It’s the most wonderful time of the year. That is, the return to school! After 6 months off, I was glad to see the kids back at school (the kids were perhaps not so happy – I couldn’t hear them, I was too busy running away from them after drop off). Though come to think of it, they weren’t that impressed with me singing “They’re going back, back, back to school again” a la Grease in the run up.

September also saw a much needed trip to the seaside. This year, the breezy lounge on the beach, the fish and chips, Mr Whippy ice cream and shovelling 2ps into the machine were perhaps even more enjoyable than usual.

This month the Comedy Women in Print Shadow Panel picked their winner and runner up (and the actual panel picked their winner). You can read more about that here.

On the book front, September was much quieter than August. Not as many received and not as many read, though there may be a correlation between the two.

First up, here’s want entered the (now, part-time child free) Emson house this month.

1. Father by Elizabeth Von Arnim, sent for review by the British Library.
2. The House Guest by Mark Edwards – part of the Capital Crime Book Subscription, sent for review by Capital Crime.
3. House of Correction by Nicci French, sent for review by Simon and Schuster.
4. The Progress of a Crime by Julian Symons, sent for review by the British Library.
5. Hermit by S. R. White, sent for review by Headline.
6. Odd Bird by Lee Farnsworth, send for review by Farrago.
7. Geers for Queers by Abigail Melton and Lilith Cooper, sent for review by Women Writers.
8. Fortune Favours the Dead by Stephen Spotswood, sent for review by Headline.
9. The Unwrapping of Theodora Quirke by Caroline Smailes, sent for review by Red Door.
10. The Appeal by Janice Hallet, sent for review by Viper Books.
11. Miss Mole by E.H.Young. sent for review by Virago.
12. Mr Cadmus by Peter Ackroyd, sent for review by Canongate.
13. Tea is Intoxicating by Mary Essex, sent for review by the British Library.

I also received two books in my Coffee and Crime box that I purchased last week and that arrived yesterday. I’ll be doing a review of it soon so I don’t want to spoil the surprise!

Now here’s what I managed to read.

1. A Girl Made of Air by Nydia Hetherington. You can read my review here.
2. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams.
3. Other Women by Jean Levy. You can read my review here.
4. The Windsor Knot by S. J. Bennett
5. Persuasion by Jane Austen.
6. The Sleeping Car Murders by Sebastien Japrisot.

I also gave 5 books away. So that’s 15 in and 11 out. So near and yet so far. I have a feeling October will be even closer. Better get reading.