Tuesday, January 31, 2017

My January Book List!

It was a good month for reading. I set my goal this year for 55 books (I read more last year) and so far I think I’m on target. I don’t usually do book reviews but I wanted to share what I’ve read and recommend them…one and all! I write reviews in Goodreads and it’s in my sidebar if you are interested.

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I read Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen. My rating, 7 out of 10.This is a new series for me and I loved the characters. I jumped into the series but now I will go back and start with the first book and read them in order. I love mysteries!

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Mr. Churchill’s Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal. My rating 7 out of 10. I liked this mystery series too and plan to read all of them this year. Love the time and place. (a bit of fictionalized history)

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A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny, 8 out of 10. I LOVE this author and had somehow missed #4 in this series. Now I’ve read them all and HIGHLY recommend them! I am SO in love with Inspector Gamache! Read them…you’ll LOVE them too but remember, I have dibs on Armand Gamache! heehee!

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The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabriella Zevin 8 out of 10. Such an interesting story. Not my usual genre but once I started it I could not put it down. Reminds me a little of a Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 9 out of 10, that I read last year.

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The Whole Town’s Talking by Fannie Flagg 8 out of 10. You just can NOT go wrong with a book by Fannie Flagg! Many of you have probably read or seen Fried Green Tomatoes by this author. Filled with interesting characters and LOADS of good humor! You will be laughing OUT LOUD! Very FUN!

So that’s what I’ve read this month. Do you have a good book you’ve read this month that you would recommend?

25 comments:

Connie said...

I read The Whole Towns Talking and agree with your score. It's nice to see what others are reading and recommending. Thanks for taking the time to do this post for us :)
Have a happy day.
Connie :)

Ariadne said...

Wow!You are a fast reader!What a pity I know none of these authors or books apart from Flagg whose film you mention I had seen!Oh well!Great, great, keep this up and I might find some of these books one day too!AriadnefromGreece!

Stephanie said...

I always love reading book reviews from other people and I must say that these books sound delightful! I, too, love mysteries and may have to read the first series you mentioned.

Thanks for sharing, my friend. Hugs!

podso said...

We're reading The Boys in the Boat about the Olympic rowing team. Soooo good! I love how he delves into history and a mini biography of some of the team. Thanks for your list.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE mysteries too and appreciate you sharing about these books. Enjoy your afternoon.

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Wow - you are an amazing reader!

I always enjoy seeing what others are reading, thanks for your list and recommendations.

I am struggling through the final books of a huge series - the first two I read in a week, and this last one is taking me forever - I just can't seem to get through it, it's too boring and much too long - so it's a big heavy book and not easy to carry in a purse for those waits at the doctors, etc., which doesn't help either.

Deborah Montgomery said...

I've read one Louise Penny and really liked it. I just finished In the Garden of Beasts, good but not light reading. I do love a cozy mystery! So nice in front of a cozy fire in the winter.

Arlene G said...

Thanks for the recommendations Diane!!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Really good goal this year! I'm on track myself for my goal. I will add some of these to my list of books. I'm reading another Karin Slaughter series and when books come up on my hold list I fit them in. Right now I'm reading David Baldacci's book "No Man's Land" it's so good. These two days of babysitting have worn me out. Thank goodness I can sleep in tomorrow. Hugs!

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

Oh I love fannie flag and I missed this book. I'll have to go look for it.

Every morning we watch old reruns of The Match Game show and she was a frequent celebrity on the show. She cracks me up!

Jeanie said...

Good for you, on track! I need to read those Rhys Bowen's. Do you need to read in order or are they self-contained? And we do love lots of the same! I'm reading Deborah Crombie's Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series and am about 2/3 through the current ones. I recommend them all!

Vee said...

Nice list! I am interested in the one that will make me laugh...need that one!

happyone said...

I love Louise Penny too and have read a few of her books. Plan on reading of them this year.
Next month we will be reading A Man Called Ove for my book club.
My goal for this year is 50 and I'm well on my way. Didn't quite make it last year with I think it was 46.

Anonymous said...

I'm so impressed that you've set a goal of reading books for yourself. I love the artwork on that first book! Oh, thank you for your sweet words about my minis. You would love making them too since you do such a good job with the doll clothes.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Anonymous said...

Diane, those books look great! I do enjoy Fannie Flagg. I will look and see if it is available online. {{HUGS}}

JG said...

What a great list of books, Diane! Thanks! And yes, I do remember when you found the Craisins in the store. :) I like blogland, because it's so interesting with the sharing of creative ideas, foods & places. Have a great week!
~Judy

bj said...

sounds like some great reads...

Carla from The River said...

Thank you for the reviews. I appreciate that you share your books with us. I have read some of the others you reviewed in the past.

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Diane, I love to read and I must look at your selections in the sidebar. You remind me of my daughter---she reads more books than anyone I know. She blames me for her love of reading as we read and read and read when she was a child. Happy reading! ♥

Linda H said...

Great to see your list! We've both read a few of the same books this month... I'm always wishing for more time in my day, for reading...

Janey and Co. said...

Hi Diane,

Thanks for the book review. I am hooked on occupied France books at the moment...but I think I am going to download that last one. I partially read Man Called Ove, but didn't like where it was leading and stopped. Maybe. I need to finish it? Have a great day! janey

Linda said...

I love the Royal shyness series, and I know you will too.

Sam I Am...... said...

Great picks! My daughter was telling me about Her Royal Spyness but I haven't tried it yet. I am reading Still Life and loving it by Louise Penny...finally! It's the first book as you probably know. We are SO on the same page! I just recently downloaded the Storied Life book onto my tablet but haven't started it yet. Wonderful choices! All books I would have picked too! You are my reading twin!

Cherdecor said...

Alan likes to read mysteries so he was looking over your list. He reads books on his Ipad. He wants to know if you have read books by T. Davis Bunn. He likes this author. The main character is clearly a Christian.

Cranberry Morning said...

Fun post Diane! I downloaded my first Louise Penny book and started reading, then realized that I had seen this episode on TV with Nathaniel Parker as Inspector Bandage (Haha that's what Kindle did with the name Gamache!!). So now I'll have to get a different one. Nathaniel Parker also played Inspector Lynley. Have you seen that mystery series?