QuestingA reads TBR books 2021

New books: 63
Books from sister: 14
Total new books: 77
Updated 30 December

Books read: 80
Fiction: 64
Non-Fiction: 16

1. Weird Woods: Tales from the Haunted Forests of Britain edited by John Miller

I bought this near the end of last year and we're reading it for my bookgroup this month. My suggestion. I've adopted the practice of reading ghost stories over winter. There weren't many ghosts in this collection but most of the stories were interesting.

Happy ROOTing!

Hi QA, welcome to the ROOTers. Happy reading.

Welcome back, happy reading!

Welcome back! Neat idea to read ghost stories over the winter :)

>3 MissWatson:, >4 connie53:, >5 Jackie_K: and >6 rabbitprincess: - thanks!! I'm happy to be back with you all again to read through my piles of books! And they are literally piles at the moment, on the floor. We moved last year and are short on furniture.

2. Elephants can Remember by Agatha Christie

I picked this up last year outside someone's house, along with a few other mysteries.

3. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

My sister read this last year for one of her book groups, then passed it to me. My book group is doing it this month. A classic for a reason. Very good.

4. When Rich Men Die by Harold Adams

This was outside someone's house, along with the Agatha Christie above.

>9 QuestingA: I loved that book too.

>11 connie53: hi connie! It was one of those rare books - one that everyone in the book group liked. We all agreed that it covered interesting aspects of life and how to live it.

5. Cities of Salt by Abdelrahman Munif

This was very interesting, looking at the effect of the Americans looking for oil on a fictitious area in Saudi Arabia, sometime after 1947. Mostly episodic in nature, it presented a lot of different stories and was easy to read. There were virtually no women, and those included were mostly unnamed, driven mad by absent male family members, or prostitutes.

6. The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein

My sister picked this up second hand a few years ago. Very good, very depressing.

7. A Very British Coup by Chris Mullin

From my sister who read it for her bookgroup. This has been on the pile since last year. It was very good.

8. Send for Paul Temple by Francis Durbridge

This was quite poorly written. Unbelievable that "one of the greatest criminal organisations in Europe" would focus their attentions on the midlands in England, but I suppose that's part of the fun. It was a good thriller and had me engaged to the tension-filled end. I cannot believe how much they all smoked!!

9. Pimp State: Sex, Money and the Future of Equality by Kat Banyard

I bought this in May 2017, according to the docket inside it. Very good.

9 ROOTs all ready. You are moving to your goal nicely, QA.

>17 connie53: thanks Connie! It's easier at the beginning of the year to read books already owned, and being unable to visit book shops helps!

10. The Guest List by Lucy Foley

I bought this last year after reading The Hunting Party, and having it recommended to me by a friend. It's basically The Hunting Party, but better.

>18 QuestingA:. The Guest List added to the wish-list. It's translated so it must be easy to find.

>19 connie53: I hope you like it Connie. I read it over the weekend, so I had time to get into it properly.

11. The Outcast and Other Dark Tales by E. F. Benson, edited by Mike Ashley

Short stories I've been reading over a few weeks. I didn't think they were particularly good, although not terrible. I bought this book last year.

12. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan

I bought this many years ago at a literary festival, although I didn't hear the author speak. It wasn't as good as I'd hoped. The story was good but the characters were slightly annoying. The main couple lived entirely separate lives.

13. Fell Murder: A Lancashire Mystery by E.C.R. Lorac

I bought this in 2019. It was very good. Now in my favourites from the British Library's crime classics.

14. Why I'm no Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

I bought this last year. It was very good.

>23 QuestingA: Yes, I read this last year and thought it was excellent. It was good to read a book looking at race/racism from a UK perspective, as many of the really good books out there are primarily from a US perspective.

>24 Jackie_K: totally agree. I have a book on the Civil Right Act in America on my pile, but moved this one ahead because of its UK focus.

15. Death in Captivity: A Second World War Mystery by Michael Gilbert

Another one from 2019. Really good. Well written and I gather from the introduction, written from personal experience. I feel churlish complaining that it was a war story with a mystery rather than a mystery with a war setting. Pretty sure I've seen the movie too, which was also good.

16. The Woman in the Wardrobe by Peter Shaffer

Another book from 2019. Fun.

17. Death has Deep Roots by Michael Gilbert

Another book on the pile since 2019. This was great. A satisfying mystery.

Just popping in to wish you and yours a Happy Easter, QA!

>28 connie53: Hi Connie, thanks. It was good to have a break, even though we're stuck at home. I hope you and your family had a good Easter.

18. Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates

An important book. I bought this last year.

19. To Be a Cat by Matt Haig

I bought this in September 2019. Seems a lifetime ago.

>29 QuestingA: Yes we did, quiet but nice and cozy. Thank you.

20. The Measure of Malice: Scientific Detection Stories edited by Martin Edwards

Bought in 2019. I've been reading these at night.

21. The Crime Club by Frank Froest and George Dilnot

I've had this for several years and enjoyed reading it now.

22. The Groote Park Murder by Freeman Wills Crofts

I've had this possibly for four years. It was good.

Your reading is going great, QA! Only 13 more books to go!

>36 connie53: thanks Connie!

23. The Wink of the Mona Lisa and Other Stories from the Gulf by Mohammad Al Murr and translated by Jack Briggs

According to the receipt inside I bought this in 2016 in Dubai. These were good.

24. The Lost Gallows: A London Mystery by John Dickson Carr

I bought this last year.

25. Promethean Horrors: Classic Tales of Mad Science edited by Xavier Aldana Reyes

I got this last year or 2019. I think the latter. Pretty good.

26. The Terror by Edgar Wallace

Not sure how long I've had this. Several years. It also contains a second, longer story, White Face. Amazingly these are the first Edgar Wallace stories I think I've read, although I've seen a lot on tv and film.

27. The Spoilt Kill by Mary Kelly

I bought this last year. Thought it was very good.

28. Indefensible: Seven Myths that Sustain the Arms Trade by Paul Holden et al.

This one came from my sister. No idea how long it's been on my pile.

29. A Loving Enchantment by Cynthia Sinclair

A re-read. A romance from my teens.

30. Bodies from the Library edited by Tony Medawar

A good anthology. Bought in 2018.

And now only 5! Great job, QA!

>45 connie53: thanks!

31. The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers

I must've picked this up over the 2019/2020 new year break. If not, I've no idea where it came from.

32. Bodies from the Library 2 edited by Tony Medawar

I got this in 2019. Enjoyable.

33. Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth

Pretty sure I got this in 2019 after it won the Man Booker International prize. It's very good. These people lived a lot of misery.

34. Bean Counters: The Triumph of the Accountants and how they Broke Capitalism

Pretty sure I was lent this last year. Interesting and depressing look at the big four accounting firms and what terrible auitors they are.

35. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner

This was lent to me maybe in 2019. I need to give it back to my friend. Loved it.

That's my target reached! Much sooner than expected, but then again I'm reading much more than usual this year because I'm spending more time at home.

>49 QuestingA: I should take a look at this one. I just got out of public accounting, and I think I’d be interested in some auditing horror stories.

Congrats on reaching your goal! I'm glad to hear that you loved Lolly Willowes, I need to get to this soon.

>51 Charon07: Hi, the bean counters was good and easy to read. I recommend it.

>52 MissWatson: Thanks! My friend pratically demanded I read Lolly Willowes because she thought I'd like it. It was a good choice. I hope you enjoy it too.

36. Bodies from the Library 3 edited by Tony Medawar

I got this last year. Another collection of good, short, stories that I've been slowly reading my way through.

37. Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East needs a Sexual Revolution by Mona Eltahawy

Think I got this in 2018.

Congrats on reaching your goal, QA!

>57 connie53: Thanks Connie!! Ive been reading so much this year, but I'm still shocked to have hit the target on this challenge and the 50 book challenge so early.

38. The Man Who Didn't Fly by Margot Bennett

Got this last year. It was very good.

39. The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann, translated by Jen Calleja

Got this from my sister, who got it for her birthday either 2018 or 2019. It's been on my TBR pile at least since 2019. It was good..

40. Checkmate to Murder by E.C.R Lorac

I bought this last year.

41. No Visible Bruises: What We Don't Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by Rachel Louise Snyder

I bought this last year.

42. A Phantom Lover and Other Dark Tales by Vernon Lee edited by Mike Ashley

Bought last year.

43. When in Rome by Ngaio Marsh

I've had this maybe only a year or two.

44. in a dark dark wood by Ruth Ware

According to the receipt inside I bought this in 2017. It was good.

45. Death in White Pyjamas & Death Knows no Calendar by John Bude

Bought this last year.

46. The Port of London Murders by Josephine Bell

Bought this last year.

47. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

From my sister; added to the pile last year

48. Crossed Skis: An Alpine Mystery by Carol Carnac

I bought this last year.

49. Into the London Fog: Eerie Tales from the Weird City edited by Elizabeth Dearnley

I bought this last year.

50. The Rasp by Philip MacDonald

I've had this a few years.

51. The Progress of a Crime by Julian Symons

I bought this last year. It was very good.

Hi QA, just visiting as many threads as I can manage today. I'm hopelessly behind on them. I hope you are doing fine. At least you are reading a lot.

>72 connie53: hi Connie, thanks for dropping by. I'm doing OK. Like everyone, waiting to see what happens with omnicron. I'm a little alarmed by my book reading this year. It's proof of how much time I've had not doing other things. I read your thread regularly and am pleased that you're getting support and that Peet has somewhere safe where he'll be looked after. December is usually a frivolous one for me, reading wise. I go for ghost stories and country house murders. Im looking forward to that.

Country house stories sounds good to me too, not so much horror.

Yes, the whole family is pleased with the place where Peet is now living. He has some trouble settling in this new environment, but that will take time, we know. It is a great relieve for me not to have to worry about him when I am out of the house. And I realized this is the first time ever in my live I've lived on my own. And that is very nice too. All things left lying around are mine. Of course it's strange that Peet is not here. But I enjoy the calm and quiet now. No more worries and no music on it's loudest in the house.

>74 connie53: That must be a very strange sensation at first, to be on your own in the house.

52. The Platform Edge: Uncanny Tales of the Railways edited by Mike Ashley

Very good.

53. Tied up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh

I got this New Year 2019/2020.

54. Cool Repentance by Antonia Fraser

Think I got this New Year 2019/2020

>75 MissWatson: It is, Birgit. I live in a quiet neighbourhood and I feel safe there. I keep every door and the downstairs windows locked during the night and most of the day. And our town is a small one with not that much burglary as far as I know and hear.

Hello QA!

Trying to catch up on threads again. I want to wish you

Thanks Connie!!

55. Where I Lived, and What I Lived For excerpts from Henry David Thoreau

I have no idea how this got on the TBR pile or how long it's been there.

56. Chill Tidings: Dark Tales of the Christmas Season edited by Tanya Kirk

I got this in 2020. Short ghost stories to read in December.

57. Death by Gaslight by Michael Kurland

This has been on the pile a couple of years. From my sister. It was a delightful read.