I've been continuing with audiobooks as well as hardcopies through this month. Twenty-something daughter and I started listening to The Thursday Murder Club on a long drive; I wasn't able to continue when we got home, but found out my hardcopy so I can continue. She was utterly gripped by it, and messaged me her responses to some of the twists and turns as she got to them over the next 24 hours until she was finished! :D I've not managed to add much to the 52 book challenge this month, so will have to make sure I pay more attention to these over the next few months to make sure I don't end up leaving myself too much to do later in the year.
The Harlequin Teaset by Agatha Christie (audiobook)
This audiobook caught my eye as I was scrolling through the available options on Libby, as it reminded me of the teaset my granny had, where each place setting was a different colour, and I just couldn't resist it. I hadn't realised that Christie wrote a number of short stories, so will definitely look out for some more of these. Although I correctly worked out what was happening and how, it was still an enjoyable story, and the nostalgia of the setting in the English countryside was just what I needed to brighten a cold, blustery March bus commute.
The Very Merry Murder Club edited by Serena Patel and Robin Stevens (audiobook)
This appealed to me as Robin Stevens is a wonderful writer of children's detective stories, so I was somewhat disappointed that none of hers are actually in this collection. It's a good mix of short stories though, from a range of authors and in a variety of styles. I shouldn't have been surprised by the number of BAME writers included, but somehow I was - but in a good and happy way! Without meaning to sound patronising, it's fantastic that children from all ethnicities are able to see characters like themselves in the books they read, and stories based in different cultures are so much more widely available than when I was a child. Despite the book's title, not all of the stories are actually about murder, but all centre around children solving mysteries of one sort or another. Having chiefly listened to these in the car on my way to and from work, there were a few stories in particular which I was very keen to get back to, to see how they would be resolved. I would very strongly recommend this to anyone with a child of around 10+ wanting to try detective fiction.
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
I've often thought about rereading the Pratchett collection, in order, and finally made a start. It's many years since I last read most of these, but they are still as enjoyable as ever. The earliest ones in particular are very different to his later style, and with hindsight it's easy to see ways in which the Discworld moved beyond its initial imaginings; I still think there's a lot of value in them, though, as setting the foundations for what was to come.
I devoured this book in 4 evenings, and moved quickly onto the next. Rincewind the (failed) wizard has always been one of my favourite characters, and it's great fun spending time with him (and The Spell) on his journey.
A lot of people nowadays recommend starting Pratchett with some of his later books, but since this worked well enough to get plenty of us interested in the Discworld all those many, many years ago, I'm happy that it's the right place to renew my acquaintance.
The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett [8. Features the ocean]
Mort by Terry Pratchett
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett [16. An omniscient narrator]
Sourcery by Terry Pratchett [29. Published in a Year of the Dragon]
My Discworld re-read is continuing; I'm not going to write separate reviews for each of these, but suffice to say I'm greatly enjoying my trip back down memory lane, and am very glad I finally got started on it. Pratchett's humour stands the test of time, and right from the early books he subverts expected gender roles and plays with some of the conventions of fantasy literature. Rincewind and the Luggage remain at the top of my favourites list, and it's been fun spending time back in their company.
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