Sunday 28 April 2024

April Reading

 This month I managed a few more books, though not as many as I thought on holiday - I packed three and only read one.



I really like Adam Kay. I've read his other books, watched the tv show and was very disappointed to miss both his gigs up the road for the comedy festival (I was away for one and had a play with friends on the other).

This book is funny and sad (with some difficult topics) and as always interesting.

If you haven't read any of his work, I'd start with This is going to hurt before this, though technically it doesn't matter.



This is a book club pick and I'm labouring thru it. There's nothing wrong and the different culture should make it more interesting than it is, but it's just a little long for what it is and that's making me not care enough, I think. I'm halfway though and I feel it needed to be shaved down a bit, though to be fair, it's not a book I would pick up at all normally....


When I travel, I like books set where I am visiting. This is a modern day Singapore setting, and is about African expats, predominately Nigerian. It adds an interesting twist in the story telling (in Singapore), and extra texture to an expat tale.

I had low expectations as I thought it would be basic chick lit and romance but it was enjoyable and more unexpected than I thought it would be.

It also visited a lot of Singapore that I knew and the restuarant we had booked even got a mention that gave me a buzz!

So while not a must read, if going to Singapore it's a fun and easy read to get you in the mood.






Just started this for bookclub, some great stories by authors and their expereince growing up. A lot of migrant stories, indigeneous stories and childhood memories. This series is a great way to taste writers work. There's a broad range of topics, the only other one I've read is Growing Up Queer in Australia. I do plan to read the Disability one.


That's what I've been reading - how about you?


Linking with #SundayPost #SundaySalon #Bookdate  #StakingtheShelves

















24 comments:

  1. Interesting books, the Singapore one sounds good and the fact that you visited there makes it more so.

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  2. Looks like a good reading month.

    I find vacations are either tons of reading time or hardly any time to read at all. There's very little in between.

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  3. Hi Lydia,

    I'd definitely pass the first one. I was recently forced to buy this book by a first time author I know, when I was browsing at the boom store, as she was hell bent on giving me a signed copy. lol!
    Titled Cupid at Corporate. I'd never read anything like that.

    The others sound quite promising though.
    Lived in Singapore, therefore I assume I may enjoy the Singapore novella.

    Cheers!
    Natasha

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  4. Also have you stopped hosting your blog hop?

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    1. It's back. Anzac day (is the title of the one that's open). I just didn't do it while i was on holidays.

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  5. Your books look really good. I hope you enjoy them. Have a great week!

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  6. I read and enjoyed Brick Lane long ago by Monica Ali. I'm always intrigued by books about cultures outside my own.

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  7. I've never read any Adam Kay, I might give him a try one day, just being so dependent on the NHS makes me wary. I like reading books about different cultures and countries though.

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  8. Stephen @ Reading Freely2 May 2024 at 14:47

    I didn't realize Kay had written another work. I enjoyed his first, so I'll look for this one!

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    1. There's also a Christmas one - great gift for Drs...

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  9. Always nice when a book surprises you and turns out to be much more than you originally anticipated it would be. We just finished reading The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson in my book club. It was interesting and touched on a number of social issues but tied everything up in a happily ever after.

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  10. I loved This is Going to Hurt, so should give Undoctored a go. It must have been nice to recognise the places (and even the restaurant) in The Sun Sets in Singapore.
    Popping over from Book Worms Monthly.

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  11. I'll have to check out Kay's books. I love that type of book but for whatever reason never got into reading his works.

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  12. I'm about to start Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. I read her previous two books and enjoyed them. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

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  13. "The Sun Sets in Singapore" sounds really interesting.

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  14. As always a great selection of books from you, Lydia. Growing Up in Australia would be interesting. I'm from a typical Anglo/Saxon background but my husband came to Australia from Italy with his parents and baby sister when he was 4 years old. Way back in 1952. We had different experiences growing even though it was in the same country. I've just finished 'And then there were None' by Agatha Christie but you can check out what I read over the last month in my post. Have a great weekend x

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    1. I love Agatha Christie. She's a really interesting author, with the different detectives being quite different

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  15. Some good sounding titles here Lydia. I've not read any of Adam Kay's but it sounds interesting - thanks for the tip about reading the other one first. I don't mind the TV show of the same name, it's a bit quirky! I've just finished Sulari Gentill's The Mystery Writer and really enjoyed it. Thanks for linking up with us for #WOYBS this month.

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  16. These books look interesting Lydia. I haven't read any of them, so will be adding the Singapore book and Growing Up in Australia to my tbr list.

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  17. Hi, Lydia - This is a very compelling selection of reads. When traveling, I too enjoy reading about the location that I am currently in. I am a huge fan of Singapore - so will definitely look into that book. <3

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  18. I'm back to Singapore in October so maybe should give that one a read? I haven't yet read Adam Kay's first book but the TV series was great.

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    1. By the way, it's Jo Tracey here - I forgot to change anonymous

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  19. That's a great idea to read a book set where you are visiting. I'll have to try that sometime.

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  20. That's a great idea, reading books based on the places you've traveled/traveling. I just finished Babel, but my dad recommended a book called Gone South, some sort of quirky mystery so I'm starting that. Maybe I should visit london and louisianna.

    https://getlostinlit.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-sunday-post.html

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