Hosted by Lypsyy Lost & Found my Wednesday post gives you a taste of what I am reading this week. A similar meme is run by Taking on a World of Words
Alongside the TBR Reduction plan I am making an effort to read some of the older items that are lurking on it – these are usually in kindle format so I have started The Siren by Alison Bruce which was purchased on 29 July 2012 soon after I read the first in this series featuring DC Goodhew, Cambridge Blue. The choice was also prompted by the fact that I have the sixth in the series, The Promise, from NetGalley to read soon!
Blurb
All it took was one small item on the regional news for Kimberly Guyver and Rachel Golinski to know that their old life was catching up with them. They wondered how they’d been naïve enough to think it wouldn’t. They hoped they still had a chance to leave it behind – just one more time – but within hours, Rachel’s home is burning and Kimberly’s young son, Riley, is missing.
DC Goodhew begins to sift through their lives, and starts to uncover an unsettling picture of deceit, murder and accelerating danger. Kimberly seems distraught but also defensive and uncooperative. Is it fear and mistrust of the police which are putting her son at risk, or darker motivations?
With Riley’s life in peril, Goodhew needs Kimberly to make choices, but she has to understand, the one thing she cannot afford is another mistake. Amazon
So that’s the something old, now for the something new…
I have just finished The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
See yesterday’s post for the synopsis and a taster from this book
And next I’m going to read one from ‘I should have read this ages ago’ pile; Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
Blurb
A brilliant literary debut, inspired by a true story: the final days of a young woman accused of murder in Iceland in 1829.
Set against Iceland’s stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution.
Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only Tóti, a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. But as Agnes’s death looms, the farmer’s wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they’ve heard.
Riveting and rich with lyricism, BURIAL RITES evokes a dramatic existence in a distant time and place, and asks the question, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others? Amazon
What are you reading this week? Please leave your links in the comments section below
Burial Rites sounds positively amazing. Will have to add it to my mile long wishlist. Happy reading! 🙂
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It got really good reviews and write-ups following publication so I’m really looking forward to this one.
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Read Burial Rites last year for my bookclub and loved it. Enjoy
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I’m really looking forward to reading this at long last – I’ve heard such good things about it.
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I just finished reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s inspiration non fiction latest, Big Magic, Creative Living Beyond Fear which was full of lots of interesting inisghts, anecdotes and quotes and now I am reading a Canadian novel called February by Lisa Moore, historical fiction, set around the sinking of an oil rig in Newfoundland.
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The Canadian novel sounds very good – I like historical true events being woven into fiction.
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I read the Hepworth book which though dealing with an emotional topic was very “readable”. Burial Rites though I did finish it was very somber, very heavy and the overtones of sadness were too much for me. It was throughout the book. I felt that the writing and descriptiveness of the weather was brilliant though. You could feel that awful weather being part of the “heaviness” you felt throughout the book.
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I thought The Things We Keep had the right amount of humour to off-set the sadness to make it a bearable read. I’m looking forward to Burial Rites although I’m aware it is quite sad.
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I loved Burial Rites so much, I think you’ll enjoy it! Thanks for linking up! 😆
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Thank you Lipsy – I’m looking forward to it!
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I think I also have Burial Rites buried somewhere in the depths of my TBR pile, so high time I retrieved it.
I really like Gary Goodhew and have been following the series (just finished The Promise a few days ago), so enjoy the Alison Bruce. But then I am partial to a little Cambridge setting.
I was about to start reading The Turning Tide by the call girl formerly known as Belle du Jour (a thriller rather than a memoir, this one promises to be), but last night a friend of mine showed up with a book they had promised to lend me a long time ago, so I’ll have to read that first: Christos Tsiolkas’ Dead Europe.
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Those TBRs hide a treasure trove don’t they? I am enjoying The Siren, it’s just a shame I’m going to miss a few in the series now to read the latest one – the trouble with my kindle purchases is I forgot I had a lot of them (until my super spreadsheet)
I didn’t know Belle du Jour had written a thriller – interesting!
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I hope you enjoy Burial Rites as much as I did. I’m reading Atul Gawande’s sobering Being Mortal and Penelope Fitzgerald’s The Bookshop which I feel I should have read years ago.
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I do enjoy Penelope Fitzgerald’s writing so that one sounds good! I’m really looking forward to reading Burial Rites so I hope it’s one I enjoy too.
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Good on you for going for the older books. I’m trying to do that too!
I loved, loved Burial Rites which totally surprised me as I wasn’t expecting too and it was even more haunting because it’s a true story. I hope you like it.
Here’s my WWW – http://bookboodle.co.uk/2016/01/13/www-wednesday-january-13th 🙂
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I am determined to read a bigger proportion of older books this year so getting off to a good start… I’m really looking forward to Burial Rites I’ve wanted to read it for a while after reading everyone’s reviews.
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The Things We Keep sounds like a very emotional but relevant novel. My WWW this week is http://indie-bookworm.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/www-wednesday-5.html
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Thanks for visiting and leaving your link 🙂
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I think I may have to take this approach soon and so a month where I attack my TBR based on publication date – starting with the “oldest” books. I tend to skip about based on whether I can get a book at the library or not but I think a planned approach (at least for a while) might help.
Here’s my WWW: https://clairehuston.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/www-wednesday-13th-january-2016/
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I spend as long faffing about choosing books to read as I do reading them sometimes! This year I’ve decided that at least one book a month must be one that has been hanging around for more than two years (there are a few to choose from) because that way at least I might remember why I chose them in the first place and another from within the last two years.
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I was considering starting at the oldest book on my TBR as well, and working through… except then I read the sample for the oldest one and felt it wasn’t enough to fully make a decision, so I sort of put it on hold and the whole plan fell apart before I even got started.
Burial Rites sounds really interesting. Hope you enjoy it!
Here’s my post this week: https://keysandopenmind.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/www-and-wippet-wednesday-13-january-2016/
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That sounds like one of my plans! I’m aiming to work through the books that have been hanging around for more than two years – just one a month and one bought in the last couple so this month the two choices ended up together…
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happy Wednesday hope you enjoy the rest of your reading! go check out my WWW Wednesday
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Thank you – you too!
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I’m planning to read The Things We keep this week, I’ve been putting it off because I know it’s going to be upsetting but I have heard great things about the writing. I’ve not read Burial Rites yet either, it’s one of the books on my ‘absolutely must get around to this year’ list. I hope you enjoy it.
Here’s my WWW post:
https://rathertoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/www-wednesday-13th-january/
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The Things We Keep is well-written and has some humour to balance the sadness – I said that about Burial Rites last year – now it’s finally been scheduled…
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Oh, these do look great, Cleo! And it’s very nice to know that I’m not the only one who has books that have been lurking on the TBR for a while. Looking forward to your reviews!
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Thank you Margot – at least my TBR count alerted me to what was actually hiding, I just need the time to read them all now.
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I’m another fan of Burial Rites! Hope you enjoy it.
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It had so many great reviews I have high hopes!
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You don’t mind reading series out of order? I don’t mind 1 that gets your attention but if it is good I will start from the beginning. Enjoy
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I used to always read them in order but since blogging it has gone awry partly because I don’t like reading a series of books back to back and what happened was I forgot I owned The Siren until I listed all my books for my TBR count. I still remembered how much I’d enjoyed the first in the series though…
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I have the first book in the Goodhew series, Cambridge Blue, on my Kindle and need to read it. I also have Burial Rites. I can remember that one was quite the talk a while back. And I also have a copy of The Things We Keep. Can you see why I’m trying to read what I already own? LOL
Enjoy, Cleo!!
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I really enjoyed Cambridge Blue and it stayed in my mind but I actually didn’t realise I had The Siren on my kindle until I listed all my books for the TBR count – I’ve got high hopes for Burial Rites – I’m with you trying to read some of my own books this year.
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My book club read Burial Rites last year, and it was one of our favorites! The book is beautiful, and we had a fantastic discussion too. I hope you enjoy it! I’m about to start The Things We Keep, which sounds amazing. Have a great week!
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That is good to know Lisa – The Things We Keep was exceptionally well-written. Hope you have good week too.
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I’ve been noticing Burial Rites for a while…it does sound interesting. And I loved The Things We Keep. Enjoy!
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Many thanks Laurel – I’m really looking forward to Burial Rites…
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Ooh, can’t wait to hear what you think of Burial Rites – a book that should have been shortlisted for the Booker, in my humble opinion…
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This was on my list to be read last year without fail – I failed, really looking forward to it, even more so now I’ve read your comments.
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There’s something so chilling and mysterious about Burial Rites. Looks like my kind of thing, though I’m kinda hesitating because I’m not familiar with the author.
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This was her debut novel but it did have such a great reviews when it was published.
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I probably will get a copy of The Things We Keep later this year, the storyline sounds really interesting, sad but interesting.
I am in the middle of Atonement, I should be done with it before the weekend, it’s a great read. Next is Nabokov’s Lolita.
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Atonement is one of my favourite books of all times – Lolita not so much so but I hope you enjoy it.
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I enjoyed Burial Rites. Very well written! Great review.
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I’m really looking forward to it – thank you.
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I like the sound of The Siren and Burial Rites has been on my wishlist for a while now! I hope you enjoy both.
Happy reading! Here’s my WWW.
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Many thanks Yvo, I’m really looking forward to Burial Rites
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I remember seeing a lot about Burrial Rights a while back I hope it’s good. Happy reading!
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Many thanks Sam – I hope so too.
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I’m almost envious of the fact that you’re reading Burial Rites for the first time! (I think this form of envy is something only book lovers can understand!). It is a truly amazing book and I count it as one of the best books I e ever read. Ever. But of course, I don’t want to build it up too much for you… Lets reconvene when you’re done!
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Oh yes I know that sort of envy – I’m already very excited about this one
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Be warned that the rest of your reading year might pale in comparison *there I go, building it up again…*
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Hey there! Just browsing around the blogosphere, finding some fun and interesting blogs to follow to make some new friends in 2016. If you like, hop on over to my world at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com, and if you see anything you like, comment or follow! Have a great day and happy new year!
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Your bookcase would be a mystery lover’s hangout. I’m finishing up my first book of the year; now that I’m in the meat of it, I really like it.
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I have to get hold of burial rites. It sounds just like the book I would like to read!
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I’m really looking forward to finally reading this one 🙂
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I’ll look out for your review 🙂
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Yay 🙂
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I was reading Burial Rites, got distracted, so it was left aside, and the pharmacist and manager of Boots mentioned she’d been recommended it, so I said, I’ll lend you it, as I lend the assistants in there books all the time. It must be about four months ago and now, after reading Nightblind, I really want it back. I’m going to have to say, How are you getting on with Burial Rites, or something?! I hate things like this -especially as I now want to read it! I’m such a woose!
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Burial Rites is lurking on my kindle too. I bought it on spur of the moment and then couldn’t remember why I wanted it. You just reminded me it was because it sounds a good story.
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I have lots of kindle books that I have no idea why I wanted them… I’ve been meaning to read this one for quite some time
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Oh I hope you enjoy Burial Rites Cleopatra. It’s ace, in my opinion!
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