Breathing new life into this blog: books 1-5

I have read a great number of books since last posting on this blog. But in 2018 I didn't read very many. That's why I've decided to revive this blog; as a celebration of the fact that I'm reading again.

It's much slower than before, I find it harder to concentrate at times, and then off I'll go, ravenous for the written word. I'm reading in fits and starts, bursts of excitement followed my lulls in which I'll reread the same words for weeks on end. 

It's frustrating, but I'm reading. 

And to help me with my reading, I've rejoined my former book club. It's thanks in great part to them that I have found several of the books I'll write about today. 

I may have read other books in January, but I can't remember. However, our January book club book was An Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennet. I can hardly count this as a book I read though, because I hated it so much I didn't finish it.

I'm not sure if it was trying to read it on an e-reader, the fact that the queen was so very unqueenly, or just the book. It didn't do it for me.

In February, for book club, we read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. We originally read this book years ago and it was just as good this time. Maybe even better because I managed to read it with my post it notes in hand and looked up all kinds of references the author made and felt like a smart person doing it!

James Rollins came out with a new book, The Crucible. His books are still formulaic. Some better than others, but I like them because they're a quick easy read. Even now. This wasn't his best story, and the iRobot element was a little anxiety inducing. Still, I love his characters (as 2 dimensional as they are). So a good, quick, fun read. A bit like a Mission Impossible movie!

March at book club is mystery month. My favorite genre! So many good books were recommended, that I decided to request them all from the library.

First came Magpie Murders. I really loved this book! I tend to get stuck with an author and then I read everything by that author. Which means I read a lot of the same kind of book. I love quirky, and I love a story that keeps me guessing until the end. Magpie Murders was really unlike anything I'd read before: a story within a story and I didn't guess the solution to the mystery. Endings are hard, and this one was a little too easy, but I loved it anyway.

Next up was Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour Bookstore. I'm still working on this though, so I'll skip to the Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (aslo called the 7.5 deaths. I'm not sure why the variance in titles.

You know when your life becomes completely wrapped up in a book, so much so that every waking thought is consumed with reading? You're at work and all you can think about is getting home to keep reading? You find yourself racing through the words and have to force yourself to slow down and read at a better pace? That was this book for me. This was a first novel for the author and I'm so very pleased to see he's already working on his next. I hope I love it as much as this one.