I read 70 books and some I didn't like!

 I managed to read 70 books last year, including some new to me authors. My favourite book was 'The Women' by Kristin Hannah; I wrote about it in March. I'd read many others by her. But I also read some other amazing books, some on first glance weren't what I thought would appeal to me. but they surprised me as being more than just readable and others from well established authors were not so good.

One being the romantic genre, I've always avoided what was classed as  'Chick lit,' altho today known as a 'Beach' read! Barbara O'Neal's  'The Starfish Sisters.' I really enjoyed this book, so read two others by her, but no, they didn't hit the spot and I won't be reading any more by her. It sort of confirms my suspicions, that some authors write one really good book and then others are not so good. But also our likes change.. I used to love books by Eric James years ago, but then I found them too simple. So when her latest book 'The Ideal Husband' was a Richard and Judy and choice, I read it. Well it was ok, but I felt I was wading through pointless words and in the middle, I couldn't have cared less if the two main characters got back together or not! The main gist of the story is after a long and what Louisa thought was happy marriage, Kit astonished her on Boxing day, to tell he wants a divorce and so the story enfolds of how she has to start out on a new life at age 50 plus. I fell into the same trap with a Diane Chamberlain Book, ' Reflection.' I loved her books, but this one was another one in my view, was just pointless words. Such a shame as her previous books were so good. And sad to admit but the latest book by Charity Norman wasn't as good as 'Remember Me,'  which I loved. So when she announced 2 years ago she was drafting a new book, I couldn't wait, but I felt I was sadly let down. 'Home Truths,'  had all the elements to be a good read, but didn't write make it for me.. about conspiracy theories and how it broke a family apart, when the husband Scott is convinced his brothers death happened, because he was diabetic and had ADSD.  So no effort was made to keep him alive when he collapsed. 

I read all of our Book Group choice books, some of which were awful in my view, but 'The Dictionary of Mutual Understanding,' by Jackie Copleton was such a surprise and a wonderful book, well worth you reading it. It was on a subject that you wouldn't think would be good. One women's grieving her daughter and grandson, after the Nagasaki A bomb.

But new to me authors were Jo Spain, Andrea Mara, Celeste Ng, and Ruth Mancini, were great story writers and I read more than just the one book by them. I've also read a couple more books by Elizabeth Berg, whose books are the sort of books where nothing really happens, but it is a gentle read and a comfort. 

What about your reads of last year?

Chrisxx