Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

I read this March 2017 it was a Lawshall Book Club choice.
Quite funny to read such two similar books (His Bloody Project) picked out of the Blue for book club.
This one is set in Northern Iceland, I found the landscape, lifestyle and overly so very bleak to read about.  The story: Agens Magnusdottir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of her lover/employer (a bully) . Agnes has to wait out her final months on a farm of district officer Jon Jonsson, his wife and their 2 daughters.  Agnes had been treated like an animal in captivity and the move to the farm at least means she has a bed to sleep in , can wash and help with the farm duties.  She has a spiritual counselor Toti, and assistant priest, who she tells some of her story to. The mother , Margret is initially against have a convicted murder in the home, but eventually warms to Agnes. Agnes cannot even attempt to escape, a there is nowhere to go. Set in 1840, this is based on actual events.
A good read, bleak but enjoyable

After You With The Pistol by Kyril Bonfiglioli

I read the March  2017, I had read the previous Charlie Mortdecai novel (Don't Point That Thing At Me) for Waterstones book club some years ago.  I found this recently in a charity shop. This one sees Charlie married to Johanna a millionaire widow. A series of bundling, spy like adventures follow... it is quite like a PG Woodhouse to read, very enjoyable, lots of scrapes and fun. A good bedside book....I will read the next one as well no doubt.  Pity about the Johnny Depp film Mortdecai though....but hey who am I to say, if someone wanted to make a film of anything I'd written, I would happily let them. Might give it another try to see if it improves on second viewing, I recommend the book though

1984 by George Orwell

I read this February 2017 it was the Regency book club's choice for March.

I have read this twice before and of course, seen the film.

Orwell's famous distopian novel of what britain would be like in the future.  We decided to read this book as it has become very popular again after Brexit and the election of Donald Trump.

Some parts resonated with me about life in today's world, the part where Winston is writing about the films of the refugees in a boat being bombed, the drinking of gin to keep the masses in check, the constant surveillance.
A splendid book, always worth a re read.

His Bloody Project by McRae Burnet

I read this February 2017 it was Lawshall Book Club book for March.
I had previously read the Disappearance of Adele Badeau .  This is vey different.
It is set n the highlands in a small crofting village.
We know that there has been a triple murder and we have the young murderer's memories. Then the point of view of the Advocate and Physiologist.

Robert in the protagonist is still at school and is very illtelegent and the schoolmaster wants him to carry n his education, but it is not to be as he is needed on the Croft. He lives with his drunken violent, lazy father, his sister and baby twins, the mother has died.

Life is very hand to mouth, with no prospects, life is hard and made harder by a new  sheriff who is basically a bully who starts a vindictive campaign against the family.

Pushed beyond his limits, His Bloody Project is to rid himself and his family of this hateful man....

Nice to see the bully get his comeuppance, but the two other murders are collateral damage, as is poor Roberts and his family's fate.

The Last Runaway by Tracey Chevalier

I read this February 2017.
I like Tracey Chevalier, her books are very readable, I enjoy having one of hers as a bedtime read.
This one is set in the 1850's a young Quaker form Devon, let down in love, decides to join her sister in a journey to America (the sister is due to marry out there) .
The sister dies but Honor carrues on her journey.
Lots of adventures ensue and eventually Honor marries a Quaker in the South.  She helps runaways and becomes a 'station' on the Underground Railway - the route escaping slaves use to head North.

An intriguing book that gives an insight into Runaways, Helpers, Slave Catchers and Quakers - as well as teaching me something about quilting!

Entertaining, thought provoking

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

I read this February 2017. It is the book Harper Lee first wrote, sent to the publisher, who recomended to her to write another from the piont of view of Scout when she was a child which became To Kill a Mockingbird.

I have read TKAM 3 times now, once at school and twice more to try to make myself like it as it's so many people's favourite book. I like the film, but I couldn't get on withthe book.

I enjoyed GSAW so much more, it moves quickly in a languid, Southern sort of way. I felt much more affinity with Scout.
The book raises many racism issues, which still resonate with a modern reader. W should learn form history, I feel, but think that we just don't .
I thoroughly recommend this book to both lovers and haters of TKAM
.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I listened to this as an audio book (I had read it years ago) I was thinking of going to the Theatre Royal to see an adaptation.
I can't say I enjoy Jane Austen or any of those 'Classic' books. I'm glad I found it on Cd and didn't attempt to read it again.
I think it's supposed to be a sort of parody, but I couldn't see the fun sde of it and was (thankfully) reminded that this is not the genre for me....