The Year in Books: November

Compared with the amount of books I've read over the last couple of months, I really haven't read much this month at all.  Not entirely sure why.  Although I am going through one of those phases where there is nothing to read.  Of course, this is never true, I have a bookcase of books in the flat, a bookcase of Ben's books should ever his taste in books appeal to me, a well-stocked library in town and of course on my Kindle I could read any book I cared to download.  I feel like this occasionally, I shall snap out of it soon and then I will have too many books I want to read!  This is why I don't have a book for November, as there's nothing I particularly want to read at the moment, and I don't want to just choose something for the sake of needing to choose something.

My book for October was Getting Colder by Amanda Coe, which I thoroughly enjoyed - a review of it is here.  

Last month I read The Roundabout Man by Clare Morrall, and enjoyed it.  I'd not heard of the author before, but it turns out she is one of the favourite authors of my lovely friend Snowy Owl, who kindly sent me Astonishing Splashes of Colour to read.


When a friend tells me a book is their favourite, or by a favourite author, and I must read it, I sometimes feel a tad under pressure - what if I really don't like it?  In fact, what if I hate it, and have no idea why my friend loves it?  I feel bad sometimes when I tell someone to read something, and they don't like it at all: they've wasted their time (and perhaps money) yet at the same time I'm frustrated, why did they not like something so good?!  But each to their own.  (It doesn't help that my favourite book of all time is A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, one of the longest books ever published in English.  According to Wikipedia it's 1488 pages long and contains 591,522 words.  Unsurprisingly, I haven't convinced many people to read this book, although I read it in the days before e-readers, so maybe people would be more inclined now they would be able to actually hold the book without hurting their thumbs.  Whilst I'm writing about this, I would also like to point out that I hate breaking the spines of books - when I was halfway through it I was pleased that the spine was still intact, as sometimes with books you can't help but break them.  One night I was reading it at my then boyfriend's house and his mum asked if she could have a look at it.  She read the blurb, then opened the book to see if she could read the tiny tiny writing without her glasses (she couldn't) and in doing so she snapped the spine.  Not intentionally, I might add, just by the way she held it.  I winced.  I never said anything, but it still makes me shiver to this day, and I'm reminded of it every time I look at the book!)

Anyway, I am pleased to say that I did very much enjoy Astonishing Splashes of Colour.  The story follows Kitty, as she tries to cope with losing her child a few years ago.  Although as the plot unfolds, you realise she's not doing very well, much worse than people think she is.  Her mental health is questioned, especially given the spontaneous and usually reckless decisions she makes.  Her wider family has a few skeletons in various closets, and these gradually come out, which unsurprisingly is no help to Kitty at all.  It's quite a descriptive book, one which gives tidbits of information to gradually build up the story line.  There were some interesting ideas about sanity and mental health and people's attitudes towards them.  I am so pleased I liked it, and this is a definite author I want to read again.

S.O.S by Joseph Connolly was great fun to read.  Set on the ship Transylvania, the Southampton to New York crossing is filled with farcical adventures.  I'm not usually a fan of anything too farcical, as I find it hard to believe (which I suppose is kind of the point) but this book stayed firmly believable, if a tad far-fetched.  Each section is written almost as an internal monologue as the character goes about their business on the ship, and when the first character meets another character, it switches to the second person's internal monologue.  This is easy to understand, as the characters all have very different ways of speaking, as well as different accents.  It took me a while to get used to how one family in particular spoke, then I realised they were from America, and 'arsem' was 'awesome'.  I've had a look on Goodreads and it hasn't got very many stars, which I think is a shame.  

Gin Glorious Gin: How Mother's Ruin Became the Spirit of London* by Olivia Williams was brilliant.  It's been a while since I've read a non-fiction book (I definitely needed a break after my PhD!) and this was a good book to get me back into non-fiction.  I'm not a big drinker at all but a G&T is my drink of choice.  I've never known much about gin as a drink, have always bought Gordon's gin, and never thought twice about the tonic water I add to it.  Now I know so much more!  It's a very well-written and well-researched book, balancing nicely between giving the reader information, but not overloading with facts.  As with most non-fiction books I read a bit here and there, alongside other things.  I think if you're not particularly interested in gin, or cultural history, this isn't the book for you, but otherwise, it's a very good read.

Well, it appears I read more than I thought.  Although I'm still not sure what to read next.  I may give reading a rest for a few days, and then see if I have any inspiration!

Linking up with Laura.

*Thank you to NetGalley who gave me a free copy of this book, in exchange for a review.  All words, thoughts and opinions are, of course, my own.

Comments

  1. Oh I know exactly what you mean and go through non-reading stages all the time, both because there's nothing I fancy (I quite often don't read the latest viral book) or because I'm just not in the mood. Not sure there's anything I can recommend, can't remember if you said you'd read We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, probably (the wifi at this conference is whack! so cannot easily check) but if not I'd be interested in your thoughts, plus I loved it (zero pressure at all!).

    I hate when people break book spines, and bend corners: use a bookmark!! Once saw a girl on a train repeatedly, deliberately crack the spine before starting a new book. I actually convulsed. The spine has a purpose; to keep the freakin' pages in!

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    1. No pressure at all! I haven't read that book, might go and have a hunt for a copy...

      ARGH to that girl on the train! NO NO NO! I felt funny reading that! Books should be looked after. Bookmarks should be used too - use anything! a proper bookmark, or a train ticket, or a receipt...I borrowed a book from the university library once and found it had a strip of photo booth photos (showing some rather drunk looking girls) as a bookmark - I handed it in to reception but I doubt they were ever claimed!

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  2. I loved Astonishing Splashes of Colour, which I read quite a few years ago. Your review has made me want to read it again.

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    1. I hope you enjoy it just as much the second time around!

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  3. I've not heard of The Astonishing Splashes of Colour but it sounds like a book I would like to read. Will have to add to the wish list for another time. It is hard sometimes especially if you've just finished a really good book to know what to read next. If anything I have too many books and not enough time to be able to read them all before I spot another one.

    Hopefully you will find something that catches your attention over the next couple of days.

    Mitzi

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    1. Yes, sometimes when I've read a brilliant book, I fear that the book I read next I won't enjoy as much as I should, even if I would have really liked it had I read it at another time...or I might like it much much less! I did a similar thing when I marked undergraduate essays, if I've marked a really good or really bad one I had to go and have a break, so that my marking was fairer again for the next essay!

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  4. Hi Amy, I've never heard of any of these authors so really interesting to read your comments (am particularly persuaded about the G+T book!!). And I TOTALLY agree with you about bending the spine! Emma

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    1. Gin Glorious Gin is definitely worth a look! I've no problem with spines breaking in the course of reading (as sometimes you can't help but break them) but to do so intentionally - argh!

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  5. I've just read a Clare Morrall too, 'the Roundabout Man', bought because the cover and idea behind the story both appealed, and it didn't disappoint.

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    1. I love it when you find a new author you like, then find out that other people already like them and there are lots of books out there to read and catch up on!

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  6. Popping in from the Circle of Pine trees link. Just had to say that A Suitable Boy is my favourite book too - I have never met anyone else who has finished it! Most people who started it complained about how long it was, but I just didn't want it to finish.

    I will be giving Astonishing Splashes of Colour a try.

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    1. Woo hoo! Someone else who loves A Suitable Boy! I admit I did get a bit fed up some times with the political sections, but overall I loved it, and could have read more! Very excited for A Suitable Girl to be published, although the publication date keeps being pushed back...

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  7. I hate spines being broken on books too, I remember a friend doing it to one of my books and I too winced especially as they were trying to make the picture on the cover meet up not actually looking inside the book.

    I have heard of Clare Morrall but not read any of her books perhaps I should look her up next time I am in the library.

    I was given a book to read by a friend, I tried it this week and could not get into it at all. I know my friend loved it, I realised that I was only reading on because of that. Now I need to think about what I am going to say when I hand it back........( I have stopped reading it)

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    1. Yes, do look up Clare Morrall, I am completely converted to her books! I can see the temptation to match the pictures on a book cover (sort of) but surely you'd do that on your own book?! eeeek! I'm sure your friend won't mind you didn't like the book - you tried it, at least. Anyway, it would be boring if we all liked the same sort of things...

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  8. Thanks very much for stopping by my blog and commenting, I hope you are (or have!) enjoyed the One Plus One, JoJo Moyes always helps me over a reading rut :)

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    1. Finished it last night, and quite enjoyed it - always good to discover a new author!

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