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Books read and bought in May #roundup

Time for something a bit new with a roundup of books that I have bought or read in May.

The first book I FINALLY finished was Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Taking me nearly three months in total (with several books read in between) I came to the conclusion it wasn't worth the effort and if doorstop Dickens is your thing David Copperfield is a much better bet. 

The follow up to a previous #BookOfTheMonth was next up. Deadman's Blues by Ray Celestin was the perfect tonic to my jaded post Bleak House self. Featuring the same characters from The Axeman's Jazz who had upped and moved to Chicago, a bucket load of Jazz (played by Louis Armstrong) threaded through a whole lotta crime (involving Al Capone). If you haven't read either books, both are highly recommended.

Another follow up followed up with The Favoured Child the second in the Wideacre series by Philippa Gregory. Charting the path of the two ill fated Lacey heirs an 8 year reading gap in between the two books didn't stop me picking up where I left off. Gregory's usual strong characters and easy to read chapters had me finished in no time but I am yet undecided as to whether I will read the final in the series - Meridon.

May's #BookOfTheMonth was Women and Power by Mary Beard. A very divided group couldn't agree as to whether the attractive but very lacking in page count was nothing more than a coffee table book or was a starter for ten designed to allow those unaccustomed to reading such subject matter to take their first steps. 

Women and Power's page count left me just enough time to read the delightful Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. Brimming with adventure it had me fervently wishing I was 11 and camping on my own island in the 1920's. Time has certainly not ruined this child's classic. 

That was what I read but what did I buy? Well apart from June's ~BookOfTheMonth The One by John Marr there was just the one this month (yes I was astounded too when I double checked). Following on from my first ever visit to Newcastle Noir I purchased from the very lovely Forum Books, A Murder of Crows by Ian Skewis one of the authors in the Tartan Noir talk I attended. Borrowed by my mum before I had even walked it through the door she has already read and returned it giving it a 9 out of ten. Time will tell whether it scores equal from me.


What have you read, bought or borrowed in May?

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