Reading log: January

We've done quite a bit of driving this month, so I've been listening to audiobooks while in the car. I'm not setting myself any targets for the year in terms of books read, but hope to carry on reading more than I buy... I've also managed to make inroads into my 'to be finished' pile, with four titles from there finally making it to my blog!

Larma, släcka, rädda i Rosengädda by Emma Hamberg [audiobook]

Vårjakt i Rosengädda by Emma Hamberg [audiobook]

The next two books in the Rosengädda series, following Tessan as she opens her restaurant and settles in to life in the small community on the shores of lake Vännern in southern Sweden. New friendships are formed, and old relationships changed. Enjoyable escapism, athough I'd forgotten how important the cancer storyline is in the second of these, so that was slightly harder. That said, Hamberg deals with it very well, and the character's experience is very relatable.

Such Fine Boys by Patrick Modiano

This was my book club's pick for this month - it's not one I would have chosen, and it didn't grow on me at all in the reading. Not a single character in the book appealed to me, and I felt that women were far too much treated as decorative appendages rather than fully developed people in their own right. I'm looking forward to the discussion, to see if I'm along in my feelings, or whether the others can persuade me that there's more to this book than I saw, but at this point I will not be reading anything else by Modiano.

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

Best known as the face of Dictionary Corner on Countdown, this is Susie Dent's first novel. Set in the offices of the fictional Clarendon English Dictionary's lexicographers, the team receive a series of cryptic letters which appear to be referring to the disappearance of Charlie Thornhill back in 2010. Charlie had worked at the CED before she vanished, and her younger sister, Martha, has recently been appointed as head of the team. Dent's enjoyment of the richness of the English language is apparent - at times her linguistic choices felt to me to be very self-conscious and perhaps overdone, but in general I found myself appreciating her use of less common words. The mystery was enjoyable, and the twists and turns along the way were done nicely. I'd definitely be inclined to read a future offering from the author.

Wintering by Katherine May

This was given to me by a friend back in the autumn, as I was facing the realisation that it didn't seem that I was going to recover the energy and mental capacity which disappeared early last year. As I was thinking about metaphorical autumn and winter, and talking them over with those close to me, it became very clear that my experience was far from unique to me. We all go through difficult times in life - ill health, depression, high stress, whatever - and need to find ways of coping. In Wintering, Katherine May explores this concept, looking not only at how those populations where deep winter occupies a significant part of their calendar, but also how these mental 'winters' can be survived. Plenty of food for thought, as I continue to hunker down and look forward with hope for my own spring.

Crusoe's Daughter by Jane Gardam

This was a book club pick for some time last summer, but as I wasn't able to get to the meeting, I didn't get around to reading the book until now. Having finally done so, I'm somewhat baffled by it. It's a one-character, one-place story, in which surprisingly little happens (despite its timescale encompassing both world wars). It's possible I'd have found it more captivating if I'd ever read Robinson Crusoe, the novel whose hero Polly Flint leans on as her guide to life. Looking at other reviews, I'm clearly not alone in finding this quite a strange book, although the second half was definitely more interesting for me than the first.

A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon

This was an impulse purchase some time ago, which I finally picked up and read in two days. While I didn't think it was gripping me, I definitely wanted to keep going to find out the answer to the mystery - or mysteries. I enjoyed the twists along the way, as well as the reveal, although Linda, the main character, is rather odd and didn't grow on me along the way.

Väninnorna på Nordiska Kompaniet by Ruth Kvarnström-Jones

This is the second in the ’Stockholm’s pearls’ series, this tome focussing on other members of the Ekman family and their friends in the new and growing Nordiska Kompaniet as it moves to a new shop building and adapts to the changing economic situations of the first two decades of the twentieth century. The years of the First Word War had an impact on trade and resources, even for the politically neutral Sweden - and members of the circle of friends found themselves on opposite sides of the issues. Through the ups and downs of life they support one another to broaden their horizons, dream dreams, and fulfil their ambitions.

Nicely written, with links to the wider political and social scene, as well as genuine details from NK’s history. I’ll be buying the next in the series when it’s available.