R is for Rankin (A-Z Challenge 2026) 21/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The R authors I've read are:

• Rankin Ian
• Rayner Sarah
• Redmond Pamela
• Reichs Kathy
• Reid Carmen
• Reid Kiley
• Reid Taylor Jenkins
• Reilly Martina
• Rekulak Jason
• Ribchester Lucy
• Riley Lucinda
• Rimington Stella
• Roberts Caroline
• Roberts Geraldina
• Roberts Nora
• Roberts Sheila
• Robinson Anne
• Robinson Peter
• Robotham Michael
• Robson Amanda
• Rooney Sally
• Rosen Jane L
• Ross LJ
• Rowling J K
• Rubin Gretchen

Well it's more of a close run thing for most read favourite "R" author with  L J Ross winning with 16 but Ian Ranking (13) Kathy Reichs (12) and Michael Robothom (11) all come close behind.

Interestingly these are all serial writers and writing about crime.  Actually that's not such an interesting fact when you know that's my favourite genre.  

L J Ross writes about DCI Ryan with stories set around the NE area of England.  Ian Rankin's books are set in Edinburgh and feature Inspector Rebus.  These are quite gritty and dark.  Kathy Reichs writes about Temperance Brennan a forensic anthropologist but all the stories involve crimes.  This was televised as "Bones" which I loved watching.

Michael Robotham writes about Joseph O'Loughlin who is a clinical psychologist.  He's also written other books of which I've read a couple.

There are another couple of series that I've read on this list:

Lucinda Riley's Seven Sisters which was a huge undertaking as the books are all long.  I found there to be a little bit too much repetition at times at the beginning of some books.  I know that was probably to enable each book to be read on it's own but it was annoying.

And of course who hasn't read Harry Potter?  Especially if you have children.  Ok maybe you haven't and yes not everyone is into magic and make believe.  I loved them all though, and the films.

I've also read The Casual Vacancy   well I thought I had.  An adult novel by J K Rowling.  I shall have to investigate that.  And although I haven't read the novels she's written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, I have watched most of the televised versions of these. (Strike)

No classics on this list and no real stand out books although I did give 5 stars to Amanda Robson's Guilt which was a good psychological thriller.

I'm also probably in the minority over Normal People by Sally Rooney.  I didn't really like this book.  I understand the hype and I think the basis of the book is sound but the execution didn't do it for me.  I particularly disliked the lack of punctuation around speech and thoughts.  Made it very confusing at times and I found myself re-reading paragraphs to work out who had said what, or if it was actually just a thought process.

I also was not impressed with the ending.  Is there a sequel planned?

Any thoughts?

A bit of Waffle - 20/4/26

Well I've done quite a few chores this morning so time to sit down with a cup of tea and do a bit of waffling.  Especially as I've got all this week's A-Z posts done and scheduled to post.  Although I might need to double check them - I just noticed that the formatting on today's post wasn't quite right and had to amend it.

Anyway, one of my blogging friends Marie commented on how organised I was to do the A-Z challenge and still do regular posts.  Well, sort of.  I haven't done all my regular posts.  I think I'm a bit like a swan - I appear calm and serene but underneath I'm paddling like mad to stay afloat.

I'll give you an example - it was Hubby's birthday on Saturday.  Now it's true that we don't go big on birthdays or Christmas presents for each other now.  But it's still nice to have something to open.

Here are two of the things I bought him:

He is definitely a coffee lover but he doesn't drink enough water so I bought him a cup that will work for hot or cold drinks for when he goes out that might encourage him to take water with him.  And yes that mug is fairly large.

I also bought him a new charger for his phone.  It was easier than trying to wait for him to go and do it instead of "borrowing" one of mine constantly.

Yes really nice presents, all bought during a food shop in Tesco!  Totally planned and organised, NOT!

We did have a nice evening out for his birthday but that wasn't planned by us either.  I will try and organise a lunch or a dinner out soon but this week we have HelloFresh coming.  Another mishap - I didn't get around to cancelling the delivery for this week, or choosing the meals so we're in for surprises!  I have been online this morning and skipped the next few weeks.

So there you have it, perhaps not as organised as I appear.  I have also managed to misplace my dustpan and brush.  Yes I have checked the dustbins just in case.  I've also checked the garden and the front of the house.  It seems to have vanished.  Fortunately I did have a spare set in the garage so I don't have to go out and replace it.  And of course if I did replace it the missing one would suddenly turn up.  For now I'm not looking for it anymore, but it is bugging me.  

Right, time to get some lunch.  Hubby has gone out to get a new battery for his watch and "I might just check out the charity shops while I'm there."  He'll probably be gone for a while.

Have a good week all.

Q is for Quinn (A- Challenge 2026) 20/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The Q authors I've read are:

• Quinn Kate

Yep that's right.  Only 1 Q author on my list and the book I read was The Phoenix Crown which I gave 3 stars.

San Francisco, 1906. In a city bustling with newly minted millionaires and scheming upstarts, two very different women hope to change their fortunes: Gemma, a golden-haired, silver-voiced soprano whose career desperately needs rekindling, and Suling, a petite and resolute Chinatown embroideress who is determined to escape an arranged marriage.

Their paths cross when they are drawn into the orbit of Henry Thornton, a charming railroad magnate whose extraordinary collection of Chinese antiques includes the fabled Phoenix Crown, a legendary relic of Beijing’s fallen Summer Palace.

His patronage offers Gemma and Suling the chance of a lifetime, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a devastating earthquake rips San Francisco apart and Thornton disappears, leaving behind a mystery reaching further than anyone could have imagined . . .

Until the Phoenix Crown reappears five years later at a sumptuous Paris costume ball, drawing Gemma and Suling together in one last desperate quest for justice . . .

It's clear from the fact that this book took me 10 days to read that I didn't find it riveting. I didn't dislike it but it was slow going for about the first two thirds then it improved. However I thought the ending of the story was also a bit rushed compared to the beginning so not very balanced.

Anyway....some of the comments people have left suggest that I read all the time, I mean how have I read books by so many authors? Well the data I'm using goes back to 2008. During 2008 through to 2014 I probably averaged about 27 books a year. Once I left work in 2015 that number increased and I now probably read just over 50 books a year. 2020 was a good year (can't think why lol) because I managed 73 books. Now I usually set my target as 52 which of course ties in nicely with the 52 book club challenge but the last couple of years I've passed the 60 mark.

But... it doesn't matter how many books you read, what matters is that you read. Or listen. I know some people only do audio books. Nothing wrong with that. I am not a reading snob. Similarly it doesn't matter what you read. I try and read 1 or 2 classics each year but I don't beat myself up if I don't. I've tried Wuthering Heights twice and still haven't finished it. Maybe that's one I should try out on audio. Or maybe not lol.

Do you set yourself a reading goal each year?

Weekly Photos 12th - 18th April 2026

Another mixed week for photos!  I blame the A-Z challenge - I've just made sure all of next week's posts are ready to go.  Thank goodness I'd prepped the outlines in advance.

Anyway here are some of the photos I took during this past week:

Well no photos on Sunday or Monday - I was still getting over a cold.

Tuesday I felt better so not only did I get some washing dry outside, I also did some admin for the library book clubs - printing out the lists of books that can be ordered in sets.

    

                                                        

on Wednesday I was showing someone how to access the library app.

I didn't take any pictures of the quiz we attended on Thursday so I nabbed this one from Facebook.  The church was packed!  Lots of money raided for the Foodbank.

We all paid £20.00 for our quiz tickets but got a discount for booking a whole table so I used the extra money to buy much needed rice and pasta for the Foodbank on Friday.

And this was Saturday night at a fundraiser for a church in Chingford.  Hubby doing what he loves best, and on his birthday.  One of his walking group friends organised the event and Nick and various other people he knows who go to local open mics and/or play in bands performed during the evening.  It was a good night.