We took a couple of weeks off over Christmas / New Year and spent the time driving around in the new car (working out how to drive it / charge it / where the cup holders are - all that sort of stuff), and managed a couple of days of long meanders with the dogs when it wasn't hot enough to melt concrete. Also did some reading - some of which was catchup / some f2f bookclub and some, just because. All of them are marked as review to come as it'll take me a little while to tick off the general admin / email backlog / what was I doing before the break work stuff.
In the audio section I finished listening to the 6th Jack Parlabane book - DEAD GIRL WALKING by Christopher Brookmyre. Slightly less manic than you'd normally expect from a Brookmyre novel. Then I started THIS MUCH IS TRUE by Miriam Margolyes (rained out days in the cricket are handy when you're attempting to start a book like this and really really don't want to be interrupted). As instructive, detailed, incisive and hilarious as you'd expect. And narrated by her into the bargain. A joy.
In the general reading section, this month's bookclub book was NO FRIEND BUT THE MOUNTAINS by Behrouz Boochani which needless to say left us all saddened, and more than a bit angry about the things done in our name. This is the country we've become and I'm horrified. The whole bookclub was actually - and we're a politically diverse bunch with considerable variances in life experience. I didn't quite finish the book before this weekend's gathering because I didn't want to rush it - it's one that everyone should read and it needs to be carefully considered. Astounding work.
In the crime fiction section, Australian-sub-section I read THE BROTHERS from debut author S.D. Hinton and THE RUSSIAN WIFE by Barry Maitland. I understand that the Maitland novel is the last in the long-running, much admired Brock & Kola series which is really sad - it's a great series, with the earlier novels often revolving around a place of architectural significance or difference as the hook to pull the story into context. The Hinton novel was a fascinating debut, built around the experience of a decorated, returning soldier, coming back from Afghanistan to find his family in considerable peril and no clear indication of where the threat is coming from. Brilliant portrayal of a man suffering from the impact of war - physically and mentally, built into a thriller plot that will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. The current read from this pile is another sorely overdue book THE CANE by Maryrose Cuskelly. Managed to get in a few chapters last night and it was only a desperate need for sleep that stopped me - so far it's really compelling.
In the sub-section "Other Places" I read 1979 by Val McDermid. Partially because 1989 lobbed and I panicked and partly because I'm behind with McDermid's work in general and need to "extract my digit".
That's the mantra for this year - I need to extract my digit and do some serious catching up. Overall I managed to sneak into the 100+ book's read for the year (don't pay any attention to GoodReads - I've got to sort out the list of what I did read and when there at some stage, although I'm going to be moving everything out to BookWyrm in line with last year's Social Media isn't Commercial Social Media decisions).
Anyway, Happy New Year and enjoy the books - looks like we're in for some really exciting new crime fiction releases this year.