How did it happen? 2022 just started and we’ve already reached half term?! Anyway, life is rather busy, but I thought I’d give you a quick reading update in the form of a WWW Wednesday post.
What are you currently reading?
As part of my crime project, I am reading Case Histories, the first in Kate Atkinson’s series about detective Jackson Brodie. It started out well, with the three case histories all grabbing my attention. Since then it has been up and down, but overall I’m enjoying it.
In Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These, we follow coal merchant Bill Furlong, who discovers how the young mothers at the local Magdalene laundry are treated. Maybe I should have read this story in December to be able to tap into its strong Christmas vibe. As it is, I’m not really feeling it.
What did you recently finish reading?
The protagonist in Pik-Shuen Fung’s Ghost Forest immigrates to Canada with her mother and sister, while her father stays behind in Hong Kong to work. This beautifully written novella deals with identity, death and grief. Thanks to Jee Wan for recommending.
Curtain is the very last Hercule Poirot book. It’s ridiculous, how saying goodbye to a fictional character can be emotional, but there you go. The plot is quite original, although not one of Christie’s best. Still, I loved this rather nostalgic story, which takes place at Styles, the location for the very first Poirot story.
What do you think you’ll read next?
As usual, I have no idea. But these are some of the options:
I’ve had Sarah Winman’s Tin Man on my TBR for a while. Recently, I’ve added Still Life as well based on all the positive reviews. It’s historical fiction featuring an unlikely friendship between a young English soldier and a middle-aged art historian.
The storyline in Hafsa Zayyan’s We are all Birds of Uganda is split between present-day London and 1960s Uganda. My experience with dual timelines has been mixed, but this one sounds right up my street!
Ever since reading The Vanishing Half, I’ve been meaning to get to Nella Larsen’s Passing. Clare has left behind her black identity and now passes as a white woman, just like Stella in The Vanishing Half. I’m interested to see how the two novels compare.
That was my bookish update for now. Hope you are all well and feel free to let me know if you are reading anything interesting at the moment. π
WWW Wednesday is hosted by Taking on a World of Words.
Very interesting read. Excellent post.
Thanks!
From your ‘just reads’ I’ve only read (and enjoyed) the Kate Atkinson. But the Winman is a treat in store for you, as is the Hafsa Zayyan.
Good to hear that! π After listening to an extract from the Hafsa Zayyan, I think that could be my next read. I will wait with a final judgement of the Atkinson until I’ve finished it. So far I am not 100% convinced.
Every book you mention interests me. Iβve read several Christie mysteries in recent years. One that I read last year is Sleeping Murder, a Miss Marple book. Itβs a good one.
I like Sleeping Murder as well, although it’s a long time since I’ve read it. But you rarely go wrong with Christie, even if some are better than others.
I’ll be interested to hear your take on Still Life if you get to it. I’ve seen it around the internets and it looks intriguing. I just finished Underland by Robert MacFarlane and loved it. I’m forcing that opinion on anyone who asks π so you get it too.
Yes, a lot of people have been talking about Still Life. I hope to get to it relatively soon (but who knows what happens). Great that you have been reading such great a book. I will check out your review!
I’ve had Still Life in my TBR pile for ages but I’m hoping to read it soon as it’s on the longlist for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.
Great, I will look out for your review! I don’t really follow the Walter Scott Prize (although I did see the longlist), but I hope to get to Still Life soon as well.
Nice selection! I’m on a binge listen of the Rivers of London series, and I’m up to book 5 already. Loving every minute! π
Yay, I am so glad to hear that!! π Although, a piece of advice – maybe stop after the 5th book? Unfortunately, I think the quality of the series deteriorates with the later instalments. My favourites are the first three books.
Interesting my husband has enjoyed all of them. I’ve got to stop after book 5 to wait for my new audible credit, but I feel like I want to carry on.
Maybe it’s just me, then? In any case, you need to get the conclusion on the faceless man story arc. That is a must!! π
Absolutely!
I loved Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series. Enjoy your week and your books, and here’s MY WWW POST
Thanks, the same to you! I hope, I’ll love the Jackson Brodie series as much as you do!
Great list! Yes, the last HP story was quite original, what she did with him! I really enjoyed it.
Here is my WWW: https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/02/13/sunday-post-53-2-13-2022/
Yes, it was also very fitting that he should run into to perfect murder in his last case. Very well done!
I would like to read the Birds of Uganda book. I’ve just finished Fragile Beasts which I absolutely loved.
I think Birds of Uganda might be my next read. Hopefully, it can live up to my high expectations. Fragile Beasts? I’ve never heard of that, but I’ll check out your review. π
I hope you enjoy Passing – it’s not unflawed but I loved her writing and thought she gave a great depiction of the ambiguities around the idea of passing. It’s odd – Curtain is one of the very few Christie’s I’ve never wanted to revisit. I guess it’s that emotional impact you mention!
When I first read Curtain, I was quite young and maybe Poirot hadn’t quite achieved his status as one of my favourite detectives. It made a much bigger impression, when I read it again recently. Passing is such a risky concept. It must be terrifying living with the fear of being discovered. I look forward to reading it, with flaws and all. π
All new titles for me here. The one about the soldier and the historian really appeals to me!
Agreed. I think that one is the best bet for my next read. Hopefully, it can live up to my high expectations!
All new titles for me but We Are All Birds of Uganda sounds particularly interesting, I have Passing waiting for me too.
Great to hear, you will be reading Passing as well. We can compare notes! π We Are All Birds of Uganda will probably be my next read.
I haven’t read Kate Atkinson. Sounds like a definite TBR add.
Depends on what kind of crime fiction you enjoy, I suppose. They are definitely of the “slow, character-driven” variety. I happen to like crime fiction like that. π
As long as it’s well-written, I’m usually pleased to read it. π
Ah ok, I think it is well-written, but perhaps I should hold back any recommendations until I’ve actually finished it. π
I popped over to check out your Crime Project – I cannot wait to see what else you unearth! There are already so many great books on your list for me to check out. I feel like Still Life will also be something I would enjoy and I am glad to have spotted it here. Have a great week!
I am excited about the crime project as well. Hopefully, I’ll find some new favourites! Still Life seems popular, I haven’t come across anyone who didn’t like it. Thanks, you too! π
I really enjoy Kate Atkinson’s writing and Case Histories has been on my TBR for awhile. It makes sense with the title but I never put together that it was multiple cases haha
That is good to hear! One of the intriguing aspects of Case Histories is these (seemingly) unrelated mysteries. I am sure it will all come together in the end, but I haven’t figured out the connection yet.
I do love Atkinsonβs series. I can heartily recommend Birds of Uganda, fir one the dual time frame dies work.
Quite often, I find that only the historical timeline interests me, but I look forward to Birds of Uganda.
To this day I have not read Curtain! I’ve reread several Agatha Christie novels, by Curtain I haven’t even touched yet. One day I will have enough guts to try it out though…
Happy reading!
If you generally like Christie and Poirot, Curtain is a must. It reminded me how much I love Christie’s characters, which is easy to forget because her plots are typically so strong. Happy reading to you as well!
Let me know if you’ve gotten to the Still Life novel yet. I’m a bit interested in it too. I have read 2 of Winman’s books (Tin Man and her debut) …. she is a quirky author and I’m still assessing what to think of her works.
Not yet, but hopefully soon. What did you think of Tin Man? That was the book which first brought Winman on my radar, but I never managed to read it. It sounds quite different from Still Life.
So glad you enjoyed Ghost Forest too and thank you for sharing my review π We Are All Birds of Uganda sounds interesting! And I love the Still Life cover. Keep seeing it appearing in my feeds π
You are welcome and thanks for the recommendation, I really enjoyed it! π I am currently reading We Are All Birds of Uganda. So far it’s very interesting. I’ve learned a lot about a part of history, I knew nothing about before, which is always good.