Pick of the month
I know February is a short month but I can’t blame that entirely for my reading drop off. After a strong start to the year I only read 4 books during February (though it is only other avid readers who will feel my pain, when I lamented this figure in my office and 20-something colleague replied that he hadn’t read that many books since leaving high school). I can’t go past Hans Olav Lahlum’s CHAMELEON PEOPLE as my favourite read of the month because it really did pull me out of a reading funk. I really enjoy this series set in Norway’s recent past and this instalment is my favourite yet with its combination of family drama, fascinating history with eerie connections to modern politics and unexpected turns in the lives of series regulars. Oh and of course there’s the ripper murder mystery as well. There is nothing quite so satisfying as a much anticipated book being all that you hoped for and then some.
The rest, in reading order
- Patricia Wentworth’s THE CHINESE SHAWL (my contribution to Crimes of the Century for 1943 can be summed up with the word meh)
- Mindy Mejia’s THE LAST ACT OF HATTIE HOFFMAN (thoroughly enjoyed this nearly not crime novel about how we choose our identities and whether we can fight nature to be someone else)
- Wendy James’ THE GOLDEN CHILD (sadly for me this was one of those occasions where a much-anticipated book did not live up to expectations, but I am a lone voice as this book is getting raves from most readers)
Progress on bookish goals
Australian Women Writers Challenge: Read & Review 25 books
2 down, 22 to go. Really need to pick up speed
Participate 8 times in Crimes of the Century
2 down, 6 to go. On track
Read 36 books owned prior to the start of the year and/or reduce the TBR to less than 100 (from 131)
None of the 4 books I read were owned prior to the start of this year and I bought some more new books so my TBR is now at 134 which is more than I started the year off with 😳. I’m hopeless.
Buy no physical or eBooks from stores outside Australia (Audio books are my exception)
Achieved.
Read at least 10 books eligible for my virtual tour of the US via its fiction (each one set in a different state and by a new-to-me author).
Did not add to my tally (Mindy Mejia is a new (to me) American author but I have already visited Minnesota on my virtual tour).
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
What about you? How did your reading go on Feburary? Any books you need to recommend? Got any sure-fire strategies to prevent me acquiring more books?
Reactions to Reading 
I am the only person I know who didn’t enjoy The Golden Child! Glad to find it wasn’t for you either.
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I hate that I didn’t like it because I have liked all Wendy James’ other books that I’ve read. But I have been surprised to find myself a lone voice…so it is nice to know there is at least one other person on my wavelength
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I’m glad you found the Lahlum pulled you out of your reading slump, Bernadette. It’s so hard sometimes to shake those things off. And about The Golden Child? I’ve never known of a book that excited everyone who read it. Books aren’t like that. Reading is too personal an experience, I think, for everyone to feel the same way about any story.
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I read only two novels this month, and two books of short stories. I read a lot of other short stories from other books though. That was my focus this month.
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I wish I liked short stories more Tracy. I like the idea of them but whenever I actually read any I feel dissatisfied. So hard to please
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I have not had time to read much this year. Too much going on in the news every day, am glued to the TV and Internet. Have watched a lot of dvds of movies as forms of escapism and diversion.
Hope to get my mojo back soon.
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I totally understand Kathy. I started the year by trying to ignore the news – or at least to restrict my exposure in some way – but lately it has occupied me far too much (given there is so little I can do about any of it). Work has aso been extra crazy for me the past few weeks so I’ve also resorted to movies and dvd box sets as an easier form of escapism than reading.
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