Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Recent Reading

 

I don't seem to have written a post on recent reading for some time. So these are the books I have read since I last did a post on the subject.


I am still really enjoying the Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters.




The Farlington Marsh Murders was the next book I read in the Solent Murder Mysteries.  If I am honest I did get a bit confused with the plot in this book - there were just far too many characters!



"The Cuckoo's Lea" is a beautifully written book which has been really well researched. The author writes about many places that were named long ago after bird species.  The book is a really good mix of ornithology, history, walking and exploring using maps, medieval charters etc.






 I read the first in the series of the North Norfolk Murder Mysteries - "Under Violent Skies".  This was a new author for me. I enjoyed this book although at times I wasn't keen on some of the violence shown towards two of the characters.






I thought I would enjoy "The Swimming Club" as I have really enjoyed many of Rachel McLean's books but to be honest I found the book too lightweight. Sadly, I had already bought the second book in the series although I doubt I will read it!




The next two books I read throughout 2025 as you are meant to read a chapter a month as the year progresses. I really enjoyed The Blackbird's Song which has some lovely ideas to get you immersed in nature.  This was the second year I have read the Tree Almanac and I was hoping there would be a new version for 2026 but sadly I can't find one.






11 comments:

Bovey Belle said...

A good selection there. I have been reading a JD Kirk book my friend sent. Gosh that chap is a prolific writer! I got a couple of Prof. Alice Roberts' books from the library too - Crypt and Buried - and have been dipping into those. Upstairs I have another Library book, by Ann Cleeves this time. By the time I got to bed these past few days though, I have been too tired to read.

Rustic Pumpkin said...

It is always disappointing when a book is so looked forward to but then fails to live up to our expectations. The Tree Almanac looks interesting, but a pity there isn't another one.

Ragged Robin said...

Thank you BB. I haven't read any J D Kirk. My son has some of the Prof Alice Robert's books. I've enjoyed Ann Cleeves in the past.

Ragged Robin said...

Thanks Debbie. I struggled to finish "The Swimming Club" to be honest. I had the Tree Almanac in 2024 and 2025 and it was really good each year.

Rosie said...

The Cuckoo's Lea sounds nice book to read as does The Blackbird's Song. Like you I found one of the Swimming Club books, a Christmas one, a little lightweight after the Dorset Crime books. I did finish reading it but probably won't bother with the other's in that series. I'm reading a series of books set in Derbyshire at the moment and enjoying them. Like Rachel McLean their author Jane Bettany write a separate more cosy series as well:)

Ragged Robin said...

Thanks Rosie. I enjoyed The Cuckoo's Lea very much and the Blackbird's Song you could read any year. Glad you felt the same about the Swimming Club. I will check out the Jane Bettany books set in Derbyshire but try and avoid the "cosy" series :)

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Just slogged through some "Dark Academia" novel, and now about to start something about a Japanese cafe run by cats. Which will be a mercy.

Ragged Robin said...

Thanks Simon. Sometimes it is difficult to make yourself finish reading a book although recently there was one I stopped reading a quarter of the way through! Enjoy the new book.

Millymollymandy said...

The two nature books sound lovely and it's a good way to read them. I haven't read a book in ages though and still haven't finished the orchid book!

Millymollymandy said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ragged Robin said...

Thanks Mandy. I don't read as much as I used to - feel too tired most of the time! Deleted comment about notify button just so you know. I hope you finish the orchid book :)