My Own Little Book Corner

I had a good month of reading in February.   I got 13 books read.   Of those only one was "below average" in my eyes,  "The Turn of the Key", yet it is generally a high rated book.  So don't go by my views on it.   It's hard to pick favorites from this month.   I always like my Cork O'Connor reads - so "Heaven's Keep" would be one.   "Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" started slow but ended up being one I'd put there along with "The Lost Vintage".   But honestly it was a great month. I read several different genres as I usually do.   This month I will say all of the books delivered a message of one sort or another to me.   In my reviews I sometimes touch a little on those, but sometimes I don't.   The great thing about reading is that it speaks to each of us in different ways.   My lessons, my preferences, my likes and dislikes probably won't match up with yours.  But books open up so many things to each of us.

New year - new restart,  😉  Not sure how long it will last.  I have been posting short reviews of sorts on Goodreads but for my own reminders I'm going to try to post a little more depth here.  So here goes -  "The Book of Evidence" by John Banville                                                                                                  The first book finished in 2021 was not on my favorite list.   This book was nominated for a Booker Award and gets very high reviews overall.   John Banville  is a well known Irish Novelist.   The linked article describes some of how I felt about this book.   He has his own style and likes to use big words as he even admits, through the main character, Freddie Montgomery.   I agree with those who say style is coveted over substance by Mr. Banville.    I found the story somewhat bland and at times I wasn't sure where it was going.   It is a story told by a prisoner - basically giving his side of the story.   I tried to read it