Questinga's books off the shelf 2017

I came close to the 30 book target last year, although I also bought many many more books. I'm not even treading water here. Again this year the target is 30 books I owned before 1 Jan 2017.

1. Cumbrian Folk Tales by Taffy Thomas

I bought this a few days before New Year while on holiday in Cumbria. All of the stories were short and most were uninteresting.

2. A Kind of Anger by Eric Ambler

I bought this last year. It was good although it took me a while to get into it.

3. Death of a Busybody by George Bellairs

Yet another British Library Crime Classic. I picked this up late last year. It was enjoyable.

4. The Hog's Back Mystery by Freeman Wills Croft

Looks like I've had this since 2015. Another British Library Crime Classic. A good mystery.

5. The King in the North by Max Adams

I bought this a few days before 2017 started. A readable and interesting history of King Oswald and England, mainly Northumberland, in the 7th century.

6. Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer

Picked this up just before the end of 2016.

7. Simbi and the Satyr of the Dark Jungle by Amos Tutuola

I got this about two years ago. The story was interesting but the author played around with tense and it wasn't always clear who was talking.

8. Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer

A re-read. I've owned this book for a long time but now it's leaving the shelf. Good but more difficult to stomach as an adult.

9. The Methods of Sergeant Cluff by Gil North

I bought this late last year. Not like the other novels in the classic crime books.

10. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

My sister's book group read this last year and mine is reading it this month. I didn't enjoy it much at first but overall thought it was good.

11. The Long Valley by John Steinbeck

Not sure where this book came from or how it got into my flat. Well written.

12. Paid For: My Journey through Prostitution by Rachel Moran

I picked this up at a feminist conference a couple of years ago. Well written.

13. The Black Ship by Carola Dunn

No mystery as to who did it and why but an enjoyable holiday read.

14. Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen

I bought this a year or so ago because of the title. It was good. Easy to read, clever.

15.Once Upon a Time: A Short History of Fairy Tale by Marina Warner

I bought this a year or two ago. I like fairy tales and this was very interesting.

16. Resorting to Murder: Holiday Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards

Looks like I bought this in 2015. Overall not my favourite of their anthologies.

17. Backlash: The Undeclared War Against Women by Susan Faludi

I don't know how long this has been in my possession. Years. Very informative.

18. The September Society by Charles Finch

This was passed to me by my sister. Guess I've had it about a year. The mystery was pretty good and I liked the characters a bit better than I did in A Beautiful Blue Death.

19. The Thirty Years War by C V Wedgwood

I've owned this book for about 25 years. It was great to read it, at last, for that reason alone but also because it was so well written, interesting and an amazing introduction to the thirty years war. Europe, what a mess.

20. Murder in the Museum by John Rowland

I bought this last year. It wasn't very good, but only took a day to read.

21. Quick Curtain by Alan Melville

22. Wits and Wives: Dr Johnson in the Company of Women by Kate Chisholm

I got this last year in a sale. I didn't enjoy it much. The author seemed to make conclusions that didnt always match my interpretation of the quotes and background she provided. Life for women under 18th century patriarchy was difficult.

23. The Brave African Huntress by Amos Tutuola

Interesting if not actually enjoyable. I got this a year or so ago, with Simbi and the Satyr of the Dark Jungle which I read earlier this year.

24. Sheer Folly by Carola Dunn

Another Daisy Dalrymple mystery. I've owned this for several years.

25. Exotic Gothic 4 ed Daniel Olson

I got this free at a literary event I don't remember. I've been reading it for about three years as a night time read. I have really enjoyed it. More horror than gothic.

26. Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett

27. Swimming Home by Deborah Levy

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. I thought it was very good. Thoughtful.

28. Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries ed Martin Edwards

I bought this last year. The stories were all good but unfortunately mostly ones I've read before. Mysteries can be less enjoyable if you know the resolution.

29. Calamity in Kent by John Rowland

Another book bought last year.