Thursday 14 July 2016

Book Club Books

Is it your turn? Have you got a list?


What will you decide to buy for Book Club?





Our Book Club doesn't work like that - we bring books every month, as we've read them. But if you need to choose books, sometimes a list of options is helpful.

Here are my favourite picks from the last few months. I've included a brief synopsis here, but if you click the covers, you'll get my full reviews.

Different Class by Joanne Harris is one of the best books I have read this year so far.


Set in a creepy going-down-the-drain boys' school, an old pupil is appointed as headmaster to sweep clean, and this may mean that our hero - Roy Straitely, the Latin master, and protector of heritage, history and tradition, may be brushed out. It is intense, and has a marvellous psychological aspect to it.



Flashbacks from a schoolboy's journal reveal that all was not healthy there a decade or so ago, and now perhaps the demons are re-appearing. A great read.



Constant Queen is a story of the Vikings - historical fiction at its best. Elizaveta and Harald are young, in love, off on an adventure and may even conquer the world.


What I loved about this book was the personalities that every single character was given. It made it so enjoyable. Oh, and the re-telling of the fighting scenes was done so well - succinct, to the point and even humorous.


What a lovely read. It will take you a while to finish, but you will be glad you did.



I can only imagine how the conversations will go after you've all read this one - "Have you ever thought of killing your spouse?" After a few glasses of wine, it will be hilarious.


And our husbands think that's what we do at book club too - talk about them all the time. Ok maybe not how to kill them. We may as well do it once in a while.



Seriously, that's how The Kind Worth Killing starts. Then it twists and turns, leaving you gasping. Literally. Totally engrossing and unputdownable.




Speaking of engrossing... Daisy in Chains is too. A serial killer, Hamish Wolfe is behind bars. But is he guilty?


This book explores the dark world of prisoners and the women who love them from the outside. It's fascinating.


Maggie Rose is a reclusive lawyer, and writer, who doesn't fall for any of this stuff. And she doesn't want to get involved. But she is drawn in to this situation, and the games begin. Pete, the detective who put Hamish in prison joins in, and then there are all sorts of exciting developments with a thrilling conclusion.

I dare you to try and put this down while reading. Trust me, you won't want to.



Selena Cole is a mommy to Heather (7) and Tara (3). Selena goes missing one day while they are at the park. The police are called, but Selena reappears, with no memory of what happened.


But there has been a murder in the meantime, and The Missing Hours become more relevant. Emma Kavanagh exposes the underbelly of the sordid practice of the kidnap and ransom of high profile people, and those paid to protect them. It's fascinating. She's done her research and this makes for an exciting and insightful read.

Dear Amy is a letter to Agony Aunt Amy, who writes a column in the community newspaper in Cambridge, but teaches during the day as Ms Margot Lewis in the local school.

The plot is twisty and dark, with the abduction of young girls as a theme.


It s a great read - the characters are wonderful and if you liked The Girl on the Train you'll love this one.


Tracy Chevalier is best known for writing Girl with a Pearl Earring many moons ago. She doesn't write a book a year, but takes her time. This is evident in her writing. It's beautiful. 

At the Edge of the Orchard is about a family, farming to grow apples - seeds bought from Johnny Appleseed in 1838. 
James and Sadie Goodenough struggle in the swamps in south west Ohio.

We follow their progress, and then watch their children grow up and make lives of their own. It's a short
 book, but full of gorgeous writing.
Hope you find some great books - if you've got others to share, leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you.

SaveSave
SaveSave

1 comment:

Elza Reads said...

I've bought the kind worth killing just the other day and plan to use it as my bookclub book this month. Got a few nice suggestions from this post as well!