At the start of September I said I was only going to read new books throughout the month, so how did I get on?
Well, I read some new books but I did also, when tired, fall back on a few books I’d read before. It’s strange but I find there are times when my brain can only cope with old material.
Here’s a round-up of the newbies I read this month (these aren’t reviews – just a few thoughts from me):
The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
I love Elly’s Dr Ruth Galloway series, but as this one sounds like it has a slightly supernatural edge to it I was worried that I wouldn’t like it. I needn’t have been concerned because the supernatural element links to a ghost story which is the nucleus of the story. It’s easy to read and flows really well, even though it’s narrated through three different viewpoints. That’s not easy to do, but I felt that each of the female narrators had their own voice. As ever, I was completely wrong about who had dunnit.
The Sanctuary Murders by Suzanna Gregory
Again, this is a series in which I’ve read (and I think own) every single book. Set in medieval Cambridge, the story follows the life and times of Dr Matthew Bartholomew, professor of medicine at University of Cambridge who also physics the population of the town, as he and his friend Brother Michael (a Benedictine monk) solve various murders. I love these books because they always have a really clever plot and although there seems to be hundreds of characters in each book – many called Brother or Father because they’re in holy orders – it’s never really that confusing. I suspect that this may be the last in the series as a few ongoing threads are set to be tied up very shortly after the book ends. However, I hope that on this occasion I’m wrong!
The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
Anyone who reads this blog or my general chat will know that I love Agatha Christie. What has shocked me however is how many gaps there are in my reading of her original works. In many cases, including The Pale Horse, I realised I’ve only ever seen the TV adaptation. I was pleased to see that in many places they had stuck to the plot in the adaptation, even if they had shoehorned Miss Marple in there. Much as I love Miss M I really wish they’d stuck to the original plot as the narrator, Mark Easterbrook, has a great tone of voice. I really do love this plot, seemingly quite complicated but handled beautifully by the master of crime fiction.
Quiet by Susan Cain
The sub-title of this book is ‘The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking’ and for me this is a really interesting topic. As an introvert, I’ve always struggled with going to events and ‘putting myself out there’. I can do it, but I find it completely exhausting, particularly with people I don’t know. The book is really well written, infused with examples and comments from my fellow introverts. My favourite line – which summed me up perfectly (as a former journalist) – was ‘I can approach anyone, but only as long as I’m behind a journalist’s notebook’. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, I’d recommend reading this as it gives you a good understanding of how the ‘other side’ ticks.
So, now I’m out of the other side of September, will I continue to focus on only reading new stuff? No, I think I’ll still return to old favourites, because sometimes your brain wants to read but doesn’t want to be challenged. Plus, there’s a reason why they’re favourites. However, I am more aware of the buzz of finding a new book that really grabs you, so I’ll be looking for that too!
What have you been reading in September? If you have read anything you loved, please say so below to give me some new ideas.