December 2020
Favourite Books from 2020:

Favourite Books from 2020:

Other Books from 2020, and the odd party piece or two:

Anne's 2020

Some books enjoyed in 2020:

"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Montgomery.

Pure escapism.

"Redhead by the Side of the Road" by Anne Tyler.

Enjoyable.

Sue's 2020

Some books enjoyed in 2020:

"The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt.

An involved intricate plot.

Chris's 2020

Some books enjoyed in 2020:

"Girl, Woman, Other" by Bernadine Evaristo.

Booker prize winner 2019. This is just a brilliantly funny and poignant read.

Favourite Reads 2020:

"The Mandarins" by Simone di Beavoir.

Enjoyed for the historical content, essentially the Communist party in France at the end of WW2.

"Earthsea" by Ursula la Guinne.

A fantasy setting but dealing with feminism, morality and ethics. An interesting read.

For entertainment:

"A Child's Christmas in Wales" by Dylan Thomas.

Chris read the scary Carol Singing story.

Peter's 2020

Peter:

"The Edge of the Sea" by Rachel Carson

For anyone that delights in the creatures living by the water's edge, this book is a brilliant exposition by a fine scientist and a gifted writer.

"Under the Sea-Wind" by Rachel Carson

If there is poetry in my book about the sea, it is not because I deliberately put it there, but because no-one could write truthfully about the sea and leave out the poetry.
Rachel Carson, 1952

"Other Minds" by Peter Godfrey-Smith

The evolutionary branching that led to the Octopus occurred before legs, and has created a most incredible life-form, one that can think not just on its feet, but with its feet.

"The Lord of the Rings", a trilogy by JRR Tolkein

1,031 pages of pure fantasy, but read "The Hobbit" first.

"Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker

A revelation, and a practical guide to sleeping better.

"As I Walked Out one Mid-summer's Morning" by Laurie Lee

Exquisite, captivating writing, interesting story.

"The Other Side of the Dale" by Gervais Phinn

The Nigel Herriot of the Education System. Laugh out loud funny, and poignantly truthful.

"Becoming" by Michelle Obama.

Fascinating insights into the relationship between Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on their life journey.

For entertainment:
Click Ode to a Muffin for a download.
To hear Seamus Heaney's poem, Postscript, goto Youtube.

Kath's 2020

Kath:

"This must be the Place" by Maggie O'Farrell

"The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt.

An involved intricate plot.

For entertainment: I played music – Harlem Boys version of "Glory be to God" from Handels' Messiah and a bit of Silent Night from Manhattan Steamroller.

Cath's 2020

Cath:

"The Trip of a Lifetime" by Monica McInerny

Steve's 2020

Steve:

"The Moon's a Balloon" by David Niven

Actor biography, but much more than just Hollywood gossip. Very readable, and surprisingly much of the book is interesting info about his life before movies in 1920s & 30s Britain.

"Dead Ringer" by MC Beaten

More bellringers! Murder in the belfry, lighthearted dark humour.

"A Legacy of Spies" by John le Carre.

Elaine's 2020

Elaine:

"Girl, Woman, Other" by Bernadine Evaristo.

Booker prize winner 2019. This is just a brilliantly funny and poignant read.

Donna Leon

is the American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice, Italy, featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti. In 2003, she received the Corine Literature Prize. - See Wikipedia for further information.

Roslyn's 2020

Roslyn:

"The Sealwoman's Gift" by Sally Magnussen

Research based historical fiction, brilliant story telling.

"A Thousand Days in Venice" by Marlena di Blasi.

Italy, Venice, food, romance, what more could anyone want?

Well, yes, more books in a similar vein, they're already written.

Gail's 2020

Gail:

"My Family and Other Animals" by Gerald Durrel

An easy, entertaining read.

"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

One of those books that has gone well beyond merely "popular".

Rosie's 2020

Rosie:

Robert Galbraith, Cormoran Strike books: "The Cuckoo's Calling", The Silkworm, "Career of Evil", "Lethal White", "Troubled Blood".

When the first Cormoran Strike novel was published I approached it with caution but found it to be very readable with good character creation and development and a strong storyline.

Entertainment:
Click Rosie's Story

Gwynneth's 2020

Gwynneth:

"The Wood for the Trees" by Richard Fortey

A most enjoyable read, fusing history, ecology, economy and a retired man's delight in finding new amongst the old.