Just back from a few days away for New Year and return to such pretty cards - thank you friends, and for the bookmark Jenny! I think I'm going to ignore the 12th night rule so I can keep them up for longer :-)
@rockpools @RaeLovesToRead @jenniferw88 @eraderneely and Steffi - I have forgotten your username unbelievably as it's not the same as insta! 😘😘😘 hope you all had lovely breaks (and are illness recovered!)

Joining in #bookspin this year to try and get my kindle unread books down...! Thanks @TheAromaofBooks !

1. The Change
2. I'm sorry you feel that way
3. Shrines of gaiety
4. Wrong place wrong time
5. Trespasses
6. Memphis
7. Insomnia
8. Yinka, where is your husband?
9. Fight Night
10. Notes on an execution
11. Elizabeth finch
12. Free love
13. Dog rose dirt
14. The matrix
15. An island
16. The sweetness of water
17 Should we stay or should we go

Not a beach read! But still a great one, and a fitting end to a messed up year in the world. One of my faves was The Frozen Finger. Here's to 2023!

Thanks so much Jo! @PuddleJumper beautiful gifts both wrapped and unwrapped! And thanks so much @MaleficentBookDragon Chelle for hosting! #jolabokaflod

A perfect Christmas holiday read, light but meaningful and great characters. Time up north has come to an end, though will my train turn up tomorrow...?!

Another 5 ⭐️ for the year sneaks in, probably really a 4.5 as I found it quite hard to get into but once I did... Plus I've finally finished work so am feeing generous and festive! Not what I expected which is always a treat. Read on kindle so pic of my parents' tree.

Loving this! And Ruby. Predict at least one more 5 🌟 of 2022!

I agree with everyone else who has reviewed so far - love the characters, the humour, the gentleness, the satire. Definitely going to be in a fug working out what to read next. Ideas welcome!

And I know we aren't starting #auldlangspine yet (and I was reading this for a book club), but am very pleased it was on my match's @larkken list!

What do we think of the Booker Prize judging panel? I liked Washington Black, I have seen Anjoa Andoh act at the National and she was amazing but no idea what books she will like, and I'm a bit wary of Robert Webb... I've definitely heard of James Shapiro, I haven't heard of Mary Jean Chan. It begins! #bookerprize2023

Thanks @squirrelbrain Helen for the card and fun little parcel :-) Have covid, feel Christmassy 😀

Can I also very belatedly say that I posted my #jolabokaflodswap last Monday the 5th, I haven't seen it arrive yet @maleficentbookdragon but hopefully it will soon! Thanks again for organising!

Thanks @Larkken for my #auldlangspine list! Lovely to meet a new-to-me Litten and brilliant matching @monalyisha! Bunny I have read and loved, and the others are either exciting because I want to read them, or even more exciting because I've not heard of them! The tagged sounds brilliant - "Harry Potter if it was written by Kafka". Very happy, thank you!

The tree is up and my beautifully wrapped #jolabokaflodswap has arrived, thank you mystery Santa and to @MaleficentBookDragon Chelle for organising! X

Toby buys me a new bookshelf to tidy up the living room, I fill it, living room bookshelves still piled double.... how does that happen?! Pleased with my #smallpressshelf though ☺

Thanks so much Emma! I think I must have stacked this as a result of your review and then promptly forgot all about it, so a brilliant surprise! @Oryx 😘

Home from holiday to bday cards and gifts, thanks so much @kaysworld1 @squirrelbrain and (I'm guessing as couldn't see a name, ha!!?) @Caroline2
Makes the return far more cheery!

Thanks for all the litsy birthday wishes! I found this one on a leftover reads shelf in a hotel. I think it might be my first by the author and I will definitely read more. Great writing and characters. Perfect birthday - books, sun and sea :-)

My #lmpbc read is back from @jenniferw88 along with a lovely card and the tagged book from my TBR! Thank you! I loved reading your and Lucy's comments on An American Marriage and I will get yours in the post shortly @Mrs_B ! Hope you're both well 😘

Pleased with my postcards :-) #galleybeggarpress

June flew by sandwiched by #hay at the beginning, #glasto at the end. Restrained in my buying at Hay, two hugely anticipated reads and obvs some merch...!

Thanks @jenniferw88 for the next #lmpbc choice! I'm still working my way through your next one @Mrs_B (is a bit of a slog...!) But hope to finish in the next couple of days! This one looks great!

Love a whsmiths paperback airport exclusive...

@Mrs_B @jenniferw88

Any of these that you haven't read or that you fancy? Ward and Walker are essays/short stories. I probably have others on my shelf if none of these work :-)

24 hours in Bath, amazing bookshops and lovely to be reading Austen whilst here!

After quite a break I'd like to have another go at the brilliant #lmpbc run by @suvata if anyone in the UK wants to sign up!

My #jolabokaflodswap has finally arrived - delay nothing to do with Trish, all Royal Mail's fault!

Thanks so much @Trishb, all perfect and an extra special treat for a cold, dark January (how can it still be January 😫) day! 😘😘😘

Catching a few rays through the window. Loving this book...

My #weekendreading and #weeklyforecast for the week
Continuing buddy read and a chapter each day of sense and sensibility, and a couple of library books. Tender I've started and I'm loving, intrigued by the blurb of the tagged book...
@Andrew65 @Cinfhen

Two kindles, a book and a phone with me at the hairdressers. Reading tagged book with the pigeonhole, Sense and Sensibility with #pemberlittens buddy read and Checkout 19.

#weekendreading @Andrew65

Loving this sci-fi with feelings book

My first evening at home in what seems like weeks! Enjoying this slow exploration of a new relationship, attempting to unite two families, children threatening the new-found happiness of their parents.

Thanks Helen for the tag, finally got round to my #top21of21 though reckon I will only get to 75 overall so this is quite a large chunk of what I read! Haven't finished the tagged book yet but think I should and will definitely be in this list! @squirrelbrain

The Fell Sarah Moss
The Heavens Sandra Newman
Holding her Breath Eimear Ryan
The Promise Damon Galgut
The Searcher Tama French
No One is Talking About This Patricia Lockwood

Continued...

Thanks so much Helen! Lovely notebook and looks like a v interesting essay, not seen this version before, so cute!! Back from the Lakes and pleased to be reunited with my kindle which I had forgotten!! Merry Christmas!
@squirrelbrain

Thanks so much Trish! I still haven't got this book despite all the fabulous reviews so it is perfect, and who knew amazon delivered chocolate?! I didn't! Could be very dangerous!! Thank you once again for your kindness and generosity knowing royal mail was being rubbish. It's much appreciated 🥰

And thank you Chelle for all the organisation once again! Love this tradition :-) #jolabokaflodswap

@TrishB @MaleficentBookDragon

Thank you Trish!! My post is severely delayed at the moment, lateral flow tests only being delivered so lovely Trish sent me an extra parcel to open for #jolabokaflodswap on Friday. You really didn't need to but it is very much appreciated! @TrishB @MaleficentBookDragon

Whilst I'm here thanks for cards that arrived last week @rockpools @oryx @jenniferw88 @eraderneely @kaysworld1 @kathedron @squirrelbrain Hoping yours are with you/will be shortly!

Where is this parcel going....?!
#jolabokaflodswap
And yes I have recycled @squirrelbrain wonderful packaging, because its so sparkley!!!
Thanks for organising @MaleficentBookDragon !

Thanks Emma @Oryx I bought this one for @TrishB for her birthday but don't have it myself so a great choice, many thanks!!! 😀

And the postman has just delivered this treat from @rockpools
Thank you so much! I've only read her short stories before (which I loved) and am hoping to go up to Cumbria this weekend so this is perfect!!! 😘😘😘

Thank you for the birthday wishes and a special thanks to @TrishB @squirrelbrain @Caroline2 for the gifts! (And perhaps someone else, one on the way from my old address, oooooooooh!)
Thanks Littens! #litsylove

My first charity shop book haul in months! I wish there was a heatwave...

Have I picked up any stand outs? Or any must avoids?!

Found a copy of jessie greengrass's latest from a #littlefreelibrary on my run earlier!

Two picks for two video book clubs in a row, both worthy of plenty of discussion! Looking forward to later
@julesG @scripturient @Leniverse @TrishB @Susanita @Oryx @youneverarrived @jenniferw88 @squirrelbrain @Caroline2 @eraderneely @rockpools

Didn't finish any books this week! But my last exam done for my masters and just 3 essays left. In progress with the tagged and upcoming a lovely trio for various book clubs including for the #jbuk one, thanks for having me :-)
#bookreport
@Cinfhen

Thanks @kaysworld1 for the card and lovely bookmark! Hope you're well!
I am busy revising (yes it's as boring a book as it looks) but it's my last exam this weekend whoop whoop! Few essays left after that but definitely on the home straight.

My online shopping addiction continues. Wine might have been involved...
Still, no book bought is a waste!
See also: indoor plants

Finished three books this week, and have plans for two for the next few days, one because of library deadlines, one because of book club... but I am learning that I like to ignore my own forecasts!
#bookreport
@Cinfhen
Recommend the tagged book for musings on loneliness, marriage, grief and memory. Thought it was excellent.
If you like a police procedural series I am enjoying the Caz Frear books

My first audio book for a while, this worked really well and was read by the author which I favour.

Thanks @Buechersuechtling for the tag! Sorry its Wednesday @TheSpineView

1 I mostly read one off books so it's hard to name one. Perhaps Mrs Coulter in His Dark Materials.

2 Definitely characters, if the writing is great then plot doesn't matter. If it isn't, then its everything! See Sara Baume, Jon McGregor, Sarah Moss

Bluemoose Books appealed on Twitter for people to buy books direct from them. So I did (and what a great publisher name)

Toby got me a London review box subscription for christmas. I'd already read the first one unfortunately (though a lovely edition for my bookshelf!) But not heard of this one, yay! And a candle came with it too :-)

Also our post is finally catching up - thanks for christmas cards or good wishes all - will write back soon!
@kathedron @kaysworld1 @jenniferw88 @rockpools @squirrelbrain @TrishB

Essay and exam deadlines today so I comfort read more Agatha! Also finished the tagged (good but prefer Bunny). This week I aim to finish Monogamy and also hope to read this as its borderless book club on Thursday!
#bookreport