A Winter’s Promise: Vol 1 of the Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dabos Translated by Hildegarde Serle Publishing YA books is a bit of a departure for Europa Editions, but they’ve taken on the English translation of this French bestseller, and I loved all 492 pages of this first volume. Couldn’t put it down, and Read More
Month: September 2018
Who better to talk about the surrealists?
The Lives of the Surrealists by Desmond Morris Surrealism was originally more than an art movement, it was a philosophical code – a way of living that rebelled against the establishment. Originating in 1920s Paris, following the Dadaists in WWI, it spread world-wide. The term ‘surrealism’ was coined by Apollinaire a few years before two Read More
An understated but moving novel with the cutest cover ever!
If Cats Disappeared From the World by Genki Kawamura Translated by Eric Selland I think the little kitten on this book must rank amongst the cutest cats ever to grace a cover. What you can’t see from the picture above is that his eyes are highlighted with gold, glinting at you, and daring you to Read More
A standalone thriller that’s far from Slough House…
This is What Happened by Mick Herron This is going to be a short review… Mick Herron is the author of the utterly brilliant Jackson Lamb series of spy novels, following the workers of Slough House, where agents get put out to pasture. (If you haven’t read them, see here, here and here!) He’s taken Read More
A Decade of Blogging
On September 15, 2008 I asked a question, “Is there anybody out there?” I wondered. Amazingly, there was, and ten years later, I’m still here. Thank you for reading, visiting, commenting. I always appreciate it. … The Wordle above is made up of my most used and favourite tags and categories over the ten years. Read More
Shiny Linkiness: Aug into Sept
Over the past few weeks, I’ve reviewed three cracking new novels for Shiny New Books… … Take Nothing With You by Patrick Gale Gale’s latest is just lovely. This novel is a wonderful blend of coming of age story, small-town childhood, friendship and finding oneself, bound up with a love of music, cello music in Read More
Book Group Report: Purple
The Purple Cloud by M.P. Shiel Continuing our Book Group selections inspired by colours. At our June meeting it was time to nominate ‘purple’ books to read in August and discuss at the beginning of September. Our initial shortlist was: The Colour Purple by Alice Walker Swallowing Mercury by Wioletta Greg (Wioletta being Polish for Read More
Fake or Fortune? Rachman takes on the art market…
The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman Engaging from the first page, this is a story with two main themes. Firstly, art and the art market – if this book were to have a subtitle, Fake or Fortune’ couldn’t be more apt, as in that BBC TV programme where art dealer Philip Mould with sidekick Fiona Read More
One challenge ends, another begins: RIP XIII
The RIP Challenge is now in its thirteenth year! I’ve never signed up before, but the basic premise of this one should be a doddle for me given my penchant for dark books as autumn gets into full swing. Find out the full details and participation levels of the challenge here. The purpose of the R.I.P. Read More
20 Books of Summer: wrap-up
It’s September, and not only was it back to school yesterday for INSET – more of which to come on Monday (groan!), but it’s the end of the 20 Books Of Summer Challenge hosted by Cathy at 746 Books. My original 20 are pictured on the right – all pre-2018 acquired books from my TBR. Read More
