The Mudlarkers Club by Jane Riley is a very light positive read. This women's fiction is predictable in many ways with cosy descriptions of friendship and personal growth. This is set in London where our main character, Gemma, learns about trust and self discovery after her husband abandons her.
I'm not usually drawn to cosy type books but I liked the connection with a group who share a passion for mudlarking... which sent me down that rabbit hole.
The topic had me look up mudlarking which led me to follow an Instagram account to see the treasures people find. Here are snaps of two Instagram accounts with their mudlarking finds.
Just finished YesterYear with Susan at The Cue Card and just... wow. Review upcoming but I'll say this was a surprise ending. Funny how captivated I was by a book with awful characters. Well written and I'll post a review here and on Goodreads.
Currently reading The Young Will Remember by Eve Chung. Well I just started it this morning so, not too far in.
The Classic Club spin number indicates I will read Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner. This is a short book so I may add another title from my classics list. Knock out two, why not.
Hotel du Lac sounds interesting and isn't one I know anything about. I LOVE cozy reads and am a big fan of finds so The Mudlarkers Club looks like something I would love. My favorite museum exhibit of all time was one about restoring an old house and everything they found in the walls so I think I need to follow that Instagram account too. We've had crazy rainy weather the last few days and it's not supposed to let up until early next week so outside stuff isn't happening around here but that just means more time for reading!
ReplyDeleteKatherine, I think you'd like Jane Riley and I would read more by her. It's entertaining fiction and well written. You will get lost n that Instagram account !
DeleteWe needed rain and it's been so dry and then...lots of rain. We can't get any in moderation.
I think I'd like all of these books so I'll see if my libraries have any of them. If not I'll check Amazon and the book apps.
ReplyDeleteVicki, I have been trying to get more, or most, of my books from the library and save some money. I don't usually reread so I like borrwing them. Hope you like the books! I have been thinking about you and hope you are doing ok.
DeleteAwww look at my sweet puppydog. Also, I've wanted to go Mudlarking ever since I read Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald!!!
ReplyDeleteJinjer, Loki is my reading buddy for sure. All our fur babies want to do is keep us in sight and be loved. Happy Gotcha Day for you and Marilyn.
DeleteI went ahead and asked for Offshore from the library!
Mudlarking is such a fascinating pasttime.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Yesteryear -- there's quite a wait at the library.
Joy, I could see getting into that hobby and loving the finds. YesterYear has a long list at our library too, Crazy book.
DeleteI think I'd enjoy the mudlarking book. It's an interesting hobby and I would think an intriguing one (Have you read Lara Maiklin (?) story of her own mudlarking experiences. If you enjoy non-fiction, it's work a read, especially to learn more about mudlarking.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, If I lived on or near the Thames I know I would be out there mudlarking! I would love the discoveries. Thanks for the tip on the Lara Maiklin book, will certainly check that out.
DeleteMudlarking is such a great word and the book sounds like fun, too. I'm not sure if Yesteryear is for me, but it sure is getting a lot of buzz! I'm glad you and Susan enjoyed it. I read Hotel du Lac several years ago and liked it, but don't remember an awful lot about it now... sigh.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how it happened, but I'm reading three books right now! War and Peace, of course, but also Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman. Then yesterday I picked up The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen after seeing Ann Patchett's Friday instagram post. They're all good, but that's more than I usually juggle. We're off to central NY today for the rest of this soggy, chilly Memorial Day weekend. Should be fun despite the weather!
JoAnn, I am struggling with Hotel Du Lac, my mind drifts when I start reading it. Maybe it will grab me soon. Wow, I can't juggle 3 books. I can do two if one is nonfiction or a completely different sort of fictional plot. Keep at it!
DeleteHave fun in NY and be careful out there.
I've never heard of mudlarking, but it sounds like it could be a fun hobby. Brings to mind geocaching, which is something some of friends used to do with their kids.
ReplyDeleteI've added Yesteryear to my audio listening queue. We'll see how I like it!
We've now left Port Townsend (where we were camping for 5 nights) and are now over near Quinault Lake in the Olympic National Forest. It's a beautiful day, but I think the rain will be moving in tomorrow. It will give me an excuse to lie on the couch all day, reading my current book by John Boyne. Meanwhile, Rod is looking at used Class B travel vans. We're thinking about downsizing! Eeek!
Hope you get some much needed rain. It's going to be a brutal summer, I'm afraid.
Hi Les, I bet geocaching would be a fun thing to do as well. That would be a challenge and so much fun to find things.
DeleteYesterYear may be better in book format, but that's just my opinion. I was trying to imagine hearing what Natalie was thinking and then the actual things she says out loud. Which John Boyne are you reading? I liked his style in The Elements and All the Brojen Places.
We did get rain! It helped quite a bit, we were in need as was Georgia, they had so many wildfires. We are about 30 miles from the GA line.
Class B would be economical for gas and lower the insurance but way less roomier. What do you think you'll do?
I'm reading The House of Special Purpose. It's good, but I haven't picked it up very much while we've been on the road. Too much other things to occupy my time.
DeleteI'm pretty sure we're going to downsize to a Class B. We're willing to give up some space for convenience.
Les, how are you liking the book? I was just looking over my library holds and what I have on my Kindle and book shleves. Trying to make a plan for reading both, a balance.
DeleteA class B definitely downsizes on room but maneuverability would be great. Plus reduce insurance and I imagine easier to drive. I don't know what camping sites are like on the west coast but some of the parks we used to go to here were tight. Looking forward to hearing more!
I agree: Yesteryear was filled with awful characters. There seem to be so many young women who want to do the tradwife thing. I hope they will read this book first!
ReplyDeleteI've changed my spin choice twice now. I hope I can settle into this book, The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Arnim. She wrote one of my favorites, Enchanted April.
Deb, I doubt any woman headed the Tradwife direction would ever read this book but I feel sorry for them accepting that life. Natalie was a piece of work, wasn't she?! I wonder if it was the way her mother steered her life,
DeleteHope yu like your Spin book. I am almost done with mine and I don't like it. Hardly any dialogue.
I'm not sure if I ever finished my comment on your post (? let me know if I duplicate), but I had to look up mudlarking too. It seems they find quite a few relics along the Thames. Who knew? Cute picture of Loki with the Eve Chung novel. I will see what you think of the novel before getting it from the library. Though we finished Yesteryear -- I still can hear Natalie and her thoughts ... it's hard to put that book out of my head. Thx for reading it with me.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, imagne the historical finds you would occasionally come across in a river near London. I'm sure there is a lot of junk too but it would be fun.
DeleteLoki is my reading buddy for sure. The book is good so far and I remember you wrote about it early May. It makes me interested in her first novel. Chung is a good author.
Chat soon!
Mudlarking is something I would like to do if I get to London again. Fun to explore that in a novel.
ReplyDeleteJoy, if you ever do that, Please take photos!!
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