2025-November - Ann Tyler - Noah's Compass

Liam Pennywell, forced into retirement from teaching at 61, Is robbed and loses his memory of the incident. He spends the rest of the book trying to find his way around his three daughters, ex-wife, and possibly new love interest, without finding a way into happy retirement.

And then you read about this fellow, and how people have lost their view of risk:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/12/britain-needs-more-lunatics-like-my-father/

And I feel that I have never taken the risky path, but have always taken the secure path of having an employer, when so many of my fellows set up their own companies.  My father jumped at the opportunity to join the RAF in 1943 and then emigrate to Canada in 1952, and I did take the big step of  returning to England from Canada,  but I have never been adventurous enough to strike out on my own. 

2025- October - Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris

Declared the best book of the year (so far)  The marks averaged at 9. 

Very well written, and good signposts throughout.

We had discussions about the takeover of New Amsterdam to be New York, and how the cities mentioned look now. 

For me, it was a good read. The second half was slow  and drawn out with all the writing  and reminiscing that Ned was doing, but wow, what an ending.  Very well researched, though I suppose he put words in peoples mouths, as  he would have to do.  I would love to go to New Haven and see if the structure is still the same. The Highlight of the book was the ending. 

From FW: I, too, really enjoyed the book. 

I do wonder if other episodes in English history had been written in this form whether I'd be a history (ish ) whizz by now, as I found it absolutely fascinating. The characters were real, if more than zealous, and so well painted. I haven't read any other books by Robert Harris and now feel they need to be on my Christmas list 😁

I'm going to give it an 8 as I don't think I'll have time to read it again with the pile I have waiting for me. If I were thirty years younger it would have been a 9 ( but I wouldn't have had the time to read it!!)

From TC: I really enjoyed Act of Oblivion and rate it 10/10.  I thought it might be a bit boring and heavy but found it well written, good pace and I could engage with the characters. 14/10/2025

It wouldn't suit being made for television. I suppose it is hard to get actors to be hung, drawn, and quartered.

2025-September - Elephanta Suite, by Paul Theroux

 

FW

I should have read a little about it before diving in—I expected more overt linking between the three sections. Only afterwards did I realise they were indeed connected through different experiences of Americans in India. Duh!

I found it quite thought-provoking, especially the last story, which had an unexpected ending. I’d heard of the author but never read him before. I liked his style, even though I might have avoided the book if the blurb had revealed more about the content.

Rating: 6/10

SC

Started off okay and was well written, but I lost interest due to all the sordid affairs and exploitation of young indigenous girls. I read about 150 pages and scanned the rest—didn’t think it was worth my time.

Rating: Barely 5/10

Agreed with Dwight when he asks on p.167:

“How had he been corrupted so quickly... prey?”

And on p.244:

“Most things that people... with it.”

Did the three main characters link up? Must have missed that bit!

HB

I read the book while traveling to Amsterdam and Bruges. Got strangely hooked on it during the Eurostar journey two weeks ago. It was well-crafted, and I looked forward to reading it. I even paused occasionally to stare out the window and ponder how I’d react if something in the plot happened to me.

However... writing this two weeks later, I can’t remember anything about what I read. It was totally forgettable. I didn’t “get inside” any of the characters’ heads. The book didn’t linger in my brain afterwards. I read it, then moved on with my life.

Rating: 5/10

PM (Review from 2013)

Not finished. It was a depressing book made up of three stories about different Elephanta Suites. In all stories, Americans come to India.

• In the first, Mr. & Mrs. each have a brief affair with an Indian. They are effectively thrown out and possibly killed.

• In the second, a businessman becomes enthralled with a young girl. His partner leads him into eastern mysticism. Dwight gives up everything to pursue it, handing over the American business to Shah, who eagerly grabs it.

• The third is about a young girl in an Ashram who tries to leave.

Rating: 1/10

2025-August Days from a Different World - John Simpson

 His 4th Autobiography. His earliest years remembered. What he remembers himself from those times, with the turbulent state of his mothers household, and also added in things about British and world history that make it more interesting, as well as what other people were doing at that time - 1944-1952.

 It was difficult to get started because it was not exactly linear, but more interesting finding out about what was happening in the world later in the book, because this was my time. 

It seems that quite a few people skimmed through the middle of the book and just read the beginning and end.  It was the kind of book that you could pick up and put down, and just read bits. 

There was lots of discussion about his early life, and the things that he thought he saw. His life was reflecting the decline of England?  

The book was well written. The overriding comment was that people  were glad to have read it, but didn't enjoy it.

MArks - 4-6-6-7-6-6-8-5-5 = 53/9 - about 6. 

2025- July - We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

 We had a blank month on our library reading list, so we chose this book.  It's different, it's suspend belief funny, and enjoyable. 

Retired detective Steve Father in law of Amy, a close protection officer, whose blood has been found at three murders of customers of her company, Lots of possible villains who all have a finger in it somewhere, and people who are nefarious behind their innocuous cover stories.   Amy is protecting a very rich female author, who when asked if she has something says 'yes, I think I've got one somewhere', or 'Doesn't everyone have a private jet?'  And she is horny as hell. 

My Mark 8 - I would read another of his stories along this line. 

9,9,8,8,7,5,4,2.5  Avg: 6.5

2025- June- A pocketful of Happiness - Richard E Grant

 This is the story of his wife Joan's death from cancer, interspersed with reminiscences. It is hard to give any feelings about it. You can't believe that it was written as a money making thing. It is very personal, so why publish it aside from a few copies for the family. 

Nobody thought very much of it, too many references to celebs that he knew and we had never heard of. 

Agreed mark of 3. 

2025- May - A Man Called Ove by F. Backman

 I have enjoyed this book. It is very emotional at the end when a new family of the same sort of mindset is looking at his house. I loved his hate of the white shirts bureaucrats and the way that he treated them and the way that he looked after his neighbours, if somewhat unwillingly.   Mark - 9 from me. 

PH: A man called Ove is one of my favourite books.  A gentle, easy read, original story line and well written, with great bits of humour too.  As a cat lover, I loved the cameo roles played by the cat.   Not exactly a literary classic, but a very nice book – hence a 9 out of 10 from me.