that have been memorable favorites for me. I will return to wax on about them, but Ken and I are diving out the door to hear a local jazz band play at barVino, a wonderful spot with great food and drink. Til later, keep reading!Judithhttps://readerinthewilderness.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-64995384686043108552020-02-05T10:24:49.882-08:002020-02-05T10:24:49.882-08:00Margot, I do like Peter May's writing for many...Margot, I do like Peter May's writing for many reasons and want to try more of his standalone books.<br /><br />I am not much of a nonfiction reader but reading Life Below Stairs has motivated me to read a longer, more text heavy book my husband has... Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth-Century to Modern Times by Lucy Lethbridge. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-52665851601860792672020-02-05T10:19:09.462-08:002020-02-05T10:19:09.462-08:00Kay, I do like Peter May's writing, and often ...Kay, I do like Peter May's writing, and often there are things I learn about too, which I always appreciate. I have read at least one book from all of his series and one of his standalone books (Entry Island). I will have to get The Chessmen and finish that trilogy.<br /><br />Yes, I am loving retirement. I am reading more and blogging more but not getting some of the other things done I had planned on. But that will come with time.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-52700558637708026972020-02-05T10:12:36.680-08:002020-02-05T10:12:36.680-08:00Patti, it did not feel like I was reading that muc...Patti, it did not feel like I was reading that much more but this is probably the most books I have read in a month ever. This month I am reading Bleak House and short stories and thus probably a smaller total. <br /><br />I agree, I would read Wolf Hall before seeing it. I do have Bring Up the Bodies and will probably read that in the next few months.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-61847945814083888702020-02-05T10:06:46.546-08:002020-02-05T10:06:46.546-08:00Cath, I don't know why I put off reading the C...Cath, I don't know why I put off reading the Cadfael book for so long, maybe the time period was not what I wanted to read about. But I did enjoy it. I liked the pace and the writing. And learning about the time period. <br /><br />I enjoyed Wolf Hall, but I did find it challenging to read. It is written in present tense, if that matters to you. And there were definitely times when the writing style got confusing for me and other reviewers mentioned the same thing. But I still found it an excellent read and the subject was very interesting to me. It is very long though. The 2nd book is only about 400 pages but the third is over 750 pages. Don't know whether I will want to tackle that one.<br />TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-44460044981525531782020-02-05T09:26:49.564-08:002020-02-05T09:26:49.564-08:00Peter May is so talented, Tracy, isn't he? I&#...Peter May is so talented, Tracy, isn't he? I'm very glad that you liked <i>The Lewis Man</i> as much as you did; I think that trilogy is fantastic. And you've reminded me that I ought to add more non-fiction to my reading mix this year. It's easy to forget all the great non-fiction out there when there's also so much fine fiction, too...Margot Kinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08599589137890528065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-38864542295469287142020-02-05T08:38:49.508-08:002020-02-05T08:38:49.508-08:00You read a lot, Tracy! Good for you. I always lo...You read a lot, Tracy! Good for you. I always love the assortment of books that you select to read and I've often not read any of them. However, this time you read one of my favorite books - The Lewis Man. I love that one and also think it's my favorite Peter May book - either that one or The Blackhouse. I liked the 3rd in the trilogy, but maybe not quite as much as those two. Enjoying your retirement? LOLKayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13495669354860191042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-65370545834658128002020-02-05T04:52:56.661-08:002020-02-05T04:52:56.661-08:00That is quite a number. I also like the Peter May ...That is quite a number. I also like the Peter May series. I am seeing WOLF HALL next summer so I should read it first. pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-9672594970645422112020-02-05T02:43:12.892-08:002020-02-05T02:43:12.892-08:00I so agree about The Lewis Man, such a good book. ...I so agree about The Lewis Man, such a good book. Peter May is a class writer. I like his Enzo McLeod books too, set in France. <br /><br />Very pleased you enjoy that first Cadfael book, I have books 4 and 5 on my library pile now and am so looking forward to reading them.<br /><br />Also pleased you enjoyed the Merrily Watkins book, I recall I liked that one two.<br /><br />An excellent reading month for you, Tracy. Particularly impressed that you read Wolf Hall. I've been resisting that but am not sure why.Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.com