Over the last few years I have spent a lot of my time working, running my business and looking after my family. I realised that I had stopped reading for pleasure and was really not reading anything much at all. This was something I loved to do, and it was especially good for my mental health and wellbeing. So as we entered into 2024 I decided it was time to set myself a little challenge. So this year I aim to read at least 36 books this year (that’s 3 per month).
So since January I have managed to read 5 books from cover to cover and 1 book has defeated me…
I Will Marry George Clooney by Christmas – Tracy Bloom
So this is the first one that I finished this year (slight cheat as I started it before Christmas). This was a totally “Laugh out Loud” Christmas feel good book. Following a statement made by the central character to her frustrating teenage daughter she heads off to arrange a charity event at the Chicken Factory she works in. In order to fulfil all the promises she has made for the event she needs to get none other than George Clooney to turn up and endorse her fund raising event. What ensues is an amazing Charity Gala and a slap-stick whirlwind trip across the English Channel in search of the illusive George Clooney.
Score – 9/10 Definitely recommend
The Keeper of Stories – Sally Page
This is another cheat as I had started this one during 2023 as well and had only managed about a third of the book before being distracted by life getting in the way.
In this book the central character is working as a cleaner and is having some problems in her marriage. She loves to collect peoples’ stories. One of her clients is trying to move his elderly Mother out of her apartment in the University and asks for her help to sort the rooms. The canny old lady is also a keeper of stories and the two endeavour to find out each others story whilst getting to grips with the life changing scenarios unfolding around them.
Whilst I enjoyed the book, it was not my usual read. I have made a note of some more of her work to read in the future.
Score – 5 / 10
The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman
Oh My! Reading this was the result of being laid up with the worst flu I have had in years, leading me to grab a book that had fallen off my stall and got covered in mud… But what can I say… this book was an absolute pleasure!
So to understand, I am not a cosy mystery person, I prefer blood and gore in my thrillers but I am so glad I decided to go with the hype and give this one a go!
This book had me gripped to the bitter end, even to the point I was sitting at the dinner table breaking all my rules reading during meals! A very well written book with great character building from the very start. The murder happened early on but despite trying to second guess each characters motives for murder I discovered that I was totally wrong every time.
I am saving myself for the next one as I know there are only 4 in the series!
10 / 10 – Highly recommended
A Good Girls Guide to Murder – Holly Jackson
OK. So. Mmm. How to be diplomatic. Difficult but here goes…
So, before I start you must bear in mind that I am a 50-something Mum of 4 and this book is aimed at the teen / early twenties market.
I hated it, it has honestly ben a very long time since I have read something that has not appealed to me in the slightest. I managed to get about 50 pages in and it was just not grabbing me. The amateur sleuth is a young woman who has lost her friend, and she knows all the suspects personally. It is 5 years since it all happened and she is now completing her Extended Project Qualification for Uni. So that’s the scene set.
I love the style of writing, with the central character interviewing everyone and the book is produced in this format, with reports on her findings. What I found was it was too “young” for me with the language used and the way the characters were built. If I was between 16 and 25 years old I feel this would have been the perfect book for me.
7 /10 – If you are under 25, or even up to 30 years old go for it, I think you may enjoy it.
2/10 – If you are a potentially more mature(?) person like me.
Here Me Evolve – The Voice of the Collective
This is a collaboration of several female business owners baring their souls and telling their story of how they have evolved. This was a very powerful read made all the more poignant for me as I have met a few of the contributors in person. I still have a few stories left to read in there, and will undoubtably finish it over the Easter break.
This one is an Amazon read, and very much worth getting whether on digital download or book format.
My rating – 10 / 10
No One Saw A Thing – Andrea Mara
This was an impulse buy from the services enroute to Devon for a MIB retreat. I totally could not put this one down and it has undoubtably the best read so far this year.
2 little girls get on a train, the door shuts leaving Mum and the baby in the pushchair still on the platform. The train pulls away… A Mum’s worst nightmare – right? The alarm is raised and and Mum waits for news.
I do not want to give to much away sufficed to say the story evolves with many twists and turns. Flitting from the present day nightmare to things that have happened in the past, each character has a story to tell. The author keeps you hooked until the very end, continually trying to second guess whodunnit – but the ending as a massive surprise.
My rating – 10 / 10
And Finally…
Did you know that I have a Facebook group where you can have your say on the books you enjoy (or don’t)? Why not follow the link to join Bizy Book Worms on Facebook