What I read in December
Firstly I was very pleased I made my Goodreads goal for 2020. I read 25 books and I genuinely thought that I’d have read more last year but I ended up reading only 2 books most months.
I’m aiming for 30 books in 2021 but not pressuring myself because reading is a pleasure - I don’t want it to end up feeling like a chore.
Anyway December included one Christmas read and one thriller - I enjoyed both!
The Christmas Letters The Ultimate Collection of Round Robin Letters by Simon Hoggart
The plot: Non fiction - this book contains extracts of round robin letters from around the world. The material is obtained from receivers of Round Robin letters who have forwarded them to Simon Hoggart. The letters are sent in from people who are at best irritated with these boastful newsletters and at worst livid as some barely know the senders. It makes an interesting read!
What I thought: I cannot say I’ve ever received one of these myself but my Grandmother used to and she loved them. My Ouma enjoyed receiving them each Christmas and saw these as a creative way of staying updated with family (who lived far away) and their news.
However many of the chapters in this book contain extracts from letters, very different to what my Gran use to receive. The Author includes witty remarks and it is a humorous read into what material some people feel the need to include in their annual Christmas letter to family and friends. This includes too much info regarding health issues, travel adventures (both amazing and disastrous), the academic brilliance of children and grandchildren and detailed paragraphs on house renovations. Also much is said about cars and computers and pets.
My Goodreads rating: 3 stars
Then she was gone by Lisa Jewell
Can you tell I read this over the festive season?
The plot: When she was 15 years old Ellie Mack disappeared. Her mother Laurel never gave up hope that they would find her but now 10 year have passed.
One day Laurel meets Floyd who is charming and interested in getting to know her. When Laurel meets Floyd’s daughter Poppy she is speechless as Poppy is the splitting image of Ellie when she was that age.
Suddenly Laurel has more questions and a feeling that there are secrets she needs to uncover if she is ever going to find out the truth.
Will she ever find out what really happened to her daughter that day she dissapeared?
What I thought: I could not put this book down! What I found added to the mystery (and made the book quite chilling) was the fact that some chapters were told by Ellie herself detailing her disappearance.
This book is haunting and the sort of story that stays with one - i.e big book hangover.
Laurel’s ex husband has moved on, her children are distant and she feels she is the only one trying to find out the truth about Ellie’s disappearance.
I did guess a part of the plot but there were still surprises and twists I did not predict.
My Goodreads rating: 4 stars. My ultimate favourite Lisa Jewell remains Watching You but this (and The Family Upstairs) is also on the ‘favourite list’.
Linking up with Steph https://www.lifeaccordingtosteph.com/ and Jana http://janasays.com/ with Show Us Your Books.
xx