Finally finished the Christmas jigsaw.
In the run-up to Christmas I read quite a few Christmassy books.
The Christmas Jigsaw Murders, by Alexandra Benedict, had a grumpy, 80-year-old puzzle-setter, faced with a series of clues to solve to prevent murder. A good 4* read with a heroine it takes time to get to know and like.
The Twelve Topsy Turvey Very Messy Days of Christmas, by James Patterson and Tad Safran. A charming fable-like story involving everyone and everything you would expect from the twelve days of Christmas. One you need to just go with without mentioning the silliness. 4*
Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye, by M. C. Beaton. Every time I read an Agatha Raisin I ask myself why. Not badly written so much as, well, written in a 'blah blah then this happens' way. But who am I to judge? She has sold millions of copies of her books and they've been made into radio and television series.
A Christmas Resolution, by Anne Perry. About 3*. Okay as a story but quite repetitive and long-winded.
Christmas at the Island Hotel, by Jenny Colgan. One of the most popular authors of light romantic fiction with good characters in lovely settings, with a perfect non-flawed heroine, and you're guaranteed a happy ending. 4*
I was thinking about the last one and the style and how there seem to be absolutely loads in similar veins, and maybe I should try my hand at one. I have an idea so I may ponder that a bit more - although I am in the middle of writing a novel.
After walking Toby today I settled down to watch Call the Midwife Christmas Special. I got to the end and thought, well, that isn't very Christmassy. And that's when I realised it wasn't a Christmas special I had been watching.
My new phone has a better camera than my old so I gave closing in a try. And to capture a bit of the rare blue sky!
5 comments:
In between jigsawing and reading all those books the other day you talked about several out of the house activities. You're one busy lady!
Wow, that Christmas jigsaw is just jam-packed with tiny little details -- it would drive me right around the bend!
I think that jigsaw puzzle is above my paygrade.
To me, it's more valuable for you to write your own novels than try for a copy kind of work. I mean your own style, not whatever's popular if it isn't your way of narrating.
I always feel that Agatha Raisin is the poor man's Agatha Christie.
I didn't read any Christmas books but I sure did watch a lot of Christmas movies.
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