18 Comments
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Emily Conway's avatar

Thank you, Jan, for this list! I'll add it to my own never-ending one.

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

I think our house is in Wales was held up by books. We donated masses when we moved but still there are so many and the piles are growing again :)

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Emily Conway's avatar

This makes me feel better about my own!

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

I am staggered at how many books you've read Jan!

The Dig and Understorey have been on my wish list for ages, but I have stacks unread and daren't order more until the piles are at least little smaller! Finding the time though.... I don't know how you fit everything in? xx

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

I know what you mean about the piles unread! As for the amount -- insomnia helps :)

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

Oh Jan, you too? How well I know the evasion of blissful slumber. I can’t even suggest anything that you undoubtedly haven’t already tried either… 😔

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Anne Dunford's avatar

I also really admire Kahleen Jamie's work and have recently been given 'The Keelie Hawk' - and love this comment of hers about writing in Scots being 'like seeing wildflowers flourish in cracks in the pavement'. Brilliant.

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

it's a wonderful line, isn't it?

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Deb Baker's avatar

I used to read The Christmas Mystery aloud to my family every Advent. Love it. Also really enjoyed Drive Your Bones although I recently tried Flights and couldn’t get into it. Maybe another time.

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

It's absolutely enchanting :)

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Patricia Helen Wooldridge's avatar

Thank you so much Jan - I have ordered the Kurt Jackson as I love his work. I also love the Katharine Towers books and I have Understorey waiting on my pile of new books to read. It is so good to read your detailed reviews.

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

You'll love the Kurt Jackson -- a book to loose yourself in :)

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Anne Bateman's avatar

Thank you so much for this Jan. I've read some of the fiction, loved Stone Yard Devotional and as for Drive your plow....! Unlike you, I am not self disciplined but stagger randomly from book to book in a needy addiction, from comfort to challenge, so recommendations from trusted you are gold!

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

Thank you, Anne -- I'm fast falling in love with Olga Tokarczuk -- and definitely want to search out more from Charlotte Wood too. x

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Roselle Angwin's avatar

Knowing how busy your life is, Jan, I'm amazed at how many books you read, remember and write about! I too am a great reader, and have no TV as a distraction, but still. Rx

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

sabbatical definitely helped with the chunky novels :) x

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Nigel Hutchinson's avatar

Brilliant! Love your discipline of ordered, recorded comment. I have a much more haphazard, random - even chaotic reading habit!

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

Thank you, Nigel -- this space helps the order :) And it makes me think about the books in a different way too. For the next one I've even started writing each individual review soon after reading rather than suddenly realising I have 24(ish) reviews to write.

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