I’m going to start my thoughts with saying, that although the first of Ava Glass’s ‘Alias Emma’ books, The Chase kept me up all night to finish it, the new one – the third in the series – was the most satisfying yet plotwise. All three with their distinctive ‘running woman’ covers are pageturners. The Read More
Month: July 2024
Rememberings by Sinéad O’Connor
Yesterday, it was a year since Sinéad O’Connor was found dead in her South London home. I hadn’t realised that when I picked her memoir out of the TBR piles a couple of weeks ago, but realised once I heard the trails for an Archive on 4 programme hosted by Jo Whiley to celebrate her Read More
Imposter Syndrome by Joseph Knox, blog tour
The moment I read Knox’s first book, Sirens, the first in his excellent Manc-noir Aidan Waits trilogy, I knew I’d want to keep on reading this author. After the three Aidan Waits books, he did something else with his fourth novel True Crime Story (I have the hardback with shocking pink spredges!), and now three Read More
Kalmann and the Sleeping Mountain by Joachim B Schmidt – blog tour
Translated from the German by Jamie Lee Searle I’m delighted to be leading off the blog tour for this novel by Swiss author Schmidt, who has lived in Iceland since 2007. I hadn’t realised that this novel is a sequel to his first book, just titled Kalmann, which one reviewer has likened to an ‘Icelandic Read More
Shiny Linkiness
I’ve had a run of non-fiction reviews posted at Shiny New Books, so for those who’ve not seen them, here’s a capsule paragraph on each with links to my full reviews. The Future of Energy by Richard Black One of the latest additions to Melville House’s ‘Futures’ series is Richard Black’s book on The Future Read More
The Winter War by Philip Teir and Joe Country by Mick Herron, #20booksofsummer24 7 & 8
Two reviews for you today from the TBR, continuing my 20 books of summer… The Winter War by Philip Teir Translated from the Swedish by Tiina Nunnally I remember acquiring this novel shortly after Victoria reviewed it for Shiny New Books here, back in 2015 when it was published in English translation. Teir is Finnish, Read More
NY Times 100 best books of the 21st C
Don’t you love checking off your reading against various best of lists. The New York Times has published its list of the best 100 books of the 21st Century so far, having consulted 503 novelists, poets, critics etc. Amazingly it’s not behind their paywall. Anyway, I had to check… These are the ones I’ve ‘read’ Read More
Jigsaw Puzzle Times #1
I tend to do most of my reading at the start or end of the day, and when I’m at home during the day there’s nothing better to while away the hours if you don’t want to read than to do a jigsaw puzzle. You can have the telly on in the background of course. Read More
The Divorce by Moa Herngren – blogtour
Translated from the Swedish by Alice Menzies If you’re going to write a novel about a long marriage and its demise specifically, wouldn’t you want to hear both sides of the story? I say this with caution, speaking as a divorcee after a long marriage who now tries not to think about her ex’s story! Read More
Six Degrees of Separation: Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck
First Saturday of the month, time for the super monthly tag Six Degrees of Separation, which is hosted by Kate at Booksaremyfavouriteandbest, Six Degrees of Separation #6degrees picks a starting book for participants to go wherever it takes them in six more steps. Links to my reviews are in the titles of the books chosen. I’ve missed Read More
Book Group Report: Black Dogs by Ian McEwan #20booksofsummer24
Do you remember the pre-internet days of ‘Book of the Month’ type clubs (including the Folio Society back then) where you signed up to buy so many books a year etc. There was one called ‘TSP’ The Softback Preview – which specialised in producing softback versions of new hardback books soon after hardback publication, so Read More
Watchlist: May & June
Mostly binge-worthy TV Now I can watch Netflix whenever I want again. The basic package has recently gone down in price, but now contains a few ads which aren’t too obtrusive. However, the big plus in a bonus second screen so my daughter and I can both watch now. I’ll be able to catch-up with Read More
