Welcome to Bookish Nostalgia for 2016! I'm excited to be moving ahead into my reading years of 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011. And thanks for coming by and checking out what I read during January of those years. Let's begin:
January 1996 - Cain His Brother by Anne Perry - I have read many, many books written by Anne Perry and, as you can see, have been reading them for at least 20 years. Cain His Brother is the 6th book in her series featuring William Monk and Hester Latterly. Set in the mid-19th century, the Monk books are just as gripping to me as this author's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mysteries. In this one, a woman hires Monk to try to find her missing husband. She fears he has been killed by his twin brother. I just remember the ending was a shocker. There are 21 books in this series now, with #22 coming out this year.
January 2001 - Aunt Dimity Digs In by Nancy Atherton - This series is a fun one that I am way behind on reading at this point. Aunt Dimity Digs In is the 4th book in the cozy series that features Lori Shepherd and her Aunt Dimity, who is a ghost. Lori was quite surprised to find in the first book that Aunt Dimity was a real person. Lori's mother had told her bedtime stories about Aunt Dimity, but she always thought they were fictional. In this episode, Lori is adjusting to caring for her twin boys. There is a stolen document, some archaeology and an Italian nanny. Aunt Dimity appears in 20 books and #21 will be published this year.
January 2006 - Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton - This is the 1st book in one of my favorite cozy series - can you tell that I love series? It is set in Colorado and introduces us to Kelly Flynn, a corporate accountant, who comes to Ft. Connor, Colorado, for her aunt's funeral. It turns out that things are not quite as they seem. Kelly meets her aunt's knitting friends at The House of Lambspun, and they help her figure out what happened to her beloved family member. Plus she learns to knit. I read this series more for the characters than the mysteries at this point. There are now 15 books.
January 2011 - Every Last One by Anna Quindlen - I loved this book, just loved it. And it's not a series book. Mary Beth Lathem is a busy mother of 3 teenagers, a girl and 2 boys. She has a business and a life that seems perfectly ordinary, until a horrible tragedy occurs. So much emotion here, but a really great story telling how a woman puts her life back together. I have meant to read more books by this author, but as yet, I've not read more of her fiction. I do have one more of her books here, One True Thing. Hope to get to it this year.
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That's all for this month. See you next month as I page back through my notebooks and see what I was reading in February over 20 years. And thank you so much for the kind words and support regarding this feature. I've loved doing it and am glad to tell of some older books that might work for many of you.
I never miss an Ann Quindlen and years back kept up with the Aunt Dimity, but stopped about 5 years ago.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm behind on Aunt Dimity too. And I'm not really sure where I left off. I need to go look.
DeleteEvery Last One sounds good. I have seen the cover but haven't read reviews.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good read, Marce, although it is a sad one in many ways. Very emotional.
DeleteI read a later book in the Maggie Sefton series and really enjoyed it and picked this one up at the used bookstore. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it! I need to try Perry's Monk series. I never really loved the Thomas Pitt series but I still like her writing. Looks like January has always had some pretty great books!
ReplyDeleteOh honestly, every month has some good books, right? I'm just so grateful that I started keeping track of my reading all those years ago. Wish I done it always.
DeleteI never did get around to reading the Monk series. I enjoyed Perry's Pitt series though. That was always fun. I really want to try her World War I series. I have heard of Anna Quindlen's Every Last One. It sounds good. I can see why you liked it, Kay.
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to try that WWI series of Perry's too. Actually, I think I read the first book and then left off. I need to go look.
DeleteEvery Last One nearly broke my heart, what a story.
ReplyDeleteI know - so very emotional. But really good. One of those that made you close the book and just sit and think.
DeleteOh, I really enjoyed Every Last One; I'm so glad you enjoyed it, too.
ReplyDeleteI did. All this talking about it makes me want to reread it. I may do that.
DeleteYay for cozy mysteries! Perfect anytime.
ReplyDeleteThat was definitely true for me in the past. I don't read nearly as many of them these days, but you never know - I might go back to them more frequently as time goes on.
DeleteI've seen many good reviews about Anna Quindlen's Every Last One the last time but never got around to reading it. Will have to add that to the wishlist.
ReplyDeleteIt's really a good one, Melody.
DeleteHow fun to look back on books. I think at one point I had the Aunt Dimnity series on my TBR but then I moved away from cozies. Sounds fun though and maybe I should add it back in! Thank you for sharing these. It's great to revisit with the older books and not just the latest & greatest right?
ReplyDeleteIt is, Iliana. I think sometimes we just get so caught up in what's coming next. There are lots of good books on the library shelves and on our own shelves. And I do like to reread books as well.
DeleteAunt Dimnity looks like something I would like in between thrillers...but must remember the TBR challenge...Already been tempted twice this week and its only Wed.
ReplyDeleteGayle, I think you would definitely like Aunt Dimity. Keep it in mind for after your challenge. I don't have any paper copies or I'd give you some. :-)
DeleteWell, you remember how I felt about Every Last One. Excellent book, but boy did it ever make me sob. Too close for comfort... I'd like to re-read it again someday and I wonder if it will create such a strong emotion the second time around, now that I know what happens.
ReplyDeleteI do remember that and I wonder about that too. I've thought about rereading it. And may.
DeleteI so love Anna Q's nonfiction, but the subjects of her fiction do not appeal to me at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't doubt that - the fiction aversion. :-)
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