Reading Log: February

This month started in Sweden, which rather set the tone for the choice of reading, yet again. I was incredibly restrained, though, and only bought five books while we were there. And the week after we came back, we went to one of my favourite independent bookshops near here, so of course I had to buy another book there to support them, right?

I'm trying to ensure that I don't just spend my days watching TV or YouTube, so am making the effort to put down the screens and get in the habit of reading more. Hopefully this will keep my brain working (as much as it does nowadays, anyway!), and will help me work through some of my enormous TBR stash! And of course, as long as I'm doing that, I can carry on buying books with a clear conscience...!

One thing I've started doing, though, given the limited bookshelf space we have, which is already crammed beyond capacity, is I've started a donations pile. When I finish a book, if I'm sure it's not one I'll want to read again, it goes onto the pile - and at some point I'll take them to a charity shop, or donate them to the book stall at the village fete. Either way, I'm only giving precious shelf space now to books that I feel are actually worth it. It's actually surprisingly liberating - having always been a book hoarder, now curating my collection more actively somehow gives me greater satisfaction. The only exception to this is of course my Swedish books. Because my purchasing opportunities are more limited, more care goes into the initial selection so there are relatively few that I'm sure I won't re-read, and of course it's harder to rehome them in the UK! Maybe I should take any rejects back to Sweden with me next time I go and see if I can find a suitable donation point there. (And of course the fact that there would then be book space freed up in my luggage would be entirely coincidental...!)

Hjärtslaget i Rosengädda by Emma Hamberg [audiobook]

The fourth and final book in the Rosengädda series. All is not well in the village as secrets and misunderstandings abound between Tessan and Farbod, and Flatan and Camilla. Tessan is finally meeting her father, while Farbod is focussed on the newly established GP practice he has set up in the village. Everything comes to a head the night of the big village party - but will it be happy endings all round?

I don't know why I don't enjoy this book quite as much as the rest of the series, but it brings the stories to satisfactory conclusions all round.

Vinterbadaren by Emilia Hansen [audiobook]

Helena's 16-year-old daughter, Lärke, disappeared without trace one day, after which every other aspect of Helena's life also collapsed - marriage breakdown and divorce, sacked from her job, depression and mental health problems. When her mum arranges for her to join the winter bathing club in the Danish coastal town where she lives, she agrees to go along and try it, not for the health benefits of swimming in the almost freezing North Sea, but because the woman in charge of the club is related to a name she has seen in Lärke's diary. Desperate for answers to her questions, she hopes to get closer, to find out about her daughter's last days.

I found this very listenable - Helena is a plausible character, and her need to know is very believeable. The story is developed nicely, and is well paced, and the twists and turns along the way are generally very satisfactory. I will have a look for other books by the same author.

Tranorna flyger söderut by Liza Ridzen

Rereading this one, as it's my book club's selection for the month, and I'm finding it every bit as moving and thought-provoking as I did the first time around. It's a very simple story, about family, aging, relationships, and regret. But it offers an insight into the complex inner world of Bo, and the difficulty he has in communicating his thoughts and feelings. As one of my friends said, this should be compulsory reading for anyone who is a carer.

Knappt en droppe blod by Carin Hjulström

This was a recommendation from a bookseller in Sweden - although it's the second in the series (she didn't have the first one in stock), they're standalone, so given how strongly she recommended it, I decided to give it a go.

Siri Ehrensvärd, an actress, has moved to a run-down plant nursery in the Stockholm archipelago, along with her adult nephew, to make a new life for herself away from the theatre and her broken relationship. When an old man is found dead in the nearby churchyard, Siri is drawn into the investigation alongside local police officer Olle Magnusson. Altogether the small community setting and cast of characters make this a really lovely example of cosy crime. I'll definitely be picking up others in the series at my next opportunity!

The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn

This turned out to be a rather unexpected WW2 novel, illustrating yet another side of activity and life during the war years. Beginning in 1920 with the arrival of Christabel's new stepmother at Chilcombe, the family home, we follow Christabel as she grows up, as well as those close around her.

The complexity of wartime is well handled - the difficulty of knowing who to trust, and the need to make quick decisions is absolutely vivid. Very well written, and a good read.

The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin

One of the rather numerous nature studies which came out of the pandemic, when the lack of traffic and travel, and enforced time at home helped people to become more aware of the natural world around them. In this one, Polly Atkin becomes familiar with the tawny owls around her home in the Lake District, observing a group of owlets from branching to independence. She also looks at the (lack of) historical knowledge about owls and their lives, and the ways in which human activity affects them.

Easy to read, neither sanctimonious nor preachy, an enjoyable read which offers an enjoyable glimpse into this elusive and secretive world.

Death of an Englishman by Anna Beer

The debut novel from an Oxford English academic - unsurprisingly set in a (fictional) Oxford College. Dr Eve Brook is asked to track down the manuscript of Dr David Morrow's book after his untimely death. The search takes her further and wider than she imagined, and results in her questioning the cause and reason for his death. An enjoyable read, with a mostly satisfactory resolution. Along the way, there is real recognition and understanding of the issues around misogyny and race in academia, and these are handled well.

A Stockingful of Spies by Robin Stevens

Ministry of Unladylike Activity no. 3. May, Nuala and Eric are recruited to help solve a murder at Bletchley Park, where Hazel, May's big sister (and one of the original Wells 8 Wong Detective Society members) is now working. Working as messengers, they will have access to all necessary places and people to draw up a list of suspects, and investigate the goings-on.

These are wonderful books - this is the third in the Ministry of Unladylike Activity series, set in WWII, and which sort-of follow on from the Murder Most Unladylike series. Described more than once as Agatha Christie for children, they are beautifully crafted stories, full of atmosphere and character, and supported by solid historical backgrounds. The inclusion of Black and Asian characters, non-straight people, and neurodivergent individuals, without ever making a point of the diversity of the cast, is really nicely done, too.

Every school library should have these books, and anyone who enjoys well-written children's books should absolutely read them. Frankly, anyone who likes Christie and cosy crime should at least give them a try!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen [audiobook]

This is primarily my bedtime listening, so it's been fairly slow going, but it's such a lovely way to relax into sleep. A familiar story, nothing shocking or gripping, nothing tense - just a wonderful classic.

Fådelskådaren by Christina Olseni and Micke Hansen [audiobook]

The second Murder in Falsterbo book - this time Egon and Ragnar, along with their friend Jan, discover a body at the bottom of the birdwatching tower just before Egon is due to lead Bird Bingo there. Somehow Egon persuades the others not to call the police until after Bingo, but moves the body out of the way slightly and covers it up. Unsurprisingly, the police investigation is confused by the evidence; throw in another death or two, and the accidental shooting of a rare bird, and you have another fun, implausible but very enjoyable cosy crime romp.

The Siege by Ben Macintyre

I succumbed to the advertising for this one last year, and am actually really pleased now that I did. It's an account of the 1980 siege of the Iranian Embassy in London, and the police and military efforts to bring it to a peaceful conclusion. I was in primary school at the time, and my family didn't have a TV, so I have no recollection of seeing or hearing it in the news at the time, but have heard things about it over the years. and have seen some of the iconic pictures of SAS members on the balconies.

While no account can ever be completely objective, impartial and balanced, or fully accurate, this book aims to reveal what was going on inside the embassy, between the gunmen and the hostages, and between the different groups of hostages - Iranian, British, policical, journalists, men, women - for the six days that the world's attention was focussed on the outside.

Very well written, highly informative, an interesting read.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus [audiobook]

I read this a couple of years ago when it was given to me as an unexpected gift, and greatly enjoyed it then. Now that I'm starting to enjoy audiobooks as an accompaniment to knitting, I decided to listen to it - and enjoyed it just as much. Elizabeth Zott is a great character, standing up to the misogyny and sexism of the 1950s and 60s in her determination to be seen as a chemist first and foremost, not as 'just' a woman. There are a couple of moments which felt somewhat anachronistic, although I freely admit I'm no expert in the period, but overall it's a good story, well told.

The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett [audiobook in part]

The Truth by Terry Pratchett

I'm finally back to the Discworld re-read that I started in 2024, and still enjoying. The Fifth Elephant is possibly my least favourite of the entire series - there's just something about it that I don't really enjoy, although there are of course some good Vimes moments. The Truth, on the other hand, is one that I definitely like, so that's provided a bit of momentum to get going again.

The Memory Library by Kate Storey [audiobook]

Ella moved to Australia shortly after her father's death when she was 21; now, two decades later, she returns to England to look after her mother, following an accident. Nursing resentment and anger over the events which precipitated her departure, she now gets to know her mother in a new way, and learns how valued she is by other members of her local community.

Nicely written, nothing overly surprising, but a good, enjoyable listen.

Silence in the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge [audiobook]

This very short book investigates the concept and importance of silence - as peace, as mystery, as art, as essential. In a world which is increasingly full of sound and distraction, moments of stillness can be hard to find, until one learns to discover the silence within oneself. Kagge refers to his explorations to the poles, in New York and Los Angeles, and elsewhere, as he looks at philosophical understandings of the role of silence and its necessity in our everyday life.

Only just over 2 hours, this was a very good listen, with lots of interesting points raised to think about. It definitely resonated with me as my life nowadays is far quieter than a year ago - no more regular commute to the office, daily interactions with others outside my household, rushing from one thing to another. Rather than silence being just the absence of sound - almost impossible to truly find in modern society - this is the idea of silence as space. Worth listening to again, for sure.

Purchases:

Knappt en droppe blod by Carin Hjulström

Skam by Ann-Helen Laestadius

Dö för vår sundliga släkt by Marianne Cederwall

Alla måste söderut by Marie Lundström

Far inte till havet by Elin Anna Labba

Death of an Englishman by Anna Beer