Although I am an avid McCall Smith fan and have so far enjoyed everything he has written, I am sad to say that this one fell flat. It was a disappointing read even though it got off to a good start. You’d think a romantic story set in the Cayman Islands could sizzle and pop, but instead it seemed to get bogged down with the meaning of love. I usually like the author’s exploration of ideas in his novels, but in this one there wasn’t enough happening to sustain the philosophical interludes. There were a couple of hilarious scenes at the beginning and I thought I was in for a good read, but it was not to be. Nothing much happens besides Clover travelling far and wide to satisfy her obsession with James and it got to be downright boring. There were too many times when I was expecting something interesting to happen and it just didn’t, and everything got neatly tied up in the end without any development of characters or proper conflict resolution to back it up.
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What I’ve read so far in 2019
68. ‘The Testaments’, by Margaret Atwood
67. ‘I Am, I Am, I Am’, by Maggie O’Farrell
66. ‘This Tender Land’, by William Kent Krueger
65. ‘The Ex’, by Alafair Burke
64. ‘The Gown’, by Jennifer Robson
63. ‘Olive, Again’, by Elizabeth Strout
62. ‘The Stationery Shop’, by Marjan Kamali
61. ‘Present Over Perfect’, by Shauna Niequist
60. ‘After the End’, by Clare Mackintosh
59. ‘Becoming’, by Michelle Obama
58. ‘The Dutch House’, by Ann Patchett
57. ‘Jewelweed’, by David Rhodes
56. ‘Mindset’, by Carol Dweck
55. ‘Driftless’, by David Rhodes
54. ‘The Huntress’, by Kate Quinn
53. ‘The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared’, by Jonas Jonasson
52. ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, by Delia Owens
51. ‘The Wild Robot Escapes’, by Peter Brown
50. ‘The Wild Robot’, by Peter Brown
49. ‘Recursion’, by Blake Crouch
48. ‘If You Want to Make God Laugh’, by Bianca Marais
47. ‘The Library Book’, by Susan Orlean
46. ‘Save Me the Plums’, by Ruth Reichl
45. ‘Mr Doubler Begins Again’, by Seni Glaister
44. ‘Lost Connections’, by Johann Hari
43. ‘The Mother-in-Law’, by Sally Hepworth
42. ‘The Colors of All the Cattle’, by Alexander McCall Smith
41. ‘A Place for Us’, by Fatima Farheen Mirza
40. ‘The River’, by Peter Heller
39. ‘The Last Romantics’, by Tara Conklin
38. ‘Decluttering at the Speed of Life’, by Dana K. White
37. ‘The Great Alone’, by Kristin Hannah
36. ‘The Moon Sister’, by Lucinda Riley
35. ‘Almost Everything’, by Anne Lamott
34. ‘Out of My Mind’, by Sharon Draper
33. ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’, by Liane Moriarty
32. ‘The Truth According to Us’, by Annie Barrows
31. ‘The White Darkness’, by David Grann
30. ‘Feeding my Mother’, by Jann Arden
29. ‘Clock Dance’, by Anne Tyler
28. ‘The Murder Stone’, by Louise Penny
27. ‘Only Child’, by Rhiannon Navin
26. ‘Happily Ever Esther’, by Steven Jenkins, et al
25. ‘Esther the Wonder Pig’, by Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter, with Caprice Crane
24. ‘Sylvanus Now’, by Donna Morrissey
23. ‘The Quiet Side of Passion’, by Alexander McCall Smith
22. ‘A Distant View of Everything’, by Alexander McCall Smith
21. ‘Braving the Wilderness’, by Brené Brown
20. ‘A Spark of Light’, by Jodi Picoult
19. ‘The Sea Keeper’s Daughters’, by Lisa Wingate
18. ‘The Sandcastle Sisters’, by Lisa Wingate
17. ‘Suzanne’, by Anais Barbeau
16. ‘Homes’, by Abu Bakr Al Rabeeah
15. ‘By Chance Alone’, Max Eisen
14. ‘Bird by Bird’, by Anne Lamott
13. ‘Brother’, by David Chariandy
12. ‘The Pearl Sister’, by Lucinda Riley
11. ‘The Woo-Woo’, by Lindsay Wong
10. ‘Virgil Wander’, by Leif Enger
9. ‘Louisiana’s Way Home’, by Kate DiCamillo
8. ‘Raymie Nightingale’, by Kate DiCamillo
7. ‘The Next Person You Meet in Heaven’, by Mitch Albom
6. ‘My Sister, the Serial Killer’, by Oyinkan Braithwaite
5. ‘The One-in-a-Million Boy’, by Monica Wood
4. ‘Washington Black’, by Esi Edugyan
3. ‘Help Thanks Wow’, by Anne Lamott
2. ‘I Shall Not Hate’, by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish
1. ‘The Expat Files’, by Ken BeckerWhat I read in 2018
61. ‘The Shadow Sister’, by Lucinda Riley
60. ‘Sea Prayer’, by Khaled Hosseini
59. ‘Still Me’, by Jojo Moyes
58. ‘Id Rather be Reading’, by Anne Bogel
57. ‘Harry’s Trees’, by Jon Cohen
56. ‘Sweet, Thoughtful Valentine’, by Alexander McCall Smith
55. ‘At the Reunion Buffet’, by Alexander McCall Smith
54. ‘The Novel Habits of Happiness’, by Alexander McCall Smith
53. ‘The Perils of Morning Coffee’, by Alexander McCall Smith
52. ‘Women Talking’, by Miriam Toews
51. ‘Full Disclosure’, by Beverley McLachlin
50. ‘Before We Were Yours’, by Lisa Wingate
49. ‘The Storm Sister’, by Lucinda Riley
48. ‘The Stars are Fire’, by Anita Shreve
47. ‘The Story Keeper’, by Lisa Wingate
46. ‘Educated’, by Tara Westover
45. ‘The Seven Sisters’, by Lucinda Riley
44. ‘The Cactus’, by Sarah Haywood
43. ‘Tell Me More’, by Kelly Corrigan
42. ‘Let Me Lie’, by Clare Macintosh
41. ‘The Dutch Wife’, by Ellen Keith
40. ‘Swimming Lessons’, by Claire Fuller
39. ‘The Tidewater Sisters’, by Lisa Wingate
38. ‘A Time of Love and Tartan’, Alexander McCall Smith
37. ‘The Perfect Nanny’, by Leila Sliming
36. ‘The Prayer Box’, by Lisa Wingate
35. ‘The Bertie Project’, by Alexander McCall Smith
34. ‘Force of Nature’, by Jane Harper
33. ‘Home Fire’, by Kamila Shamsie
32. ‘The Baker’s Secret’, by Stephen P. Kiernan
31. ‘How to Walk Away’, by Katherine Center
30. ‘Just Mercy’, by Bryan Stevenson
29. ‘The Story of Arthur Truluv’, by Elizabeth Berg
28. ‘The Sea Glass Sisters’, by Lisa Wingate
27. ‘First Snow, Last Light’, by Wayne Johnston
26. ‘Then She Was Gone’, by Lisa Jewell
25. ‘Dreams from My Father’, by Barack Obama
24. ‘Fun Home’, by Alison Bechdel
23. ‘Whistle in the Dark’, by Emma Healey
22. ‘The Road Back to You’, by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile
21. ‘The Cruellest Month’, by Louise Penny
20. ‘How Dante Can Save Your Life’, by Rod Dreher
19. ‘Press Here’, by Hervé Tullet
18. ‘The Shoe on the Roof’, by Will Ferguson
17. ‘Why Young Men’, by Jamil Jivani
16. ‘Furiously Happy’, by Jenny Lawson
15. ‘The Heart’, by Maylis de Kerangal
14. ‘The White Tiger’, by Aravind Adiga
13. ‘The Lost Garden’, by Helen Humprhreys
12. ‘The House We Grew Up In’, by Lisa Jewell
11. ‘Young Jane Young’, by Gabrielle Zevin
10. ‘The Joy of Missing Out’, by Christina Crook
9. ‘Bury Your Dead’, by Louise Penny
8. ‘Little Fires Everywhere’, by Celeste Ng
7. ‘The Curiosity’, by Stephen Kiernan
6. ‘Precious Cargo’, by Craig Davidson
5. ‘Saints and Misfits’, by S.K. Ali
4. ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine,’ by Gail Honeyman
3. ‘Jabari Jumps’, by Gaia Cornwall
2. ‘Hum If You Don’t Know the Words’, by Bianca Marais
1. ‘Life’, by Cynthia Rylant and Brendan WenzelWhat I read in 2017
61. ‘The Child Finder’, by Rene Denfeld
60. ‘The House of Unexpected Sisters’, by Alexander McCall Smith
59. ‘The Prisoner and the Chaplain’, by Michelle Berry
58. ‘The High Road’, by Terry Fallis
57. ‘Creativity, Inc.’, by Ed Catmull
56. ‘I Found You’, by Lisa Jewell
55. ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’, by Amor Towles
54. ‘Undone’, by Michele Cushatt
53. ‘The Code of the Woosters’, by P.G. Wodehouse
52. ‘The Inevitable’, by Kevin Kelly
51. ‘Bear Town’, by Fredrik Backman
50. ‘They Left Us EVERYTHING’, by Plum Johnson
49. ‘The Alice Network’, by Kate Quinn
48. ‘Goodnight, Manger’, by Laura Sassi and Jane Chapman
47. ‘The Secret Scripture’, by Sebastian Barry
46. ‘Being Mortal’, by Atul Gawande
45. ‘Dead Cold’, by Louise Penny
44. ‘No and Me’, by Delphine de Vigan
43. ‘Can’t we talk about something more PLEASANT?’, by Roz Chast
42. ‘The Hummingbird’, by Stephen P. Kiernan
41. ‘The Reason I Jump’, by Naomi Higashida
40. ‘Commonwealth’, by Ann Patchett
39. ‘Walking on Water (The Walk #5)’, by Richard Paul Evans
38. ‘A Step of Faith (The Walk #4)’, by Richard Paul Evans
37. ‘The Road to Grace (The Walk #3)’, by Richard Paul Evans
36. ‘Miles to Go (The Walk #2)’, by Richard Paul Evans
35. ‘Consider the Fork’, by Bee Wilson
34. ‘The Walk (The Walk #1)’, by Richard Paul Evans
33. ‘Requiem’, by Frances Itani
32. ‘The Lotterys Plus One’, by Emma Donoghue
31. ‘The Quality of Silence’, by Rosamund Lupton
30. ‘Wearing God’, by Lauren Winner
29. ‘Mudhouse Sabbath’, by Lauren Winner
28. ‘Bread and Wine’, by Shauna Niequist
27. ‘The Thief’, by Megan Whalen Turner
26. ‘The Sleepwalker’, by Chris Bohjalian
25. ‘The Aunts Come Marching’, by Bill Richardson and Cynthia Nugent
24. ‘Exit West’, by Mohsin Hamid
23. ‘The Stranger in the Woods’, by Michael Finkel
22. ‘Anything is Possible’, by Elizabeth Strout
21. ‘Do Not Say We Have Nothing’, by Madeleine Thien
20. ‘Where the Wind Leads’, by Vinh Chung
19. ‘The Little Way of Ruthie Leming’, by Rod Dreher
18. ‘Perfect World’, by Ian Colford
17. ‘The Dry’, by Jane Harper
16. ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’, by Ruth Ware
15. ‘The Tale of Halcyon Crane,’ by Wendy Webb
14. ‘Ragged Company’, by Richard Wagamese
13. ‘A Dog’s Purpose’, by W. Bruce Cameron
12. ‘Everyone Brave is Forgiven’, by Chris Cleave
11. ‘The Break’, by Katherena Vermette
10. ‘The Couple Next Door’, by Shari Lapena
9. ‘Precious and Grace’, by Alexander McCall Smith
8. ‘I See You’, by Clare Mackintosh
7. ‘Small Great Things’, by Jodi Picoult
6. ‘The Story of a New Name’, by Elena Ferrante
5. ‘The Hidden Keys’, by André Alexis
4. ‘A Place at the Table’, by Susan Rebecca White
3. ‘Still Life’, by Louise Penny
2. ‘French Rhapsody’, by Antoine Laurain
1. ‘Christmas Under the Stars’, by Karen SwanWhat I read in 2016
53. 'My Brilliant Friend', by Elena Ferrante
52. 'The Sparrow', by Mary Doria Russell
51. 'The Reluctant Midwife', by Patricia Harman
50. 'Rookie Smarts', by Liz Wiseman
49. 'A Man Called Ove', by Fredrik Backman
48. 'The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds', by Alexander McCall Smith
47. 'Tigers in Red Weather', by Liz Klaussmann
46. 'Nutshell', by Ian McEwan
45. 'Grunt', by Mary Roach
44. 'The Midwife of Hope River', by Patricia Harman
43. 'The Wonder', by Emma Donoghue
42. 'Expecting Adam', by Martha Beck
41. 'A God in Ruins', by Kate Atkinson
40. 'Scaredy Squirrel', by Mélanie Watt
39. 'Life After Life', by Kate Atkinson
38. 'What We Keep', by Elizabeth Berg
37. 'Smoke', by Dan Vyleta
36. 'The Nest', by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
35. 'Ish', by Peter H. Reynolds
34. 'Rising Strong', by Brené Brown
33. 'Between the World and Me', by Ta-Nehisi Coates
32. 'Chance Developments', by Alexander McCall Smith
31. 'Secrets of a Charmed Life', by Susan Meissner
30. 'The Guest Room', by Chris Bohjalian
29. 'These Foolish Things', by Deborah Moggach
28. 'The Improbability of Love', by Hannah Rothschild
27. 'Purple Hibiscus', by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
26. 'When Breath Becomes Air', by Paul Kalanithi
25. 'The Portable Veblen', by Elizabeth McKenzie
24. 'Father's Day', by Simon Van Booy
23. 'Those Girls', by Chevy Stevens
22. 'The Handmaid's Tale', by Margaret Atwood
21. 'Oi Frog!', by Kes Gray and Jim Field
20. 'Whispers Through a Megaphone', by Rachel Elliott
19. 'The Green Road', by Anne Enright
18. 'Learning to Walk in the Dark,' by Barbara Brown Taylor
17. 'The Hero's Walk', by Anita Rau Badami
16. 'Spark Joy', by Marie Kondo
15. 'My Name is Lucy Barton', by Elizabeth Strout
14. 'Gut', by Giulia Enders
13. 'Stellaluna', by Janell Cannon
12. 'Balancing Act,' by Joanna Trollope
11. 'Modern Romance', by Aziz Ansari
10. '84 Charing Cross Road', by Helene Hanff
9. 'Big Magic', by Elizabeth Gilbert
8. 'The Golden Hour', by Todd Moss
7. 'Olive Kitteridge', by Elizabeth Strout
6. 'A Year of Marvellous Ways', by Sarah Winman
5. 'The Versions of Us', by Laura Barnett
4. 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit', by Judith Kerr
3. 'The Road to Little Dribbling', by Bill Bryson
2. 'The Quiltmaker's Gift', by Jeff Brumbeau and Gail de Marcken
1. 'After You', by Jojo MoyesWhat I read in 2015
74. 'For the Love', by Jen Hatmaker
73. 'The Weight of Blood', by Laura McHugh
72. 'Everything I Never Told You', by Celeste Ng
71. 'Fifteen Dogs', by André Alexis
70. 'A Snow Garden and Other Stories', by Rachel Joyce
69. 'Spill Simmer Falter Wither', by Sara Baume
68. 'The Secret River', by Kate Grenville
67. 'All the Broken Things', by Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer
66. 'The Last Anniversary', by Liane Moriarty
65. 'The Fox and the Star', by Coralie Pickford-Smith
64. 'This is the Story of a Happy Marriage', by Ann Patchett
62. 'Refuge', by Anne Booth and Sam Usher
62. 'Boundless', by Kathleen Winter
61. 'Career of Evil', by Robert Galbraith
60. 'The Secrets Between Us', by Louise Douglas
59. 'The Woman who Walked in Sunshine', by Alexander McCall Smith
58. 'The Illegal', by Lawrence Hill
57. 'The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy', by Rachel Joyce
56. 'The Revolving Door of Life', by Alexander McCall Smith
55. 'Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers', by Alexander McCall Smith
54. 'Sunshine on Scotland Street', by Alexander McCall Smith
53. 'The Royal We', by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
52. 'A Little Life', by Hanya Yanigahara
51. 'The Mountain Story,' by Lori Lansens
50. 'Circling the Sun', by Paula McClain
49. 'Joy in the Journey', by Steve and Sharol Hayner
48. 'The Nightingale', by Kristin Hannah
47. 'Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life', by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
46. 'We Are Called to Rise', by Laura McBride
45. 'Shackleton's Journey', by William Grill
44. 'The Dogs', by Allan Stratton
43. 'We are All Made of Molecules', by Susin Nielsen
42. 'The Mosquito Brothers', by Griffin Ondaatje
41. 'It's Only Stanley', by Jon Agee
40. 'Stay', by Victor Gischler
39. 'The Inconvenient Indian', by Thomas King
38. 'Still Life with Bread Crumbs', by Anna Quindlen
37. 'Our Souls at Night', by Kent Haruf
36. 'The Farm', by Tom Rob Smith
35. 'Dear Life', by Alice Munro
34. 'Ordinary Grace', by William Kent Krueger
33. 'Ru', by Kim Thuy
32. 'The Red Notebook', by Antoine Laurain
31. 'The Righteous Mind', by Jonathan Haidt
30. 'The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly', by Matt McCarthy
29. 'Us', by David Nicholls
28. 'A Letter to my Congregation', by Ken Wilson
27. 'How to Talk to Anyone', by Leil Lowndes
26. 'The Silence of the Sea', by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
25. 'The Storm Whale', by Benji Davies
24. 'Little Pea', by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
23. 'The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry', by Gabrielle Zevin
22. 'Missing Persons', by Nicci Gerrard
21. 'Sweet Tooth', by Ian McEwan
20. 'Cloudstreet', by Tim Winton
19. 'Love Sense', by Sue Johnson
18. 'The People in the Trees', by Hanya Yanagihara
17. 'The Paying Guests', by Sarah Waters
16. 'Crooked Heart', by Lissa Evans
15. 'Slim by Design', by Brian Wassink
14. 'A Spool of Blue Thread', by Anne Tyler
13. 'Mosquito', by Roma Tearne
12. 'Rachel's Holiday', by Marian Keyes
11. 'H is for Hawk', by Helen Macdonald
10. 'The Hypnotist's Love Story', by Liane Moriarty
9. 'The Gifts of Imperfection', by Brené Brown
8. 'Elizabeth is Missing', by Emma Healey
7. 'Station Eleven', by Emily St. John Mandel
6. 'The Book With No Pictures', by B.J. Novak
5. 'the first phone call from heaven', by Mitch Albom
4. 'The Girl on the Train', by Paula Hawkins
3. 'Us Conductors', by Sean Michaels
2. 'Dog Songs', by Mary Oliver
1. 'You Are Here', by Chris HadfieldWhat I read in 2014
60. 'Waterbugs and Dragonflies', by Doris Stickney
59. 'A Northern Light', by Jennifer Donnelly
58. 'Bad Religion', by Ross Douthat
57. 'Cross Bones', by Kathy Reichs
56. 'The Heroes' Welcome', by Louisa Young
55. 'Summer House with Swimming Pool', by Herman Koch
54. 'The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café', by Alexander McCall Smith
53. 'The Etiquette of Illness', by Susan Halpern
52. 'Leaving Time', by Jodi Picoult
51. 'An Altar in the World', by Barbara Brown Taylor
50. 'The Children Act', by Ian McEwan
49. 'The Culture Map', by Erin Meyer
48. 'Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party', by Alexander McCall Smith
47. 'The Rosie Effect', by Graeme Simsion
46. 'Gilead', by Marilynne Robinson
45. 'The Silkworm', by Robert Galbraith
44. 'My Dear, I wanted to tell you', by Louisa Young
43. 'Love, Nina', by Nina Stibbe
42. 'Medicine Walk', by Richard Wagamese
41. 'Big Little Lies', by Liane Moriarty
40. 'Happy Birthday, Royal Baby!', by Martha Mumford
39. 'The Arsonist', by Sue Miller
38. 'All My Puny Sorrows', by Miriam Toews
37. 'We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves', by Karen Joy Fowler
36. 'The Invention of Wings', by Sue Monk Kidd
35. 'Have you Seen my Dragon?', by Steve Light
34. 'Watching the English', by Kate Fox
33. 'Astonish Me', by Maggie Shipstead
32. 'All the Light we Cannot See', by Anthony Doerr
31. 'The Vacationers', by Emma Straub
30. 'The Forever Girl', by Alexander McCall Smith
29. 'The Kitchen God's Wife', by Amy Tan
28. 'The Goldfinch', by Donna Tartt
27. 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane', by Neil Gaiman
26. 'What Alice Forgot', by Liane Moriarty
25. 'The Power of Habit', by Charles Duhigg
24. 'Burial Rites', by Hannah Kent
23. 'Uitlaatklep', by Bertien de Moor
22. 'Five Minutes' Peace', by Jill Murphy
21. 'Frog Music', by Emma Donoghue
20. 'One Thousand Gifts', by Ann Voskamp
19. 'We Are Water', by Wally Lamb
18. 'Poppy Shakespeare', by Clare Allan
17. 'The Lives of Stella Bain', by Anita Shreve
16. 'A Streetcat Named Bob', by James Bowen
15. 'And Then There Were Nuns', by Jane Christmas
14. 'The Bear', by Claire Cameron
13. 'On Canaan's Side', by Sebastian Barry
12. 'The Anatomy of Peace', by the Arbinger Institute
11. 'The Amateur Marriage', by Anne Tyler
10. 'The Orenda', by Joseph Boyden
9. 'The Silent Wife', by A.S.A. Harrison
8. 'The Shock of the Fall/Where the Moon Isn't', by Nathan Filer
7. 'The Greatcoat', by Helen Dunmore
6. 'The Rosie Project', by Graeme Simsion
5. 'Caught', by Lisa Moore
4. 'Nurturing Healing Love', by Scarlett Lewis
3. 'Road Ends', by Mary Lawson
2. 'This House is Haunted', by John Boyne
1. 'The Best Laid Plans', by Terry FallisWhat I read in 2013
65. 'Benediction', by Kent Haruf
64. 'The Uncommon Reader', by Alan Bennett
63. 'Me Before You', by Jojo Moyes
62. 'Falling Upward', by Richard Rohr
61. 'Code Name Verity', by Elizabeth Wein
60. 'The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon', by Alexander McCall Smith
59. 'The Slightly Annoying Elephant', by David Walliams
58. 'Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls," by David Sedaris
57. 'Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont', by Elizabeth Taylor
56. 'Big Brother', by Lionel Shriver
55. 'The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict', by Dale Hanson Bourke
54. 'Unwritten', by Charles Martin
53. 'Blood Brothers', by Elias Chacour
52. 'Bertie Plays the Blues', by Alexander McCall Smith
51. 'The Importance of Being Seven', by Alexander McCall Smith
50. 'The Dove in Bathurst Station', by Patricia Westerhof
49. 'Call the Midwife', by Jennifer Worth
48. 'Perfect', by Rachel Joyce
47. 'One Hen', by Katie Smith Milway and Eugenie Fernandes
46. 'The Husband's Secret', by Liane Moriarty
45. 'The Unbearable Lightness of Scones', by Alexander McCall Smith
44. 'Tender is the Night', by F. Scott Fitzgerald
43. 'The End of Your Life Book Club', by Will Schwalbe
42. 'the last time i saw you', by Elizabeth Berg
41. 'Good News Bad News', by David Wolstencroft
40. 'The Cuckoo's Calling', by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
39. 'Daring Greatly', by Brené Brown
38. 'Does this Church Make Me Look Fat?', by Rhoda Janzen
37. 'The President's Hat', by Antoine Laurain
36. 'Americanah', by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
35. 'Instructions for a Heatwave', by Maggie O'Farrell
34. 'Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing', by Sally Lloyd-Jones & Jago
33. 'The Jesus Storybook Bible', by Sally Lloyd-Jones & Jago
32. 'We Need to Talk About Kevin', by Lionel Shriver
31. 'Ketchup Clouds', by Annabel Pitcher
30. 'The Black Book of Colours', by Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria
29. 'The Dogs of Riga', by Henning Mankell
28. 'And the Mountains Echoed', by Khaled Hosseini
27. 'Keep Calm and Cast On', by Erika Knight
26. 'Mudbound', by Hillary Jordan
25. 'The G.I. Diet Menopause Clinic', by Rick Gallop
24. 'Skios', by Michael Frayn
23. 'The Mousehole Cat', by Antonia Barber
22. 'The Storyteller', by Jodi Picoult
21. 'The Lifeboat', by Charlotte Rogan
20. 'Okay for Now', by Gary D. Schmidt
19. 'The Red House', by Mark Haddon
18. 'Stolen', by Lucy Christopher
17. 'The Twelve Tribes of Hattie', by Ayana Mathis
16. 'The Sense of an Ending', by Julian Barnes
15. 'Notes from a Small Island', by Bill Bryson
14. 'Down Under', by Bill Bryson
13. 'A Time to Kill', by John Grisham
12. 'February',by Lisa Moore
11. 'Escape from Camp 14', by Blaine Harden
10. 'Unusual Uses for Olive Oil', by Alexander McCall Smith
9. 'A Monster Calls', by Patrick Ness
8. 'Trains and Lovers', by Alexander McCall Smith
7. 'Gone Girl', by Gillian Flynn
6. 'Hold me Tight', by Dr. Sue Johnson
5. 'Inside', by Alix Ohlin
4. 'A Secret Kept', by Tatiana de Rosnay
3. 'Between the Lines', by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
2. 'The Shadow of the Wind', by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
1. '7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess', by Jen HatmakerWhat I read in 2012
47. 'Wonder', by R.J. Palacio
46. 'Gone', by Michael Grant
45. 'The Fault in our Stars', by John Green
44. 'On Beauty', by Zadie Smith
43. 'The Dog That Talked to God', by Jim Kraus
42. 'The Dinner', by Herman Koch
41. 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry', by Rachel Joyce
40. 'The Light Between Oceans', by M.L. Stedman
39. 'The Slap', by Christos Tsiolkas
38. 'The Casual Vacancy', by J.K. Rowling
37. 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen', by Paul Torday
36. 'The Clothes on their Backs', by Linda Grant
35. 'Notes from an Exhibition', by Patrick Gale
34. 'I Feel Great about My Hands', edited by Shari Graydon
33. 'Heart and Soul', by Maeve Binchy
32. 'In One Person', by John Irving
31. 'Lone Wolf', by Jodi Picoult
30. 'Little Bee', by Chris Cleave
29. 'Gold', by Chris Cleave
28. 'The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection', by Alexander McCall Smith
27. 'When the Game is Over, it all Goes Back in the Box', by John Ortberg
26. 'Half of a Yellow Sun', by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
25. 'The Elegance of the Hedgehog', by Muriel Barbery
24. 'Fifty Shades of Grey', E.L. James
23. 'Theodore Boone: The Abduction', by John Grisham
22. 'The Dovekeepers', by Alice Hoffman
21. 'Baking Cakes in Kigali', by Gaile Parkin
20. 'Faceless Killers', Henning Mankell
19. 'The Thief Lord', by Cornelia Funke
18. 'People of the Book', by Geraldine Brooks
17. 'The Mama's Boy Myth', by Kate Stone Lombardi
16. 'The Virgin Cure', by Ami McKay
15. 'Not Sure', by John Suk
14. 'Bedtime Story', by Robert J. Wiersema
13. 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking', by Susan Cain
12. 'Monday Mourning', by Kathy Reichs
11. 'The Hare with the Amber Eyes', by Edmund de Waal
10. 'The Forgotten Affairs of Youth', by Alexander McCall Smith
9. 'Bruno, Chief of Police', by Martin Walker
8. 'The History of Love', by Nicole Krauss
7. 'Kaspar, Prince of Cats', by Michael Morpurgo
6. 'Shadow', by Michael Morpurgo
5. 'Kensuke's Kingdom', by Michael Morpurgo
4. 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close', by Jonathan Safran Foer
3. 'Love Wins', by Rob Bell
2. 'The Mistress of Nothing', by Kate Pullinger
1. 'The Tenderness of Wolves', by Stef PenneyWhat I read in 2011
46. 'The Undertaking', by Thomas Lynch
45. 'Before I Go to Sleep', by S.J. Watson
44. 'Sister', by Rosamund Lupton
43. 'Fault Lines', by Nancy Huston
42. 'Light on Snow', by Anita Shreve
41. 'Let the Great World Spin', by Colum McCann
40. 'The Night Circus', by Erin Morgenstern
39. 'The Postmistress', by Sarah Blake
38. 'Cloud Atlas', by David Mitchell
37. 'Catch Me When I Fall', by Patricia Westerhof
36. 'Hoot', by Carl Hiaasen
35. 'Skinny Dip', by Carl Hiaasen
34. 'The Finkler Question', by Howard Jacobson
33. 'A Route of Hope', by Katie Ruth
32. 'At Home', by Bill Bryson
31. 'Gift from the Sea', by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
30. 'A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian', by Marina Lewycka
29. 'State of Wonder', by Ann Patchett
28. 'Vaclav & Lena', by Haley Tanner
27. 'Sing You Home', by Jodi Picoult
26. 'We Are All Welcome Here', by Elizabeth Berg
25. 'Case Histories', by Kate Atkinson
24. 'The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party', by Alexander McCall Smith
23. 'The Memory of Love', by Aminatta Forna
22. 'Grace Williams Says it Loud', by Emma Henderson
21. 'Major Pettigrew's Last Stand', by Helen Simonson
20. 'The Road Home' by Rose Tremain
19. 'Annabel', by Kathleen Winter
18. 'The Tiger's Wife', by Tea Obreht
17. 'Great House', by Nicole Krauss
16. 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet', by David Mitchell
15. 'Theodore Boone', by John Grisham
14. 'The Lake of Dreams', by Kim Edwards
13. 'The Sentimentalists', by Johanna Skibsrud
12. 'The Paris Wife', by Paula McLain
11. 'Brooklyn', by Colm Toibin
10. 'Over Salad & Hot Bread', by Mary Jenson
9. 'Ape House', by Sara Gruen
8. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', by Stieg Larsson
7. 'The Help', by Kathryn Stockett
6. '61 Hours', by Lee Child
5. 'House Rules', by Jodi Picoult
4. 'Mockingjay', by Suzanne Collins
3. 'Never Let Me Go', by Kazuo Ishiguro
2. 'Sarah's Key', by Tatiana de Rosnay
1. 'Secret Daughter', by Shilpi Somaya GowdaWhat I read in 2010 and before
53. ‘Real Sex’, by Lauren Winner
52. ‘The Girls’, by Lori Lansens
51. ‘have a little faith’, by Mitch Albom
50. ‘for one more day’, by Mitch Albom
49. ‘the five people you meet in heaven’, by Mitch Albom
48. ‘tuesdays with Morrie’, by Mitch Albom
47. ‘Mercy Among the Children’, by David Adams Richards
46. ‘The Flying Troutmans’, by Miriam Toews
45. ‘A Complicated Kindness’, by Miriam Toews
44. ‘Ladder of Years’, by Anne Tyler
43. ‘Through Black Spruce’, by Joseph Boyden
42. ‘The Other Side of the Bridge’, by Mary Lawson
41. ‘Crow Lake’, by Mary Lawson
40. ‘Eventide’, by Kent Haruf
39. ‘Plainsong’, by Kent Haruf
38. ‘The G.I. Diet’, by Rick Gallop
37. ‘Trouble’, by Gary D. Schmidt
36. ‘The Wednesday Wars’, by Gary D. Schmidt
35. ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’, by Mark Haddon
34. ‘A Walk in the Woods’, by Bill Bryson
33. ‘The 2 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom’, by Alexander McCall Smith
32. ‘Before I Wake’, by Robert J. Wiersema
31. ‘War Horse’, by Michael Morpurgo
30. ‘Sex God’, by Rob Bell
29. ‘What’s so Amazing about Grace’, by Philip Yancey
28. ‘The Solitude of Prime Numbers’, by Paolo Giordano
27. ‘The Supper of the Lamb’, by Robert Farrar Capon
26. ‘Noah’s Compass’, by Anne Tyler
25. ‘Everything Must Change’, by Brian McLaren
24. ‘Room’, by Emma Donoghue
23. ‘The Charming Quirks of Others’, by Alexander McCall Smith
22. ‘An Irish Country Doctor’, by Patrick Taylor
21. ‘Three Men in a Boat’, by Jerome K. Jerome
20. ‘Corduroy Mansions’, by Alexander McCall Smith
19. ‘Cutting for Stone’, by Abraham Verghese
18. ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’, by Kate DiCamillo
17. ‘Riding with Rilke’, by Ted Bishop
16. ‘The Double Comfort Safari Club’, by Alexander McCall Smith
15. ‘Solar’, by Ian McEwan
14. ‘Testimony’, by Anita Shreve
13. ‘Half Broke Horses’, by Jeannette Walls
12. ‘Touching Stars’, by Emilie Richards
11. ‘The Tale of Despereaux’, by Kate DiCamillo
10. ‘The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’, by Kate Di Camillo
9. ‘Great Joy’, by Kate DiCamillo
8. ‘Mennonite in a Little Black Dress’, by Rhoda Janzen
7. ‘Shanghai Girls’, by Lisa See
6. ‘Second Glance’, by Jodi Picoult
5. ‘The Weight of Water’, by Anita Shreve
4. ‘White Teeth’, by Zadie Smith
3. ‘Sing Them Home’, by Stephanie Kallos
2. ‘To Dance at the Palais Royale’, by Janet McNaughton
1. ‘The Boys in the Trees’, by Mary SwanGuest Posts
8. 'The Road to Character', by David Brooks
7. 'The Girl Who Was Saturday Night', by Heather O'Neill
6. 'Cockpit Confidential', by Patrick Smith
5. 'David and Goliath', by Malcolm Gladwell
4. '419', by Will Ferguson
3. 'Before I Wake', by Robert J. Wiersema
2. 'Behind the Beautiful Forevers', by Katherine Boo
1. 'The Tiger, A True Story of Vengeance and Survival', by John VaillantTags
Africa Alexander McCall Smith animals Anita Shreve Anne Tyler Ann Patchett Antoine Laurain Australia autism Bill Bryson Brené Brown Canada Canada Reads Canada Reads 2019 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Chris Cleave Christian life crime crime novel David Mitchell death and dying domestic suspense Elizabeth Berg Elizabeth Strout Emma Donoghue faith fantasy France friendship Happy New Year historical fiction history holocaust Ian McEwan J.K. Rowling Japan Jodi Picoult John Grisham joy of reading Kate Atkinson Kathleen Winter Kathy Reichs Liane Moriarty Lisa Jewell Lisa Wingate London Louise Penny Lucinda Riley memoir mental illness Newfoundland New York City Nicole Krauss Nigeria Paris Patricia Westerhof picture book picture books psychological thriller PTSD quest Rachel Joyce racism recipes refugees Robert Galbraith Robert J. Wiersema Rosamund Lupton school shooting series short stories thriller travel World War 2 WW 2Books Mentioned in Comments
27. 'The Time In Between', by Maria Dueñas
26. 'Revolution', by Jennifer Donnelly
25. 'Learning to Walk in the Dark', Barbara Brown Taylor
24. 'Dear Life', by Alice Munro
23. 'Love, Nina', by Nina Stibbe
22. 'The Girl You Left Behind', by Jojo Moyes
21. 'Father Christmas Comes up Trumps', by Nicolas Allen
20. 'The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict', by Dale Hanson Bourke
19. 'What Alice Forgot', by Liane Moriarty
18. 'Call the Midwife', by Jennifer Worth
17. 'The Dead Don't Dance', by Charles Martin
16. 'Surprised by Hope', by N.T. Wright
15. 'City of Marvels', by Eduardo Mendoza
14. 'Cathedral of the Sea', by Ildefonso Falcones
13. 'The Sidewalk Artist' by Gina Buonaguro & Janice Kirk
12. 'The Midwife of Venice' by Roberta Rich
11. 'The Kitchen Daughter' by Jael McHenry
10. 'Little Bee', by Chris Cleave
9. 'Black Swan Green' by David Mitchell
8. 'Cloud Atlas', by David Mitchell
7. 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close', by Jonathan Safran Foer
6. 'What is the What' by Dave Eggers
5. 'Over Salad and Hot Bread', by Mary Jenson
4. 'How Green Was My Valley' by Richard Llewellyn
3. 'Born on a Blue Day' by Daniel Tammet
2. 'The Kitchen House' by Kathleen Grissom
1. 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' by William KwamkwambaArchives
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A boring McCall Smith? Actually, that almost (but not really) want me to pick up this book, just to see if you’re right!
Yeah, coming from a diehard Smith fan no less!